[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6565-6566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3462]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-315 and 50-316]


Indiana Michigan Power Company; Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant, 
Unit Nos. 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 License Nos. 
DPR-58 and DPR-74, issued to Indiana Michigan Power Company, (the 
licensee), for operation of the D. C. Cook Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 
2, located in Berrien County, Michigan.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    By letter dated February 26, 1996, the licensee requested 
amendments to the Technical Specifications (TS) to allow an increased 
limit for the nominal enrichment of new (unirradiated) Westinghouse 
fabricated fuel stored in the new fuel storage racks. The proposed 
changes would allow for the storage of fuel with an enrichment not to 
exceed a nominal 4.95 weight percent (w/o) U-235, subject to certain 
integral fuel burnable absorber (IFBA) requirements, in the new fuel 
storage racks. Plant operation using the higher enriched fuel will be 
demonstrated to be acceptable by a cycle specific reload safety 
evaluation performed prior to each fuel loading.

Need for Proposed Action

    The licensee intends to use higher enrichment fuel in subsequent 
fuel load cycles which does not currently meet the new fuel storage 
limits in the TSs. By increasing the fuel enrichment, the licensee will 
implement the fuel strategies developed for D.C. Cook Units 1 and 2.

Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
revision to the TSs and concludes that storage of fuel enriched with U-
235 up to 4.95 weight percent at D.C. Cook Units 1 and 2 is acceptable. 
The safety considerations associated with higher enrichments have been 
evaluated by the NRC staff and the staff has concluded

[[Page 6566]]

that such changes would not adversely affect plant safety. The proposed 
changes have no adverse effect on the probability of any accident. As a 
result, there is no increase in individual or cumulative radiation 
exposure.
    The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use 
of higher enrichment 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 
I: 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 weight percent U-235 and irradiation 
limits of up to 60 Gigawatt Days per Metric Ton (GWD/MT) 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). These findings are applicable to the 
proposed amendment for D.C. Cook Units 1 and 2. Accordingly, the 
Commission concludes that this proposed action would result in no 
significant radiological environmental impact.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
changes involve systems located within the restricted area as defined 
in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect nonradiological plant effluents 
and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission 
concludes that there are no significant nonradiological environmental 
impacts associated with the proposed amendment.
    The Notice of Consideration of Issuance of Amendment to Facility 
Operating License, Proposed No Significant Hazards Consideration 
Determination, and Opportunity for a Hearing in connection with this 
action was published in the Federal Register on April 24, 1996 (61 FR 
18172).

Alternative to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission concluded that there are no significant 
environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any 
alternative with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be 
evaluated.
    The principal alternative would be to deny the requested amendment. 
This would not reduce environmental impacts of plant operation and 
would result in reduced operational flexibility.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for D.C. 
Cook, Units 1 and 2, dated August 1973.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on December 20, 1996, the 
Commission consulted with the Michigan State official, Mr. Dennis Hahn 
of the Michigan Department of Public Health, Nuclear Facilities and 
Environmental Monitoring, 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 this action, see the 
application for license amendment dated February 26, 1996. Copies are 
available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document 
Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555, 
and at the local public document room located at the Maud Preston 
Palenske Memorial Library, 500 Market Street, St. Joseph, Michigan 
49085.

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

     For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John B. Hickman,
Project Manager, Project Directorate III-3, Division of Reactor 
Projects III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-3462 Filed 2-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P