ML20127C422
| ML20127C422 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Comanche Peak  |
| Issue date: | 01/11/1993 |
| From: | Black S Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20127C426 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9301140201 | |
| Download: ML20127C422 (4) | |
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7590-01 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION TV ELECTRIC UTILITIES COMPANY DOCKET NO. 50-446 COMANCHE PEAK STEAM ELECTRIC STATION. UNIT NO. 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering the issuance of an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 70.24 to TU Electric (the applicant). The exemption would apply to the facility operating license for the Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station, Unit 2 (the facility) located in Somervell County, Texas.
A similar exemption was requested for Unit 1 by letter dated June 30, 1989.
The Unit 1 exemption was granted by the NRC staff and the evaluation is contained in Safety Evalution Report (NUREG-0797), Supplement No. 22.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of Proposed Action The proposed action would allow an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 70.24 for the operation of Comanche Peak, Unit 2 in response to the applicant's request dated December 18, 1992.
The Need for the Proposed Action The exemption from 10 CFR 70.24 would allow irradiated or unirradiated l
fuel assemblies to be handled and stored in the Comanche Peak fuel handling building without having a monitoring system which will energize clearly audible alarms if accidental criticality occurs.
This exemption will be deemed acceptable provided that no more than two fuel assemblies are outside an approved shipping container, storage rack, or fuel transfer tube at any time and a minimum 12-inch, edge-to-edge distance is maintained between such l
9301140201 930111 PDR ADOCK 05000446 A
. l assemblies. The proposed exemption is needed to permit fueling and refueling operations at Comanche Peak without the criticality monitoring systems specified by 10 CFR 70.24(a).
TV Electric's Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station, Unit 1, currently has an exemption from the criticality monitoring requuirement. of 10 CFR 70.24. The fuel handling system ar.d storage racks are commoa equipment to
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both units; and the refueling procedures are dual unit proceJures.
The design f
and administrative controls applicable to Unit I to preclude inadvertent criticality will be similarly applied to Unit 2.
Environmental Imnacts of the Pronosed Action There are no environmental impacts of the proposed action.
Criticality l
will be precluded by the restriction that no more than two fuel assemblies 1
shall be authorized to be outside of an approved shipping container, storage--
rack, or the fuel transfer tube at any one time and a minimum 12-inch, j
y edge-to-edge distance is maintained between such assemblies.
Because these measures provide assurance that criticality will not occur during receipt, inspection, or storage of fuel, this is an acceptable alternative to a monitoring system. Since the proposed exemption does not otherwise affect radiological plant effluents nor cause any significant occupational exposures, the Ce mission concludes that there are no radiological environmental impacts l
u associated with this proposed exemption.
With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed
-exemption involves systems located entirely within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20.
The proposed exemption does not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact.
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1herefore, the Commission concludes that there aru no significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed exemption.
Alternative to the Pronnted Action The Commission has concluded that there are no measurable environmental impacts associated with the proposed exemption. The principal alternative would be for the Commission to deny the requested exempt;on.
This would not reduce the environmental impacts of the plant operation.
Micrat11y_e __Use of R sources t
This action does not involve the use of resources not previously considered in the final Environmental Statement related to the operation of Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 dated September 1981 and Supplement dated October 1989, baqnc.iti,and Persons Consulted The NRC staff reviewed the applicant's request and did not consult other agencies or persons,
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f14DlHELOL.HQ_SlGuf_1.C ANT IMPAM The Commission 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 applicant's letter dated December 18, 1992.
The letter is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20555 and at the University of iexas at
4 Arlington Library, Government Publications / Maps, 701 South Cooper, P. O. Box 19497, Arlington, Texas 76019.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this lith day of January 1993.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMIS$10N C{
Suzanne
. Black, Director Project Directorate IV-2 Division of Reactor Projects Ill/IV/V Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation t's
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