[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 82 (Tuesday, April 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22742-22743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10490]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-272 AND 50-311]
PSEG Nuclear, LLC, Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1
and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of an exemption from title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (10
[[Page 22743]]
CFR) part 50, Appendix R, sections III.G.3 and III.L.3, for Facility
Operating Licenses Nos. DPR-70 and DPR-75, issued to PSEG Nuclear, LLC
(the licensee), for operation of the Salem Nuclear Generating Station
(Salem), Unit Nos. 1 and 2, located in Salem County, New Jersey.
Therefore, as required by 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC is issuing this
environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would grant an exemption from: (1) The
requirements of 10 CFR part 50, Appendix R, section III.G.3, ``Fire
protection of safe shutdown capability,'' to the extent that a fixed
suppression system must be installed in an area where alternative
shutdown capability is provided for Fire Areas 1(2)-FA-AB-64B and 1(2)-
FA-AB-84C; (2) the requirements of 10 CFR part 50, Appendix R, section
III.L.3, ``Alternative and dedicated shutdown capability,'' to the
extent that alternative shutdown capability must accommodate conditions
where offsite power is not available for 72 hours in Fire Areas 1(2)-
FA-AB-64B and 1(2)-FA-AB-84B; and (3) the requirements of 10 CFR part
50, Appendix R, section III.L.3, relating to the use of separation in
an alternate shutdown area for Fire Area 1(2)-FA-AB-84B.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application dated May 1, 2002, as supplemented on August 15, 2002.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed exemption from sections III.G.3 and III.L.3 of 10 CFR
part 50, Appendix R, is needed to resolve issues relating to an October
8, 1997, notice of violation whereby PSEG failed to adequately qualify
the Kaowool, FS-195 and Interam E-50 electrical raceway fire barrier
systems (ERFBSs) installed at Salem. Resolution of these issues
include: (1) A re-analysis of post-fire safe shutdown capability; (2)
plant modifications to provide alternative safe shutdown capability
through cross-tie connections between the Salem, Unit Nos. 1 and 2,
Chemical and Volume Control Systems; and (3) superceding current
exemptions applicable to Fire Areas 1(2)-FA-AB-64B, 1(2)-FA-AB-84B and
1(2)-FA-AB-84C with the proposed exemptions.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and
concludes that the proposed exemption does not involve radioactive
wastes, release of radioactive material into the atmosphere, solid
radioactive waste, or liquid effluents released to the environment.
The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability
or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of
effluents that may be released off site, and there is no significant
increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there
are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with
the proposed action.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
action does not have a potential to affect 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.
Environmental Impacts of the 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
The action does not involve the use of any different resources than
those previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement
related to operation of Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and
2, dated April 1973.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
On March 26, 2003, the staff consulted with the New Jersey State
official, Mr. Dennis Zannoni of the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection, 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
action.
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the
licensee's letter dated May 1, 2002, and supplement dated August 15,
2002. Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's
Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, Public
File Area O1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville,
Maryland. Publicly available records will be accessible electronically
from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)
Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Web site,
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. Persons who do not have
access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents
located in ADAMS, should contact the NRC's PDR reference staff by
telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to
[email protected].
Dated in Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of April, 2003.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James W. Clifford,
Chief, Section 2, Project Directorate I, Division of Licensing Project
Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 03-10490 Filed 4-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P