ML20086A981
| ML20086A981 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Summer  |
| Issue date: | 10/15/1991 |
| From: | Lo R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | South Carolina Electric & Gas Co, South Carolina Public Service Authority |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20086A984 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9111190453 | |
| Download: ML20086A981 (5) | |
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7590-01 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTRIC & GAS COMPANY SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY DOCKET NO. 50-395 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT j.-
The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of exemptions from tne provisions of: (1) 10 CFR 50.46, which requires the calculation of emergency core cooling system (ERCS) performance for reactors with Zircaloy clad fuel; (2) 10 CFR 50.44, which gives requirements to control the hydrogen generated by Zircaloy clad fuel after a postulated loss-of-coolant-accident (LOCA); and (3) Appendix K to 10 CFR Part 50, which presumes the use of Zircaloy fuel when doing calculations for energy release, cladding oxidation J
and hydrocen generation after a postulated LOCA, to South Carolina Electric &
c-Gas Company and South Carolina Public Service Authority, the licensees for V.
C. Summer Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 1 (Summer Station), located in Fairfield County, South Carolina.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of Proposed Action:
The proposed action would allow the licensee to use fuel assemblies whose cladding composition falls outside the definition of Zircaloy in the cited regulations. These assemblies would be loaded into the Summer Station reactor during the refueling outage in the fall of 1991.
9111190453 911015 PDR ADOCK 05000395 P
a i The licensee applied for an amendment to allow the use of other than Zircaloy clad fuel by letter, dated November 16, 1990.
The exemption is being undertaken on the Commission's own initiative.
The Need for the Proposed Action The exemption under consideration is needed because 10 CFR 50.46(a)(1)(i) and Appendix K to 10 CFR Part 50 require the demonstration of adequate ECCS performance for light-water reactors that contain fuel consisting of uranium oxide pellets enclosed in Zircaloy tubes; furthermore,10 CFR 50.44(a) addresses requirements to control hydrogen generated by Zircaloy fuel after a postulated LOCA. Since the cladding the licensee proposed to use in their i
Hovember 16, 1990, amendment request falls outside the definition of Zircaloy, the Commission, on its own initiative, took into consideration exemptions from 10 CFR 50.44, 10 CFR 50.46, and Appendix K to 10 CFR Part 50. The Commission believes that special circumstances exist since application of the rule in this case would not achieve the underlying purpose of the rule. The underlying purpose of 10 CFR 50.46 and Appendix K to 10 CFR Part 50 is to establish requirements for emergency core cooling systems. The underlying purpose of 10 CFR 50.44 is to control hydrogen generated by the metal / water reaction after a postulated LOCA, regardless of whether that metal is Zircaloy or Zirlo. The licensee addressed the safety impact of using the new fuel in its amendment application, and the staff evaluated this impact in its Safety Evaluations dated July 1,1991, and October 9,1991. These evaluations concluded that the
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facility can continue to comply with the purpose cf the appropriate regulation with Zirlo clad fuel. Therefore, the underlying purpose of the rule has been fulfilled.
L Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action:
With regard to potential radiological impacts to the general public, the exemption under consideration involves features located entirely within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20.
It does not affect the potential for radiological accidents and does not affect radiological plant effluents.
The new fuel assemblies meet the same oesign bases as the fuel that is currently in the reactor.
No safety limits have been changed or setpoints altered as a result of the use of these new assemblies.
The FSAR analyses are bounding for the new assemblies, as well as for the rest of the core. The advanced zirconium-based alloys have been shown through testing to perform satisfactorily under conditions representative of a reactor environment and the material properties of Zirlo and Zircaloy are very similar. The exemption under consideration therefore, does not affect the consequences of radiological accidents; consequent'ly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological impacts associated with the exemption.
With regard to the potential environmental impact associated with the transportation of the Zirlo clad fuel assemblies, the advanced cladding has no impact on previous assessments determined in accordance with 10 CFR 51.52.
With regard to non-radiological impacts, the exemption under consideration does not effect non-radiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated with the exemption.
Alternative to the Proposed Action:
Since the Commission has concluded that there are no significant environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any alternatives to this exemption will have either no significantly different environmental l
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i impact or greater environmental impact. The principal alternative would be to deny the licensee's amendment request. This would not reduce environmental impacts as a result of plant operations.
Alternative use of Resources:
This action does not involve the use of resources not previously considered in the " Final Environmental Statement Related to the Operation of Virgil. C. Summer Nuclear Station,Ilnit No. 1," dated May 1981.
Agencies and Persons Consulted:
The 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 exemption under consideration.
Based on the foregoing environmental assessment, the staff concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 15th day of October 1991.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Orignal signed by:
Ronnie H. Lc, Acting Director Project Directorate 11-1 Division of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
- See previous concurrence M
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4 impact or greater eavironmental impact. The principal alternative would be to deny the licensee's amendment request.
This would not reduce environmental impacts as a result of plant operations.
Alternative use of Resources:
This action does not involve the use of resources not previously considered in the " Final Environmental Statement Related to the Operation of Virgil. C. Summer Nuclear Station, Unit No.
1," dated May 1981.
Agencies and Persons Consulted:
The staff reviewed the licensee's request and did not consult other agencies or persons.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The Commissior,has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the exemption under consideration.
Based on the foregoing environmental assessment, the staff concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 15th day of October 1991.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION d
Orignal signed by:
Ronnie H. Lo, Acting Director i
Project Directorate 11-1 Division of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
- See previous concurrence re a
OFC
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DATE :10/
91
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- 9/24/91
- 10//f/91 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Document Name: SUMMER 79121 EA
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