ML20196B986
| ML20196B986 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | North Anna  |
| Issue date: | 12/05/1988 |
| From: | Berkow H Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20196B992 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8812070120 | |
| Download: ML20196B986 (4) | |
Text
. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COPNISSION VIRG!NIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY OLD DOMINION ELECTRIC COMPANY DOCKET N0. 50-338 NOTICE OF ISSUANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AKg FINDING OF N0 SIGNIFICANT IMPACT l
4 The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering the issuance of an exemption from the requirerents of 10 CFR 50.46 to Virginia Electric and Power Company and Md Dominion Electric Cooperative (the licensve) for the North Anna Power Station, Unit 1, located in Louisa County, Virginia.
f ENVIRONt1 ENTAL ASSESSMENT identification of Proposed Action and Need for Proposed Action,:
[
NA-1 is currently operating in Cycle 7 with two assemblies containing fuel rods clad with an advanced zirconium-based matarial as approved by the NRC f
letter of May 13, 1987. The licensee is proposing to use additional zirconium-based advanced cladding material in the same two fuel assemblies starting with 1
NA-1 Cycle 8.
These aiseiblies will contain fuel rods clad with an additional zirconium-based advanced alloy. Alttiough this, new zirconium-based alloy is very similar to "Zircaloy," whether or not this new alloy falls within the scope of 10 CFR 50.46 which applies to "Zircaloy" clad fuel is unclear.
In the I
I absence of a clear definition of the actual compound "Zircalc/" as stated in i
10 CFR 50.46, an exemption from the provisions of 10 CFR E0.46 limiting its j
rpplication to "Zircaloy" clad fuel is needed to permit authorization of the use of the new c. lad material, es # p$bkk 008 P
2 Furthermore, test experience with a limited number of assemblies for design development purposes provides important data to determine whether new designs can provide performance improvement while maintaining a high standard of safety performance.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action:
Reactor operation with the additional new cladding material will not be significantly affected.
The composition of this zirconium-based alloy is very similar to "Zircaloy" in essential respects; moreover, the test assemblies are not located in the portions of the core expected to experience highest burnup and highest power density. The safety assessments perforned by the licensee and the NRC staff demonstrate that performance of these essemblies in the event of a loss of Coolant Accident (LCC ' will be bounded by the performance previously calculated for other zircaloy clad assemblies in the : ore, which was based on accepted ECCS evaluation models.
Further, the staff has concluded that the use of two test assemblies containing the additional new alloy in the NA-1 reactor would conform to all current fuel design bases, would not change the existing reload design safety analysis limits, and would satisfy the hRC guidelines for lead test assemblies.
As a result, the use of the two lead test asserblies would not affect the probability or consequences of potential reactor accident s.
In addition, this proposed exemption does not otherwise affect radiological plant effluents.
Accordingly, the staff concludes that there are no significant radiological impacts associated with the proposed exemption.
With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed exemption involves features located entirely within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20.
Implementation of the proposed exemptiun will not affect non-radiological plant effluents and will have no other significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed exemption.
Alternative to the Proposed Action:
Since we have concluded thet the environmental effects of the proposed action are not significant, any alternatives with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be evaluated.
The principal alternative would be to deny the requested exemption. This would not reduce environmental impacts associated with operation of the facility and rdquiring compliance with the rule would negate design development purposes which provide important data to determine whether new fuel assemblies with advanced cladding material (zirconium-based alloy) can provide performance l
improvement while maintaining a high standard of safety performance.
i Alternative Use of Resources:
This action does not involve the use of any resourcos not previously considered in the Final Environmental Stotament (as amended) for the North Anna Power Station, Units No, I and No. 2.
Agencies and Persons Consulted:
The NRC staff reviewed the licensee's request and die not consult other agencies or persons.
e,
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The Comission 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 licensee's application for using two lead test assemblies with advanced cladding material dated September 30, 1988, which is available for public inspection at the Comission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C., and the Alderman Library, Manuscripts Department, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22901.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of December,1988.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMNISSION Ti. k.
Herbert N. Berkow, Director Project Directorate 11-2 Division of Reactor Projects I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 1