ML020590228

Federal Register Notice of Application for Amendment to Facility Operating License ILRT Test Interval Extension

ML020590228
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	03/01/2002
From:	Robert Fretz NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD1
To:	Keiser H Public Service Enterprise Group
Fretz, R, NRR/DLPM, 415-1324
References
TAC MB3838
Download: ML020590228 (10)

Text

March 1, 2002 Mr. Harold W. Keiser Chief Nuclear Officer & President PSEG Nuclear LLC - X04 Post Office Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038

SUBJECT:

SALEM NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT NO. 2, FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AMENDMENT TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE RE: REQUEST FOR CHANGE TO TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION (TS) 6.8.4.f, PRIMARY CONTAINMENT LEAKAGE RATE TESTING PROGRAM (TAC NO. MB3838)

Dear Mr. Keiser:

The enclosed notice was forwarded for publication in the Federal Register. The notice relates to your application for an amendment to Facility Operating License No. DPR-75 for the Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit No. 2, dated January 17, 2002. The proposed amendment would allow a one-time test interval extension for the Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit No. 2, Type A Integrated Leakage Rate Test (ILRT) from a maximum 10-year interval to a maximum 15-year interval.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Robert J. Fretz, Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-311

Enclosure:

Federal Register Notice cc w/encls: See next page

ML020590228 OFFICE PDI-2/PM PDI-2/LA PDI-2/SC NAME RFretz TLClark JClifford DATE 03/01/02 02/28/02 03/01/02 PSEG Nuclear LLC Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit No. 1 cc:

Mr. Elbert C. Simpson Lower Alloways Creek Township Senior Vice President & c/o Mary O. Henderson, Clerk Chief Administrative Officer Municipal Building, P.O. Box 157 PSEG Nuclear - N19 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Dr. Jill Lipoti, Asst. Director Radiation Protection Programs Mr. Mark B. Bezilla NJ Department of Environmental Vice President - Technical Support Protection and Energy PSEG Nuclear - N10 CN 415 P.O. Box 236 Trenton, NJ 08625-0415 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Richard Hartung Mr. David F. Garchow Electric Service Evaluation Vice President - Operations Board of Regulatory Commissioners PSEG Nuclear - X10 2 Gateway Center, Tenth Floor P.O. Box 236 Newark, NJ 07102 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Regional Administrator, Region I Mr. Gabor Salamon U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Manager - Nuclear Safety and Licensing 475 Allendale Road PSEG Nuclear - N21 King of Prussia, PA 19406 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Senior Resident Inspector Salem Nuclear Generating Station Jeffrie J. Keenan, Esquire U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission PSEG Nuclear - N21 Drawer 0509 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Ms. R. A. Kankus Joint Owner Affairs PECO Energy Company Nuclear Group Headquarters KSA1-E 200 Exelon Way Kennett Square, PA 19348

7590-01-P UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION PSEG NUCLEAR LLC DOCKET NO. 50-311 NOTICE OF CONSIDERATION OF ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENT TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE, PROPOSED NO SIGNIFICANT HAZARDS CONSIDERATION DETERMINATION, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR A HEARING The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. DPR-75 issued to PSEG Nuclear LLC (the licensee) for operation of the Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit No. 2, located in Salem County, New Jersey.

The proposed amendment would revise Technical Specification (TS) Section 6.8.4.f, Primary Containment Leakage Rate Testing Program. The proposed change would allow a one-time test interval extension for the Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit No. 2, Type A Integrated Leakage Rate Test (ILRT) from a maximum 10-year interval to a maximum 15-year interval.

Before issuance of the proposed license amendment, the Commission will have made findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commission's regulations.

The Commission has made a proposed determination that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration. Under the Commission's regulations in Title 10 of the CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (10 CFR), Section 50.92, this means that operation of the facility in accordance with the proposed amendment would not (1) involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated; or (2) create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated; or

(3) involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety. As required by 10 CFR 50.91(a), the licensee has provided its analysis of the issue of no significant hazards consideration. The NRC staff has reviewed the licensees analysis against the standards of 10 CFR 50.92(c). The NRC staffs review is presented below:

The proposed change to TS Section 6.8.4.f would not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated. The current containment ILRT test interval of 10 years would be extended, on a one-time basis, to 15 years from the most recent ILRT. Because the ILRT test extension does not involve a modification to plant systems or result in a change to plant operations that could initiate an accident, there would be no increase in the probability of an accident previously evaluated. Furthermore, the proposed extension to Type A testing does not involve a significant increase in the consequences of an accident. NRC staff research documented in NUREG-1493, Performance-Based Containment Leak-Test Program, found that very few potential containment leakage paths fail to be identified by Type B and C tests. The study concluded that changing ILRT testing frequency to once every 20 years would lead to an imperceptible increase in the consequences of an accident. As a result, the proposed one-time extension to the ILRT test interval does not involve a significant increase in the probability of occurrence or consequences of an accident previously analyzed.

The proposed revision to Section 6.8.4.f does not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously analyzed. Because there are no physical changes, or changes in operation of the plant involved, the proposed TS amendment could not introduce a new failure mode or create a new or different kind of accident. Therefore, the proposed amendment does not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from that previously analyzed.

The proposed TS change does not involve a significant reduction in the margin of safety. The NRC staffs study on the effects of extending containment leakage testing found that a reduction in the ILRT frequency would lead to an imperceptible decrease in the margin of safety. The estimated increase in risk is very small because ILRTs identify only a few potential leakage paths that cannot be identified through local leakage rate testing (Type B and C tests).

At Salem, Type B and C testing will continue to be performed at a frequency currently required by the TS. Therefore, the proposed changes do not involve a significant reduction in margin of safety.

Based on the NRC staffs analysis, it appears that the three standards of 10 CFR 50.92(c) are satisfied. Therefore, the NRC staff proposes to determine that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration.

The Commission is seeking public comments on this proposed determination. Any comments received within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice will be considered in making any final determination.

Normally, the Commission will not issue the amendment until the expiration of the 30-day notice period. However, should circumstances change during the notice period such that failure to act in a timely way would result, for example, in derating or shutdown of the facility, the Commission may issue the license amendment before the expiration of the 30-day notice period, provided that its final determination is that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration. The final determination will consider all public and State comments received. Should the Commission take this action, it will publish in the FEDERAL REGISTER a notice of issuance and provide for opportunity for a hearing after issuance. The Commission expects that the need to take this action will occur very infrequently.

Written comments may be submitted by mail to the Chief, Rules and Directives Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, and should cite the publication date and page number of this FEDERAL REGISTER notice. Written comments may also be delivered to Room 6D59, Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, from 7:30 a.m.

to 4:15 p.m. Federal workdays. Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRCs Public Document Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland.

The filing of requests for hearing and petitions for leave to intervene is discussed below.

By April 8, 2002, the licensee may file a request for a hearing with respect to issuance of the amendment to the subject facility operating license and any person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding must file a written request for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene. Requests for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene shall be filed in accordance with the Commission's "Rules of Practice for Domestic Licensing Proceedings" in 10 CFR Part 2. Interested persons should consult a current copy of 10 CFR 2.714, which is available at the Commission's Public Document Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland, or electronically on the Internet at the NRC Web site http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/. If there are problems in accessing the document, contact the Public Document Room Reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov. If a request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene is filed by the above date, the Commission or an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, designated by the Commission or by the Chairman of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, will rule on the request and/or petition; and the Secretary or the designated Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will issue a notice of hearing or an appropriate order.

As required by 10 CFR 2.714, a petition for leave to intervene shall set forth with particularity the interest of the petitioner in the proceeding, and how that interest may be

affected by the results of the proceeding. The petition should specifically explain the reasons why intervention should be permitted with particular reference to the following factors: (1) the nature of the petitioner's right under the Act to be made party to the proceeding; (2) the nature and extent of the petitioner's property, financial, or other interest in the proceeding; and (3) the possible effect of any order which may be entered in the proceeding on the petitioner's interest.

The petition should also identify the specific aspect(s) of the subject matter of the proceeding as to which petitioner wishes to intervene. Any person who has filed a petition for leave to intervene or who has been admitted as a party may amend the petition without requesting leave of the Board up to 15 days prior to the first prehearing conference scheduled in the proceeding, but such an amended petition must satisfy the specificity requirements described above.

Not later than 15 days prior to the first prehearing conference scheduled in the proceeding, a petitioner shall file a supplement to the petition to intervene which must include a list of the contentions which are sought to be litigated in the matter. Each contention must consist of a specific statement of the issue of law or fact to be raised or controverted. In addition, the petitioner shall provide a brief explanation of the bases of the contention and a concise statement of the alleged facts or expert opinion which support the contention and on which the petitioner intends to rely in proving the contention at the hearing. The petitioner must also provide references to those specific sources and documents of which the petitioner is aware and on which the petitioner intends to rely to establish those facts or expert opinion.

Petitioner must provide sufficient information to show that a genuine dispute exists with the applicant on a material issue of law or fact. Contentions shall be limited to matters within the scope of the amendment under consideration. The contention must be one which, if proven, would entitle the petitioner to relief. A petitioner who fails to file such a supplement which satisfies these requirements with respect to at least one contention will not be permitted to participate as a party.

Those permitted to intervene become parties to the proceeding, subject to any limitations in the order granting leave to intervene, and have the opportunity to participate fully in the conduct of the hearing, including the opportunity to present evidence and cross-examine witnesses.

If a hearing is requested, the Commission will make a final determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration. The final determination will serve to decide when the hearing is held.

If the final determination is that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration, the Commission may issue the amendment and make it immediately effective, notwithstanding the request for a hearing. Any hearing held would take place after issuance of the amendment.

If the final determination is that the amendment request involves a significant hazards consideration, any hearing held would take place before the issuance of any amendment.

A request for a hearing or a petition for leave to intervene must be filed with the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, or may be delivered to the Commission's Public Document Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland, by the above date. A copy of the petition should also be sent to the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, and to Jeffrie J. Keenan, Esquire, Nuclear Business Unit - N21, P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038, attorney for the licensee.

Nontimely filings of petitions for leave to intervene, amended petitions, supplemental petitions and/or requests for hearing will not be entertained absent a determination by the Commission, the presiding officer or the presiding Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that the

petition and/or request should be granted based upon a balancing of the factors specified in 10 CFR 2.714(a)(1)(i)-(v) and 2.714(d).

For further details with respect to this action, see the application for amendment dated

[date], which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland.

Publicly available records will be accessible from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html . Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, should contact the NRC Public Document Room Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737 or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 1st day of March 2002.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

/RA/

Robert Fretz, Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation