[Federal Register: October 15, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 199)]
[Notices]               
[Page 55994-55995]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15oc99-123]                         

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket 72-16]

 
Virginia Electric and Power Company; Issuance of Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Regarding the Proposed 
Amendment To Revise Technical Specifications of License No. SNM-2507

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) is 
considering issuance of an amendment, pursuant to 10 CFR 72.56, to the 
Special Nuclear Material License No. 2507 (SNM-2507) held by Virginia 
Electric and Power Company (Virginia Power) for the North Anna 
independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI). The requested 
amendment would revise the Technical Specifications of SNM-2507 to 
specifically permit the storage of burnable poison rod assemblies 
(BPRA) and thimble plug devices (TPD) within the TN-32 casks used at 
the North Anna ISFSI.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    By letter dated April 5, 1999, as supplemented by letter dated 
August 27, 1999, Virginia Power requested an amendment to revise the 
Technical Specifications of SNM-2507 for the North Anna ISFSI. The 
changes to the Technical Specifications would specifically permit the 
storage of BPRAs and/or TPDs within the TN-32 dry storage casks used at 
the North Anna ISFSI.

Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action will eliminate the need to physically remove 
BPRAs and TPDs from irradiated fuel assemblies prior to dry cask 
storage which would result in one consolidated source of radioactive 
material and reduce exposure time to plant workers during loadings.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and 
concludes that granting the request for amendment to specifically allow 
the storage of BPRAs and TPDs within the TN-32 casks used at the North 
Anna ISFSI will not increase the probability or consequences of 
accidents. No changes are being made in the types of any effluents that 
may be released off site. With regard to radiological impacts, the 
addition of irradiated BPRAs and TPDs only affects the gamma source 
term of the cask. In the previous shielding analysis, the calculated 
cask surface dose rate from the design basis contents was increased by 
an expansion factor before calculating the estimated offsite dose to 
allow for future increases in fuel burnup and enrichment and possible 
variations in cask design. For this amendment, the Virginia Power's 
calculated increase in surface dose rate resulting from the added BPRAs 
and TPDs remains within the bounds of the previous analysis with the 
expansion factor and, consequently, results in no significant increase 
in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there are no 
significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the 
proposed action.
    The amendment only affects the requirements associated with the 
contents of the casks and does not affect non-radiological plant 
effluents or any other aspects of the environment. Therefore, there are 
no significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated with 
the proposed action.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternative to the Proposed Action

    The alternative to the proposed action would be to deny the request 
for amendment (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative). Denial of the 
proposed action would result in the need to physically remove BPRAs and 
TPDs from each fuel assembly possessing them prior to the loading of 
that assembly into dry cask storage. Physical removal of irradiated 
BPRAs and TPDs would increase the exposure time and dose to the plant 
workers. In addition, it would require disposal or storage of 
additional radioactive material (i.e., BPRAs and TPDs) that would 
otherwise be safely stored if the BPRAs and TPDs are left intact with 
their irradiated fuel assembly and loaded into dry cask

[[Page 55995]]

storage. The environmental impacts of the alternative action are 
greater than the proposed action.
    Given that there are greater environmental impacts associated with 
the alternative action of denying the request for amendment, the 
Commission concludes that the preferred alternative is to grant this 
amendment.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    On September 27, 1999, Mr. Les Foldese of the Virginia Department 
of Health, Bureau of Radiological Health, was contacted in regard to 
the proposed action and had no concerns.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    The environmental impacts of the proposed action have been reviewed 
in accordance with the requirements set forth in 10 CFR part 51. Based 
upon the foregoing Environmental Assessment, the Commission finds that 
the proposed action of granting an amendment to permit the storage of 
BPRAs and TPDs within the TN-32 casks used at the North Anna ISFSI will 
not significantly impact the quality of the human environment. 
Accordingly, the Commission has determined not to prepare an 
environmental impact statement for the proposed amendment.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the amendment 
application dated April 5, 1999, as supplemented on August 27, 1999. 
These documents are available for public inspection at the Commission's 
Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20555 and the 
Local Public Document Room at the University of Virginia Alderman 
Library, Charlottesville, VA 22903.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of October 1999.

    For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
E. William Brach,
Director, Spent Fuel Project Office, Office of Nuclear Material Safety 
and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 99-26940 Filed 10-14-99; 8:45 am]
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