[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66779-66781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28494]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-255]
Consumers Energy Co.; Palisades Plant; Environmental Assessment
and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. DPR-20,
issued to Consumers Energy Company (the licensee), for operation of the
Palisades Plant, located in Van Buren County, Michigan.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would change the expiration date of the
Operating License from ``midnight on March 14, 2007'' to ``midnight on
March 24, 2011.'' Palisades is currently licensed to operate 40 years
commencing with the issuance of the construction permit on March 14,
1967. At present, the Facility Operating License expires at midnight on
March 14, 2007. The licensee seeks an extension of the license term to
allow Palisades to operate until 40 years from the issuance of its
Provisional Operating License. The Provisional Operating License for
Palisades was issued on March 24, 1971. This action would extend the
period of operation to the full 40 years provided by the Atomic Energy
Act and the Code of Federal Regulations.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for license amendment dated April 27, 2000.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to allow the licensee to continue to
operate Palisades for 40 years from the date of issuance of the
Provisional Operating License. This extension of 4 years and 10 days
would permit Palisades to operate for the full 40-year design-basis
lifetime, consistent with the Commission's policy stated in a
memorandum dated August 16, 1982, from William Dircks, Executive
Director for Operations, to the Commissioners, and as evidenced by the
issuance of more than 50 such extensions to other licensees.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and
concludes that extending Facility Operating License No. DPR-20 for 4
years and 10 days would not create any new or unreviewed environmental
impacts. This change does not involve any physical modifications to
Palisades and there are no new or unreviewed environmental impacts that
were not considered as part of the Final Environmental Statement (FES)
related to operation of Palisades, dated June 1972, as supplemented by
a final addendum (NUREG-0343), dated February 1978, related to an
increase in core power level, and as supplemented by an environmental
assessment (EA) dated October 22, 1990, related to conversion of the
Provisional Operating License to a 40-year full-term Facility Operating
License, which concluded that an FES supplement was not necessary.
Evaluations for the FES, as supplemented by the final addendum and by
the EA, considered a 40-year operating life. The considerations
involved in the NRC staff's determination are discussed below.
Radiological Impacts of the Hypothetical Design-Basis Accidents
The offsite exposure from releases during postulated accidents was
evaluated and found acceptable during the operating license stage and
subsequent license amendments. This type of evaluation involves four
issues: (1) Type and probability of postulated accidents, (2) the
radioactive material releases calculated for each accident, (3) the
assumed meteorological conditions, and (4) population size and
distribution in the vicinity of Palisades. The NRC staff has concluded
that neither the type and probability of postulated accidents nor the
radioactive material releases calculated for each accident would change
through the proposed extended operation. As discussed in Sections 2.5.5
and 2.5.6 of Palisades' Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR),
more recent meteorological data collected onsite (1983 to 1997 for
short-term and 1988 to 1993 for long-term atmospheric dispersion
potentials) since issuance of the Operating License have resulted in
generally more favorable atmospheric dispersion estimates such that the
earlier analyses of the offsite consequences of postulated radiological
releases to the atmosphere remain bounding. A comparison of the 1980
population in the UFSAR with the actual 1990 census data shows a 3.5-
percent decline in the permanent resident population within 10 miles of
Palisades. Using 1990 census data and recent surveys to establish the
possible transient population, the licensee found that the maximum
probable population within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone has
declined from that shown in the UFSAR for 1980. The 1998 estimated
population for the 13 cities and townships within 10 miles of Palisades
declined by 1 percent from the 1990 census. These declining trends are
expected to continue such that the population for the period 2007
through 2011 should be well within the previous FES and UFSAR
projections. There are no changes to the current exclusion area, low
population zone, and nearest population center distance, and the
licensee will continue to meet the requirements of 10 CFR 100.11(a) for
the proposed license term extension. Also, there is no expected change
in land usage during the license terms that would affect offsite dose
calculations. Therefore, cumulative exposure to the general public due
to a design-basis accident would be within the bounds of the original
projections because of the lower than projected population and improved
meteorological conditions for the site and surrounding area.
Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed action will
not significantly change previous conclusions regarding the potential
environmental effects of offsite releases from postulated accident
conditions.
Radiological Impacts of Annual Releases and Occupational Exposures
On an annual basis, the licensee submits an Occupational Radiation
Exposure Report to the NRC. The data in these reports show that the
collective occupational exposure at Palisades is in a declining trend.
The 3-year annual average collective occupational
[[Page 66780]]
exposure at Palisades has dropped from about 270 person-rem/year in
1996 to about 161 person-rem/year in 1999. Through continued
implementation of As Low As Is Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) and other
programs, and by continuing to apply new techniques as they are
developed by the industry, the licensee expects to minimize
occupational exposure for Palisades during the period of the license
extension. The licensee projects that the collective occupational
exposure at Palisades for the period of 2007 to 2011 will average 125
person-rem/year. Based on its review of historical radiation exposure
data at Palisades, the licensee's continued implementation of ALARA,
and the licensee's continued compliance with the requirements of 10 CFR
Part 20, the NRC staff concludes that the occupational exposures will
continue to decline, and therefore, exposures during the proposed
extended period will remain below the exposures experienced during
Palisades' previous years of operation.
In accordance with Palisades' Technical Specifications (TSs), the
licensee has established several radiation monitoring programs,
including a program that follows 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix I, guidelines
to maintain radiation doses ALARA to members of the public. The
Appendix I guidelines establish radioactive design/dose objectives for
liquid and gaseous offsite releases, including iodine particulate
radionuclides. In addition, routine releases to the environment are
governed by 10 CFR Part 20, which states that such releases should be
ALARA. Each year, the licensee submits an Annual Radioactive Effluent
Release and Waste Disposal Report that provides an annual assessment of
the radiation dose as a result of radioactive liquid and gaseous
effluents released from Palisades. These reports show that release of
radioactive liquids and gases have historically been only a small
percentage of the Appendix I guidelines. As a result of the continued
implementation of the ALARA program, offsite exposures can be expected
to remain lower than the Appendix I guidelines and FES estimates. These
reports also discuss the types and quantity of solid radioactive waste
(radwaste) processed during the year and shipped to a licensed offsite
low-level waste disposal facility in another state. Solid radwaste
typically includes dry active waste, evaporator bottom contents, spent
resins and filters, and irradiated hardware. The volume of solid
radwaste shipped from Palisades has historically been consistent with
that projected in the FES (2100 to 10,000 cubic feet per year). The
volume of radwaste generated at Palisades due to the processing of
radioactive liquids (filters and resins), and due to routine
maintenance on equipment, has decreased significantly since the late
1980's due, in part, to the processing of dry active waste by
incineration. The licensee continues to pursue waste volume reduction
technology to minimize impacts associated with radwaste management.
Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that the additional solid radwaste
generated and processed during the extended period of operation will
continue to be consistent with the types and quantities previously
projected in the FES.
In accordance with Palisades' TSs, the licensee has an established
Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program by which it monitors the
effect of operation of its facility upon the environment. This is
accomplished by continuously measuring radiation levels and airborne
radioactive material levels and periodically measuring amounts of
radioactive materials in samples at various locations surrounding
Palisades. Continued environmental monitoring and surveillance under
the program ensure early detection of any increase in exposures over
the proposed extended operation.
Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that the radiological impact
upon the public due to the proposed extended operation would not
increase over that previously evaluated in the FES and the occupational
exposures will be consistent with the industry average and in
accordance with 10 CFR Part 20.
The NRC staff has reviewed the environmental impacts attributable
to the transportation of spent fuel and waste from the Palisades site.
With respect to the normal conditions of transport and possible
accidents in transport, the NRC staff finds that the environmental
impacts are bounded by those identified in Table S-4, ``Environmental
Impact of Transportation of Fuel and Waste to and from One Light Water-
Cooled Nuclear Power Reactor,'' of 10 CFR Part 51.52 for burnup levels
up to 60,000 megawatt-days per metric ton of uranium (MWd/MTU) and 5
weight percent U-235 enrichment (53 FR 6040 and 53 FR 30355). The NRC
staff concludes that the environmental impact related to the
transportation of fuel and waste remains low and is not significantly
increased by the change in the expiration date of the Operating
License.
Based upon the conservative population estimate in the FES dated
November 1973 and EAs dated February 26 and June 7, 1990, low
radiological exposure from plant releases during normal operation and
postulated accidents, and the environmental monitoring program, the NRC
staff concludes that the radiological impact on the public due to the
proposed action would not be significant and the conclusions of the FES
would remain valid.
Environmental Impact of the Uranium Fuel Cycle
Palisades is currently operating in its 15th fuel cycle. Fuel
enrichments (batch average) have ranged from a minimum of 1.65 weight
percent U-235 up to 4.02 weight percent U-235. Palisades is presently
licensed to store fuel with enrichments up to 4.4 weight percent U-235.
To date, the maximum burn-up of any single fuel assembly has been
51,500 MWd/MTU. In its generic EA dated February 29, 1988 (53 FR 6040),
the NRC staff concluded that the environmental impact of extended fuel
irradiation up to 60,000 MWd/MTU and increased enrichment up to 5
weight percent are bounded by the impacts reported in Table S-4 of 10
CFR 51.52. Thus, this generic assessment is bounding for the Palisades
Plant.
The total projected number of fuel cycles remaining before the
current Facility Operating License expiration date (March 14, 2007) is
five. The proposed extended operation will increase the number of
complete fuel cycles by about 3 to a total of 22 based on projected
cycle lengths. The total number of discharged fuel assemblies,
including a full core discharge at the end of the current Operating
License expiration date, is projected to be 1453. The licensee projects
that the total number of spent fuel assemblies, including a full core
discharge at the end of the 40-year operating life, would be between
1577 and 1625. Thus, the proposed extended operation involves the
generation, interim storage, and ultimate disposal of up to an
additional 172 spent fuel assemblies.
To provide for the storage of additional spent fuel assemblies
beyond the licensed capacity of the Palisades spent fuel pool, the
licensee began using dry storage in 1993 under a general license in
accordance with 10 CFR part 72 (Docket No. 72-7). The licensee projects
that the proposed extended operation will result in an additional 126
fuel assemblies in dry fuel storage. Licensed dry fuel storage has
provided, and will continue to provide, sufficient extra spent fuel
storage capacity to accommodate the spent fuel storage needed for 40
years of operation.
[[Page 66781]]
Based on the above, the NRC staff concludes that there are no
significant changes in the environmental impact related to the uranium
fuel cycle due to the proposed extended operation of Palisades.
Nonradiological Impacts
The NRC relies upon the State of Michigan, Department of
Environmental Quality (MDEQ), for regulation of nonradiological matters
involving water quality and aquatic biota. The State of Michigan has
reviewed and considered the environmental impacts of Palisades' water
discharge in its issuance of the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit and renewals. The NPDES permit
contains requirements necessary to comply with State and Federal water
pollution control laws, and is audited by MDEQ and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. On October 1, 1999, MDEQ renewed the
NPDES permit for Palisades (NPDES Permit No. MI0001457) with an
effective date of November 1, 1999, and an expiration date of October
1, 2003. The licensee expects the MDEQ to renew and issue NPDES permits
about every 4 years until expiration of the Operating License. Because
the licensee will continue to abide by the NPDES permits, there will be
no significant nonradiological impact on the environment with regard to
liquid discharges from Palisades as a result of extending the
expiration date of the Operating License. Also, the proposed action
does not involve any historic sites. Therefore, the NRC concludes that
there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts
associated with the proposed action.
Accordingly, the NRC 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 NRC staff considered
denial of the proposed action (i.e., the ``no action'' alternative).
Denial of the application would result in no significant improvement in
environmental impacts, but could result in nonradiological
environmental effects due to airborne effluents from nonnuclear plants
that would be required to operate in order to replace the power
supplied by Palisades. The environmental impacts of the proposed action
and the alternative action are otherwise similar.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the FES, as supplemented, for Palisades.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, the NRC staff consulted with
the Michigan State official 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 NRC concludes
that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the
quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC 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 April 27, 2000. Documents may be examined, and/
or copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public Document Room, located at One
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville,
Maryland. Publicly 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 31st day of October 2000.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Darl S. Hood,
Senior Project Manager, Section 1, Project Directorate III, Division of
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 00-28494 Filed 11-6-00; 8:45 am]
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