ML20197B372

Notice of Environ Assessment & Finding of No Significant Impact Supporting Exemption Request to Provide Relief from Control Room Operability Requirements of 10CFR50.44(c)(3)(III) for Plant High Point Vents

ML20197B372
Person / Time
Site:	Yankee Rowe
Issue date:	10/21/1986
From:	Fairtile M Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
Shared Package
ML20197B378	List: ML20197B372 ML20197B403
References
NUDOCS 8610290094
Download: ML20197B372 (4)

Text

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7590-01 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION YANKEE ATOMIC ELECTRIC COMPANY YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION DOCKET NO.50-029 NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING 0F NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of 10 CFR 50.44(c)(3)(iii) to Y6nkee Atomic Electric Company (the licensee) for the Yankee Nuclear Power Station (Yankee) located at the licensee's site near Rowe, Massachusetts.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of Proposed Action:

The exemption would provide relief frcm control room operability requirements of 10 CFR 50.44(c)(3)(iii) for the Yankee high point vents. The proposed exemption is in accordance with the licensee's request for exemption dated October 3, 1986.

The Need for the Proposed Action:

• 10 CFR 50.44(c)(3)(iii) requires that high point vents be provided for the reactor coolant system and the reactor vessel head and that the high point vents must be remotely operated from the control room. The vents are presently operational from the control room. However, to prevent spurious operation in the event of a fire, the licensee desires to remove power from the valves such that an operator action outside the control room would be required to operate the vent system. The licensee, therefore, asked for an exerrption from the control room operability requirement in the October 3,1986 application.

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7590-01 i

_2 Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action:

The proposed exemption from the control room operability requirements will not result in a significant environmental impact because: (1) the required operator action would be perfomed in the switchgear room, which is located directly under the control room and is easily accessible; IP) sufficient time exists to restore power to the valves prior to the need for their use; and (3) the removal of power from the valves will reduce the chance of inadvertent opening of the vent valves and thus reduce the chance of initiation of an accident.

Our evaluation of the proposed exemption indicates that the exemption will not significantly increase the probability or consequences of any radiological releases, and there is no significant increase in occupational exposures. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with this proposed exemption.

With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed exemption i'ivolves systems located entirely within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect 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 proposed exemption.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action:

Since we have concluded that the environmental effects of the proposed action are not significant, any alternatives with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be evaluated.

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7590-01 The principal alternative would be to deny the requested exemption. o This would not reduce the environmental impacts and could result in the licensee being in violation of the Commission's regulations.

Alternative Use of Resources:

This action does not involve the use of resources beyond the scope of resources used during normal plant operation.

Agencies and Persons Consulted:

The NRC 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 proposed exemption.

Based upon the foregoing environmental assessment, we conclude that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the cuality of the human environment.

For further details with respect to this action, see the request for exemption dated October 3,1986, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 1717 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

20555, and at the Greenfield Community College,1 College Drive Greenfield, Massachusetts 01301.

Dated at Rethesda, Maryland, this 21th day of October,1986.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Lg4 <

Morton B. Fairtile, Acting Director PWR Pro.iect Directorate 118 Division of PWR Licensing-A

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