[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 189 (Wednesday, September 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52310-52311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26206]


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

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 or NRC) 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, as supplemented July 31, October 
31, and December 17, 1997, and June 2 and August 4, 1998, 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 requested 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. On February 24, 1998, the staff issued a partial 
exemption for fire zones 47, 54,113, 114, 115, 116 ,118, 119, 120, and 
143, and denied the exemption request for fire zone 106R. The current 
exemption request covers fire zones 79--partial, 81, 84--partial, 86, 
88--partial, and 89-partial. Fire zone 131 will be addressed 
separately.

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 (no-action alternative). 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 September 17, 1998, the 
NRC staff consulted with the Florida State official, Mr. William 
Passetti of the Bureau 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 supplemented on July 31, 
October 31, and December 17, 1997, and June 2 and August 4, 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 Florida International 
University, University Park, Miami, Florida.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of September 1998.


[[Page 52311]]


    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. 98-26206 Filed 9-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P