Virginia Electric and Power Company, Issuance of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Regarding the Proposed Exemption From Requirements of 10 CFR Part 72

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14277-14278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7166]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 72-2]


Virginia Electric and Power Company, Issuance of Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Regarding the Proposed 
Exemption From Requirements of 10 CFR Part 72

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption, pursuant to 10 CFR 72.7, from the 
provisions of 10 CFR 72.72(d) to Virginia Electric and Power Company 
(Virginia Power or applicant). The requested exemption would allow 
Virginia Power to maintain a single set of spent fuel records at a 
records storage facility, that satisfies the requirements set forth in 
ANSI N45.2.9-1974, for the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation 
(ISFSI) at the Surry Power Station (Docket Nos. 50-280 and 50-281) in 
Surry County, Virginia.

Environmental Assessment (EA)

Identification of Proposed Action

    By letter dated September 10, 1998, Virginia Power requested an 
exemption from the requirement in 10 CFR 72.72(d) which states in part 
that ``Records of spent fuel and high level radioactive waste in 
storage must be kept in duplicate. The duplicate set of records must be 
kept at a separate location sufficiently remote from the original 
records that a single event would not destroy both sets of records.'' 
The applicant proposes to maintain a single set of spent fuel records 
in storage at a records storage facility that satisfies the 
requirements set forth in ANSI N45.2.9-1974.
    The proposed action before the Commission is whether to grant this 
exemption pursuant to 10 CFR 72.7.

Need for the Proposed Action

    The applicant stated that, pursuant to 10 CFR 72.140(d), the 
Virginia Power Operational Quality Assurance (QA) Program Topical 
Report will be used to satisfy the QA requirements for the ISFSI. The 
QA Program Topical Report states that QA records are maintained in 
accordance with commitments to ANSI N45.2.9-1974. ANSI N45.2.9-1974 
allows for the storage of QA records in a duplicate storage location 
sufficiently remote from the original records or in a records storage 
facility subject to certain provisions designed to protect the records 
from fire and other adverse conditions. The applicant seeks to 
streamline and standardize recordkeeping procedures and processes for 
the Surry Power Station and ISFSI spent fuel records. The applicant 
states that requiring a separate method of record storage for ISFSI 
records diverts resources unnecessarily.
    ANSI N45.2.9-1974 provides requirements for the protection of 
nuclear power plant QA records against degradation. It specifies design 
requirements for use in the construction of record storage facilities 
when use of a single storage facility is desired. It includes specific 
requirements for protection against degradation mechanisms such as 
fire, humidity, and condensation. The requirements in ANSI N45.2.9-1974 
have been endorsed by the NRC in Regulatory Guide 1.88, ``Collection, 
Storage and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plant Quality Assurance 
Records,'' as adequate for satisfying the recordkeeping requirements of 
10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B. ANSI N45.2.9-1974 also satisfies the 
requirements of 10 CFR 72.72 by providing for adequate maintenance of 
records regarding the identity and history of the spent fuel in 
storage. Such records would be subject to and need to be protected from 
the same types of degradation mechanisms as nuclear power plant QA 
records.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    Elimination of the requirement to store ISFSI records at a 
duplicate facility has no impact on the environment. Storage of records 
does not change the methods by which spent fuel will be handled and 
stored at the Surry Power Station and ISFSI and does not change the 
amount of any effluents, radiological or non-radiological, associated 
with the ISFSI.

Alternative to the Proposed Action

    Since there are no environmental impacts associated with the 
proposed action, alternatives are not evaluated other than the no 
action alternative. The alternative to the proposed action would be to 
deny approval of the exemption and, therefore, not allow storage of 
ISFSI spent fuel records at a single qualified record storage facility. 
However, the environmental impacts of the proposed action and the 
alternative would be the same.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    On February 19, 1999, Mr. Les Foldesi from the State of Virginia 
Bureau of Radiological Health was contacted about the environmental 
assessment for the proposed action and had no comments.

[[Page 14278]]

Finding of no Significant Impact

    The environmental impacts of the proposed action have been reviewed 
in accordance with the requirements set forth in 10 CFR Part 51. Based 
upon the foregoing EA, the Commission finds that the proposed action of 
granting an exemption from 10 CFR 72.72(d), so that Virginia Power may 
store spent fuel records at the ISFSI in a single record storage 
facility which meets the requirements of ANSI N45.2.9-1974, will not 
significantly impact the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, 
the Commission has determined that an environmental impact statement 
for the proposed exemption is not necessary.
    The request for exemption was docketed under 10 CFR Part 72, Docket 
72-2. For further details with respect to this action, see the 
application for an ISFSI license dated October 8, 1982, and the request 
for exemption dated September 10, 1998, which is available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20555 and the Local Public Document Room at the College 
of William and Mary, Swem Library, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 12th day of March 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
E. William Brach,
Director, Spent Fuel Project Office, Office of Nuclear Material Safety 
and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 99-7166 Filed 3-23-99; 8:45 am]
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