[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 74 (Monday, April 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19205-19206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9747]


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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-289]


GPU Nuclear, Inc., Et Al.; Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating 
Station, Unit 1 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 10 
CFR part 50, Appendix R for Facility Operating License No. DPR-50 
issued to GPU Nuclear, Inc., et al., (GPU or the licensee), for 
operation of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1 
(TMI-1), located in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    Section III.G.2.c of Appendix R to 10 CFR part 50 requires the 
enclosure of cable and equipment and associated non-safety circuits of 
one redundant train of systems necessary to achieve and maintain safe 
shutdown in a fire barrier having a 1-hour rating. In addition, fire 
detectors and an automatic fire suppression system shall be installed 
in the fire area. The licensee is seeking an exemption from these 
requirements for 10 fire areas/zones: AB-FZ-3, AB-FZ-4, AB-FZ-5, AB-FZ-
7, CB-FA-1, FH-FZ-1, FH-FZ-2, FH-FZ-6, ISPH-FZ-1 and ISPH-FZ-2.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for exemption dated December 31, 1996, as supplemented 
September 8 and December 30, 1997; May 21, October 14, November 25, and 
December 23, 1998.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The licensee is requesting an exemption from Appendix R, Section 
III.G.2.c because modifications to achieve full compliance would cost 
approximately $1.0 million. The proposed action is needed to reduce the 
financial hardship of modifying existing barriers to achieve a 1-hour 
fire rating, which modification would provide minimal safety benefit 
according to the licensee.

Environment Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that reasonable assurance has been provided in fire 
zones/areas AB-FZ-4, CB-FA-1, FH-FZ-1, FH-FZ-6, IPSH-FZ-1, and ISPH-FZ-
2, that one division of components necessary to achieve safe shutdown 
will remain free of fire damage. Although the installed Thermo-Lag 
barriers in these fire zones/areas have less than a 1-hour fire 
endurance rating, they do have some significant resistance to fire. 
Additionally, the areas where most of the subject barriers are located 
have a low combustible loading, have manual suppression capability and 
are equipped with automatic detection and suppression. The licensee has 
committed to install automatic suppression in fire zone FH-FZ-6. 
Additionally, the licensee has committed to install combustible gas 
detectors in fire area CB-FA-1, which would provide prompt 
identification of an acetylene gas leak and allow isolation of the gas 
at its source prior to reaching the explosive limit. The staff has 
determined that the combination of these features and circumstances 
provides a level of protection adequate to meet the underlying purpose 
of the rule. The Commission has determined that the exemption for fire 
zones AB-FZ-3, AB-FZ-5, AB-FZ-7, and FH-FZ-2 should be denied because 
an adequate level of fire safety would not be achieved.
    The proposed action (hereinafter to mean the granting of an 
exemption for fire zones/areas AB-FZ-4, CB-FA-1, FH-FZ-1, FH-FZ-6, 
ISPH-FZ-1, and ISPH-FZ-2) 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 environmental 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 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 there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Alternatives 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 alternative 
action are similar.

[[Page 19206]]

Alternative Use of Resources
    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the 
Three Mile Island Nuclear Station.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
    In accordance with its stated policy, on January 13, 1999, the 
staff consulted with the Pennsylvania State official, Mr. Stan J. 
Maingi, of the Bureau of Radiation Protection, Pennsylvania Department 
of Environmental Resources, 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 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 31, 1996, as supplemented September 8 
and December 30, 1997; May 21, October 14, November 25, and December 
23, 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 
LAW/Government Publications Section, State Library of Pennsylvania, 
(Regional Depository) Walnut Street and Commonwealth Avenue, P.O. Box 
1601, Harrisburg, PA 17105.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 12th day of April 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James W. Clifford,
Chief, Section 2, Project Directorate I, Division of Licensing Project 
Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-9747 Filed 4-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P