[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 183 (Monday, September 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55070-55071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24093]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-338 and 50-339]


Virginia Electric and Power Company; North Anna Power Station, 
Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of an exemption from Title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (10 CFR) Sec. Sec.  50.44 and 50.46, and 10 CFR part 50, 
appendix K, for Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-4 and NPF-
7, issued to Virginia Electric and Power Company (the licensee), for 
operation of the North Anna Power Station, Units 1 and 2, located in 
Louisa County, Virginia. Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC is issuing 
this environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would exempt the licensee from the requirements 
of 10 CFR 50.44, 10 CFR 50.46, and 10 CFR part 50, appendix K, as these 
requirements only allow the use of either Zircaloy or ZIRLO as fuel rod 
cladding material. The design of the Framatome Advanced Mark-BW fuel 
planned for use at North Anna, Units 1 and 2, utilizes the advanced 
zirconium-based alloy M5 for the fuel assembly structural tubing and 
grids, and fuel rod cladding.
    By letter dated March 28, 2002, as supplemented by letters dated 
May 13, June 19, and November 15, 2002, and May 6, May 9, May 27, June 
11 (2 letters), July 18, August 26, September 4, and September 5, 2003, 
the licensee requested an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 
50.44 and 10 CFR 50.46. During the review of this exemption request, 
the NRC staff determined that an exemption from the requirements of 10 
CFR part 50, appendix K, was also needed. As a result, the NRC staff 
has initiated the proposed exemption to 10 CFR part 50, appendix K on 
its own initiative.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The Commission's regulations in 10 CFR 50.44, 10 CFR 50.46, and 10 
CFR part 50, appendix K, specifically refer to light-water reactors 
containing fuel consisting of uranium oxide pellets enclosed in 
Zircaloy or ZIRLO cladding. The proposed advanced zirconium-based 
cladding (designated as M5) is not the same chemical composition as 
Zircaloy or ZIRLO, and the licensee proposes to use Framatome Advanced 
Mark-BW fuel, which contains M5 cladding. Accordingly, the proposed 
exemption is needed for the licensee to use the Framatome Advanced 
Mark-BW fuel containing M5 material.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and 
concludes that with regard to radiological impacts to the general 
public, the proposed action involves features located entirely within 
the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR part 20. The use of M5 fuel 
cladding will not result in a change in the operation or configuration 
of the facility. There will be no change in the level of controls or 
methodology used for processing radioactive effluents or handling solid 
radioactive waste. The NRC staff has also determined that the M5 fuel 
cladding will perform in service similarly to the current resident 
fuel. Accordingly, the proposed exemption will not impact the 
previously analyzed radiological consequences of design-basis 
accidents. In addition, the proposed action will not significantly 
increase the probability or consequences of accidents, no changes are 
being made in the types of 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 have a potential to affect 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 NRC concludes that there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Environmental Impacts of the 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

    The action does not involve the use of any different resource than 
those previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement (FES) 
related to the operation of North Anna, Units 1 and 2, issued by the 
Commission in April 1973, and the associated addenda to the FES issued 
in November 1976 and August 1980.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    On June 20, 2003, the staff consulted with Mr. Les Foldesi of the 
Virginia Department of Radiological Health, 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 NRC concludes 
that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the 
quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC 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 March 28, 2002, and supplements dated May 13, 
June 19, and November 15, 2002, and May 6, May 9, May 27, June 11 (2 
letters), July 18, August 26, September 4, and September 5, 2003. 
Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public 
Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, Public File Area 
O1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. 
Publicly available records will be accessible electronically from the 
Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Public 
Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. Persons who do not have

[[Page 55071]]

access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents 
located in ADAMS, should contact the NRC PDR Reference staff by 
telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to 
[email protected].

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 15th day of September 2003.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John A. Nakoski,
Chief, Section 1, Project Directorate II, Division of Licensing Project 
Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
[FR Doc. 03-24093 Filed 9-18-03; 12:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P