[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15900-15901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8545]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-387]


Pennsylvania Power and Light Company; Susquehanna Steam Electric 
Station, Unit 1; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. 
NPF-14, issued to Pennsylvania Power and

[[Page 15901]]

Light Company (the licensee), for operation of the Susquehanna Steam 
Electric Station, Unit 1, located in Luzerne County, PA.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would change the Technical Specifications for 
the unit to permit the use of ATRIUMTM-10 fuel in the 
reactor. The changes include core flow dependent minimum critical power 
ratio (MCPR) Safety Limits in Sections 2.1.2 and 3.4.1.1.2, addition of 
Siemens Power Corporation (SPC) methodology topical report references 
in Section 6.9.3.2, changes in Section 5.3.1 to reflect new fuel design 
features, changes in definitions in Section 1 to reflect the new fuel 
design, and changes to the Bases to correspond to the above changes as 
appropriate.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated August 26, 1997, as supplemented 
December 4, 1997, and February 2, 1998.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action will enable the licensee to complete its 
maintenance and refueling outage on this unit and begin a new fuel 
cycle, with a portion of the core consisting of the new higher 
enriched, ATRIUMTM-10 nuclear fuel. Use of higher fuel 
enrichment will give the licensee the flexibility to extend fuel 
irradiation and operate for longer fuel cycles.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that it is acceptable. The safety considerations 
associated with the use of the ATRIUMTM-10 fuel in the 
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Unit 1, have been evaluated by the 
NRC staff and the staff has concluded that this change in the reactor 
fuel design would not adversely affect plant safety. The proposed 
change to the fuel design has no adverse effect on the probability of 
any accident previously analyzed. The increase in fuel enrichment from 
4.0 percent versus 4.5 percent for an increased fuel cycle of 24 months 
results in an increase in the projected maximum burnup rate or 
discharge exposure from the current 45 to 48 MWd/kgU (or 45 to 48 GWd/
MT). This increased burnup may slightly change the mix of fission 
products that might be released in the event of a serious accident, but 
such changes would not significantly affect the consequences of serious 
accidents. There are no changes in the type or amounts of routine 
radiological effluents. There is no increase in individual or 
cumulative occupational radiation exposure.
    The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use 
of higher enrichment and extended irradiation are discussed in the 
staff assessment entitled, ``NRC Assessment of the Environmental 
Effects of Transportation Resulting from Extended Fuel Enrichment and 
Irradiation.'' This assessment was published in the Federal Register on 
August 11, 1988 (53 FR 30355), as corrected on August 24, 1988 (53 FR 
32322), in connection with the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 
1: Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact. As 
indicated therein, the environmental cost contribution of an increase 
in fuel enrichment of up to 5 weight percent U-235 and irradiation 
limits of up to 60 GWd/MT are either unchanged, or may in fact be 
reduced from those summarized in Table S-4 as set forth in 10 CFR 
51.52(c). These findings are applicable to the proposed increase in the 
allowable exposure of SPC ATRIUMTM-10 fuel for Susquehanna, 
Unit 1 since the proposal involves 4.5 percent enrichment and burnup of 
48 GWd/MT. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that this proposed 
action would result in no significant radiological environmental 
impact.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
action does involve features located entirely within the restricted 
area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect nonradiological 
plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Accordingly, the 
Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed change in the fuel 
exposure limit and the use of the new fuel design.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable 
environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any 
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be 
evaluated. 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 and would 
result in reduced operational flexibility. The environmental impacts of 
the proposed action and the alternative action are similar.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement, dated June 
1991, for the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Unit 1.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on March 12, 1998, the staff 
consulted with the Pennsylvania State official, D. Ney of the 
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 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 August 26, 1997, as supplemented by letters 
dated December 4, 1997, and February 2, 1998, 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 Osterhout Free Library, Reference 
Department, 71 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 18701.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 26th day of March 1998.
    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John F. Stolz,
Director, Project Directorate I-2, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-8545 Filed 3-31-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P