JPN-87-053, Comment Supporting Proposed Rule 10CFR50 Re Revising Backfitting Process for Power Reactors.Minor Alterations Urged Re Conditions Under Which Backfit Needed to Assure Adequate Protection

Comment Supporting Proposed Rule 10CFR50 Re Revising Backfitting Process for Power Reactors.Minor Alterations Urged Re Conditions Under Which Backfit Needed to Assure Adequate Protection

ML20235Y880
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point, FitzPatrick, 05000000
Issue date:	10/15/1987
From:	Brons J POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (NEW YORK
To:	NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY)
References
FRN-50FR34223, FRN-52FR34223, RULE-PR-50 50FR34223-00024, 50FR34223-24, IPN-87-047, IPN-87-47, JPN-87-053, JPN-87-53, NUDOCS 8710200517
Download: ML20235Y880 (3)

Text

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BR M October 15 , 1987 ,

JPN-87-0 53 2

IPN-87-047 Secretary, U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn. Docketing and Service Branch Washington, D. C. 20555 5 a

Subject:

James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant R C*

Docket No. 50-333

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Indian Point 3 Nuclear Power Plant o" y Docket No. 50-286 Comments on Proposed Rule Revising the >@ '

Backfittina Process for Power Reactors Ql5 O l

References:

1. Federal Register Notice, 52FR34223, " Nuclear ~ l Regulatory Commission," 10 CFR Part 50, I Revision of Backfitting Process for Power Reactors," Vol. 52, No. 175, dated September 10, 1987.

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Dear Sir:

The Authority has reviewed the proposed rule for revising backfitting process for nuclear power plants (Reference 1). The Authority supports the revised rule and recommends that the commission adopt it with two minor alterations.

First, the new exception in Section 50.109 (a) (4) (ii) should be revised to clearly state the conditions under which backfitting is necessary to assure " adequate protection." In the original Statement of Considerations, the Commission stated that once a plant has been licensed for operation, it is presumed to be safe. The revised

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i Statement of Considerations should be restated. It should be expanded to state that exception (ii) applies when  !

significant new information or the occurence of an' event  !

demonstrate that the the plant no longer provides adequate protection. An NRC backfit analysis, demonstrating that adequate protection cannot be assured without the backfit,

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should also be prescribed by the Statement of Considerations.

Second, the exception in Section 50.109 (a) (4) (lii) which defines or redefines an adequate level of protection is redundant in light of the exception in Section (ii). New information or events that demonstrate -inadequate protection are themselves a redefinition of adequate protection.

Section (iii) should be deleted because Section (ii) more closely. defines the reason for valid exceptions.

, The Nuclear Uti!.ity Backfitting and Reform Group

.(NUBARG) is commenting on the proposed rule on behalf of its membership, including the Power Authority. Since the comments provided in this letter are very similar to NUBARG's, the Power Authority endorses those comments.

If the NRC staff has any questions concerning these comments, please contact Mr. J. A. Gray, Jr. of my staff.

Very truly yours,

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,s s. .

John C. Brons Executive Vice President l uclear Generation j

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cc: U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 Office of the Resident Inspector U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P. O. Box 136 Lycoming, New York 13093 Resident Inspector's office I

Indian Point Unit 3 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission j P. O. Box 377 )

Buchanan, New York 10511 l l

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h Mr. H. Abelson, Project Manager

< ' Project Directorate I-1 Division ~of Reactor. Projects I/II U. S.' Nuclear Regulatory Commission 7920 Norfolk Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20014

! Joseph D. Neighbors, Sr. Project Manager Project Directorate'I-1 Division of Reactor Projects I/II l U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ,,

j 7920 Norolk' Avenue i

.Bethesda, Maryland 20014 l

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