Environmental statements; availability, etc.: Union Electric Co.,

[Federal Register: March 26, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 58)]

[Notices]

[Page 14739]

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

[DOCID:fr26mr98-132]

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-483]

Union Electric Company; Callaway Plant, Unit 1: Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its regulations for Facility Operating License No. NPF-30, issued to Union Electric Company (the licensee), for operation of the Callaway Plant, Unit 1, located in Callaway County, Missouri.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

The proposed action would exempt Union Electric Company from the requirements of 10 CFR 50.60, which requires all power reactors to meet the fracture toughness and material surveillance program requirements for the reactor coolant pressure boundary set forth in Appendices G and H to 10 CFR Part 50. The proposed exemption would allow Union Electric to apply American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code Case N- 514 for determining Callaway's cold overpressurization mitigation system (COMS) pressure setpoint.

The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application for exemption dated August 22, 1997.

The Need for the Proposed Action

The proposed exemption is needed to support an amendment to the Callaway Technical Specifications which will revise the heatup, cooldown and COMS curves. The use of ASME Code Case N-514 would allow an increased operating band for system makeup and pressure control.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that application of Code Case N-514 represents a special circumstance in accordance with 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(ii) on specific exemptions, such that the specific requirements of 10 CFR 50.60 and Appendix G are ``* * * not necessary to achieve the underlying purpose of the rule,'' which in this case is to protect the reactor vessel from brittle failure.

The 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 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 Callaway Plant dated March 1975.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

In accordance with its stated policy, on March 19, 1998, the staff consulted with the Missouri State Official, Mr. Tom Lange of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 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 August 22, 1997, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The German Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Elmer Ellis Library, Columbia, Missouri 65201-5149.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 20th day of March 1998.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Barry C. Westreich, Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-2, Division of Reactor Projects III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

[FR Doc. 98-7962Filed3-25-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590-01-P