ML20196D164
| ML20196D164 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hatch  |
| Issue date: | 01/25/1988 |
| From: | Crocker L Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20196D169 | List: |
| References | |
| TAC-66471, NUDOCS 8802170036 | |
| Download: ML20196D164 (3) | |
Text
.
7 5 ?C-C'.
g UNITED STATES ?.UCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION GEORGIA POWER COMPANY OGL ETh0RPt P0ktR CORPORATION MUN!clPAL ELECTRIC AUTHORIT) OF GEORGIA CII) OF DALT0h, GEOR5IA EDil!N 1. HATCH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 2 DOCKET NO. 50-366 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The V. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is issuing an exemption frum the requirements of 10 CFR 50.62(c)(4) to Georgia Power Company (the licensee) for the Edwin I. Ha:ch Nuclear Plant, Unit 2, located in Appling County. Georgia.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT l
identification of Proposed Action:
The exemption allows the use of a minimum flow rate of 41.2 GPM and an available sodium pentaborate concentration ranging from 6.2 weight percent (w/o) to 13 w/o depending on the volume of the sodium pentaborate solution existing in the standby liquid control system (SLCS) storage tank. The flow rate and concentration of sodium pentaborate are different from the requirements of 10 CFR 50.62(c)(4) which specify a flow l
rate of 86 GPM and a concentration of 13 w/o of sodium pentaborate.
The exemption responds to the licensee's application for exemption dated January 6, 1988.
j The Need for the Proposed Action:
The exemption is needed because the licensee i
l proposes to depart free 10 CFR 50;62(c)(4) requirements in view of Hatch. Unit 2, having a reactor vessel diameter which is sealler than that used to establish the einimum flow and boron content requirements set forth in the regulation.
Tne flev and cencentration recuireeents in 10 CTR 50.62 were based upon achiev-8802170036 000125 PDR ADOCK 05000366 1
P PDR,
i
o 2
[
in; a desired negative reactivity insertion rate into a 251-inch reactor vessel.
However, the regulation does not explicitly refer to the vessel size.
The reactor vessel for Hatch, Unit 2 is 218 inches in diameter.
Accord-ingly, the licensee has proposed to meet the requirenents of 10 CFR 50.62(c)(4) by using sodium pentaborate enriched to 60 atomic percent in the Boron-10 isotope, in solution with a concentration ranging from 6.2 w/o to 13 w/o depending upon the solution volume, and with a minimum injection flow rate of 41.2 GPM. For the Hatch, Unit 2 reactor vessel size, this injection flow rate and solution concentration, using a minimum of 60 atomic percent Boron-10 in the sodium pentaborate, results in a negative reactivity insertion rate equi-l valent to that specified in 10 CFR 50.62(c)(4) for a 251-inch reactor vessel.
Environmental Imoacts of the Proposed Action:
The exemption provides e degree of protection for the Hatch Unit 2 reactor equivalent to that required by the regulation for reactors with larger reactor vessels for prompt injection of negative reactivity into a boiling water reactor pressure vessel in the event cf an I.Til5. Cctsecuently, the prtbability of accidents has not been increased by the e>empticr. ar.c the post-accidert raciclogical releases would not be greater than previously determined. The exemption does not otherwise affect radiological plant effluents. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with this exemption.
The exemption does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are I
ne significant nonradiological environmental inoacts associated with the exerrtion.
l
)
i k
a
,\\
~
~
' Alternatives to the Proposed Action:
Since the Consnission has conclijded that there are no significant environmental effects that would result from the action, 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,re$uce the enviro'orrental impacts attributable to this facility
/
l
~~,
and Jodid'rssult in a larger exo'enditure of licensee resources to comply with
~
1 the Conmission's regulations.
Altertiative Use of, Resources: This action involves no use of resources not previostly considered in the Final Environmental Statement related to oper-I ation of the Hatch, Unit 2 Plant, dated March 1978.
Agencies and Persons Consulted:
The Conmission's staff reviewed the licensee's request and did not consult other agencies or persons.
FINDING 0F N0 SICNIFICANT IMPACT Based upon the foregofog, environmental assessment, we conclude that the action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environ-rre nt. The Conmission has, therefore, deterrnined not to prepare an environmental j
impact statement for the exemption.
For further details with. respect to this action, see the application for the exemption dated January 6, 1988 which is available for public inspection at the Conn ssion's Public Document Room,1717 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.,
and at the Appling County Public Library, 301 City Hall Drive, Baxley, Georgia 31513.
th Dated at Bethesda, Oaryland, this 25 day of January 1988.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Lawrence P. Crocker, Acting Director Project Directorate II-3 Division of Reactor Projects I/II j
Office of uclear Reac r Regulation h
h i
PDRII-3/DRP-1/II PDF.I1-3/DRP-I/II O
hesda P
I-3/DRP-I/II LCrocker/mac MRob,d 41 M
Acting PD 01/jy/88 01/ /f /88 01// /8 01/py/88