[Federal Register: September 26, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 187)]
[Notices]
[Page 49218-49219]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26se01-91]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-254 and 50-265]
Exelon Generation Company, LLC, Quad Cities Nuclear 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 revocation of exemptions from 10 CFR part 50, Appendix R,
for Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-29 and DPR-30, issued to Exelon
Generation Company, LLC (ECG, or the licensee), for operation of the
Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2, located in Rock
Island County, IL. Therefore, as required by 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC is
issuing this environmental assessment and finding of no significant
impact.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed exemption revocations would remove (1) an exemption
which allows fuse pulling to preclude operation of the reactor relief
valves; (2) an exemption which allows for a lack of emergency lighting
for suppression pool level instrumentation; (3) an exemption which
allows a lack of suppression in the vicinity of electrical equipment;
(4) an exemption which allows a lack of 3-hour fire barriers in fire
zones 1.1.1.1 (Unit 1) and 1.1.2.1 (Unit 2); (5) an exemption which
allows a lack of 3-hour fire barriers between redundant residual heat
removal trains in the reactor building and turbine building (Units 1
and 2); (6) an exemption which allows for a lack of 3-hour fire
barriers between equivalent fire area 23-1 (8.2.8.D) and the northern
and central zone groups; (7) an exemption which allows for a lack of 3-
hour fire barriers for certain 4-kV bus duct penetrations; (8) an
exemption which allows a lack of 3-hour-rated dampers in certain
standby gas treatment and reactor building ventilation ducts; and (9)
an exemption which allows a lack of complete detection and suppression
throughout the reactor building (Units 1 and 2).
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
applications dated June 2 and August 3, 2000, as supplemented by letter
dated September 18, 2001. Additional information was provided by letter
dated May 23, 2001. The original applications were submitted by the
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd), which merged to form EGC. By
letter dated February 7, 2001, EGC assumed responsibility for all
pending NRC actions that were requested by ComEd.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action will eliminate unnecessary exemptions to
Appendix R of 10 CFR part 50.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and
concludes that the proposed revocation of exemptions is appropriate.
The revocation of the exemptions reflects analyses performed by the
licensee to bring plant configuration into compliance with Appendix R,
thereby eliminating the need for the subject exemptions.
With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed
action does involve features located entirely within the restricted
area as defined in 10 CFR part 20.
The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability
or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of
effluents that may be released off site, and there is no significant
increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there
are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with
the proposed action.
With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed
action does not have a potential to affect any historic sites. It does
not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no other
environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant non-
radiological environmental impacts associated with 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. The environmental impacts of the proposed action
and the alternative action are similar.
Alternative Use of Resources
The action does not involve the use of any different resource than
those previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for
the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2, dated September
1972.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
On September 17, 2001, the staff consulted with the Illinois State
official, Frank Niziolek of the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety,
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 letters dated June 2, 2000, August 3, 2000, May 23, 2001 and
September 18, 2001. Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee,
at the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint
North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland.
Publicly available records will be accessible electronically from
[[Page 49219]]
the ADAMS Public Library component on the NRC Web site, http://
www.nrc.gov (the Public Electronic Reading Room). If you do not have
access to ADAMS or if there are problems in accessing the documents
located in ADAMS, contact the NRC PDR Reference staff at 1-800-397-
4209, or 301-415-4737, or by e-mail at pdr@nrc.gov.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 20th day of September 2001.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Anthony J. Mendiola,
Chief, Section 2, Project Directorate III, Division of Licensing
Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 01-24046 Filed 9-25-01; 8:45 am]
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