ML031130103

Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact, Exemption from Appendix R, Sections III.G.3 and III.L.3, Requirements for Fire Areas 1(2)-FA-AB-64B, and 1(2)-FA-AB-84B, and 1(2)-FA-AB-84C

ML031130103
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	04/22/2003
From:	Robert Fretz NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD1
To:	Richard Anderson Public Service Enterprise Group
References
TAC MB5052, TAC MB5053
Download: ML031130103 (7)

Text

April 22, 2003 Mr. Roy A. Anderson Chief Nuclear Officer PSEG Nuclear LLC - X04 Post Office Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08036

SUBJECT:

SALEM NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 -

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT RE: EXEMPTION FROM APPENDIX R, SECTIONS III.G.3 AND III.L.3, REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE AREAS 1(2)-FA-AB-64B, 1(2)-FA-AB-84B, AND 1(2)-FA-AB-84C (TAC NOS. MB5052 AND MB5053)

Dear Mr. Anderson:

Enclosed is a copy of the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact related to your application for exemption dated May 1, 2002, as supplemented on August 15, 2002. The proposed action would exempt PSEG Nuclear LLC from certain fire protection requirements provided in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50, Appendix R, Sections III.G.3 and III.L.3, in Fire Areas 1(2)-FA-AB-64B, 1(2)-FA-AB-84B, and 1(2)-FA-AB-84C at the Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2.

The assessment is being forwarded to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Robert J. Fretz, Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-272 and 50-311

Enclosure:

Environmental Assessment cc w/encl: See next page

April 22, 2003 Mr. Roy A. Anderson Chief Nuclear Officer PSEG Nuclear LLC - X04 Post Office Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08036

SUBJECT:

SALEM NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 -

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT RE: EXEMPTION FROM APPENDIX R, SECTIONS III.G.3 AND III.L.3, REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE AREAS 1(2)-FA-AB-64B, 1(2)-FA-AB-84B, AND 1(2)-FA-AB-84C (TAC NOS. MB5052 AND MB5053)

Dear Mr. Anderson:

Enclosed is a copy of the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact related to your application for exemption dated May 1, 2002, as supplemented on August 15, 2002. The proposed action would exempt PSEG Nuclear LLC from certain fire protection requirements provided in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50, Appendix R, Sections III.G.3 and III.L.3, in Fire Areas 1(2)-FA-AB-64B, 1(2)-FA-AB-84B, and 1(2)-FA-AB-84C at the Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2.

The assessment is being forwarded to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Robert J. Fretz, Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-272 and 50-311

Enclosure:

Environmental Assessment cc w/encl: See next page DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC PDI-2 R/F SRichards JClifford CRaynor RFretz 3 JTappert OGC ACRS ADAMS Accession Number: ML031130103

• See previous concurrence OFFICE PDI-2/PM PDI-2/LA RLEP/SC* OGC* PDI-2/SC NAME RFretz CRaynor JTappert SHom/NLO JClifford DATE 04/21/03 04/21/03 04/02/03 4/10/03 4/22/03 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

PSEG Nuclear LLC Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 cc:

Mr. Timothy J. OConnor Lower Alloways Creek Township Vice President - Operations c/o Mary O. Henderson, Clerk PSEG Nuclear - X15 Municipal Building, P.O. Box 157 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Dr. Jill Lipoti, Asst. Director Mr. John T. Carlin Radiation Protection Programs Vice President - Engineering NJ Department of Environmental PSEG Nuclear - N10 Protection and Energy P.O. Box 236 CN 415 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Trenton, NJ 08625-0415 Mr. David F. Garchow Brian Beam Vice President - Projects and Licensing Board of Public Utilities PSEG Nuclear - N28 2 Gateway Center, Tenth Floor P.O. Box 236 Newark, NJ 07102 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Regional Administrator, Region I Mr. Gabor Salamon U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Manager - Nuclear Safety and Licensing 475 Allendale Road PSEG Nuclear - N21 King of Prussia, PA 19406 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Senior Resident Inspector Salem Nuclear Generating Station Jeffrie J. Keenan, Esquire U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission PSEG Nuclear - N21 Drawer 0509 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Ms. R. A. Kankus Joint Owner Affairs PECO Energy Company Nuclear Group Headquarters KSA1-E 200 Exelon Way Kennett Square, PA 19348

7590-01-P UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION PSEG NUCLEAR, LLC SALEM NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 DOCKET NOS. 50-272 AND 50-311 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) Part 50, Appendix R, Sections III.G.3 and III.L.3, for Facility Operating Licenses Nos. DPR-70 and DPR-75, issued to PSEG Nuclear, LLC (the licensee), for operation of the Salem Nuclear Generating Station (Salem), Unit Nos. 1 and 2, located in Salem County, New Jersey. Therefore, as required by 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 would grant an exemption from: (1) the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Section III.G.3, Fire protection of safe shutdown capability, to the extent that a fixed suppression system must be installed in an area where alternative shutdown capability is provided for Fire Areas 1(2)-FA-AB-64B and 1(2)-FA-AB-84C; (2) the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Section III.L.3, Alternative and dedicated shutdown capability, to the extent that alternative shutdown capability must accommodate conditions where offsite power is not available for 72 hours8.333333e-4 days <br />0.02 hours <br />1.190476e-4 weeks <br />2.7396e-5 months <br /> in Fire Areas 1(2)-FA-AB-64B and 1(2)-FA-AB-84B; and (3) the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Section III.L.3, relating to the use of separation in an alternate shutdown area for Fire Area 1(2)-FA-AB-84B.

The proposed action is in accordance with the licensees application dated May 1, 2002, as supplemented on August 15, 2002.

The Need for the Proposed Action:

The proposed exemption from Sections III.G.3 and III.L.3 of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, is needed to resolve issues relating to an October 8, 1997, Notice of Violation whereby PSEG failed to adequately qualify the Kaowool, FS-195 and Interam E-50 electrical raceway fire barrier systems (ERFBSs) installed at Salem. Resolution of these issues include:

(1) a re-analysis of post-fire safe shutdown capability; (2) plant modifications to provide alternative safe shutdown capability through cross-tie connections between the Salem, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, Chemical and Volume Control Systems; and (3) superceding current exemptions applicable to Fire Areas 1(2)-FA-AB-64B, 1(2)-FA-AB-84B and 1(2)-FA-AB-84C with the proposed exemptions.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action:

The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that the proposed exemption does not involve radioactive wastes, release of radioactive material into the atmosphere, solid radioactive waste, or liquid effluents released to the environment.

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 nonradiological impacts, the proposed action does not have a potential to affect any historic sites. It does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant nonradiological 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 resources than those previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement related to operation of Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 2, dated April 1973.

Agencies and Persons Consulted:

On March 26, 2003, the staff consulted with the New Jersey State official, Mr. Dennis Zannoni of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 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 licensees letter dated May 1, 2002, and supplement dated August 15, 2002. Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRCs 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 access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, should contact the NRCs PDR reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22 day of April 2003.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

/RA/

James W. Clifford, Chief, Section 2 Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation