[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 28, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15944-15945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7696]



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

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-286]


Power Authority of the State of New York; Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 
Part 50, Appendix R, ``Fire Protection Program for Nuclear Power 
Facilities Operating Prior To January 1, 1979,'' Section III.J, to the 
Power Authority of the State of New York (the licensee) for the Indian 
Point Nuclear Generating Unit No. 3 (IP3), located at the licensee's 
site in Westchester County, New York. This exemption would be a 
modification of an exemption which has been previously issued on 
January 7, 1987.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    Section III.J of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, requires that 
emergency lighting units with at least an 8-hour battery power supply 
shall be provided in all areas needed for operation of safe shutdown 
equipment and in access and egress routes thereto.

    During a programmatic review of Appendix R compliance strategy at 
Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit No. 3 (IP3), the licensee 
identified that certain additional operator actions, which had not been 
included in the previous Appendix R compliance strategy, are needed. 
These additional operator actions are needed in the outside yard area 
at the condensate storage tank (RWST), and backup service water pump 
platform.

    By letter dated January 7, 1987, the NRC previously approved an 
exemption from the emergency lighting requirements of Appendix R, 
Section III.J to allow the use of security lighting for access and 
egress to the Appendix R diesel generator which is also located in the 
outside yard. The license has, therefore, requested a modification to 
the exemption which was previously issued by the NRC on January 7, 
1987, to extend the use of security lighting in the outside yard to 
include the CST, [[Page 15945]] RWST, and backup service water 
platform.

Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed exemption is needed to permit the licensee to restart 
and operate the plant without being in violation of the Commission's 
regulations and to obviate the need for extensive modifications. 
Physical modification of the plant to achieve literal compliance with 
10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Section III.J, would require installation 
of emergency lighting in an exposed outdoor environment which would 
require special protective enclosures and extensive maintenance to 
maintain operability. Since security lighting which meets the 
requirements of 10 CFR 73.55(c)(5) is already installed in these areas 
and since this security lighting has already been acceptable to justify 
a similar exemption which was issued on January 7, 1987, application of 
the regulation in this particular circumstance would not be necessary 
to achieve the underlying purpose of the rule. The security lighting 
system achieves the underlying purpose of the rule in that it provides 
adequate illumination to perform the above-mentioned activities in the 
outside yard for a period of at least 8 hours, has its own independent 
emergency generator power source, and is not impacted by fires in other 
areas of the plant for which Appendix R fires need to be considered.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is to modify the exemption which was previously 
issued by the NRC on January 7, 1987, to extend the use of security 
lighting in the outside yard to include the CST, RWST, and backup 
service water platform. The Commission has completed its evaluation of 
the proposed action and concludes that the probability or consequences 
of accidents will not increase, 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 individual or cumulative 
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 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 action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable 
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 the 
Indian Point Nuclear Generating Station Unit No. 3,'' dated February 
1975.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, the staff consulted with the 
State of New York 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 March 15, 1995, 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 White Plains 
Public Library, 100 Martine Avenue, White Plains, New York.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of March 1995.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Daniel G. McDonald,

Acting Director Project Directorate I-1 Division of Reactor Projects--
I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

[FR Doc. 95-7696 Filed 3-27-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M