ML081130111

Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Proposed Stretch Power Uprate

ML081130111
Person / Time
Site:	Comanche Peak
Issue date:	04/24/2008
From:	Balwant Singal NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLIV
To:
Singal, Balwant, 415-3016, NRR/DORL/LPL4
References
TAC MD6615, TAC MD6616
Download: ML081130111 (8)

Text

7590-01-P UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LUMINANT GENERATION COMPANY LLC DOCKET NOS. 50-445 AND 50-446 COMANCHE PEAK STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT RELATED TO THE PROPOSED LICENSE AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM REACTOR POWER LEVEL AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

ACTION: Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment

SUMMARY

The NRC has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) as its evaluation of a request by the TXU Generation Company LP (subsequently renamed Luminant Generation Company LLC, the licensee), for a license amendment to increase the maximum thermal power at the Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station (CPSES), Units 1 and 2, from 3458 megawatts thermal (MWt) to 3612 MWt at each unit. The NRC staff did not identify any significant impact from the information provided in the licensee=s stretch power uprate (SPU) application for CPSES, Units 1 and 2 or from the NRC staff=s independent review; therefore, the NRC staff is documenting its environmental review in a draft EA. The draft EA and Finding of No Significant Impact are being published in the Federal Register with a 30-day public comment period.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT The NRC is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-87 and NPF-89, issued to Luminant Generation Company LLC, for operation of the CPSES, Units 1 and 2, located in Somervell County, Texas. Therefore, consistent with Section

51.21 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), the NRC is issuing this draft EA and finding of no significant impact.

Identification of the Proposed Action:

The proposed action would revise the CPSES, Units 1 and 2 operating licenses and technical specifications (TSs) to increase the licensed rated power by 4.5 percent from 3458 MWt to 3612 MWt. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensees application dated August 28, 2007, as supplemented by letters dated October 24, 2007, and January 10, 29, 31, February 21, 26, 28, and March 6, 2008.

The Need for the Proposed Action:

The proposed action permits an increase in the licensed core thermal power from 3458 MWt to 3612 MWt for the CPSES, Units 1 and 2, providing the flexibility to obtain a higher electrical output from the CPSES, Units 1 and 2.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action:

The licensee has submitted an environmental evaluation supporting the proposed SPU and provided a summary of its conclusions concerning the radiological and non-radiological environmental impacts of the proposed action.

Radiological Impacts:

The licensee evaluated the impacts of the proposed SPU on radioactive liquid waste production, processing, discharge into the environment, resultant dose to members of the public, and impact to Squaw Creek Reservoir (SCR). There will be an increase (approximately 6.5 percent for long-lived activity) in the equilibrium radioactivity in the reactor coolant, which in turn will result in a maximum increase of 6.5 percent in the radioactivity content of the liquid releases since input activities are based on long-term reactor coolant activity. Tritium levels are also expected to increase by 6.5 percent in the discharged liquid. This will result in increased aqueous tritium concentrations in the SCR.

The evaluation shows that even with the small increase in the radioactivity being discharged into the environment, the projected dose to the maximally exposed member of the public, while slightly increased, will remain well below the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) criteria in Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50. Also, the tritium concentration levels in SCR will remain well below the reporting limits in the CPSES Offsite Dose Calculation Manual (ODCM), which is based on NRC reporting criteria.

The licensee evaluated the impacts of the proposed SPU on gaseous radioactive wastes. Gaseous radioactive wastes are activation gases and fission product radioactive noble gases, which come from radioactive system leakage, process operations including volume control tank (VCT) venting, gases used for tank cover gas, and gases generated in the radiochemistry laboratory. The evaluation shows that the proposed SPU will not significantly increase the inventory of gases normally processed in the gaseous waste management system.

This is based on there being no change to plant system functions and no change to the gas volume inputs.

The activity of radioactive gaseous nuclides present in the waste gas system will increase as a result of the SPU. This is due to the increased levels of gases in the reactor coolant system and the actions performed in the VCT. However, the operation of the waste gas system will not change and will continue to allow for decay of the short-lived radionuclides.

Tritium will remain the largest component of the gaseous effluents, the largest contributor being from evaporation from the Spent Fuel Pools. The proposed SPU will result in an increase (approximately 9.5 percent for noble gases, 6.6 percent for 1-131, and 6.5 percent for long-lived activity) in the equilibrium radioactivity in the reactor coolant, which in turn increases the activity in the gaseous waste disposal systems and the activity released into the atmosphere (estimated to increase by 9.5 percent for noble gases, 6.5 percent for particulates including Tritium, and 12.6 percent for iodines).

The evaluation shows that even with the small increase in the gaseous radioactivity being discharged into the environment, the projected dose to the maximally exposed member of the public, while slightly increased, will remain well below the ALARA criteria in Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50.

While the SPU will slightly increase the activity level of radioactive isotopes in the reactor coolant system and the volume of radioactive liquid generated from leakage and planned drainage, there will only be a minimal effect on the generation of radioactively contaminated sludge and resin solids processed as radwaste. The currently installed radwaste system and its total volume capacity for handling solid radwaste will not be affected.

For the long-term operation of the plant with the SPU, the dose to an offsite member of the public from the onsite storage of solid radwaste was estimated to increase by approximately 7.2 percent. This is based on several assumptions: (1) the current radwaste decays and its dose contribution decreases; (2) the stored radwaste is routinely moved offsite for disposal; (3) the radwaste generated post SPU enters into storage; and (4) the plant capacity factor approaches the target of 1.0. The radiation dose from direct shine is cumulative based on the waste generated and stored onsite from all units over the plants lifetime. CPSES ODCM contains the requirements to ensure compliance with the radiation dose limits in 10 CFR Part 20 and the Environmental Protection Agencys 40 CFR Part 190. Therefore, while a small increase in offsite radiation dose is expected, it will remain within regulatory limits.

The radiation exposure to plant workers from the SPU is expected to be kept to a minimum based on the design features at CPSES, Units 1 and 2, and the Radiation Protection Program. The design features include: (1) shielding, which is provided to reduce levels of radiation; (2) ventilation, which is arranged to control the flow of potentially contaminated air; (3) an installed radiation monitoring system, which is used to measure levels of radiation in potentially occupied areas and measure airborne radioactivity throughout the plant; and

(4) respiratory protective equipment, which is used as prescribed by the Radiation Protection Program. The Radiation Protection Program contains procedures for all radiological work performed at CPSES, Units 1 and 2 to ensure doses are maintained ALARA and are in compliance with regulatory limits in 10 CFR Part 20.

Non-radiological Impacts:

With regard to potential non-radiological impacts of the proposed SPU, the proposed action does not result in any significant changes to land use or water use. The proposed SPU would increase the temperature of water discharged from the plant at the discharge point, Outfall 001, into the SCR by 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) and would increase lake evaporation by approximately 6 acre-feet per year. The expected thermal increase would raise the average daily temperature at Outfall 001 from 95.6 °F to 97.1 °F, which remains well below the daily average temperature of 113 °F and daily maximum temperature of 116 °F specified in CPSES Texas Pollution Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permit. Because this increase remains well below the facilitys TPDES permit limits, the NRC staff determined that this increase is not significant, and is bounded by previous analysis of thermal discharge as documented in the Final Environmental Statement related to the operation of CPSES, Units 1 and 2 (September 1981).

No effects on the aquatic or terrestrial habitat in the vicinity of the plant, or to endangered or threatened species, or to the habitats of endangered or threatened species are expected as a result of the increase in thermal discharge or change in annual lake evaporation. The proposed action does not have a potential to affect any historical or archaeological sites.

The plant will be modified by replacing the high-pressure turbines at both units. All proposed plant changes will occur within the existing buildings, and no proposed equipment upgrades require any additional equipment that will be visible from outside the existing power station. The proposed action will not change the method of generating electricity or the method of handling any influents from the environment or non-radiological effluents to the environment.

Therefore, no changes or different types of non-radiological environmental impacts are expected as a result of the proposed amendment.

Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. The details of the staffs safety evaluation will be provided in the amendment that will be issued as part of the letter to the licensee approving the amendment to the facility operating licenses and technical specifications.

Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action:

As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered denial of the proposed action (i.e., the no-action alternative). Denial of the application would result in no change in current environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action are similar.

Alternative Use of Resources:

The action does not involve the use of any different resources than those previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement related to the operation of CPSES, Units 1 and 2, dated September 1981.

Agencies and Persons Consulted:

In accordance with its stated policy, on April 22, 2008, the staff consulted with the Texas State official, Alice Rogers of the Texas Department of Health, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT On the basis of the environmental assessment, the NRC concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed action.

For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the licensees application dated August 28, 2007, as supplemented by letters dated October 24, 2007, and January 10, 29,

31, February 21, 26, 28, and March 6, 2008. Publicly available records are accessible electronically via the Agencywide Document Access and Management System (ADAMS) Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Website:

http://www.nrc.gov.reading-rm/adams.html. Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS should contact the NRC PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, or send and e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov. Additionally, documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRCs Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

DATES: The comment period expires [30 days after publication]. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the Commission is only able to assure consideration of comments received on or before [30 days after publication].

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Chief, Rules and Directives Branch, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Mail Stop T-6D59, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Written comments may also be delivered to 11545 Rockville Pike, Room T-6D59, Rockville, Maryland 20852 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Federal workdays. Copies of written comments received will be electronically available at the NRC=s Public Electronic Reading Room link, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html, on the NRC Web site or at the NRC=s PDR located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland 20852.

Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS should contact the NRC PDR Reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, or 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-87 (Unit 1) and NPF-89 (Unit 2) issued to

Luminant Generation Company LLC, for the operation of CPSES, Units 1 and 2, located in Somervell County, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Balwant K. Singal, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Mail Stop O-8B1, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, by telephone at (301) 415-3016, or by email at Balwant.Singal@nrc.gov.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of April 2008.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

/RA/

Balwant K. Singal, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation