ML20011F183

Environ Assessment & Finding of No Significant Impact Re Util 890925 Request for Exemption from 10CFR50.71(e)(4) Requirements

ML20011F183
Person / Time
Site:	Rancho Seco
Issue date:	02/22/1990
From:	Rood H Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
Shared Package
ML20011F182	List: ML20011F183
References
NUDOCS 9003020006
Download: ML20011F183 (3)

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UNITED STATES' NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SACRAMENTO MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT DOCKET NO. 50-312 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT l

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission (the Comission) is considering issuanceofanexemptionfromtheschedularrequirementsof10CFR50.71(e)(4) totheSacramentoMunicipalUtilityDistrict(SMUD,thelicensee),forthe Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station located in Sacramento County, California.

D!VIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT l

Identification of Proposed Action:

The proposed action would grant an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 50.71(c)(4) to annually update the Rancho Seco Updated Safety Analysis Report (USAR).

By letter dated September 25, 1989, SMUD requested an extension for submitting the next revision to the USAR. The next revision, i

Amendment 7, would have been due no later than January 22, 1990. The SMUD request would extend the due date to no later than June 22, 1990.

Subsequent revisions would be due on an annual schedule beginning on June 22, 1991.

I The Need for the proposed Action:

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'The request for extension of the submittal date for the USAR revision is based on the permanent cessation of-power operation at Rancho Seco on June 7, 1989 and the completion of defueling the reactor on December 8, 1989. Defuel-

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ing is the last major action associated with an operating reactor, and in an effort to include all modifications at Rancho Seco relevant to an operating

, reactor.the licensee requested an extension. Under the existing USAR revision schedule, a licensee submittal was required no later than January 22, 1990.

Plant modifications, in place six months prior to the due date, are required 9003020006 900222-D PDR ADOCK 05000312 ri P

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to be addressed in the submittal.

As a result, a USAR update submittal on January 22, 1990, would have included a plant description and safety analysis which is current through June 22, 1989. The last six months of 1989 was a period where modifications associated with a normal operational plant continued.

l including extensive modifications to the fuel handling systems and a USAR I

update submittal on January 22, 1990 would not have included the final plant status as a normal operational plant.

Environmental impact of the Proposed Action:

The proposed exemption affects only the required date for submitting the USAR revision and does not affect the risk of facility accidents.

Plant modifications completed during the period which would have been encompassed by the normal submittal schedule were evaluated independently by the utility and reviewed by the NRC staff. The post-accident radiologicel releases will not differ from those determined previously, and the proposed exemption does not otherwise affect facility radiological effluents, or any significant l

1 occupational exposures. With regard to potential non-radinlogical impacts, the proposed exemption does not affect plant non-radiological effluents and l

L has no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Comission concludes there are no measurable radiological or non-radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed exemption. Since the Comission has concluded there is no measurable environmental impact associated with the proposed exemption, any alternatives either will have no environmental impact or will L

have a greater environmental impact. The principal alternative to the exemption would be to require an earlier date for submittal of the USAR. Such an action would not enhance the protection of the environment and would result in unnecessary drain of licensee and Commission resources.

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I 7590-01 3-E 3

Alternative Use of Lesources:

This action does not involve the use of resources not considered previously

-in the Final Environmental Statement for the Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station.

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 Connission has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed exemption. Based upon the environmental assessment, the NRC_ staff concludes 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 September 25, 1989, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room 2120 L Street NW., Washington, DC 20555, and at the Martin Luther King Regional Library, 7340 24th Street Bypass, Sacramento, California 95822.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of February

, 1990.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

.m Harry Ro

. Acting Director Project Directorate V Division of Reactor Projects 111,

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IV, Y and Special Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation l

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