[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14276-14277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7162]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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


Florida Power and Light Company, Turkey Point Units 3 and 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, located in Dade County, 
Florida.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed action would grant an 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 the control building roof which includes fire zone 106R.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated November 2, 1998, as supplemented by a submittal 
dated February 11, 1999.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The Thermo-Lag fire barriers installed at Turkey Point Units 3 and 
4 have a rating that does not meet the requirements specified in 
Subsection III.G.2.a. The proposed exemption is 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 underlying purpose of the regulation, to provide 
reasonable assurance that at least one means of achieving and 
maintaining safe shutdown conditions will remain available during and 
after any postulated fire in the plant, will be met. This is based on 
the fact that the control building roof which includes fire zone 106R 
is considered to have a negligible contribution to the in situ 
combustible load and the gravel on the roof would resist fire from, and 
to, the roof. In addition the control building roof provides high 
resistance to severe fire and is equivalent to the standards of the 
Underwriter's Laboratory requirements for resistance to severe fire.
    The proposed action will not increase the probability or 
consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of 
any effluents that may be released off site, and there is no 
significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. 
Therefore, there are no significant radiological impacts associated 
with the proposed action.
    With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed 
action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect non-
radiological

[[Page 14277]]

plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. 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.

Alternative to the Proposed Action

    As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered 
denial of the proposed action (i.e., the ``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 does 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 25, 1999, 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 request dated November 2, 1998, as supplemented by a 
submittal dated February 11, 1999, 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 18th day of March 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Cecil O. Thomas,
Director, Project Directorate II-3, Division of Licensing Project 
Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-7162 Filed 3-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P