[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 231 (Wednesday, December 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66589-66590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32115]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-305]


Wisconsin Public Service Corp., Wisconsin Power and Light Co., 
Madison Gas and Electric Co., Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant; 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an amendment to Operating License DPR-43, 
issued to Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, Wisconsin Power and 
Light Company, and Madison Gas and Electric Company (the licensee), for 
the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant located in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would revise the reactor core power 
distribution peaking factor limits and reactor coolant system operating 
parameters related to the minimum departure from nucleate boiling ratio 
safety limit. These proposed changes are the result of analyses 
performed in support of use of new type fuel assemblies. The new fuel 
assemblies would be operated within these new thermal-hydraulic and 
power distribution limits with potential fuel assembly burnups to 59 
GWD/MTU and maximum rod average burnup limited to 60 GWD/MTU. Another 
change included in the proposed amendment is the removal, from the 
current licensing basis, of the fuel pool turbine missile hazards 
analysis.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated April 15, 1998, as supplemented by 
letters dated July 27 and August 13, 1998, by two different letters 
dated September 28, 1998, and by a letter dated November 24, 1998.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed in order for the licensee to have the 
flexibility to use fuel with increased burnup and to revise the plant 
safety analyses. The changes in operating parameters and limits will 
allow longer operating cycles and result in fewer fuel assemblies being 
needed.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The staff has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and 
made the following findings: (1) The mechanical design of the fuel has 
been evaluated and found acceptable for use within the analyzed limits, 
(2) although the extended burnup to 60 GWD/MTU may slightly change the 
mix of radionuclides that might be released in the event of an 
accident, analyses of radiological consequences of accidents confirm 
that there is no significant increase in the probability or 
consequences of accidents, (3) no significant changes would be made in 
the amounts or types of any radiological effluents that may be released 
offsite, (4) there is no significant increase in the allowable

[[Page 66590]]

individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure, and (5) the 
probability of high trajectory turbine missiles impacting the spent 
fuel pool target area has been found to be so insignificant that the 
event need not be further considered as a design basis event.
    On February 29, 1988 (53 FR 6041), the staff published ``Extended 
Burnup Fuel Use in Commercial LWR's; Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact.'' This generic environmental 
assessment of extended fuel burnup in light water reactors found that 
``no significant adverse effects will be generated by increasing the 
present batch-average burnup level of 33 GWD/MTU to 50 GWD/MTU or above 
as long as the maximum rod average burnup level of any fuel rod is no 
greater than 60 GWD/MTU.'' In addition, the environmental impacts of 
transportation resulting from the use of higher enrichment fuel and 
extended irradiation were published and discussed in the staff 
assessment entitled, ``NRC Assessment of the Environmental Effects of 
Transportation Resulting from Extended Fuel Enrichment and 
Irradiation,'' dated July 7, 1988. That assessement was published in 
connection with an Environmental Assessment related to the Shearon 
Harris Nuclear Plant, Unit 1, which was published in the Federal 
Register (53 FR 30355) on August 11, 1988, as corrected on August 24, 
1988 (53 FR 32322). In these assessments, collectively, the staff 
concluded that the environmental impacts summarized in Table S-3 of 10 
CFR 51.51 and in Table S-4 of 10 CFR 51.52 for a burnup level of 33 
GWD/MTU are conservative and bound the corresponding impacts for burnup 
levels up to 60 GWD/MTU. These findings are applicable to the proposed 
action at Kewaunee which will limit burnup to 60 GWD/MTU.
    With regard to potential non-environmental impacts, the proposed 
action involves components located entirely within the restricted area 
as defined by 10 CFR part 20. It does not affect non-radiological plant 
effluents and has no other environmental impact. The proposed action 
does not involve any of the historic sites located in the vicinity of 
Kewaunee as identified in Section II.C of the Kewaunee Final 
Environmental Statement. Therefore, there are no significant non-
radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission concluded that there are no significant 
environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any 
other alternative would have greater environmental impacts and need not 
be evaluated.
    The principal alternative would be to deny the requested amendment. 
This would not reduce the environmental impact of plant operations and 
would result in reduced operational flexibility.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement which was 
issued December 20, 1972.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on November 19, 1998, the 
staff consulted with Sarah Jenkins, an official of the Public Service 
Commission of the State of Wisconsin, regarding the environmental 
impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    On the basis of the environmental assessment, the staff concludes 
that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the 
quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the staff 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 application dated April 15, 1998, as supplemented by letters 
dated July 27, August 13, September 28, and November 24, 1998, which 
are available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document 
Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW, Washington, D.C., and at 
the local public document room located at the University of Wisconsin, 
Cofrin Library, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54311-7001.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of November 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
William O. Long, Sr.
Project Manager, Project Directorate III-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-32115 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P