Texas Utilities Electric Company; Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 23880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11116]



[[Page 23880]]

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-445 and 50-446]


Texas Utilities Electric Company; Comanche Peak Steam Electric 
Station, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption to Facility Operating License No. 
NPF-87 and NPF-89, issued to Texas Utilities Electric Company, (TU 
Electric, the licensee), for operation of the Comanche Peak Electric 
Station Steam Electric Station (CPSES), Units 1 and 2, located in 
Somervell County, Texas.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would reduce the power level margin assumed for 
the emergency core cooling system analysis required by title 10 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations, part 50, Appendix K, based on the proposed 
use of a new feedwater flow measurement system (the Leading Edge 
Flowmeter system manufactured by Caldon, Inc.) to allow more accurate 
measurement of thermal power.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for exemption dated August 13, 1998, as supplemented by 
letter dated December 17, 1998.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action will improve accuracy of thermal power 
measurement and support the licensee's separate request to increase 
licensed power level (which will be reviewed separately by the 
Commission).

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that 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 environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed action.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect 
nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. 
Therefore, there are no significant nonradiological environmental 
impacts associated with the proposed action.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives 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 Statement for the 
CPSES, dated October 1989.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on March 11, 1999, the staff 
consulted with the Texas State official, Mr. Authur Tate of the Texas 
Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control, regarding the 
environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had no 
comments.

Finding of no Significant Impact

    On the basis of 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 13, 1998, as supplemented by letter 
dated December 17, 1998, 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 University of Texas at Arlington Library, 702 College, 
P.O. Box 19497, Arlington, Texas.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day of April 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Robert A. Gramm,
Chief, Section 1 Project Directorate IV & Decommissioning, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-11116 Filed 5-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P