ML20215M054
| ML20215M054 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | North Anna  |
| Issue date: | 05/07/1987 |
| From: | Rubenstein L Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20215M057 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8705130075 | |
| Download: ML20215M054 (4) | |
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7590-01 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY OLD DOMINION ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE NORTH ANNA POWER STATION, UNIT 1 DOCKET NO. 50-338 i
NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT l
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission is considering the issuance of an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 50.46 to Virginia Electric and Power Company and Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (the licensee) for the North Anna Power Station, Unit No.1, located in Louisa County, Virginia.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
Identification of Proposed Action and Need for Proposed Acticn:
'The Itcensee proposes to use two lead test assemblies in the North Anna facilities. These assemblies are clad with an advanced cladding material, a zirconium based alloy. Although the new zirconium based alloy is very similar in composition to "Zircalloy," it is not clear that the new alloy falls within the scope of 10 CFR 50.46 which applies to "Zircalloy" clad fuel.
Pesolution of this question will involve a substantial effort in checking l
into the rulemaking record on which 50.46 was based.
In the absence of such resolution, an exemption from the provision of 50.46 limiting its application to "Zircalloy" clad fuel is needed to permit authorization of the use of the new fuel. Test experience with a limited number of assemblies for design development purposes provides important data to detennine whether new designs can provide performance improvement while maintaining a high standard of safety performance.
8705130075 870507 DR ADOCK 05000338 PDR
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. Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action:
3 Operation with the new cladding will not be significantly affected. The 1
composition of the zirconium based alloy is very similar to "Zircalloy"..in all significant respects; moreover, the test assemblies are not located in the portions of the core expected to experience highest burnup and highest power r
density. The safety assessments performed by the licensee and the NRC staff demonstrate that performance of these assemblies in the event of a LOCA will e
be bounded by the performance previously calculated for the other zircalloy clad assemblies in the core, which was based on accepted ECCS evaluation mod $1s.
Further, the staff has concluded that use of two test assemblies containing the new alloy in the North Anna 1 reactor would conform to all current fuel design bases, would not change the existing reload design and safety analysis limits, and would satisfy the guidelines for lead test assemblies.
As a result, the use of the 2 lead test assemblies would not affect the probability or consequences of potential reactor accidents; nor does the proposed exemption otherwise affect radiological plant effluents. Therefore, the Comission concludes that there are no significant radiological impacts associated with the proposed exemption.
With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed
. exempt on invo ves features located entirely within the restricted area i
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as defined in 10 CFR Part 20.
It does not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no other sianificant non-radiological environmental impact associated with the proposed exemption.
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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.
The principal alternative would be to deny the requested exemptien. This would not reduce the environmental impacts associated with the provisions of 50.46 limiting application of fuel assemblies to "Zircalloy" clad fuel and 1
compliance with the rule would_ negate design development purposes which provide important data to determine whether new fuel assemblies with advanced claading material (zirconium base alloy) can provide performance improvement while mainteining a high standard of safety perfomance.
Alternative Use of Resources:
This action does not involve the use of resources not previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement (as amended 1 for the North Anna Power Station, Units No. I and No. 2.
Aaencies and Persons Contacted:
The NRC staff reviewed the licensee's request and did not consult other agencies or persons.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The Commission has detemined not to prepare an environmental impact l
statement for the proposed exemption.
Based upon the foregoing envircumental assessment, we conclude that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment.
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. For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee's application for using two lead test assemblies with advanced cladding material dated February 20. 1987, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 1717 H Street, N.W., Washingten. D.C.,
and at the Board of Supervisors Office, Louisa County Courthouse, Louisa, Virginia 23093, and the Alderman Library, Manuscripts Department, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22901.
Dated at Bethesda, Maryland, this 7th day of May,1987.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY C0FMISSION
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Lester. Rubenstein Director Project Directorate II-2 Division of Reactor Projects-I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation l
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