ML20245C949
| ML20245C949 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Millstone  |
| Issue date: | 06/20/1989 |
| From: | Dromerick A Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20245C951 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8906260338 | |
| Download: ML20245C949 (4) | |
Text
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,.c 7590-01 l
NORTHEAST NUCLEAR ENERGY COMPANY
'l MILLSTONE NUCLEAR POWER STATION, UNIT NO. 3 DOCKET NO. 50-423 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF.
NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
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The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No NPF-49 to Northeast 'welear, Energy Company (the licensee), for Millstone Unit 3 located in the Town of Waterford, Connecticut.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of Proposed Action:
The proposed amendment would revise the provisions in the Technical Specifications (TS) relating to fuel enrichment.
The proposed action is in accorduce with the licensee's application dated January 24, 1989.
The Need for the Proposed Action,:
The proposed changes are needed so that the licensee can use higher enrichment fuel, and provide the flexibility of extending the fuel irradiation and permitting operation of longer fuel cycles.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action:
The staff has completed its evaluation of the proposed revisions to the Technical Specifications. The proposed revision would permit use of fuel enriched with Uranium 235 up to 5.0 nominal weight percent. The expected Cycle 3 burnup is 17000 MWD /MTU. The safety considerations associated with reactor operation with higher enrichment and extended irradiation have been evaluated by the NRC staff. The staff,has M
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, H concluded that such changes would not adversely affect plant safety. The j
1 proposed changes have no adverse effect on the probability of any accide 5.
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I The increased burnup may slightly change the mix of fission products that might be released in the event of a serious accident but such small changes would ndt significantly affect the consequences of serious accidents. No i
changes are being made in the types or amounts of any radiological effiuents i
that may be released offsite during normal operation. There is also no l
significant increase in the allowable individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure.
4 With regard to potential nonradiological impacts of reactor operation with higher enrichment and extended irradiation, the proposed changes to the
'TS involve systems located within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. They do not affect nonradiological plant effluents and have no other enrionmantal impact.
The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use of higher enrichment fuel and extended irradiation have been discussed in the staff assessment entitled, "NRC Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Transportation Resulting from Extended Fuel Enric5 ment and Irradiation," dated July 7, 1988 (53 FR 30355). As indicated therein, the environmental cost contribution of the proposed increase in the fuel enrichment and irradiation limits are either unchanged or may in fact be reduced from those summarized in Table S-4 asset forth in 10 CFR 51.52(c).
I Therefore, the staff concludes that there are no significant radiological or nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed amendment.
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7 Alternative to the Proposed Action:
F Since the staff concluded that there are no significant environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any alternatives with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be evaluated.
The principal alternative would be to deny the requested amendment. This would not reduce environmental impacts of plant operation and would result in reduced operational flexibility.
Alternative Use of Resources:
This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the " Final Environmental Statement related to the operation of Millstone. Nuclear Power Station Unit No. 3" dated December 1984.
Agencies and Persons Consulted:
The NRC staff reviewed the licensee's request and did not consult other agencies or persons.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The staff has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed license amendment.
Based upon the foregoing environmental assessment, the staff concluded that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality if the human environment.
For further details with respect to this action, see the application for amendment dated January 24, 1989, which is available for public inspection at
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i the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, i
N.W., Washington, D.C. and at the Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, Connecticut 06385.
Date at Rockville, Maryland, this 20th day of June 1989.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION A'
Alexander W. Dromerick, Acting Director Project Directorate I-4 Division of Reactor Projects I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation r
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