[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 34 (Friday, February 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8695-8696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4323]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-250 and 50-251]


Florida Power and Light Company, Turkey Point Unit 3 and Unit 4; 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its 
regulations to Florida Power and Light Company (the licensee), holder 
of Facility Operating Licenses Nos. DPR-31 and DPR-41 for operation of 
Turkey Point Units 3 and 4, respectively.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated December 12, 1996, for exemption from certain 
requirements of Appendix R, ``Fire Protection Program for Nuclear Power 
Facilities Operating Prior to January 1, 1979,'' for Turkey Point Units 
3 and 4. Specifically, the licensee requests an exemption from the 
requirements of Appendix R, Subsection III.G.2.a, for raceway fire 
barriers in outdoor fire zones, excluding the Open Turbine Building.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The Thermo-Lag fire barriers installed at Turkey Point Units 3 and 
4 were found to have a rating of 25-minutes, which does not meet the 
requirements specified in Subsection III.G.2.a. The proposed exemptions 
are needed because compliance with the regulation would result in 
significant additional costs.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that the proposed action involves features located 
entirely within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR part 20.
    The proposed action will not result in an increase in the 
probability or consequences of accidents or result in a change in 
occupational or offsite dose. Therefore, there are no radiological 
impacts associated with the proposed action.
    The proposed action will not result in a change in nonradiological 
plant effluents and will have no other nonradiological environmental 
impact.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no 
environmental impacts associated with this action.

Alternative to the Proposed Action

    As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered 
denial of the proposed action. Denial of the application would result 
in no change in current environmental impacts. The environmental 
impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action are similar.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action did not involve the use of any resources not previously 
considered in the Final Environmental Statements related to operation 
of Turkey Point Units 3 and 4, dated July 1972.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on February 11, 1998 the NRC 
staff consulted with the Florida State official, Mr. William Passetti 
of the State Office of Radiation Control, regarding the environmental 
impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    Based upon the environmental assessment, the Commission concludes 
that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the 
quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the Commission has 
determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the 
proposed action.
    For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the 
licensee's letter dated December 12, 1996, as

[[Page 8696]]

supplemented on July 31 and October 31, 1997, which are available for 
public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public 
document room located at the Florida International University, 
University Park, Miami, Florida 33199.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 11th day of February, 1998.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Frederick J. Hebdon,
Director, Project Directorate II-3, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-4323 Filed 2-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P