ML18005B025
| ML18005B025 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Harris  |
| Issue date: | 08/22/1989 |
| From: | Adensam E Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18005B026 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8909050449 | |
| Download: ML18005B025 (4) | |
Text
UNITED-STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
.CAROLINA-POWER h. LIGHT.COMPANY et al.
SHEARON-HARRIS NUCLEAR POWER PLANT UNIT. 1 DOCKET N0.-50-400 ENVIRONMENTAL-ASSESSMENT-AND FINDING OF NO-SIGNIFICANT IMPACT 7590-01 The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance. of an admendment to Facility Operatfng License No. NPF-63 to the Carolina Power E Light Company (COL or the licensee), for the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant; Unit 1, located in Wake and Chatham Countfes, North Car ol fna.
ENVIRONMENTAL.ASSESSMENT Identification-of. Pro osed.Action:
The proposed amendment would revise the provisions fn the Technical Specifications (TS) relating to fuel enrichment.
The proposed action fs in accordance with the licensee's applications dated April ll and July 26, 1989.
The Need for. the. Pro osed.Actfon:
The proposed changes are needed so that the licensee can use higher enrichment fuel, and provides the flexibilityof extending the fuel irradiation and permitting operation of longer fuel cycles.
Environmental Im acts of.the Pro osed.Action:
The Comnission has completed its evaluation of the proposed revisions to the Technical Specifications.
The proposed revisions would permit use of fuel enriched with Uranium 235 in excess of 4.2 weight percent and up to 5.0 weight 8909050449 890828 PPDR ADOCK OS000400 PDC
3 percent and the licensee would expect the fuel to be irradiated to levels above 33 gigawatt days per metric ton (GW0/HT) but not to exceed 60 GWO/NT.
The safety considerations associated with reactor operation with higher enrichment and extended irradiation have been evaluated by the NRC staff.
The staff has concluded that such changes would not adversely affect plant safety.
The proposed changes have no adverse effect on the probability of any accident.
The increased burnup and higher enrichment may slightly change the mix of fission products that might be released in the event of a serious accident but such small changes would not significantly affect the consequences of serious accidents.
No changes are being made in the types or amounts of any radiological effluents that may be released offsite.
There is no significant increase in the allowable individual or cumlative occupational radiation exposure.
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 environmental impact.
The environmental impacts of transporation resulting from the use of higher enrichment fuel and extended irradiation were published and discussed in the staff assessment
- entitled, "NRC Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Transporation Resulting from Extended Fuel Enrichment and Irradiation," dated July y, 1988 and published in the Federal
~Re ister (53 FR 30355) on August 11, 1988.
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 sumnarized in Table S-4 asset forth in 10 CFR 51.52(c).
Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological or nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed amendment.
Alternative to tAe-Pro osed Action:
Since the Commission 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 the environmental impacts of plant operation and would result.
in reduced operational flexibility.
Alternative.Use of Resources:
This action does not involve the use of resources not previously considered in connection with the "Final Environmental Statement related to the operation of the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Units I and 2," dated October 1983.
A encies-and.Persons.
Consulted:
The NRC staff has reviewed the licensee's request and did not consult other agencies or persons.
FINDING QF-NQ.SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The Commission has determined not to'prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed license amendment.
8ased upon the foregoing environmental assessment, we conclude that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment.
For further details with respect to this action, see the application for amendment dated April ll and supplement dated July 26, 1989, which are available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document
- Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.,
and at the Richard B. Harrison Library, 1313 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina 27610.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of August.1989.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Original Signed By:
Elinor G. Adensam, Director Project Directorate II-1 Division of Reactor Projects I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation I
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