Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation; Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-271]

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation; Vermont Yankee Nuclear

Power Station; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant

Impact

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

considering issuance of an exemption for Facility Operating License No.

DPR-28, issued to Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation (the

licensee), for operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station

(the facility) located in Windham County, Vermont.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Actions

The proposed exemption would grant relief in certain outdoor areas

of the protected area of the facility to allow use of security lighting

for outdoor access and egress and the performance of one specified task

in either of two locations for compliance with Section III.J of

Appendix R to 10 CFR part 50. The exemption would include outdoor

portions of the protected area for access and egress and for supply of

nitrogen from either of two outdoor locations: (1) the 15,000 gallon

liquid nitrogen containment inerting tank located outdoors, east of the

reactor building, or (2) nitrogen storage bottles located on the west

wall of the reactor building equipment air lock.

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The proposed exemption is in accordance with the licensee's

application for exemption dated June 17, 1996.

The Need for the Proposed Actions

The need for this action arises for certain Appendix R fire

scenarios whose safe shutdown strategy does not immediately

depressurize the reactor and uses low pressure injections systems, and

thus requires the safety relief valves (SRVs) to be actuated multiple

times during a cooldown. Although each SRV accumulator has capacity for

at least five valve strokes, a long term source of nitrogen, beyond the

capacity of the SRV accumulators is required in order to provide for

additional valve strokes for some scenarios. The nitrogen may be

provided from either of two nitrogen storage locations.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Actions

The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed

exemption and concludes that the proposed exemption will provide

sufficient fire protection that there is no increase in the risk of

fires at the facility. Consequently, the probability of fires has not

been increased and the post-fire radiological releases will not be

greater than previously determined, nor does the proposed exemption

otherwise affect radiological plant effluents.

The proposed exemption affects only the source of illumination

credited for safe shutdown functions. No physical change results from

the proposed exemption, and, as discussed above, the probability of

fires has not been increased. Therefore, 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 actions.

With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed

actions involve features located entirely within the restricted area as

defined in 10 CFR part 20. They do not affect nonradiological plant

effluents and have no other environmental impact. Accordingly, the

Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological

environmental impacts associated with the proposed actions.

Alternatives to the Proposed Actions

Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable

environmental impact associated with the proposed actions, any

alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be

evaluated. As an alternative to the proposed actions, the staff

considered denial of the proposed actions. Denial of the application

would result in no change in current environmental impacts. The

environmental impacts of the proposed actions and the alternative

action are similar.

Alternative Use of Resources

These actions do not involve use of resources not previously

considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Vermont Yankee

Nuclear Power Station.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

In accordance with its stated policy, on February 26, 1997, the

staff consulted with the Vermont State official, Mr. William K. Sherman

of the Vermont Department of Public Service, regarding the

environmental impact of the proposed actions. The State official had no

comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

Based upon the environmental assessment, the Commission concludes

that the proposed actions 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 exemption.

For further details with respect to the proposed actions, see the

application dated June 17, 1996, 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 Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main Street,

Brattleboro, VT 05301.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 5th day of March 1997.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Patrick D. Milano,

Acting Director, Project Directorate I-3, Division of Reactor

Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

[FR Doc. 97-6482 Filed 3-13-97; 8:45 am]

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