[Federal Register: April 25, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 80)]
[Notices]
[Page 20840-20841]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ap01-91]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-338 and 50-339]
Virginia Electric and Power Company; North Anna Power Station,
Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-4 and
NPF-7, issued to Virginia Electric and Power Company (the licensee),
for operation of the North Anna Power Station, Units 1 and 2, located
in Louisa County, Virginia.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would increase the limit on the fuel enrichment
from the current limit of 4.3 weight percent U235 to a
maximum of 4.6 weight percent U235, establish boron
concentration and fuel storage restrictions for the Spent Fuel Pool
(SFP), and eliminate the value of uncertainties in the calculation for
Keff in the SFP criticality calculation. The proposed action
is in accordance with the licensee's application for amendments dated
September 27, 2000, as supplemented November 21 and December 18, 2000,
and February 2, and March 2, 2001.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action to increase fuel enrichment will reduce the
need for extended periods of reduced power operation at the end of each
operating cycle and permit fuel discharge burnups more compatible with
the current maximum rod burnup limit of 60,000 MWD/MTU. This action
will help optimize fuel cycle costs while satisfying the safety limits.
Currently, Technical Specification (TS) 5.3, ``Reactor Core,'' limits
the use of reload fuel to a maximum enrichment of 4.3 weight percent
U235. Thus, the proposed change to the TS was requested.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and
concludes that the storage and use of fuel enriched with
U235 up to 4.6 weight percent at North Anna Power Station,
Units 1 and 2, is acceptable. The safety considerations associated with
higher enrichments have been evaluated by the staff, and the staff has
concluded that such changes would not adversely affect plant safety.
The proposed changes have no effect on the probability of any accident.
There will be no change to the authorized power level. There is no
change to the allowable maximum rod burnup limit of 60,000 MWD/MTU,
already approved for North Anna Power Station, Units 1 and 2. As a
result, there is no significant increase in individual or cumulative
radiation exposure.
The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use
of higher enrichment fuel and extended irradiation are discussed in the
staff assessment entitled, ``NRC Assessment of the Environmental
Effects of Transportation Resulting from Extended Fuel Enrichment and
Irradiation.'' This assessment was published in the Federal Register on
August 11, 1988 (53 FR 30355), as corrected on August 24, 1988 (53 FR
32322), in connection with the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Unit
1, Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact. As
indicated therein, the environmental cost contribution of an increase
in fuel enrichment of up to 5.0 weight percent U235 and
irradiation limits up to 60,000 MWD/MTU are either unchanged, or may in
fact be reduced from those summarized in Table S-4 as set forth in 10
CFR 51.52(c). Therefore, there are no significant radiological
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
changes involve systems located within the restricted area as defined
in 10 CFR Part 20. The proposed action does not involve any historic
sites. It does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no
other environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant
nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed
action.
Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
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
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement--Operating
License (FES-OL), dated April 1973 for the North Anna Power Station.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on March 22, 2001 the staff
consulted with the Virginia State official, Mr. Les Foldesi of the
Virginia 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
amendments.
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the
licensee's letter dated September 27, 2000, as supplemented November 21
and December 18, 2000, and February 2 and March 2, 2001. Documents may
be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public Document
Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first
floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records will be
accessible electronically from the ADAMS Public Library component on
the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov (the Electronic Reading Room).
[[Page 20841]]
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day of April 2001.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Stephen R. Monarque,
Project Manager, Section 1, Project Directorate II, Division of
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 01-10242 Filed 4-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P