ML20141K216

Environ Assessment & Finding of No Significant Impact Re Util 851014 Request for Exemption from 10CFR50.62(c)(5) Requirements Concerning Equipment to Automatically Trip Reactor Coolant Recirculating Pumps

ML20141K216
Person / Time
Site:	Big Rock Point File:Consumers Energy icon.png
Issue date:	01/13/1986
From:	Zwolinski J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
Shared Package
ML20141K208	List: ML20141K206 ML20141K216
References
NUDOCS 8601220362
Download: ML20141K216 (3)

Text

7590-01 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION CONSUMERS POWER COMPANY DOCKET N0. 50-155 .

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering the issuance of an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 50.62(c)(5) to Consumers Power Company (CPC) (the licensee) for the Big Rock Point Plant located at the licensee's site in Charlevoix County, Michigan.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of the Proposed Action:

The exemption would exempt the licensee from the requirement to have equipment to trip the reactor coolant recirculating pumps automatically under conditions indicative of an anticipated transient without scram (ATWS). The proposed exemption is in accordance with the licensee's request dated October 14, 1985.

The Need for the Proposed Action:

l 10 CFR 50.62(c)(5) requires that all licensees of boiling water reactors have equipment to trip the reactor coolant recirculating pumps automatically under conditions indicative of an ATWS. The licensee has proposed to not install equipment in the Big Rock Point Plant which would provide the automatic recirculating pump trip (RPT) feature. The basis for this exemption is provided in analyses and studies performed by CPC which show that, due to the unique ' facility design, the automatic RPT, during an ATWS event provides

little risk reduction potential.

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7590-01 Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action:

The proposed exemption pertains to the installation of equipment providing an automatic RPT. Cranting the exemption would not require any facility modifications. 'The licensee has performed a Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) submitted to the Comission on February 26, 1981, which concludes that the probability of core damage and subsequent radioactive release with an automatic RPT during an ATWS event is approximately 2x10-67 reactor-year. The change in core melt probability associated with the addition of an automatic RPT is very small and the licensee has concluded that an automatic RPT is not cost effective estimateo at $93,000/ person-rem saved. The NRC staff has evaluated CPC's PRA, and has concluded that the automatic RPT modification would save only approximately 4 person-rem / reactor-year. This difference in risk associated with not installing the automatic RPT equipment is, therefore, insignificant. On this basis, the Comission concludes that there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with this proposed exemption.

With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed exemption does not affect plant nonradiological effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Comission concludes there are no significant radiological or nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed exemption.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action:

Since the Comission has concluded there is no measurable environmental i impact associated with the proposed exemption, any alternatives with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be evaluated. The principal

7590-01 alternative to the exemption would be to require the installation of equipment providing an automatic RPT. Such actions would not significantly enhance the protection of the environment and would result in diversion of utility engineering resources from other work of higher safety significance.

Alternative Use of Resources:

This action does not involve the use of resources beyond the scope of resources used during normal plant operation.

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 Comission has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed exemption. Based upon the environmental assessment, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment.

For further details with respect to this proposed action, see the ,

licensee's letter dated October 14, 1985. This letter is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room,1717 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., and at North Central Michigan College, 1515 Harvard Street, Petoskey, Michigan 49770.

Dated at Bethesda, Maryland, this 13th day of January 1986.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMM SSION v h

! John A Zwolinski, Director BWR Pro'ect Directorate #1 Divisio of BWR Licensing 1