[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18428-18429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8844]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-306]
Northern States Power Company; Prairie Island Nuclear Generating
Plant, Unit 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
[[Page 18429]] considering issuance of an exemption from Facility
Operating License No. DPR-60, issued to Northern States Power Company,
(the licensee), for operation of the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating
Plant, Unit 2, located in Goodhue County, Minnesota.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
This Environmental Assessment has been prepared to address
potential environmental issues related to the licensee's application of
February 23 and March 3, 1995. The proposed action would exempt the
licensee from the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Paragraph
III.D.1.(a), to the extent that a one-time interval extension for the
Type A test (containment integrated leak rate test) by approximately 24
months from the May 1995 refueling outage to the May 1997 refueling
outage would be granted.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to permit the licensee to defer the
Type A test from the May 1995 refueling outage to the May 1997
refueling outage, thereby saving the cost of performing the test and
eliminating the test period from the critical path time of the outage.
Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that the proposed one-time exemption would not increase
the probability or consequences of accidents previously analyzed and
the proposed one-time exemption would not affect facility radiation
levels or facility radiological effluents. The licensee has analyzed
the results of previous Type A tests performed at Prairie Island
Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit No. 2, to show good containment
performance and will continue to be required to conduct the Type B and
C local leak rate tests which historically have been shown to be the
principal means of detecting containment leakage paths with the Type A
tests confirming the Type B and C test results. It is also noted that
the licensee, as a condition of the proposed exemption, would perform
the visual containment inspection although it is only required by
Appendix J to be conducted in conjunction with Type A tests. The NRC
staff considers that these inspections, though limited in scope,
provide an important added level of confidence in the continued
integrity of the containment boundary. The NRC staff also notes that
the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit No. 2, containment
penetration and weld channel pressurization system provides a means for
continuously monitoring potential containment leakage paths during
power operation. The change will not increase the probability or
consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types or
amounts 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 impacts
associated with the proposed action.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
action involves features located entirely within the restricted area as
defined in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect nonradiological plant
effluents and has no other environmental impact. Accordingly, the
Commission concludes that 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 NRC staff
considered denial of the proposed action. Denial of the application
would result in no change in current environmental impacts.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the
Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant dated May 1973.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, the NRC staff consulted with
the Minnesota State official 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.
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the
licensee's letters dated February 23 and March 3, 1995, which are
available for public inspection 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 Minneapolis Public
Library, Technology and Science Department, 300 Nicollet Mall,
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of April 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Cynthia Carpenter,
Acting Director, Project Directorate III-1, Division of Reactor
Projects-III/IV Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-8844 Filed 4-10-95; 8:45 am]
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