ML20217J073
| ML20217J073 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Point Beach  |
| Issue date: | 08/07/1997 |
| From: | Gundrum L NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20217J075 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9708130441 | |
| Download: ML20217J073 (6) | |
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7590-C1-P UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY l
DOCKET NQS,50-266 AND 50-301 I
POINT BEACH NUCLEAR PLANT. UNITS 1 AND 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering l
issuance of amendments to Facility Operating Licenses Nos, DPR-24 and DPR-27,
- issued to Wisconsin Electric Power Company, (the licensee), for operation of the i
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Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Unha 1 and 2, located in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
l ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of the Proposed Action:
l By letter dated January 24,1997, as supplemented by letter dated May 15, 1997, the lleensee proposed to change the technical specifications (TSs) to allow an increase in fuel enrichment (Uranium 235, U-235) to 5.0 weight percent and to require the use of integral fuel burnable absorbers for assemblies with enrichments greater than 4.6 weight percent U-235. Point Beach TSs currently limit fuel in the spent fuel pool and new fuel storage racks to a maximum enrichment of 44.8 grams of U-235 per axial centimeter (approxirnately 4.0 weight percent of a standard fuel assembly and 46.8 grams of U-235 per axial centimeter (approximately 4.75 weight -
percent) of an Optimized Fuel Assembly'(OFA).
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2-The Need for the Proposed Action:
The licensee intends, in the future, to use the more highly enriched fuel to support longer fuel cycles. Currently, TS 15.5.4 limits the enrichment of fuel assemblies stored in the spent fuel pool and new fuel storage racks. Before the licensee extends plant operating cycles, it plans on receiving shipments of 5.0 weight percent fuel. Thus, the change to the TSs was requested.
EDykymentalImoscts of the Proposea Action; The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed revision to the TSs and concludes that storage and use of fuel enriched with U-235 up to 5.0 weight percent at Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 is acceptable. The safety considerations associated with higher enrichments were evaluated by the NRC staff I
and the staff concluded that such changes would not adversely affect plant safety.
The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use of higher enrichment are discussed in the staff assessment entitled "NRC Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Transportation Resulting from Extended Fuel Enrichment and Irradiation," dated July 7,1988. This assessment was published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on August 11,1988 (53 FR 30355), as corrected on August 24,1988 (53 FR 32322) in connection with an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant impact related to the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant,
. Unit 1. As indicated therein, the environmental cost contribution of an increase in fuel enrichment of up to 5 weight percent U-235 and irradiation limits of up to 60 gigawatt days per metric ton (GWD/MT) are either unchanged, or may in fact be reduced from p.
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r l L those_ summarized in Table S 4 asset forth in 10 CFR 51.52(c). These findings are applicable to the proposed amendments for Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that this proposed action would result in no i
significant radiological environmental impact.
The change will not increase the probability or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of any effluents that may be released offsite, no changes are being made to the authorized power level, and there is no significant
! increase in the allowable individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed action does involve features located entirely within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Altematives to the Proposed Action:
Since the Commission has concluded ti.ere is no measurable environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any attematives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be evaluated. As an attemative to the proposed action, the staff considered denial of the proposed action. Denial of the application
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would result in no change in current environmentalimpacts. The environmental L
impacts of the proposed action and the attomative action are similar.
Altemative Use of Resources:
This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously I
considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2.
Agencies and Persons Consulted:
in accordance with its stated policy, on July 29,1997, the staff consulted with 1
the Wisconsin State official, Ms. Sarah Jenkins of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, regarding the environmentalimpact of the proposed action. The State i
official had no comments, FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT Based upon the environmental assessment, the Commission concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human i
L 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 January 24,1997, as supplemented by letter dated May 15,1997, which are available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The 4
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l Gelman Building,2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at The Lester Public Library,100 i Adams Street. Two Rivers, WI 54241.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of August 1997.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION i-Linda L. Gundrum, Project Manager Project Directorate 111-1 Division of Reactor Projects - til/IV Office of Nuclear Rsactor Regulation i
Distribution
.DockGt File
~e PD 111-1 LGundrum CJamerson August 7,1997 MEl40RANDUM TO:
Rules Review and Directives Branch Division of Freedom of Information and Publications Services Office of Administration FROM:
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
POINT BEACH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT IJOS.1 AllD 2-EiNIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT N'D FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IllPACT RE: SPENT FUEL POO ASSEtiBLY ENRICHMENT (TAC N0. M97837)
One signed original of the FederalRegister Notice identified below is attached for your transmittal to the Office of the Federal Register for publication. Additiorial conformed copies ( 5
) of the Notice are enclosed for your use.
Notice of Receipt of Application for Construction PermitM and Operating License (s).
C Notice of Receipt of Partial Application for Construction Permit (s) and Facility License (s):
Time for submission of Views on Antitrust matters.
Notice of Consideration of Issuance of Amendment to Facility Operating License. (Call with 30-day insert date).
Notice of Receipt of Application for Facility License (s); Notice of Availability of Applicant's Environmental Report; and Notice of Consideration of issuance of Facility License (s) and Notice of Opportunity for Hearing.
C Notice of Availability of NRC Draft / Final Environmental Statement.
Notice of Limited Work Authorization.
Notice of Availability of Safety Evaluation Report.
Notice of lasuance of Construction Permit (s).
C Notice of lasuance of Facility Operating License (s) or Amendment (s).
Order.
Exemption.
Notice of Granting Exemption.
@ Environmental Assessment.
C Notice rf Preparation of Environmental Assessment.
Receipt of Petition for Director's Decision Under 10 CFR 2.206.
Issuance of Final Director's Decision Under 10 CFR 2.206.
Other: Please call Shirley Poonai on 415-1340 if any questions.
DOCKET NOS. 50-255/50-301 Attachment (s): As stated
Contact:
Linda Gundrum
- Telephone:
301-415-1340 DOCUMENT NAME: PTB97837.EA To rowehe a corv of this doeurnent. Indicate in the box: *C* = Copy without attachment / enclosure
- E' = Copy with attachrnent/ enclosure
- N* = No copy OFFICE PD3-1 I c.
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NAME CJam_ers@b
'DATE 8/ / /977 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY i