[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28013-28014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13504]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-397]


Washington Public Power Supply System, Nuclear Project No. 2 
(WNP-2); Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. 
NPF-21 issued to Washington Public Power Supply System (the licensee), 
for operation of WNP-2 located in Benton County, Washington.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would revise the maximum yield strength for 
emergency core cooling system suction strainer materials listed in the 
WNP-2 Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR).
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated April 16, 1998, as supplemented by 
letters dated April 28 and May 8, 1998.

[[Page 28014]]

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to support the progression to startup 
for WNP-2, which is currently in a refueling outage. During this outage 
newly designed suction strainers have been installed in the suppression 
pool. They are designed to protect ECCS pumps from fibrous or other 
material that could be transported to the suppression pool after a 
design basis accident such as a loss of coolant accident. The licensee 
determined after fabrication of these strainers that the stanless steel 
material had measured yield strength which exceeded the limit which was 
specified in the FSAR. Excessive yield strength can make the stainless 
steel susceptible to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) under certain 
environmental conditions. The licensee identified this as an unreviewed 
safety issue and submitted an amendment request which would change the 
yield strength for the installed strainers. Approval of this amendment 
will enable the licensee to change reactor mode and declare the 
strainers operable while progressing to startup and full power 
operation.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and, based on the testing and analytical information provided by the 
licensee, concludes that the increase in yield strength for the 
specific material used in the suction strainers is acceptable. The 
licensee has an effective cleanup system for the suppression pool, 
which maintains a desired level of water cleanliness sufficient to 
avoid conditions that would support SCC. Further, the licensee has 
conducted a fracture mechanics analysis and has determined that 
cracking in the surface martensitic structure of the strainers will not 
propagate to a critical size and, thus, not jeopardize the strainers' 
safety related function of protecting the ECCS pumps and spray nozzles. 
Also, the licensee's analysis has demonstrated that the strainers have 
adequate structural integrity to preclude failure when the forces of 
design basis hydrodynamic loads are applied. Lastly, a Strauss test 
using actual strainer material samples demonstrated acceptable stress 
corrosion cracking resistance.
    The staff has concluded that this 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 offsite or 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 does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other 
environmental impact.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded there is no significant 
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 WNP-2.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on May 13, 1998, the staff 
consulted with the Washington State official, Mr. R. Cowley of the 
Department of Health, State of Washington Energy Facility Site 
Evaluation Council, 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 April 16, 1998, as supplemented by letters 
dated April 28, 1998, and May 8, 1998, which are 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 Richmond Public Library, 955 Northgate 
Street, Richland, Washington 99352.

    Dated at Rockville, MD., this 14th day of May 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Chester Poslusny,
Senior Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-2, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-13504 Filed 5-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P