ML16138A742
| ML16138A742 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oconee  |
| Issue date: | 08/19/1992 |
| From: | Matthews D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML16138A743 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9208260295 | |
| Download: ML16138A742 (3) | |
Text
7590-01 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION DUKE POWER COMPANY DOCKET NOS. 50-269, 50-270, 50-287 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-38, DPR-47, and DPR-55 issued to Duke Power Company (the licensee) for operation of the Oconee Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2, and 3, located in Oconee County, South Carolina.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of Proposed Action:
The proposed amendments would revise the provisions in the Technical Specification (TS) to allow a one-time extension of outage time to 7 days for a single string of the switchyard 125 volt dc (VDC) batteries to be inoperable to permit the replacement of the 59-cell battery with a new 60-cell battery.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application for amendment dated May 20, 1992.
The Need for the Proposed Action:
The proposed changes to the TS are required to allow replacement of switchyard 125 VDC batteries which are nearing end-of-life.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action:
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed revisions to the TS. The proposed revision would allow one string of 125 VDC batteries to be inoperable for 7 days during the battery replacement. The other string of 920826629-P920819 PD ADc 05000269 P
-2 125 VDC batteries and several other sources of emergency power would remain available. Therefore, the probability of accidents would be only slightly increased, and the consequences of the accidents are within the bounds of those analyzed in the FES for operation. After the modification, the probability of accidents will be reduced due to increased reliability. Also, no changes are being made in the types of any effluents that may be released offsite and there is no significant increase in the allowable individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that this proposed action would result in no significant radiological environmental impact.
Although the proposed changes to the TS involve systems not located within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20, there are no environmental effects. These changes do not affect nonradiological plant effluents and have no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed amendments.
The Notice of Consideration of Issuance of Amendments and Opportunity for Hearing in connection with this action was published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on June 24, 1992 (57 FR 28199). No request for hearing or petition for leave to intervene was filed following this notice.
Alternative to the Proposed Action:
Since the Commission has concluded that there are no significant environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any alternatives with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be evaluated.
The principal alternative would be to deny the requested amendments.
-3 This would not reduce environmental impacts of plant operation and would prevent implementation of the modification which would provide increased reliability of the overhead emergency power path.
Alternative Use of Resources:
The proposed amendments do not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement related to the operation of the Oconee Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 dated March 1972.
Agencies and Persons Consulted:
The NRC staff reviewed the licensee's request and did not consult other agencies or persons.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT:
The Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed license amendments.
Based upon the foregoing environmental assessment, we conclude that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment.
For further details with respect to this action, see the application for amendments dated May 20, 1992, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555, and at the Oconee County Library, 501 West South Broad Street, Walhalla, South Carolina 29691.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day of August 1992.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Dayr d. Matthews, Director Project Directorate 11-3 Division of Reactor Projects -
I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation