[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42145-42146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20545]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301]


Wisconsin Electric Power Company; Point Beach Nuclear Plant, 
Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating Licenses Nos. 
DPR-24 and DPR-27, issued to Wisconsin Electric Power Company (the 
licensee), for operation of the Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 
2, located in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would revise (1) Section 3.A of Facility 
Operating Licenses DPR-24 and DPR-27 from a licensed power level of 
1518 megawatts thermal (MWt) to 1518.5 MWt; (2) technical specification 
(TS) 15.3.1.B Bases power level from 1518 MWt to 1518.5 MWt; and (3) TS 
15.3.1.B Bases reference 2 from revision 2 to revision 3. These changes 
make the value of the licensed power level listed in Section 3.A of the 
licenses and in the Units 1 and 2 bases of TS 15.3.1.B consistent with 
the value listed in the balance of the TS and in the final safety 
analysis report (FSAR). The changes are administrative and do not 
change plant design or operation.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated August 22, 1996, as supplemented by 
letter dated July 14, 1997.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would revise the power level included in 
Facility Operating Licenses DPR-24 and DPR-27 to restore consistency 
with the authorized power level defined in the TS and assumed in 
performing facility safety analyses.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed changes 
to the licenses and TS. According to the licensee, the administrative 
change in the licensed power level restores consistency between the 
licenses and the TS. The TS, as originally issued, defined the licensed 
power level as 1518.5 MWt. At no time has the power level defined in 
the TS been changed from 1518.5 MWt. Accident analyses performed in 
support of original

[[Page 42146]]

licensing used as a bases for analyses the value of 1518.5 MWt or an 
appropriate multiple of 1518.5, as required. Only one current analysis, 
fluence values affecting 10 CFR part 50, Appendix G, specifically 
referenced a power level of 1518 MWt. The licensee concluded that the 
results of this analysis are insensitive to the change in power level 
and sufficient assurance regarding the effect of fluence levels is 
obtained in analyzing material specimens.
    This administrative change will not increase the probability or 
consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types 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 is administrative in nature and does not involve any physical 
features of the plant. Thus, 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 staff 
considered denial of the proposed action. 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 for the 
Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on July 17, 1997, the staff 
consulted with the Wisconsin State official, Sarah Jenkins of the 
Wisconsin Public Service Commission, 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 letter dated August 22, 1996, as supplemented on July 14, 
1997, which is 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 
Lester Public Library, 1001 Adams Street, Two Rivers, Wisconsin 54241.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day of July 1997.

    For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Linda L. Gundrum,
Project Manager, Project Directorate III-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-20545 Filed 8-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P