ML17312B288

Notice of Environmental Assessment & Finding of No Significant Impact for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Units 1,2 & 3

ML17312B288
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	03/10/1997
From:	Clifford J NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:
Shared Package
ML17312B289	List: ML17312B288
References
NUDOCS 9703130300
Download: ML17312B288 (8)

Text

7590-01,.

UNIT D STATES UC EAR REGULATORY OMMISSION RIZONA PU C SERVICE C

MPANY OCKET NOS.

STN 50-5 8 TN 50-529 AND S N 50-530 0 VERDE UCL AR GENERATING STATION UNITS NOS.

ND 3 V

ONM NTAL SSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIF CANT P

C The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Comission) is considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License Nos.

NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74, issued to Arizona Public Service Company (the licensee),

for operation of the Palo Verde Nuclear. Generating Station, Unit Nos.

1, 2, and 3, located in Maricopa County, Arizona.

NVI ONMENTA ASSESSMENT dentification of t e r

osed Action:

The proposed action would modify the licenses for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS), Unit Nos.

1, 2, and 3, to authorize incorporation in the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR).a revised large-break loss-of-coolant accident (LBLOCA) analysis.

The revised

.LBLOCA analysis addresses a previously unanalyzed release path through the steam generators to the atmosphere.

The proposed action is in accordance with the l.icensee's application dated May 2,

1995, as supplemented by.letter March 7, 1996.

e eed for o

sed ct'he proposed action would permit the UFSAR to be revised to address a

previously unanalyzed release path through the steam generators to the atmosphere for the,LBLOCA.

This would incorporate this release path into the licensing basis of the facility.

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nvironmental acts of the Pro ose ction:

The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action. and concludes thaf. there are no significant environmental considerations involved with the proposed action.

The incorporation in the UFSAR for PVNGS Unit Nos.

1, 2, and 3 of the previously unanalyzed release path in the LBLOCA does not affect the design or operation of the plant, does not involve any modifications to the plant or any increase in the licensed power for, the

plant, does not affect plant effluents, does not increase the probability of any postulated accident and will not create a new accident, and does not create any new or unreviewed environmental impacts that were not considered in the Final Environmental Statement (FES).

The FES did not consider in its evaluation of a LBLOCA, the leakage of containment atmosphere through the steam generators and to the public.

Assessment of environmental impacts of the LBLOCA accounted for radiological releases from the containment and emergency core cooling system into the environment.

For the revised analysis of the LBLOCA, atmospheric releases r

through the steam generators could 'be considered part of the leakage of containment atmosphere into the environment, although the location of release is different.

The FES analyzed radiological releases from the steam generators to the environment in the evaluation of the steam generator tube rupture accident.

Thus, the FES evaluated releases to the environment from steam generators, but this release pathway was not included in the LBLOCA analysis.

The revised LBLOCA analysis does not significantly increase the

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environmental impacts of postulated accidents

.which are discussed in Section 5.9.2 of the

FES, and is of no measurable environmental impact.

h lternatives to the P o osed Action:

Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be evaluated.

As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered denial of the proposed action.

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.

lternat've Use o

esources:

This action does not involve the use of any resourceS not previously considered in the "Final Environmental Statement Related to the Operation of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units I, 2, and 3," dated February 1982.

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onsulted:

In accordance with its stated policy, on March 7, 1997, the staff consulted with the Arizona State official, Mr. William Wright of the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action.

The State official had -no comments.

ING 0 G I CAN MP C

Based upon 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.

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For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the licensee's letter dated May 2, 1995, as supplemented by letter dated March 7; 1996, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Publ.ic Document:Room, The Gelman Building, 2120'

Street, NW'., Washington; DC, and at the local publ,ic document.room located at:the Phoenix Public Library, 1221 N.,

Central

Avenue, Phoenix,.Arizona 85004.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, thi's 10th day of March 1997.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION J

es W. Clifford, enior Project Manager Project.Directorate IV-2

Division of.Reactor.Projects - III/IV Office of Nuclear Reactor, Regulation

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