ML20205N656
| ML20205N656 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 04/12/1999 |
| From: | Clifford J NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20205N660 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9904190061 | |
| Download: ML20205N656 (5) | |
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7590-01-P UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION GPU NUCLEAR. INC.. ET AL.
DOCKET NO. 50-289 THREE MILE ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION. UNIT 1 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R for Facility Operating License No. DPR-50 issued to GPU Nuclear, Inc., et al., (GPU or the licensee), for operation of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1 (TMI-1) located in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of the Proposed Action:
Section Ill.G.2.c of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 requires the enclosure of cable and equipment and associated non-safety circuits of one redundant train of systems necessary to achieve and maintain sa' N tdown in a fire barrier having a 1 hnur rating. In addition, fire i
detectors and an automa a fire suppression system shall be installed in the fire area. The licensee is seeking an exemption from these requirements for 10 fire areas / zones: AB-FZ-3, AB-FZ-4 AB-FZ-5, AB-FZ-7, CB-FA-1, FH-FZ-1, FH-FZ-2, FH-FZ-6, ISPH-FZ-1 and ISPH-FZ-2.
9904190061 990412 PDR ADOCK 05000209 F
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l l The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application for exemption dated December 31,1996, as supplemented September 8 and December 30,1997; May 21, October 14, November 25, and December 23,1998.
l The Need fnr the Proposed Action:
The licensee is requesting an exemption from Appendix R, Section ill.G._.c because modifications to achieve full compliance would cost approximately $1.0 million. The proposed l
action is needed to reduce the financial hardship of modifying existing barriers to achieve a 1-hour fire rating, which modification would provide minimal safety benefit according to the licensee.
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Environment impacts of the Proposed Action:
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The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes l
l that reasonable assurance has been provided in fire zones / areas AB-FZ-4, CB-FA-1, FH-FZ-1, l
l FH FZ-6, IPSH-FZ-1, and ISPH-FZ-2, that one division of components necessary to achieve safe shutdewn will remain free of fire damage. Although the installed Thermo-Lag barriers in these fire zones / areas have less than a 1-hour fire endurance rating, they do have some significant resistance to fire. Additionally, the areas where most of the subject barriers are i
located have a low combustible loading, have manual suppression capability and are equipped with automatic detection and suppression. The licensee has committed to insta.1 automatic suppression in fire zone C1 FZ-6. Additionally, the licensee has committed to install combustible gas detectors in fire area CB-FA-1, which would provide prompt identification of i
j an acetylene gas leak and allow isolation of the gas at its source prior to reaching the explosive limit. The staff has determined that the combination of these features and circumstar.ces provides a level of protection adequate to meet the underlying purpose of the rule. The Commission has determined that the exemption for fire zones AB-FZ-3, AB-FZ-5, t.
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. AB-FZ-7, and FH-FZ-2 should be denied bec.ause an adequate level of fire safety would not be achieved.
The proposed action (hereinafter to mean the granting of an exemption for fire zones / areas AB-FZ-4, CB-FA-1, FH-FZ-1 FH-FZ-6, ISPH-FZ-1, and ISPH-FZ-2) 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 is no signifit. ant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
With regard to potential non-radiologicalimpacts, the proposed action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no other environmentalimpact. Therefore, there are no significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Acc ordingly, the Commission concludes there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
i Attematives to the Proposed Action:
As an attemative to the proposed action, the staff considered denial of the proposed action (i.e., the "no-action" attemative). Denial of the application would result in r.o change in current environmentalimpacts.
The environmentalimpacts of the proposed action and attemative action are similar.
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Alternative Use of Resources:
This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the l
Final Environmental Statement for the Three Mile Island Nuclear Station.
Aoencies and oersons Consulted:
In accordance with its stated policy, on January 13,1999, the staff consulted with the o
Pennsylvania State official, Mr. Stan J. Maingi, of the Bureau of Radiation Protection, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, regarding the environmentd Jmpact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments.
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 l
December 31,1996, as supplemented September 8 and December 30,1997; May 21, October 14, Novernber 25, and December 23,1998, which are available for public inspectr n at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman Building,2120 L Street, NW.,
Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at the LAW /Govemment 1
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- Publications Section, State Library of Pennsylvania, (Regional Depository) Walnut Street and l
Commonwealth Avenue, P.O. Box 1601 Hanisburg, PA 17105.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 12th day of April 1999.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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J mes W. Cliffor, Chief, Section 2 Project Directorate l Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation l
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