[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50988-50991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17500]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-298]


Nebraska Public Power District; Cooper Nuclear Station; 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. DPR-46, 
issued to Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD, the licensee), for 
operation of the Cooper Nuclear Power Station (CNS) located in Nemaha 
County, Nebraska. Therefore, as specified in Title 10 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (10 CFR) section 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 is in response to the licensee's application 
dated October 17, 2006, as supplemented by letters dated February 7, 
April 17, May 4, and July 26, 2007, requesting an amendment to the 
operating license for CNS to increase the storage capacity of its spent 
fuel pool (SFP) to maintain the capability to fully offload the core 
from the reactor as the unit approaches the end of its operating 
license. To achieve this goal, the licensee plans to install two 
additional high-density spent fuel racks into the SFP. Existing spent 
fuel racks will remain in the pool in their current configuration. The 
proposed additional racks will have a closer assembly-to-assembly 
spacing to increase fuel storage capacity. The number of fuel 
assemblies that can be stored in the SFP would be increased from 2366 
assemblies to 2651 assemblies (an increase of 285 assemblies).

The Need for the Proposed Action

    An increase in spent fuel storage capacity is needed to maintain 
the capability for a full-core offload and to allow CNS to operate at 
full power until the next refueling outage. Loss of full-core offload 
capability occurred when the spent fuel was discharged to the SFP 
following Cycle 22 in January 2005. The licensee plans to install one 
of the additional high-density storage racks (with the capacity to 
store 117 fuel assemblies) immediately following issuance of the 
proposed amendment, with the second high-density storage rack (with the 
capacity to store 168 fuel assemblies) to be installed later if 
necessary, while keeping the existing racks in place. The additional 
capacity will ensure the capability of a full-core offload as the unit 
approaches the end of Cycle 25, at which point it will receive new fuel 
for Cycle 26 during the summer of 2009.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its safety evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that the proposed addition of two new storage racks to 
the SFP is acceptable. The details of the staff's safety evaluation 
will be provided in the license amendment that will be issued as part 
of the letter to the licensee approving the license amendment.
    The staff has reviewed the licensee's plan for the expanded fuel 
storage capacity with respect to the radiological impact. The specifics 
of this review are presented below:
1. Radioactive Wastes
    CNS uses waste treatment systems designed to collect and process 
gaseous, liquid, and solid waste that might contain radioactive 
material in a safe and controlled manner so that the discharges are in 
accordance with the regulatory standards of 10 CFR Part 20, and 
Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50.

[[Page 50989]]

2. Solid Radioactive Wastes
    The NRC staff reviewed the impact of the expanded fuel storage 
capacity on the production and release of radioactive waste during 
normal operations. The level of radioactive material in the pool water 
and the degree of water clarity determines the amount of solid waste 
produced by pool purification system resins. The licensee expects that 
during the fuel pool expansion work, small amounts of additional resins 
may be generated. This additional waste will be generated on a one-time 
basis. During normal operations, the licensee does not expect there to 
be a significant increase in the amount of solid radioactive wastes. 
Overall, the staff concludes that during routine operations, there will 
be no significant increase in the volume of solid radioactive wastes 
generated as a result of the proposed action.
3. Gaseous Radioactive Effluents
    Radioactive gases that evolve from the surface of the pool water 
contribute to the plant's gaseous effluents. However, the levels of 
gaseous and particulate radioactivity in the pool water and in the area 
around the SFP are dominated by the most recent reactor offload to the 
SFP, not the older cooled fuel in the pool. Therefore, the storage of 
additional spent fuel assemblies resulting from the proposed action 
will have a minimal contribution to the gaseous effluents. The licensee 
has area radiation monitors in the immediate vicinity of the SFP, which 
monitor ambient airborne particulate and iodine radioactivity, and 
additional radiation monitors that monitor gaseous discharges into the 
environment. This radiation monitoring is performed to ensure continued 
compliance with the regulatory dose limits for the workers and members 
of the public. Overall, the staff concludes that during routine 
operations, there will be no significant increase in the amount of 
gaseous radiological effluents released into the area around the SFP 
and into the environment as a result of the proposed action.
4. Liquid Radiological Effluents
    The number of stored spent fuel assemblies does not directly affect 
the release of radioactive liquids from the plant. The contribution 
from the stored fuel assemblies of radioactive materials in the SFP 
water is minor relative to other sources of activity, such as the 
reactor coolant system and its associated sub-systems. The volume of 
SFP water processed for discharge is independent of the quantity of 
stored spent fuel assemblies. Therefore, the installation of the new 
fuel racks would not be expected to increase the amount of radioactive 
liquid wastes generated at the CNS. Overall, the staff concludes that 
during routine operations, there will be no significant increase in the 
amount of liquid radiological effluents released into the environment 
as a result of the proposed action.
5. Occupational Radiation Dose
    During normal operations, personnel working in the fuel storage 
area are exposed to low levels of radiation from the SFP. Operating 
experience across the nuclear industry has shown that area dose rates 
originate primarily from radionuclides in the pool water, not the fuel 
itself, which is well shielded. The radiological conditions in the SFP 
area are typically dominated by the most recent discharge of spent 
fuel. The radioactivity inventory available for release into the 
general area from the older spent fuel, including the fuel from the 
expanded storage, is expected to be insignificant in comparison to 
freshly discharged fuel. During refueling and other fuel movement 
activities, pool water concentrations of radionuclides might be 
expected to increase to a small degree. However, the installation of 
the new fuel storage racks is not expected to cause any detectable 
increase in airborne activities or changes in the general area dose 
rates which might impact personnel working in the area.
    All operations involved in the installation of the new fuel racks 
and the removal of any stored equipment or material from the SFP will 
be governed by plant procedures. The licensee's procedures incorporate 
the principle of keeping doses as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA), 
as required by NRC regulations.
    The licensee does not expect to use underwater divers for the 
installation of the new fuel racks. However, in the event that diving 
operations are needed, the licensee is prepared to use specialized 
procedures and underwater radiation monitoring equipment to provide 
constant oversight and control to ensure the health and safety of the 
diver.
    On the basis of our review of the CNS proposed expansion of the SFP 
storage capacity, the NRC staff concludes that the SFP work can be 
performed in a manner that will ensure that doses to the workers and 
the public, as well as the discharge of radioactive solid, gaseous, and 
liquid into the environment will be maintained within NRC regulations 
and standards. Therefore, there are no significant radiological impacts 
associated with the proposed action.
6. Postulated Accident Considerations
    The proposed modification increases the SFP storage capacity, but 
it does not change the method for handling spent fuel assemblies.
    The proposed expansion of the SFP will not affect any of the 
assumptions or inputs used in evaluating the dose consequences of a 
fuel handling accident and, therefore, will not result in an increase 
in the doses from the previously analyzed postulated fuel handling 
accident. In summary, the staff has evaluated the proposed action and 
concludes that it does not increase the probability or consequences of 
a postulated accident.
7. Non-Radiological Impact
    The proposed amendment to the current operating license of CNS does 
not modify land use at the site; no new facilities or laydown areas are 
needed to support the rerack or operation after rerack; therefore, the 
proposed amendment does not affect land use or land with historical or 
archeological sites.
    With regard to potential non-radiological environmental impacts, 
the proposed action does not result in any significant changes to land 
use or water use, or result in any significant changes to the quality 
or quantity of effluents. The proposed action does not affect non-
radiological plant effluents, and no changes to the National Pollution 
Discharge Elimination System permit are needed. No effects on the 
aquatic or terrestrial habitat in the vicinity or the plant, or to 
endangered or threatened species, or to the habitats of endangered or 
threatened species are expected.
    The proposed action will not change the method of generating 
electricity or the method of handling any influents from the 
environment or non-radiological effluents to the environment. 
Therefore, no changes or different types of non-radiological 
environmental impacts are expected as a result of the proposed action.
8. Summary
    The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability 
or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of 
radioactive effluents that may be released offsite, and there is no 
significant increase in the allowable individual or cumulative 
occupational or public exposure. Accordingly, the staff concludes that 
there are no significant radiological environmental

[[Page 50990]]

impacts associated with the proposed action.
    With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed 
action involves features located entirely within the restricted area, 
as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect non-radiological plant 
effluents and is not expected to have any other environmental impact. 
Accordingly, the staff concludes that there are no significant non-
radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Environmental Impacts of Alternatives to the Proposed Action

1. Shipping Fuel to a Permanent Fuel Storage/Disposal Facility
    Shipping of spent fuel to a high-level radioactive storage facility 
is an alternative to increasing onsite spent fuel storage capacity. The 
Department of Energy (DOE) has identified Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as 
the single candidate site for characterization as a potential geologic 
repository for high-level radioactive waste. However, this repository 
is not expected to begin receiving spent fuel until approximately 2025, 
provided that the DOE receives a license from the NRC. DOE plans to 
submit its license application for the proposed Yucca Mountain, Nevada, 
repository to the NRC in June 2008. Therefore, shipping spent fuel to 
the DOE repository is not considered an alternative to increased onsite 
spent fuel storage capacity at this time.
2. Shipping Fuel to a Reprocessing Facility
    Reprocessing of spent fuel from CNS is not a viable alternative 
since there are no operating commercial reprocessing facilities in the 
United States. Therefore, spent fuel would have to be shipped to an 
overseas facility for reprocessing. However, this approach has never 
been used and would require approval by the Department of State as well 
as other entities. Additionally, the cost of spent fuel reprocessing is 
not offset by the current salvage value of the residual uranium; 
reprocessing would represent an added cost.
3. Shipping Fuel to Another Utility or SFP Site for Storage
    The shipment of fuel to another utility's SFP for storage could 
provide short-term relief from the storage problem at CNS. The Nuclear 
Waste Policy Act of 1982 and 10 CFR Part 53, however, clearly place the 
responsibility for the interim storage of spent fuel with each owner or 
operator of a nuclear plant. SFPs at other nuclear stations have been 
designed with the capacity to accommodate each of those units and, 
therefore, transferring spent fuel from CNS to these pools would 
eventually create fuel storage capacity problems at those stations. The 
shipment of fuel to another site is not an acceptable alternative 
because of increased fuel handling risks and additional occupational 
radiation exposure, as well as the fact that no additional storage 
capacity would be created.
4. Alternative Creation of Additional Storage Capacity
    Alternative technologies that would create additional storage 
capacity include rod consolidation, new SFP construction, dry cask 
storage, and modular vault dry storage. Rod consolidation involves 
disassembling the spent fuel assemblies and storing the fuel rods from 
two or more assemblies in a stainless steel canister that can be stored 
in the spent fuel racks. Industry experience with rod consolidation is 
currently limited, primarily due to concerns for potential gap activity 
release due to rod breakage, the potential for increased fuel cladding 
corrosion due to some of the protective oxide layers being scraped off, 
and concern that the prolonged consolidation activity could interfere 
with ongoing plant operations.
    Dry cask storage is a method of transferring spent fuel, after 
storage in the pool for several years, to high-capacity casks with 
passive-heat dissipation features. After loading, the casks are stored 
outdoors on a seismically qualified concrete pad. The casks provide 
housing for the spent fuel in shielded steel cylinders in a horizontal 
configuration within a reinforced concrete vault. The concrete vault 
provides missile and earthquake protection and radiation shielding. 
Though CNS is in the process of evaluating dry cask storage as a long-
term storage option, it is not an alternative for resolving the current 
need for full-core offload capability due to the long lead time for an 
NRC license, time requirements for site preparation and construction, 
and the limited production of the dry casks used for storage. For these 
reasons, dry cask storage is not the licensee's preferred short-term 
method of storage.
5. Reduction of Spent Fuel Generation
    Generally, improved usage of the fuel and/or operation at a reduced 
power level would be an alternative that would decrease the amount of 
fuel being stored in the pool and thus increase the amount of time 
before full-core offload capacity is lost. With extended burnup of fuel 
assemblies, the fuel cycle would be extended and fewer offloads would 
be necessary. This is not an alternative for resolving the loss of 
full-core offload capacity that occurred as a result of the CNS 
refueling outage in January of 2005, because the spent fuel transferred 
to the pool for storage during this outage eliminated the licensee's 
ability to conduct a full-core offload. Operating the plant at a 
reduced power level would not make effective use of available 
resources, and would cause unnecessary economic hardship on the 
licensee and its customers. Therefore, reducing the amount of spent 
fuel generated by increasing burnup further or reducing power is not 
considered a practical alternative.
6. The No-Action Alternative
    As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered 
denial of the proposed action. Denial of the amendment request would 
result in no change in current environmental impacts. The environmental 
impacts of the proposed amendment and this alternative are similar.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Cooper Nuclear Station Final Environmental 
Impact Statement dated February 1973.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on August 27, 2007, the staff 
consulted with the Nebraska State official, Ms. J. Schmitt of the 
Nebraska Department of HHS Regulation and Licensure, Office 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 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 October 17, 2006, as supplemented by letters 
dated February 7, April 17, May 4, and July 26, 2007. Documents may be 
examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public Document Room 
(PDR), located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, 
Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records will be accessible 
electronically from the Agencywide

[[Page 50991]]

Document 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 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 send an e-mail to [email protected].

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day of August, 2007.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Carl F. Lyon,
Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch IV, Division of Operating 
Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. E7-17500 Filed 9-4-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P