ML20082F916
| ML20082F916 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Prairie Island  |
| Issue date: | 04/05/1995 |
| From: | Carpenter C NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20082F918 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9504120411 | |
| Download: ML20082F916 (4) | |
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i UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY DOCKET NO. 50-306 PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT. UNIT 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of an exemption from facility Operating License No. DPR-60, issued to Northern States Power Company, (the licensee), for operation of the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit 2, located in Goodhue County, Minnesota.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of the Proposed Action:
This Environmental Assessment has been prepared to address potential
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environmental issues related to the licensee's application of February 23 and March 3, 1995.
The proposed action would exempt the licensee from the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Paragraph III.D.I.(a), to the extent that a one-time interval extension for the Type A test (containment integrated leak rate test) by approximately 24 months from the May 1995 refueling outage to the May 1997 refueling outage would be granted.
The Need for the Proposed Action:
The proposed action is.needed to permit the licensee to defer th' Type A e
test from the May 1995 refueling outage to the May 1997 refueling outage,-
thereby saving the cost of performing the test and eliminating the test period from the critical path time of the outage.
9504120411 950405 PDR ADOCK 05000306 P
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Environmental Imoact of the Proposed Action:
The. Commission has completed its evaluation of..the proposed action'and A
concludes that the proposed one-time exemption would not increase the i
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- probability or consequences of accidents'previously analyzed and the proposed one-time exemption would not affect facility radiation levcis"or facility' radiological effluents. The licensee has analyzed the results of previous'.
Type A tests performed at. Prairie Island Nuclear Generating' Plant, Unit No. 2, to show good containment performance and will continue to be required to conduct the Type B and C local leak rate tests which historically have been shown to be the principal ~ means of detecting containment leakage paths with
. the Type A tests confirming the Type B and C test results. -It'is also noted that the licensee, as a condition of the proposed exemption,. would perform the visual containment inspection although 1.t is only required-by Appendix J to be conducted in' conjunction with Type A tests. The NRC staff considers'that these inspections, though limited in scope, provide an important.added level of confidence in the continued integrity-of the containment boundary. The NRC staff also ~ notes that the prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit No. 2, containment penetration and weld channel pressurization system provides a means for continuously monitoring potential containment leakage paths during power operation. The change will not increase the probability or consequences' of accidents, no changes are being made in the types or amounts of'any H
R effluents that may be released offsite, and there is no significant increase in the allowable individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological. environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
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3-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 nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the -
proposed action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action:
Since the Commission feas concluded there is no measurable environmenta impact associated with the proposed action, any alternatives with equal or greater environmental inpact need not be evaluated. As an alternative to the-proposed action, the NRC staff considered denial of the proposed action.
Denial of the application would result in no change in current environmental impacts.
Alternative Use of ResourceJ:
This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant dated May 1973.
Acencies and person 1 Consulted:
In accordance with its stated policy, the NRC staff consulted with the Minnesota State official regarding the environmental impact of the proposed
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The State official had no comments, flNDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT 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
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licensee's letters dated February 23 and March 3,1995, which'are available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at the Minneapolis' Public Library, Technology and Science-Department, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 5540).
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day.of - April 1995.
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FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION-is.dedL'
%M Cynthia Carpenter,. Acting Director Project Directorate !!!-l Division of Reactor Projects - III/IV Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation e.