ML19341A221

Discusses PSC of Wi Process for Review & Assessment of Economic & Environ Impact of Proposed Alternative Actions & of Generating Replacement Power.Forwards Application for Steam Generator Replacement

ML19341A221
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach
Issue date:	01/16/1981
From:	Mendl J WISCONSIN, STATE OF
To:	Clark R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Shared Package
ML19341A222	List: ML19341A221 ML19341A234
References
NUDOCS 8101220403
Download: ML19341A221 (4)

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tale O ksconsin \ PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION STANLEY YORK. CHAIRMAN EDWARD M. PARSONS. JR., COMMISSIONER WILLIE J. NUNNERY. COMMISSIONER January 16, 1981 Hill Farms State Office Building Madison. Wisconsin 53702 (608)266-1241 6630-CE-20 Mr. Robert A. Clark Chief Operating Reactors Branch #3 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Mr. Clark:

On December 8, 1980, the Wisconsin Electric Power Company applied to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission for permic-sion to purchase two spare steam generators for Point Beach Unit I.

Under the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA), PSC staff must assess the possible environmental impacts of the purchase and installation of two new steam generator lower sections and primary moisture separators. Staff must also assess possible alternative actions: 1) resleeving the steam generator tubes;

2) no action -- that is, continuing to operate the plant at decreased capacity (lower temperatures); and 3) immediately .

decommissioning the unit before there are further expenditures.

This assessment is for the purpose of determining whether the impacts of the proposed action are significant, thus requiring preparation of an environmental impact statement. We hope to complete this determination by February 12, 1981.

The primary focus of the PSC staff review will be the economic impact of the proposed and alternative actions and the environ-mental impact of generating replacement power (e.g., to replace capacity lost due to operating changes or decommissioning, and during steam generator tube plugging, resleeving, or replace-ment activities. In addition to these and other nonradiologi- )

cal issues, there are radiological health and safety issues  !

which must be considered. WEPA has been interpreted to require l disclosure and analysis of environmental impacts which are out-  !

side the jurisdiction or expertise of the reviewing agency. In I such instances the reviewing agency solicits the advice of l agencies with jurisdiction and expertise. A ,

GOO /

We presume that whatever actions are taken with respect to S ,

Point Beach Unit I will comply with the NRC regulations for '

occupational and public radiation health and safety. However f f there are three key radiation health and safety issues that I I need further attention to satisfy WEPA requirements:

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Mr. Robert A. Clark January 16, 1981 Page 2 .

a. For the alternatives of steam generator replacement, steam generator resleeving, and continued operation at decreased capacity (no action), how does each alternative affect the amount and kind of routine radionuclide releases and ensuing public radiation

, exposure?

b. How do the above alternatives differ with respect to occupational radiation exposure?

c. If the no action option is chosen, is the risk of, or possible severity of an accident increased as the number of plugged steam generator tubes increases from 12% to 30%?

• The PSC staff believes that the NRC has primary jurisdiction over and expertise in the radiological health and safety aspects of a licensed operating nuclear power plant. Accord-ingly we are requesting your assistance in completing the necessary environmental review to satisfy WEPA requirements.

Preferably this would be in the form of responses to the above questions together with any other radiological inforvation you find pertinent to the proposal and alternatives. If this is '

not convenient, PSC staff would request an NRC review of the proposed and alternative actions together with a discussion of the likelihood of significant change in radionuclide releases or of any probable violation of appropriate standards. The staff intends to include the written NRC discussion of the radiological health and safety aspects of the proposal and alternatives as part of the environmental screening to comply with WEPA. We would appreciate your response by February 6 in keeping with our desired schedule for completing the environ-mental screening.

I am enclosing copies of the application and the environmental information that has been supplied by Wisconsin Electric Power Company.

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss our pro-cess, I welcome your calls at 608/266-5990.

Sincerely,

' t? ' { M Jerry E. Mendl WEPA Coordinator JEM/SJ/kmw Enclosures cc: Sol Burstein (no enclosures)

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DEC'0i ISeu Wisconsin Electric pana coursur sek 2n W. MicHICAN. P.O. 80X 2046. MILWAUKEE WI 53201 December 5, 1980 PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF WISCONSIN Hill Farms State Office Building 4802 Sheboygan Avenue Madison, Wisconsin 53702 Gentlemen:

STEAM GENERATOR INVESTIGATION s

POINT BEACH NCCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 1 PSCW DOCKET 6630-CE-20 We submit for filing the original and two copies of an amended application for authority under provisions of Section 196.49 of the Wisconsin Statutes and section PSC 112.05(b) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code for the acquisition of replacement steam generator icwer assenblies and primary moisture separators in the town of Two Creeks, at the Point Beach Nuclear plant, Unit 1, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. The original application in this docket which is superseded by this amendment was filed on .

February 29, 1980.

As was described in a letter to the Commission dated November 17, 1987, darly next year we will begin planning for the -

possible sleeving of both Point Beach Unit 1 steam generators.

The decision to sleeve will be made after evaluating the results of the sleeving program at Southern California Edison Company's San Gnofre Unit 1 and of a demonstration program at Point Beach expected to be conducted beginning in March of 1981. We continue to believe that it is prudent to proceed with the prompt acquisition of two spare steam generators to enable the earliest possible replacement of the steam generators should the sleeving option not be selected or should it prove to be unsuccesqful. Therefore, we request that our application in Docket 6630-CE-20 be amended and that authorization be granted to acquire, but not install, two spare steam generators. While we do not believe that specific Commission authorization is normally required by Section PSC 112.05, Wisconsin Administrative Code, for a repair project at an existing facility, we have included information in this amended application regarding the proposed sleeving repair project because it relates to the decision to purchase spare steam generators and because of the interest of the Commission in establishing its investigatory docket regarding steam generator tube degradation.

M PSCW December 5, 1980 l As noted by the Commission in its October 31, 1980 letter to Wisconsir's Environmental Decade, replacements and repairs as described in this amended application are categorized ,

as Category III actions under Section PSC 2.90(3) (z) , Wisconsin 1 Administrative code, and neither an environmental screening nor preparation of an environmental impact statement would be required.

We agree with the CommissiB'n in this instance and believe that the Commission should proceed with a prompt hearing on our amended application. We will continue to keep the Commission informed of our plans regarding the repair of the steam generators at Point Beach Nuclear Plant.

Very truly'yours, l 0 f C. S. McNeer President Enclosures W

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