[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20840-20841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10242]


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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 (NRC) is considering 
issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-4 and 
NPF-7, issued to Virginia Electric and Power Company (the licensee), 
for operation of the North Anna Power Station, Units 1 and 2, located 
in Louisa County, Virginia.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would increase the limit on the fuel enrichment 
from the current limit of 4.3 weight percent U<SUP>235</SUP> to a 
maximum of 4.6 weight percent U<SUP>235</SUP>, establish boron 
concentration and fuel storage restrictions for the Spent Fuel Pool 
(SFP), and eliminate the value of uncertainties in the calculation for 
K<INF>eff</INF> in the SFP criticality calculation. The proposed action 
is in accordance with the licensee's application for amendments dated 
September 27, 2000, as supplemented November 21 and December 18, 2000, 
and February 2, and March 2, 2001.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action to increase fuel enrichment will reduce the 
need for extended periods of reduced power operation at the end of each 
operating cycle and permit fuel discharge burnups more compatible with 
the current maximum rod burnup limit of 60,000 MWD/MTU. This action 
will help optimize fuel cycle costs while satisfying the safety limits. 
Currently, Technical Specification (TS) 5.3, ``Reactor Core,'' limits 
the use of reload fuel to a maximum enrichment of 4.3 weight percent 
U<SUP>235</SUP>. Thus, the proposed change to the TS was requested.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and 
concludes that the storage and use of fuel enriched with 
U<SUP>235</SUP> up to 4.6 weight percent at North Anna Power Station, 
Units 1 and 2, is acceptable. The safety considerations associated with 
higher enrichments have been evaluated by the staff, and the staff has 
concluded that such changes would not adversely affect plant safety. 
The proposed changes have no effect on the probability of any accident. 
There will be no change to the authorized power level. There is no 
change to the allowable maximum rod burnup limit of 60,000 MWD/MTU, 
already approved for North Anna Power Station, Units 1 and 2. As a 
result, there is no significant increase in individual or cumulative 
radiation exposure.
    The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use 
of higher enrichment fuel 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 
1, Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact. As 
indicated therein, the environmental cost contribution of an increase 
in fuel enrichment of up to 5.0 weight percent U<SUP>235</SUP> and 
irradiation limits up to 60,000 MWD/MTU 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). Therefore, there are no significant radiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
changes involve systems located within the restricted area as defined 
in 10 CFR Part 20. The proposed action does not involve any historic 
sites. It does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no 
other environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant 
nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed 
action.
    Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

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

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement--Operating 
License (FES-OL), dated April 1973 for the North Anna Power Station.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on March 22, 2001 the staff 
consulted with the Virginia State official, Mr. Les Foldesi of the 
Virginia Department of Health 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 
amendments.
    For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the 
licensee's letter dated September 27, 2000, as supplemented November 21 
and December 18, 2000, and February 2 and March 2, 2001. Documents may 
be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public Document 
Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first 
floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records will be 
accessible electronically from the ADAMS Public Library component on 
the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov (the Electronic Reading Room).


[[Page 20841]]


    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day of April 2001.
    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Stephen R. Monarque,
Project Manager, Section 1, Project Directorate II, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 01-10242 Filed 4-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P