Northeast Nuclear Energy Co.; Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 3, Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-423]

Northeast Nuclear Energy Co.; Millstone Nuclear Power Station,

Unit No. 3, Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant

Impact

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is

considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No.

NPF-49, issued to Northeast Nuclear Energy Company (the licensee), for

operation of the Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 3, located

in New London County, Connecticut.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

The proposed action would relax the setpoint tolerance for the

pressurizer safety valves and the main steam safety valves from

1% to 3%.

The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's

application for amendment dated August 4, 1994.

The Need for the Proposed Action

The proposed action would revise the setpoint tolerance to assure

both pressurizer safety valves and main steam safety valves remain

within technical specification tolerances and reduce the potential for

filing unnecessary Licensee Event Reports.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action

and concludes that the relaxation of the setpoint tolerance for the

pressurizer safety valves and the main steam safety valves from

1% to 3% is acceptable.

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

Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 3.

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 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 4, 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 Learning Resource Center, Three Rivers

Community-Technical College, Thames Valley Campus, 574 New London

Turnpike, Norwich, CT 06360.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th 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. 95-6063 Filed 3-10-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590-01-M