[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 82 (Thursday, April 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 23136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10686]


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

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-482]


Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation; Wolf Creek Generating 
Station Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption to Facility Operating License No. 
NPF-42, issued to Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (WCNOC), for 
operation of the Wolf Creek Generating Station, located in Coffey 
County, Kansas.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would exempt WCNOC from certain requirements of 
10 CFR 50.60 and 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix G. The proposed exemption 
would allow WCNOC to apply American Society for Mechanical Engineers 
(ASME) Code Case N-514 for determining Wolf Creek Generating Station's 
cold overpressurization mitigation system (COMS) pressure setpoint.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for exemption dated December 29, 1998.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed exemption is needed to support an amendment to the 
Wolf Creek Technical Specifications which will revise the heatup, 
cooldown and COMS curves. The use of ASME Code Case N-514 would allow 
an increased operating band for system makeup and pressure control to 
allow operational flexibility.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that application of Code Case N-514 represents a special 
circumstance in accordance with 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(ii) on specific 
exemptions, such that the specific requirements of 10 CFR 50.60 and 
Appendix G are ``* * * not necessary to achieve the underlying purpose 
of the rule,'' which in this case is to protect the reactor vessel from 
brittle fracture.
    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 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 that 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 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 for the Wolf 
Creek Generating Station dated June 1982.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on March 5, 1999, the staff 
consulted with the Kansas State official, Mr. Vick Cooper, of the 
Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 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 29, 1998, which is 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 Emporia State University, William Allen 
White Library, 1200 Commercial Street, Emporia, Kansas 66801 and 
Washburn University School of Law Library, Topeka, Kansas 66621.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of April 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Kristine M. Thomas,
Project Manager, Section 2, Project Directorate IV & Decommissioning, 
Division of Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-10686 Filed 4-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P