ML20080F349
| ML20080F349 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Byron, Braidwood  |
| Issue date: | 01/13/1995 |
| From: | Shiraki C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20080F352 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9501200129 | |
| Download: ML20080F349 (5) | |
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i UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION COP 990NWEALTH EDISON COMPANY DOCKET N05. STN 50-454. STN 50-455. STN 50-456. AND STN 50-457 BYRON STATION. UNITS 1 AND 2. AND BRAIDWOOD STATION. UNITS I AND 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission (the Comission) is considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-37 and NPF-66, issued to comonwealth Edison Company (Comed, the licensee) for operation of Byron Station, Unit Nos. I and 2, located in Ogle County, Illinois, and to i
Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-72 and NPF-77 for operation of Braidwood Station, Unit Nos. I and 2, located in Will County, Illinois.
i ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT I
Identification of Procosed Action By letter dated November 7,1994, Comonwealth Edison Company (Comed, i
the licensee) requested changes to the technical specifications (TS) for Byron Station, Units I and 2, and Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2, to permit the use of higher enriched fuel and to specify the spent fuel storage requirements for Regions 1 and 2 of the spent fuel pools.
The proposed changes would allow for the storage of fuel with enrichment not to exceed a nominal 5.0 weight percent (w/o) Uranium 235 (U-235) in the spent fuel storage racks. An enrichment manufacturing tolerance of 10.05 percent U-235 about the nominal value was incorporated into the analysis.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application for amendment dated November 7,1994, as supplemented by letter dated December 16, 1994.
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, The Need for Proposed Action The proposed changes are needed so that the licensee can n e higher fuel enrichment to provide the flexibility of extending the fuel irradiation and to reduce the number of new fuel assemblies required per reload which will reduce spent fuel storage space requirements.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed revisions to the TS. The proposed revisions would permit use of fuel enriched to a nominal 5.0 weight percent U-235. The safety considerations associated with reactor operation with higher enrichment and extended irradiation have been evaluated by the NRC staff. The staff has concluded that such changes would not adversely affect plant safety. The proposed changes have no adverse effect on the probability of any accident. The higher enrichment, with fuel burnup to 60,000 megawatt days per metric ton Uranium, may slightly change the mix of fission products that might be released in the event of a serious accident, but such small changes would not significantly affect the consequences of serious accidents. No changes are being made in the types or amounts of any radiological effluents that may be released offsite. There is no significant increase in the allowable individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure.
The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use of i
higher enrichment fuel and extended irradiation were published and discussed l
in the staff assessment entitled, "NRC Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Transportation Resulting from Extended Fuel Enrichment and Irradiation,"
dated July 7,1988, and published in the Federal Reaister (53 FR 30355) on
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s August II, 1988, as corrected on August 24, 1988 (53 FR 32322) in connection l
with Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1: Environmental Assessment and
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-Finding of No Significant Impact. As indicated therein, the environmental cost contribution of the propo ed increase in the fuel enrichment and i
irradiation limits are either unchanged or may, in fact, be reduced from those i
summarized in Table S-4 asset forth in 10 CFR 51.52(c). These findings are applicable to Byron, Units 1 and 2, and Braidwood, Units 1 and 2.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed amendment.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed action involves features 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 environuental impact. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Alternative to the Proposed Action Since the Commission concluded that there are no significant environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any other alternative would have equal or greater environmental impacts and need not be
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evaluated.
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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.
., Alternative Use of Resources This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously i
considered in the Final Environmental Statement related to operation of Byron, Units I and 2, and Braidwood, Units 1 and 2.
Aaencies and Persons Consulted In accordance with its stated policy, the staff consulted with the I
Illinois State official regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT 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. Accordingly, the Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed license amendments.
For further details with respect to this action, see the application for i
amendments dated November 7, 1994, as supplemented by letter dated December 16, 1994, which are available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW.,
Washington, DC, and t.t the local public document room for Byron Station, the Byron Public Library,109 N. Franklin, P.O. Box 434, Byron, Illinois, and for Braidwood Station, the Wilmington Township Public Library, 201 S. Kankakee Street, Wilmington, Illinois.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day of January 1995, i
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l
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Clyde Y. Shiraki, Acting Director Project Directorate III-2 Division of Reactor Projects - III/IV Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation L
T e
j DISTRIBUTION Docket File PDIII-2 r/f OGC January 13, 1995 CMoore EENINXXX t
RAssa DOCKET NO.
STN 50-454, STN 50-455, STN 50-456, STN 50-457 MEMORANDUM TO:
Rules Review and Directives Branch Division of Freedom of Information and Publications Services Office of Administration FROM:
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation E
SUBJECT:
COMMONWEAL.TH EDISON COMPANY - Braidwood, 1&2, and Byron, 1&2 One signed original of the FederalRegister Notice identified below is attached for your transmittal to the Office of the Federal Register for publication. Additional conformed copies (
5 ) of the Notice are enclosed for your use.
Notice of Receipt of Application for Construction Permit (s) and Operating License (s).
Notice of Receipt of Partial Application for Construction Permit (s) and Facility License (s):
Time for submission of Views on Antitrust matters.
Notice of Consideration of issuance of Amendment to Facility Operating License. (Call with 30-day insert date).
Notice of Receipt of Application for Facility License (s): Notice of Availability of Applicant's Environmental Report; and Notice of Consideration of issuance of Facility License (s) and Notice of Opportunity for Hearing.
Notice of Availability of NRC Draft / Final Environmental Statement.
Notice of Limited Work Authorization.
Notice of Availability of Safety Evaluation Report.
Notice of Issuance of Construction Permit (s).
Notice of issuance of Facility Operating License (s) or Amendment (s).
Order.
1 Exemption.
O Notice of Granting Exemption.
Environmental Assessment.
i Notice of Preparation of Environmental Assessment.
Receipt of Petition for Director's Decision Under 10 CFR 2.206.
Issuance of Final Director's Decision Under 10 CFR 2.206.
Other:
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Attachment (s): As stated
Contact:
Ramin R. Assa Telephone:
415-1391 DOCUMENT NAME:
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- E" = Copy with attarhrnent/ enclosure
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