[Federal Register: January 30, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 20)]
[Notices]               
[Page 4678]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30ja98-95]                         

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-346]

 
Toledo Edison Company; Centerior Service Company; and the 
Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company; Davis-Besse Nuclear Power 
Station, Unit 1, Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its 
regulations with respect to Facility Operating License No. NPF-3, 
issued to Toledo Edison Company, Centerior Service Company, and The 
Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (the licensees), for operation 
of the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1, located in Ottawa 
County, Ohio.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would exempt the licensees from the requirement 
to have an oil collection system for the reactor coolant pump (RCP) 
lube oil addition system, provided certain compensatory actions are 
taken, thus allowing the licensees to utilize remote lube oil fill 
lines at power. This requirement is contained in 10 CFR part 50, 
Appendix R, Section III.O, which provides that licensees shall have a 
collection system ``capable of collecting lube oil from all potential 
pressurized and unpressurized leakage sites in the reactor coolant pump 
lube oil systems.'' It also specifies that ``leakage points to be 
protected shall include lift pump and piping, overflow lines, lube oil 
cooler, oil fill and drain lines and plugs, flanged connections on oil 
lines, and lube oil reservoirs where such features exist on the reactor 
coolant pumps.''
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensees' 
application for exemption dated November 18, 1997, as supplemented by 
facsimile dated December 9, 1997.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to reduce dose and personnel hazards 
to workers who periodically add oil to the RCP lube oil system during 
power operation.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that the proposed action involves features located 
entirely within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR part 20.
    The proposed action will not result in an increase in the 
probability or consequences of accidents or result in a change in 
occupational or offsite dose. Therefore, there are no radiological 
impacts associated with the proposed action. In addition, the proposed 
action will not result in a change in nonradiological plant effluents 
and will have no other nonradiological environmental impact.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no 
environmental impacts associated with this action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded that 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 exemption, the staff 
considered denial of the requested exemption. Denial of the request 
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 related to 
the operation of Davis-Besse dated October 1975.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on December 9, 1997, the 
staff consulted with the Ohio State official, Carol O'Claire, of the 
Ohio Emergency Management Agency, 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 
licensees' letter dated November 18, 1997, and facsimile dated December 
9, 1997, which are available for public inspection at the Commission's 
Public Document Room located at the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, 
NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at 
the University of Toledo, William Carlson Library, Government Documents 
Collection, 2801 West Bancroft Avenue, Toledo, OH 43606.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 26th day of January, 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Richard P. Savio,
Acting Director, Project Directorate III-3, Division of Reactor 
Projects III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-2324 Filed 1-29-98; 8:45 am]
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