ML20199J958
| ML20199J958 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Fort Calhoun  |
| Issue date: | 01/29/1998 |
| From: | Wharton L NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20199J941 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9802060068 | |
| Download: ML20199J958 (5) | |
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UNITED STATES NUCI FAR REGULATORY COMMISSION i
OMAHA PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT i
FORT CALHOUN STATION. UNIT tiQ,,1 DOCKET NO. 50-285 i.
4 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT j
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of
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' en exemption from certain requirements of its regulations for Facility Operating License No.
L DPR-40 issued to Omaha Public Power District, for operation of the Fort Calhoun Station, Unit g
No.1 located in Washington County, Nebraska.
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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
- Identification of Pronosed Aqugg The proposed action would exempt Omaha Public Power District from the requirements t
l of 10 CFR 70.24, which requires in each area in which spacial nuclear material is handkd, t
used, or stored, a monitoring system that will energize clear audible alarms if accidental p
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criticality occurs. The proposed action would also exempt the licensee from the requirements of 1
i 10 CFR 70.24(a)(3) to maintain emergency procedures for each area 'n which this licensed speciel nuclear material is 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 responsiHe individuals for determining the cause of the alarm, and to place radiation survey instrumen4 in accessible locations %r use in such an emergency.
j-The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application for exemption dated August 29,1997, as supplemented by letter dated October 23,1997.
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2-The Need for the Proncsed Actiqp-f The purpose of 10 CFR 70.24 is to ensure that if a criticality were to occur during the handlir,g of special nuclear material, personnel would be alerted to that fact and would take 1
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 i
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 onsite in any given location is small enough to preclude achieving a critical mass. Because the fuel is 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 mmercial power reactor. The requirements of 10 l
. CFR 70.24, therefore, are not necessary to ensure the safety of personnel during the handling of special nuclear materials at commercial power reactors, i
Environmentalimoacts of the Proposed Action:
The Commission t.as completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes -
that there is no significant environmentalimpact if the exemption is granted, Inadvertent or accidental critmality will be precluded through compliance with the Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No.1 Technical Specifications, the design of the fuel storage racks providing geometric spacing of fuel assemblies in their storage locations, and administratim controls' imposed on fuel handling procedures. Technical Specifmetions requirements specify reactivity limits for the fuel storage rocks and minimum spacing between the fuel assemblies in the storage racks.
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r Appendix A of 10 CFR Part 50," General Design Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants,"
Criterion 62, requires the criticalMy in the fuel storage and handling system shall be prevented
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by physical systems or processes, preferably by use of geometrically safe confgurations. This is met at Fort Calhoun Station Unit No.1, as identired in the Technical Specifications and the Updated Safety Analysis Report (USAR). The basis for the exemption is that inadvertoni or accidental criticality will be precluded through compliance with the Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No.1 Technical Specifications Sectiow 2.8,2.10.1,2.10.2,4.4, ana 4.4.1; the geometric spacing of fuel assemblies in the new fuel storage racks and spent fuel storage pool; and administrative controls, USAR Sections g.5,11.2.3, and Appendix G, which are imposed c.'iuol i
handling procedures.
The proposed exemption would not result in any signific6nt radiological impacts, The proposed exemption would not affect radiological plant effluents nor ruuse any significant j
occupational exposures since the Technical Specifications, design controls including geumetric spacing of fuel assembly storage spaces, and administrative controls preclude inadvertent criticality. The amount of radioactive waste would not be changed by the proposed exemption, The proposed exemption does not result in any significant nonradiological environmental impacts. The proposed exemption involves features 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. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there mis no significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated with the pposed actinn.
Altamatives to the Ptaposed Achort Since the Commission has concl"ded that there is no measurable environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any attematives with equal or greater environmental
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E impact need not be evaluated. As an attomative to the proposed exem,-Hon, the staff considered denial of the requested exemption. Denial of the request would result in no change '
i in current environmentalimpacts. Tho environmentalimpacts of the proposed action and the l
aitemative action a e similar.
J Attamative Use of Rmanurema-This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the 4
Final Enviro'imental Statement (FES) for the Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No.1, dated August j
1972.
Aaencian and Persons Consultad:
In accordance with its stated policy, on January 29,1998, the staff consulted with the Nebraska State official, Ms. Cheryl Rodgers of the Department of Health, regarding the environmentalimpact of the proposed action. The State ofi,cial had no comments.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACI Based upon 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 detemsned 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 August 29,1997, and supplemental letter dated October 23,1997, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, which is located at The Gelman i
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Building, 2120 L Shwt, NW., Washington, D. C., and at the local public document room located at the W. Dele Clark Library,215 South 15th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102.
Dated at Rockville, Marylant, this 29th day of January 1998.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION L. Raynard Wharton, Project Manager Project Directorate IV 2 Division of Reactor Projects lilllV Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation W
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