[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 169 (Wednesday, August 31, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54259-54260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22282]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[NRC-2011-0185]
Virginia Electric and Power Company, Docket Nos. 50-338 and 50-
339, North Anna Power Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, Docket Nos. 50-280
and 50-281, Surry Power Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2; Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of an exemption from Title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (10 CFR) part 26, ``Fitness for Duty Programs,'' for
Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-4 and NPF-7, issued to Virginia
Electric Power Company (the licensee), for operation of the North Anna
Power Station (NAPS) Unit Nos. 1 and 2, located in Louisa County,
Virginia; and Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-32 and DPR-37, issued
to the licensee, for operation of the Surry Power Station, Unit Nos. 1
and 2, located in Surry County, Virginia. Therefore, as required by 10
CFR 51.21, the NRC performed an environmental assessment. Based on the
results of the environmental assessment, the NRC is issuing a finding
of no significant impact.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would provide exemption from the work hour
control requirements of 10 CFR 26.205(c) and (d) during declarations of
severe weather conditions involving tropical storm or hurricane force
winds.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application dated February 10, 2011 (Agencywide Documents Access and
Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML110450583), as supplemented
by letters dated March 10, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML110740442) and
May 26, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML111470265).
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action extends the exception provided by 10 CFR
26.207(d) to include pre-defined entry and exit conditions related to
hurricane events because the sequestering of plant personnel and
related staff resource limitations may occur at times prior to and
following the current entry and exit conditions (i.e., emergency
declaration) specified in 10 CFR 26.207(d). Entry into a severe weather
situation involving tropical storm or hurricane force winds can impose
conditions similar to entry into the site emergency plan where the
imposition of work hour controls on vital personnel could impede the
ability to focus on plant safety and security, and may be detrimental
to the health and safety of the public.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The NRC has completed its environmental assessment of the proposed
action and concludes that extending the exception provided by 10 CFR
26.207(d) to include pre-defined entry and exit conditions related to
hurricane events would not significantly affect plant safety, as it
does not change the Technical Specification-required shift staffing.
Additionally, the time from entry into the condition in which the work
hour control exemption applies, to exiting the condition, is limited to
severe weather situations involving tropical storm or hurricane force
winds. The licensee states that the Hurricane Response Plan (Nuclear)
and other plant-specific procedures ensure that adequate resources and
guidance are in place to prepare for, respond to, and recover from
severe weather conditions associated with tropical storm or hurricane
force winds.
The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability
or consequences of accidents. The proposed action would not result in
an increased radiological hazard beyond those previously analyzed in
the Final Safety Analysis Report. No changes are being made in the
types of effluents that may be released offsite. There is no
significant increase in the amount of any effluent released offsite.
There is no significant increase in occupational or public radiation
exposure. No changes will be made to plant buildings or site property.
Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmental impacts
associated with the proposed action.
The proposed action does not result in changes to land use or water
use, or result in changes to the quality or quantity of non-
radiological effluents. No changes to the National Pollution Discharge
Elimination System permits are needed. No effects on the aquatic or
terrestrial habitat in the vicinity of the plant, or to threatened,
endangered, or protected species under the Endangered Species Act, or
impacts to fish habitat covered by the Magnusen-Stevens Act are
expected. There are no impacts to the air or ambient air quality. There
are no impacts to historical or cultural resources. There would be no
noticeable effect on socioeconomic conditions in the region. Therefore,
no changes or
[[Page 54260]]
different types of non-radiological environmental impacts are proposed
as a result of the proposed action.
Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
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. Other alternatives to the proposed action
include entry and exit conditions, other than those proposed by the
licensee, which would change the duration in which the exemption is
effective. The staff concludes that these alternatives would not have a
significant impact. The environmental impacts of the proposed action
and the alternative actions 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 Continuation of Construction and the Operation'' for
NAPS dated April 1973, and Surry dated May 1972 and June 1972,
respectively, as supplemented through NUREG-1437, ``Generic
Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants,''
Supplements 6 and 7, dated November 2002.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on May 12, 2011, the staff
consulted with the Virginia State official, Leslie Foldesi of the
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
licensee's letter dated February 10, 2011, as supplemented by letters
dated March 10 and May 26, 2011. Documents may be examined, and/or
copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR), located at
One White Flint North, Public File Area O1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike
(first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available documents
created or received at the NRC in the Agencywide Documents Access and
Management System (ADAMS) are available online in the NRC Library at
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 an e-mail to
[email protected].
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of August 2011.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Robert E. Martin,
Senior Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch II-1, Division of
Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2011-22282 Filed 8-30-11; 8:45 am]
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