ML20202B919

Environ Assessment & Finding of No Significant Impact Re one-time Schedular Exemption from Containment Local Leak Rate Testing Requirements of 10CFR50,App J,Option A,Sections III.D.2.(a) & III.D.3

ML20202B919
Person / Time
Site:	Millstone
Issue date:	11/25/1997
From:	Mckee P NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:
Shared Package
ML20202B901	List: ML20202B896 ML20202B919
References
NUDOCS 9712030214
Download: ML20202B919 (4)

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7590-01-P i

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATADY CrMMISSIO.N NORTHEAST NUCLEAR ENERGY COMPANY DOCKET NO. 50-245 MILLSTONE NUC QAR POWER'$TATION. UNIT NO. 1 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering  ;

issuance of an exemption from Facility Operating License No. DPR-21, issued to Northeast Nuclear Energy Company (NNECO or the licensee), for operation of the Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1 (Millstone Unit 1), located in New London County, Connecticut.

MVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of the Proposed Action:

The proposed action would allow for a one-time scheduler exemption from the conteinment local leak rate testing requirements of Title 10 of the [p.dg of Federal Reculation (10 CFR) Part 50, Appendix J, Option A, Sections III.D.2.(a) and Ill.D.3; Anoendix J requires these tests to be performed at every refueling outage with the interval not to exceed 2 years. The temporary scheduler exemptton vould extend the interval for Type B and Type C local leak rate testirg (LLRT) of containment penetrations beyond the 2-year limit of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J. Instetd of performing the tests within the 2-year interval, NNECO would perform.the tests prior to containment integrity being required for startup from the current refueling outage.

P The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application for exemption dated October 16, 1997, fog 2 Yp M o M 45 p PDR .

. l 2-l The Need for the Proposed Action:

The proposed action is needed to postpone testing to maximize the use of limited resourc'es during the current outage to allow for improving the Hillstone Unit 1 Appendix J program. The postponement would also allow NNECO to avoid any additional radiation exposure and expense in testing a number of penetrations and valves more than once during the current refueling outage.

Environmental Imoacts of the Proposed Action:

The proposed exemption would postpone the next Type B and Type C tests until prior to restart from the current refueling outage (Refueling Outage Cycle 15). The NRC staff has reviewed the proposed exemption and concluded that the Type B and Type C tests are not required to ensure that offsite doses will be acceptable. This conclusion is based on the li:ensee's facility remaining shut down until after the Type B and Type C tests are performed. As long as Millstone Unit I remains shut down, containment integrity is not required and, therefore, testing for containment integrity is not required.

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, 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 l impacts associated with the proposed action, i

l With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed action does involve features located entirely within the restricted area as defined 1

in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that 1

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. l there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action:

Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be evaluated. As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered denial of the proposed action. 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:

This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considerad in the Final Environmental Statement for the Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1.

Aaencies and Persons Consulted:

In accordance with its stated policy, on October 30, 1997, the staff consulted with the Connecticut State official, Kevin Scott of the Department of Environmental Protection, Radiation Control Section, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State 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 environment. Accordingly, the Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed action.

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For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the licensee's letter dated October 16, 1997, which is available for public inspecticn at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at the Learning Resources Center, Three Rivers Ctamunity-Technical College, 574 New London Turnpike, Norwich, Connecticut, and at the Waterford Library, ATTN: Vince Juliano, 49 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, Connecticut.

Dated at Rockville, Naryland, this 25th day of November 1997.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION IP$/w Phillip F. McKee Deputy Director for Licensing Special Projects Office Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 4

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