[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 144 (Tuesday, July 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40324-40325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20106]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-338 and 50-339]


Virginia Electric and Power Company, North Anna Power Station, 
Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its 
regulations with respect to Facility Operating License No. NPF-4 and 
Facility Operating License No. NPF-7, issued to Virginia Electric and 
Power Company (VEPCO, the licensee) for operation of the North Anna 
Power Station, Units 1 and 2 (NAPS1&2), located in Louisa County, 
Virginia.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated March 3, 1998, as supplemented May 5, 1998, 
concerning the use of respiratory protection equipment which has not 
been tested by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health/Mine Safety and Health Administration (NIOSH/MSHA). Pursuant to 
10 CFR 20.2301, the licensee has requested exemptions from the 
following:
    1. 10 CFR 20.1703(a)(1) which requires that ``* * * the licensee 
shall

[[Page 40325]]

use only respiratory protection equipment that is tested and certified 
or had certification extended by NIOSH/MSHA;'
    2. 10 CFR 20.1703(c) which requires that ``the licensee shall use 
as emergency devices only respiratory protection equipment that has 
been specifically certified or had certification extended for emergency 
use by NIOSH/MSHA;'' and
    3. 10 CFR Part 20 Appendix A, Protection Factors for Respirators, 
Footnote d.2.(d), which states, in part, that ``* * * the protection 
factors apply for atmosphere-supplying respirators only when supplied 
with adequate respirable air. Respirable air shall be provided of the 
quality and quantity required in accordance with NIOSH/MSHA 
certification (described in 30 CFR Part 11). Oxygen and air shall not 
be used in the same apparatus.''

The Need for the Proposed Action

    Subpart H to 10 CFR Part 20, ``Respiratory Protection and Controls 
to Restrict Internal Exposure in Restricted Areas' states in 10 CFR 
20.1702, ``When it is not practical * * * to control the concentrations 
of radioactive material in air to values below those that define an 
airborne radioactivity area, the licensee shall, consistent with 
maintaining the total effective dose equivalent ALARA, increase 
monitoring and limit intakes by * * * (c) Use of respiratory protection 
equipment* * *.''
    It is necessary for station personnel to periodically enter 
containments while the units are operating in order to perform 
inspection or maintenance. The NAPS1&2 containments are designed to be 
maintained at subatmospheric pressure during power operations. The 
containment pressure can range from 9.0 to 11.0 pounds per square inch, 
absolute (psia). This containment environment could potentially impact 
the safety of personnel donning respiratory protection equipment, due 
to reduced pressure and resulting oxygen deficiency. Under these 
circumstances, the use of a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) 
with enriched oxygen breathing gas is required. The licensee initially 
purchased Mine Safety Appliances, Inc. (MSA) Model 401 open-circuit, 
dual-purpose, pressure-demand SCBAs constructed of brass components 
which were originally intended for use with compressed air. The 
licensee qualified the Model 401 cylinders for use with 35% oxygen/65% 
nitrogen following the recommendations of the Compressed Gas 
Association's Pamphlet C-10, ``Recommended Procedures for Changes of 
Gas Service for Compressed Gas Cylinders,'' established procedures to 
utilize these devices with an enriched oxygen mixture, and is currently 
using these SCBAs with a 35% oxygen/65% nitrogen mixture instead of 
compressed air. The MSA Model 401 SCBA has received the NIOSH/MSHA 
certification for use with compressed air, but has not been tested for 
35% enriched oxygen applications. Using these SCBAs without the NIOSH/
MSHA certification requires an exemption from 10 CFR 20.1703(a)(1), 10 
CFR 20.1703(c), and 10 CFR Part 20 Appendix A, Protection Factors for 
Respirators, Footnote d.2.(d).

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action will not alter plant operations, result in an 
increase in the probability or consequences of accidents, or result in 
a change in occupational or offsite dose. Therefore, there are no 
significant radiological impacts associated with the proposed action.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
action will not result in a change in nonradiological plant effluents 
and will have no other nonradiological environmental impact.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Because the Commission's staff has concluded that there is no 
significant environmental impact associated with the proposed 
exemption, any alternative to the proposed exemption will have either 
no significantly different environmental impact or greater 
environmental impact. The principal alternative would be to deny the 
requested exemption. Denial would result in no change in current 
environmental impact.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of resources not previously 
considered in connection with the Final Environmental Statement related 
to the operation of North Anna Power Station, Units 1 and 2, issued by 
the Commission in April 1973.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, the NRC staff consulted with 
Mr. Foldesi of the Virginia Department of Health on June 23, 1998, 
regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. Mr. Foldesi 
had no comments on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    Based upon the foregoing 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 exemption.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the request 
for exemption dated March 3, 1998, as supplemented May 5, 1998, which 
is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document 
Room, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555 and at the local public 
document room located at the Alderman Library, Special Collections 
Department, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903-
2498.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 22nd day of July 1998.

    For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
P.T. Kuo,
Acting Director, Project Directorate II-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-20106 Filed 7-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P