ML20196J947
| ML20196J947 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 12/08/1998 |
| From: | Dromerick A NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML100361027 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9812110129 | |
| Download: ML20196J947 (5) | |
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK DOCKET NO. 50-286 INDIAN POINT NUCLEAR GENERATING UNIT NO. 3 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT 1
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its regulations for Facility Operating License No.
DPR-64, issued to the Power Authority of the State of New York (the licensee), for operation of the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit No. 3, Iccated in Westchester County, New York.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of Proposed Action:
The proposed action would exempt the licensee from the requirements of 10 CFR 70.24, which requires a monitoring system that will energize clear audible alarms if accidental criticality occurs in each area in which special nuclear material is handled, used, or stored.
The proposed action would also exempt the licensee from the requirements to maintain emergency procedures for each area in which this licensed special nuclear materialis handled, used, or stored to ensure that all personnel withdraw to an area of safety upon the sounding of the alarm, to familiarize personnel with the evacuation plan, and to designate responsible individuals for determining the cause of the alarm, and to place radiation survey instruments in accessible locations for use in such an emergency.
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L The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application for exemption
, dated September 24,1998.
The Need for the Proposed Action:
The purpose of 10 CFR 70.24 is to ensure that if a criticality were to occur during the handling of special nuclear material, personnel would be alerted to that fact and would take appropriate action. At a commercial nuclear power plant the inadvertent criticality with which 10 CFR 70.24 is concemed could occur during fuel handling operations. The special nuclear material that could be assembled into a critical mass at a commercial nuclear power plant is in the form of nuclear fuel; the quantity of other forms of special nuclear material that is stored on site is small enough to preclude achieving a critical mass. Because the fuelis not enriched beyond 5.0 weight percent Uranium-235 and because commercial nuclear plant licensees have procedures and design features that prevent inadvertent criticality, the staff has determined that it is unlikely that an inadvertent criticality could occur due to the handling of special nuclear material at a commercial power reactor. The requirements of 10 CFR 70.24, I therefore, are not necessary to ensure the safety of personnel during the handling of special l
nuclear materials at commercial power reactors. '
Environmentalimoacts of the Proposed Action:
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that inadvertent or accidental criticality will be precluded through compliance with the Indian Point Unit No. 3 Technical Specifications, through the design of the fuel storage racks, and through administrative controls imposed on fuel handling procedures.
The proposed action will not increase the probability or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of any effluents that may be released off site, and there 9
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'v 3-is no significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there are no
. significant radiological environmentalimpacts associated with the proposed exemption.
With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed action does not involve l any historic sites. It does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other nonradiological environmentalimpact. Therefore, there ara no significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Altemaiives to the Proposed Action:
As an attemative to the proposed exemption, the staff considered denial of the proposed action (i.e., the no action attemative). Denial of the request would result in no change in current environmentalimpacts. The environmentalimpacts of the proposed action and the attemative action are similar.
Alternative Use of Resources:
This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the l Final Environmental Statement related to the Indian Point Unit 3, dated February 1975.
l l Acencies and Persons Consulted:
l In accordance with its stated policy, on October 28,1998, the staff consulted with the New York State Official, Jack Spath, of the New York State Research and Development Authority regarding the environmentalimpact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments.
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4 FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT i On the basis of 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.
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the licensee's letter dated i
September 24,1998, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, which is located at The Gelman Building,2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at the 100 Martine Avenue, White Plains Public Library, White Plains, New York,10601. ;
l Dated at Rockvi!!e, Maryland, this 8thday of December ,1998.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMM(SSION Alexander W. Dromerick, Acting Director Project Directorate 1-1 Division of Reactor Projects - t/il Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation ll
, . .- - . .- __ , - ~ . . . . _ _ - . . - - - - _ . _ . . -
r 1-4 James Knubel Indian Point Nuclear Generating Power Authority of the State Unit No. 3 of New York '
i cc:
Regional Administrator Region i Resident inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Indian Point 3 Nuclear Power Plant 475 Allendale Road U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission King of Prussia, PA 19406 P.O. Box 337 Buchanan, NY 10511 Mr. Gerald C. Goldstein Assistant General Counsel Mr. Charles W. Jackson, Manager l Power Authority of the State Nuclear Safety and Licensing 1 of New York Consolidated Edison Company 1633 Broadway of New York, Inc.
New York, NY 10019 Broadway and Bleakley Avenues Buchanan, NY 10511 Mr. Eugene W. Zeltmann, President and Chief Operating Officer Mayor, Village of Buchanan ,
Power Authority of the State 236 Tate Avenue l of New York Buchanan, NY 10511 ;
99 Washington Ave., Suite # 2005 Albany, NY 12210-2820 Mr. Richard L. Patch, Director '
Quality Assurance
! Mr. Robert J. Barrett Power Authority of the State l.
Site Executive Officer of New York Indian Point 3 Nuclear Power Plant 123 Main Ctreet P.O. Box 215 White Plains, NY 10601 l Buchanan, NY 10511
- Mr. Paul Eddy Ms. Charlene D. Faison New York State Dept. of l Director Nuclear Licensing Public Service Power Authority of the State 3 Empire State Plaza,10th Floor i- of New York Albany, NY 12223 1~
123 Main Street-White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Harry P. Salmon, Jr. I Vice President - Engineering Mr. F. William Valentino, President Power Authority of the State ;
New York State Energy, Research, of New York and Development Authority 123 Main Street Corporate Plaza West White Plains, NY 10601 286 Washington Ave. Extension Albany, NY 12203-6399 Mr. Robert Hargrove (5)
Environmental Review Coordinator Charlas Donaldson, Esquire 26 Federal Plaza '
Atsistant Attomey General New York, NY 10278 4
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New York Department of Law 120 Droadway
- New York, NY 10271
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