Environmental statements; availability, etc.: Florida Power & Light Co.,

[Federal Register: March 24, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 56)]

[Notices]

[Page 14276-14277]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr24mr99-107]

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-250 and 50-251]

Florida Power and Light Company, Turkey Point Units 3 and 4; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission or NRC) is considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its regulations to Florida Power and Light Company (the licensee), holder of Facility Operating Licenses Nos. DPR-31 and DPR-41 for operation of Turkey Point Units 3 and 4, respectively, located in Dade County, Florida.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

The proposed action would grant an exemption from certain requirements of Appendix R, ``Fire Protection Program for Nuclear Power Facilities Operating Prior to January 1, 1979,'' for Turkey Point Units 3 and 4. Specifically, the licensee requested an exemption from the requirements of Appendix R, Subsection III.G.2.a, for raceway fire barriers in the control building roof which includes fire zone 106R.

The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application dated November 2, 1998, as supplemented by a submittal dated February 11, 1999.

The Need for the Proposed Action

The Thermo-Lag fire barriers installed at Turkey Point Units 3 and 4 have a rating that does not meet the requirements specified in Subsection III.G.2.a. The proposed exemption is needed because compliance with the regulation would result in significant additional costs.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that the underlying purpose of the regulation, to provide reasonable assurance that at least one means of achieving and maintaining safe shutdown conditions will remain available during and after any postulated fire in the plant, will be met. This is based on the fact that the control building roof which includes fire zone 106R is considered to have a negligible contribution to the in situ combustible load and the gravel on the roof would resist fire from, and to, the roof. In addition the control building roof provides high resistance to severe fire and is equivalent to the standards of the Underwriter's Laboratory requirements for resistance to severe fire.

The proposed action will not increase the probability or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of any 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 impacts associated with the proposed action.

With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect non- radiological

[[Page 14277]]

plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternative 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 Statements related to operation of Turkey Point Units 3 and 4, dated July 1972.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

In accordance with its stated policy, on February 25, 1999, the NRC staff consulted with the Florida State official, Mr. William Passetti of the Bureau of Radiation Control, 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 request dated November 2, 1998, as supplemented by a submittal dated February 11, 1999, which are 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 Florida International University, University Park, Miami, Florida.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day of March 1999.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Cecil O. Thomas, Director, Project Directorate II-3, Division of Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

[FR Doc. 99-7162Filed3-23-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590-01-P