ML20206B135
| ML20206B135 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 02/24/1987 |
| From: | Knighton G Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17303A387 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8704080347 | |
| Download: ML20206B135 (4) | |
Text
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7590-01 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMNISSION ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY, ET AL.
PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT 3 DOCKET NO. STN 50-530 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of a partial exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 50, Appendix A, General Design Criterion 17. " Electric Power Systems" (GDC-17), during initial plant Modes 5 and 6, to the Arizona Public Service Company, Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, El Paso Electric Company, Scuthern California Edison Company, Public Service Company of New Mexico, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and Southern California Public Power Authority 4
(theapplicants)forthePaloVerdeNuclearGeneratingStation, Unit 3 located at the applicants' site in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Environmental Assessment Identification of Proposed Action The schedular exemption from Appendix A of 10 CFR Part 50 for Unit 3 would allow low power licensing and initial operation in Modes 5 (cold shutdown) and 6 (refueling) with one emergency diesel generator inoperable while undergoing repair, and completion of appropriate diesel and associated system retesting. The proposed exemption is in accordance with the applicants' letter dated February 3, 1987.
8704080347 870325 PDR ADOCK 05000530 P
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The Need for the Proposed Action The proposed Appendix A exemption is required due to the catastrophic failure, on December 23, 1986, of the Unit 3 Train B emergency diesel generator
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during preoperational testing. Without the proposed exemption, the applicants would have to delay fuel loading, and Unit 3 commercial operation would be subsequently delayed.
i Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action The safety analysis events which require use of emergency diesel. power are those events which assume significant reactor decay heat and a loss of offsite power. Each of the limiting loss of offsite power events are initiated from operational modes other than 5 and 6.
The Unit 3 fuel has yet to be irradiated; therefore, there would be no fission products in the core and no decay heat
< requiring core cooling. Since core cooling is not required, emergency diesel power would not be needed.
Operation in Modes 5 and 6 with only one of two redundant emergency diesel i
systems available would not exceed the present safety analysis.
In sumary, it would not be possible to have an accident or event of l
worse consequences or probability than those events previously evaluated in safety reviews and there would be no change in the environmental impacts of 1
plant operation resulting from the proposed action.
Alternative to the Proposed Action Because the staff has concluded that there is no measurable environmental impact associated with the proposed exemption, any alternative to this exemption will have either no environmental impact or greater environmental impact.
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' l The principal alternative would be to deny the requested exemption. This would not reduce environmental impacts of plant operation but would result in reduced operational flexibility and unwarranted delays in power ascension.
Alternative Use of Resources This action does not involve the use of resources not previously considered in connection with the "FES Related to the Operation of Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2 and 3, " dated February 1982.
Agencies and Persons Contacted The NRC staff reviewed the applicants' request and applicable documents referenced therein that support this proposed exemption. The NRC 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 quality of the human environment.
For details with respect to this action, see the letter dated February 3, 1987, which is available for public inspection at the Comission's Public Document Room,1717 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. and at the Local Public Document Room in the Phoenix Public Library, Business, Science, and Technology Department, 12 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.
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,.., ::b Dated at Bethesda, Maryland this 21d day of February 1987.
-I FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMISSION 5[
George W. Knighton, Director PWR Project Directerate No. 7 Division of PWR Licensing-B O
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