ML20076B403
| ML20076B403 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Duane Arnold  |
| Issue date: | 06/25/1991 |
| From: | Hall J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20076B405 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9107110209 | |
| Download: ML20076B403 (4) | |
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1 7590-01 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 10WA ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY CMTRALIOWAPOWERCOOPERATIVE CC.1N BELT POWER COOPERATIVE DUANE ARNOLD ENERGY CENTER DOCKET NO. 50-331 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 to the Iowa Electric Light and Power Cbmpany (the licensee), for the Duane Arnold Energy Center, located in Linn County, Iowa.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of Proposed Action The proposed action would grant an exemption from a requirement of Se: tion III.G.2 of. Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50, which relates to fire protection features that ensure that systems and associated circuits used to achieve and maintain safe shutdown are free of fire damage. The licensee has proposed that the existing fire protection configurations in the dryweil expansion gap are adequate to meet the purpose of the rule.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's request for exemption dated August 25, 1987.
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2 The Need for the Proposed Action As a result of the January 20, 1986 fire in the drywell expansion gap at the Dresden plant, the licensee was requested to address the question of compliance with Appendix R for the same area at the Duane Arnold Energy Center.
By letter dated August 25, 1987, the licensee submitted the proposed exemption.
The proposed exemption is needed because the features described in the is?nsee's request regarding the existing fire protection capability at the plant are the most practical method for meeting the intent of Appendix R, and literal compliance would not significantly enhance the fire protection capability at Duane Arnold.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action The Commission's staff has determined that granting the proposed exemption would not significantly increase the risk of fires at Duane Arnold.
Consequently, the probability of fires would not be increased, nor would the post-accident radiological releases be greater than previously determined.
Neither would the proposed exemption otherwise affect radiological plant effuents. Therefore, the Commission's staff concludes that there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed exemption.
The proposed exemption does not affect nonradiological effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed exemption,
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Alternative to the Proposed Action Since the Commission concluded that there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action, any alternatives would have either no or greater environmental impact.
The principal alternative would be to deny the requested exemption.
This would not reduce the environmental impacts attributed to the facility but would result in unjustified costs to the licensee, Alternative Use of Resources This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the " Final Environmental Statement Related to Operation of the Duane Arnold Energy Center," dated March 1973.
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 exemption, 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 request for exemption dated August 25, 1987, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
' and at the Cedar Rapids Public Library, 500 First St., S.E., Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of June 1991.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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[mesR. Hall,ActingDirector Project Directorate 111-3 04 vision of Reactor Projects lil/IV/V Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation