ML17277B472
| ML17277B472 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Columbia  |
| Issue date: | 07/19/1984 |
| From: | Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17277B469 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8408090414 | |
| Download: ML17277B472 (8) | |
Text
7590-01 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON PUBLIC POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM DOCKET N0.-50-397 NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U. 'S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (The Commission) is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. NPF-21, issued to
/
Washington Public Power Supply System (the licensee),
for operation of the WPPSS Nuclear Project No. 2, located in Richland, Washington.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of Pro osed Action:
This amendment would change the WHP-2 Technical Specification, Special Test'Requirement 3.10.5 to allow suspension of containment inerting during the Power Ascension Test Program (PATP) until either the required 100K of rated thermal power trip tests have been completed or the reactor has operated for 120.effective full power days, whichever occurs earlier.
This amendment will also be an exemption from the requirement stated in 10 CFR 50.44, paragraph (C)(3)(i) which states:
."Effective May 4, 1982 or 6 months after initial criticality, whichever is later, an inerted atmosphere shall be provided for each boi,ling light-water nuclear power reactor with a Mark I or Mark II type containment."
The Need for the Pro osed Action:
The proposed change to the Technical Specifications (TS) and an exemption from the regulation is required in order to complete the balance of the power ascension test program (PATP) in 84080904i4 840727 PDR ADOCK 050003'P7 P
lt accordance with the approved test plan.
The approved test plan is based on maintaining the containment in a non-inerted condition until after completing the 100K rated thermal trip test, a condition which normally would be expected to occur within about 120 effective full power days of core burn-up.
The licensee elected to achieve initial criticality with the reactor head off whereas other licensees have elected to achieve initial criticality after the reactor head is on, an event which can be expected to occur on the order of two months later in the PATP schedule.
Also, the licensee's PATP schedule has not been maintained as originally planned.
This has resulted in a simple stretch out of 'the time required to complete all post criticality PATP tests.
These two factors
- combined, have created the need to extend the period of non-inerted PATP operations beyond'he calendar time of six months provided by 10 CFR 50.44.
Environmental Im acts. of the Pro osed Action:
There are no environmental impacts of the proposed action.
No changes are being made in the maximum full power days of core burn-up normally expected before inerting is required.
In fact to assure this, the maximum expected value of 120 effective full power days is made part of'the proposed action.
The purpose of allowing an initial period of non-inerted operations has been and continues to be, to permit ready access to systems and components inside containment during the.period of the initial plant power ascension test program.
When these tests have been completed, which occurs essentially at the point where the full rated thermal power trip tests of the PATP have been completed, the exemption from 10 CFR 50.44 is no longer applicable.
- Thus, should a release occur during the extended PATP it woul'd not be greater than any release contemplated during the originally scheduled PATP.
Also, there is nothing in the proposed change that would suggest that the probability of release would be increased.
Further, the proposed change does not otherwise affect radiological plant effluents, nor any significant occupational exposures.
Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological environmental
--impacts associated with this proposed amendment.
Notice of Consideration of Issuance of Amendment and Opportunity for.-P".-ior Hearing in connection with this action involving this exemption to the regulations was published in the Federal Register on June 18, 1984 (49 FR 24957).
No request for hearing or petition for leave to intervene was filed following this notice.
With regard to potential non-radiological
- impacts, the proposed change to the TS involves a system located entirely within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20.
It does not affect non-radiological plant
, effluents and has no other environmental impact.
Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed amendment.
Alternative to the Pro osed Action:
Since we have concluded that there is no measurable environmental impact associated with the proposed changes to the TS, any alternatives to these changes will have either no environmental impact or greater environmental impact.
The principal alternative would be to deny the requested amendment.
This would not reduce environmental impacts of plant operation and would result in reduced operational flexibility.
Alternative Use of Resources:
. This action does not involve the use of resources not previously considered in connection with the "Final Environ-mental Statement Relating to Operation of WPPSS Nuclear Project No. 2,"
dated December 1981 and the "Final Environmental Statement Related to the Proposed Hanford Number Two Nuclear Power Plant," dated December 1972.
I
A encies and Persons Consulted:
The NRC staff reviewed the licensee's request and did not consult other agencies or persons.
FINDINGS OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed license amendment.
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 amendment dated'May 11, 1984, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document
- Room, 1717 H Street, N-.W., Washington, DC, and at
,the Ri.chland City Library, Swift and Northgate Street,
- Richland, Washington 00535.
Dated atBethesda.,
Maryland this 19th day of July 1984.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 0
Darrell G.
isenhut, Director Division of Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Issuance of Amendment No.
3 to Facilit 0 eratin License No. NPF-21, uc ear ro ect o.
DISTRIBUTION gDocket File NRC PDR Local PDR PRC System NSIC LB82 Reading EHylton RAuluck TNovak JSaltzman, SAB
- llPaton, OELD CNiles HDenton JRutberg AToalston WHiller, LFMB NGrace EJordan LHarman DBrinkman, SSPB TBarnhart(4)
Inez Bailey
1 f