Northeast Nuclear Energy Company (NNECO), et al., Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 3, Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact (correction)

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-423]

Northeast Nuclear Energy Company (NNECO), et al., Millstone

Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 3, Environmental assessment and finding

of no significant impact (correction)

The following is a correction to the Environmental Assessment and

Finding of No Significant Impact that was published in the Federal

Register on September 7, 1999 (64 FR 48675). Changes are indicated by

double bracketed text. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is

considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No.

NPF-49, issued to Northeast Nuclear Energy Company, et al. (the

licensee), for operation of the Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit

No. 3 (MP3) located in New London County, Connecticut. The changes

correct an error made

[[Page 70077]]

regarding when the spent fuel storage pool at MP3 will no longer be

capable of supporting a full core off-load. MP3 will continue to have

full core off-load capability until after refueling outage 7, currently

scheduled for early calendar year 2001.

The first paragraph under ``The Need for the Proposed Action'' is

changed to read:

The Need for the Proposed Action

An increase in spent fuel storage capacity is needed to maintain

the capability for a full core off-load. [[Loss of full core off-load

capability will occur as a result of refueling outage 7 (RFO 7), that

is scheduled to start early in calendar year 2001.]] The licensee plans

to install an additional 15 high density storage racks (with the

capacity to store 1,104 fuel assemblies) following RFO 6 (14 will be

installed between RFO 6 and RFO 7, with the last one to be installed

later if it is necessary), while keeping the existing racks in place.

The additional capacity will increase the capability for a full core

off-load as the unit approaches the end of its operating license

(November 25, 2025).

Similarly, the first paragraph under ``Reduction of Spent Fuel

Generation'' is changed to read:

Reduction of Spent Fuel Generation

Generally, improved usage of the fuel and/or operation at a reduced

power level would be an alternative that would decrease the amount of

fuel being stored in the pool and thus increase the amount of time

before full core off-load capacity is lost. With extended burnup of

fuel assemblies, the fuel cycle would be extended and fewer off-loads

would be necessary. [[This is not an alternative for resolving the loss

of full core off-load capability because the spent fuel pool currently

has the capacity for only one more full core off-load and some of the

fuel to be off-loaded following RFO 7, currently scheduled for early in

calendar year 2001, will have completed its operating history in the

core. With the additional fuel left in the spent fuel pool after RFO 7,

MP3 will no longer have the capability to conduct a full core off-

load.]] Operating the plant at a reduced power level would not make

effective use of available resources, and would cause unnecessary

economic hardship on the licensee and its customers. Therefore,

reducing the amount of spent fuel generated by increasing burnup

further or reducing power is not considered a practical alternative.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

In accordance with its stated policy, on October 8, 1999, the staff

consulted with the Connecticut State official, Mr. Denny Galloway of

the Department of Environmental Protection, regarding the correction of

the environmental assessment for the proposed action. The State

official had no comments.

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

licensee's letter dated March 19, 1999, which is available for public

inspection at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Public Document

Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC.

Publically available records will be accessible electronically from the

ADAMS Public Library component on the NRC Web site, http: www.nrc.gov

(the Electronic Reading Room).

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of December 1999.

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. 99-32489 Filed 12-14-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590-01-P