[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7799-7800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3232]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co.; Haddam Neck Plant; 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

[Docket No. 50-213]
    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the ``Commission'') is 
considering issuance of an amendment to Facilitate Operating License 
No. DPR-61, issued to Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company (CYAPCO, 
the licensee), for operation of the Haddam Neck Plant, located in 
Middlesex County, Connecticut.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed amendment would revise Technical Specifications (TS) 
3.1.1.3, ``Shutdown Margin,'' and TS 3.3.3.9, ``Boron Dilution Alarm,'' 
and their associated Bases sections and add a new TS 3.1.1.4, 
``Shutdown Margin.'' TSs 3.1.2.2, 3.1.2.4, and 3.1.2.6, will be revised 
to reference TS 3.1.1.3 rather than specify the required shutdown 
margin at 200 deg. F. In addition, editorial changes will be made to a 
reference on TS pages 3/4 1-13 and 14 to reletter surveillance 
specification 4.5.1.c.3 to 4.5.1.b.3. The proposed action is in 
accordance with the licensee's amendment request dated September 7, 
1994.

The Need for Proposed Action

    During the development of the core design for the upcoming Cycle 
19, CYAPCO determined that the incore neutron sources would have to be 
relocated during the refueling outage due to mechanical considerations 
concerning the new fuel design. As part of the determination of the new 
locations for these sources, a review of the adequacy of the existing 
source locations was made. This review identified that the incore 
neutron sources were located too close to the excore detectors. As a 
result of the current incore neutron locations, the response of the 
excore detectors to a dilution event did not bound the response assumed 
in the safety analysis. The time allowed for operator action to 
terminate an inadvertent boron dilution event was less than the 
required 15 minutes from the time of the alarm to criticality. TS 
changes are being proposed to the shutdown margin requirements for 
Modes 4 and 5 and the boron dilution setpoint to assure that the 
required margin for operator action in a boron dilution accident is 
met. The associated Bases sections will be modified to reflect the new 
shutdown margin and boron dilution setpoint. In addition, an 
administrative change to three TSs will be made to reference the 
shutdown margin TS rather than provide the shutdown margin requirements 
and two editorial changes to correct two references to surveillance 
specifications 4.5.1.c.3 that had been [[Page 7800]] related to 
4.5.1.b.3 in a previous TS change.

Environmental Impacts to the Proposed Action

    The proposed changes will provide additional time for operator 
action in a boron dilution event to assure that there is at least 15 
minutes between the time to boron dilution alarm assuming an alarm 
penalty of 1.3 and the time to criticality for Modes 1 through 5 and 30 
minutes for Mode 6 for operator action. The Commission has completed 
its evaluation of the proposed TS changes and concludes that the 
combination of the shutdown margin increases and the lower credited 
boron dilution alarm setpoint assuming an alarm penalty factor of 1.3 
will provide assurance that the criteria for operator action will be 
met. In addition, the neutron sources will be moved further away from 
the excore detectors for the Cycle 19 startup (approximately March 
1995). This will provide additional margin in the alarm setpoint as the 
need for any penalty factor will be significantly reduced or completely 
eliminated. In addition, the staff agrees that the change in references 
in TS 3.1.2.2, 3.1.2.4, and 3.1.2.6, and Surveillance Specifications 
4.1.2.3.1 and 4.1.2.4.1 are editorial in nature.
    The proposed TS 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 offiste, 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 
this proposed TS amendment.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
amendment does involve features located entirely within the restricted 
area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. 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 amendment.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable 
environmental impact associated with the proposed amendment, 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 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 resources not considered 
previously in the Final Environmental Statement for the Haddam Neck 
Plant.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, the staff consulted with the 
Connecticut State official regarding the environmental impact of the 
proposed action. The State official has 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 amendment.
    For further details with respect to this proposed action, see the 
licensee's letter dated September 7, 1994, 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 Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, 
Middletown, CT 06547.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day of February 1995.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Phillip F. McKee,
Director, Project Directorate I-4, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-3232 Filed 2-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M