ML020710642

Issuance of Amendments, Revises TS 3.3.6

ML020710642
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	02/21/2002
From:	Assa R NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2
To:	Beasley J Southern Nuclear Operating Co
Rinaldi F, NRR/LPD2-1, 415-1447
References
TAC MB1909, TAC MB1910
Download: ML020710642 (11)

Text

February 21, 2002 Mr. J. B. Beasley, Jr.

Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Post Office Box 1295 Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295

SUBJECT:

VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 RE: ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENTS (TAC NOS. MB1909 AND MB 1910)

Dear Mr. Beasley:

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued the enclosed Amendment No. 124 to Facility Operating License NPF-68 and Amendment No. 102 to Facility Operating License NPF-81 for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2. The amendments consist of changes to the Technical Specifications (TS) in response to your application dated April 27, 2001.

The amendments revise TS 3.3.6, Containment Ventilation Isolation Instrumentation, to extend the surveillance test interval for Potter and Brumfield type motor-driven slave relays in the containment ventilation isolation system from 92 days to 18 months. The associated Bases for SR 3.3.6.5 will be revised to reflect this change.

A copy of the related Safety Evaluation is also enclosed. A Notice of Issuance will be included in the Commission's biweekly Federal Register notice.

Sincerely,

/RA by F.Rinaldi Acting for/

Ramin Assa, Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-424 and 50-425

Enclosures:

1. Amendment No. 124 to NPF-68

2. Amendment No. 102 to NPF-81

3. Safety Evaluation cc w/encls: See next page

Mr. J. B. Beasley, Jr.

DISTRIBUTION:

February 21, 2002 Vice President File Center PSkinner, RII Southern Nuclear Operating PUBLIC GHill(4) T-5 C3 Company, Inc.

PDII-1 R/F WBeckner, O-11 F23 Post Office Box 1295 OGC ACRS T-2 E26 Birmingham, Alabama 35201

SUBJECT:

VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 RE: ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENTS (TAC NOS. MB1909 AND MB 1910)

Dear Mr. Beasley:

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued the enclosed Amendment No. 124 to Facility Operating License NPF-68 and Amendment No. 102 to Facility Operating License NPF-81 for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2. The amendments consist of changes to the Technical Specifications (TS) in response to your application dated April 27, 2001.

The amendments revise TS 3.3.6, Containment Ventilation Isolation Instrumentation, to extend the surveillance test interval for Potter and Brumfield type motor-driven slave relays in the containment ventilation isolation system from 92 days to 18 months. The associated Bases for SR 3.3.6.5 will be revised to reflect this change.

A copy of the related Safety Evaluation is also enclosed. A Notice of Issuance will be included in the Commission's biweekly Federal Register notice.

Sincerely,

/RA by F.Rinaldi Acting for/

Ramin Assa, Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-424 and 50-425

Enclosures:

1. Amendment No. to NPF-68

2. Amendment No. to NPF-81

3. Safety Evaluation cc w/encls: See next page

• • No major changes to SE.

Letter Access.No.ML020710642 *See Previous Concurrence OFFICE PDII-1/PM PDII-1/LA EEIB**

OGC*

PDII-1/SC(A)

NAME RAssa CHawes EMarinos RHoefling RLaufer DATE 02/20/02 02/20/02 08/17/01 2/19/02 02/20/01 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY OGLETHORPE POWER CORPORATION MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC AUTHORITY OF GEORGIA CITY OF DALTON, GEORGIA VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNIT 1 AMENDMENT TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE Amendment No. 124 License No. NPF-68

1. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has found that:

A. The application for amendment to the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Unit 1 (the facility) Facility Operating License No. NPF-68 filed by the Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (the licensee), acting for itself, Georgia Power Company, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, and City of Dalton, Georgia (the owners), dated April 27, 2001, complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commission's rules and regulations as set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I; B. The facility will operate in conformity with the application, the provisions of the Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission; C. There is reasonable assurance (i) that the activities authorized by this amendment can be conducted without endangering the health and safety of the public, and (ii) that such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I; D. The issuance of this amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public; and E. The issuance of this amendment is in accordance with 10 CFR Part 51 of the Commission's regulations and all applicable requirements have been satisfied.

2. Accordingly, the license is hereby amended by page changes to the Technical Specifications as indicated in the attachment to this license amendment, and paragraph 2.C.(2) of Facility Operating License No. NPF-68 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Technical Specifications and Environmental Protection Plan The Technical Specifications contained in Appendix A, as revised through Amendment No. 124, and the Environmental Protection Plan contained in Appendix B, both of which are attached hereto, are hereby incorporated into this license. Southern Nuclear shall operate the facility in accordance with the Technical Specifications and the Environmental Protection Plan.

3. This license amendment is effective as of its date of issuance and shall be implemented within 30 days of issuance.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

/RA/

Richard J. Laufer, Acting Chief, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Attachment:

Technical Specification Changes Date of Issuance: February 21, 2002

SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY OGLETHORPE POWER CORPORATION MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC AUTHORITY OF GEORGIA CITY OF DALTON, GEORGIA VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNIT 2 AMENDMENT TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE Amendment No. 102 License No. NPF-81

1. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has found that:

A. The application for amendment to the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Unit 2 (the facility) Facility Operating License No. NPF-81 filed by the Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (the licensee), acting for itself, Georgia Power Company Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, and City of Dalton, Georgia (the owners), dated April 27, 2001, complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commission's rules and regulations as set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I; B. The facility will operate in conformity with the application, the provisions of the Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission; C. There is reasonable assurance (i) that the activities authorized by this amendment can be conducted without endangering the health and safety of the public, and (ii) that such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I; D. The issuance of this amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public; and E. The issuance of this amendment is in accordance with 10 CFR Part 51 of the Commission's regulations and all applicable requirements have been satisfied.

2. Accordingly, the license is hereby amended by page changes to the Technical Specifications as indicated in the attachment to this license amendment, and paragraph 2.C.(2) of Facility Operating License No. NPF-81 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Technical Specifications and Environmental Protection Plan The Technical Specifications contained in Appendix A, as revised through Amendment No. 102, and the Environmental Protection Plan contained in Appendix B, both of which are attached hereto, are hereby incorporated into this license. Southern Nuclear shall operate the facility in accordance with the Technical Specifications and the Environmental Protection Plan.

3. This license amendment is effective as of its date of issuance and shall be implemented within 30 days of issuance.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

/RA/

Richard J. Laufer, Acting Chief, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Attachment:

Technical Specification Changes Date of Issuance: February 21, 2002

ATTACHMENT TO LICENSE AMENDMENT NO. 124 FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. NPF-68 DOCKET NO. 50-424 AND TO LICENSE AMENDMENT NO. 102 FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. NPF-81 DOCKET NO. 50-425 Replace the following pages of the Appendix A Technical Specifications and associated Bases with the attached revised pages. The revised pages are identified by amendment number and contain marginal lines indicating the areas of change.

Remove Insert 3.3.6-4 3.3.6-4 B 3.3.6-9 B 3.3.6-9 B 3.3.6-10 B 3.3.6-10 B 3.3.6-11 B 3.3.6-11

SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION RELATED TO AMENDMENT NO. 124 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NPF-68 AND AMENDMENT NO. 102 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NPF-81 SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY, INC., ET AL.

VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 DOCKET NOS. 50-424 AND 50-425

1.0 INTRODUCTION

By letter dated April 27, 2001, Southern Nuclear Operating Company (licensee), submitted a request to revise Technical Specifications (TS) for Facility Operating Licenses NPF-68 and NPF-81 for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP), Units 1 and 2. The proposed changes to TS Section 3.3.6, "Containment Ventilation Isolation (CVI) Instrumentation" would extend the slave relay test interval from 92 days to 18 months for Potter and Brumfield (P&B) motor-driven relays (MDRs).

In order to justify these changes, the licensee referenced generic Westinghouse Topical Report WCAP-13878, Revision 2, "Reliability Assessment of P&B MDR Series Relays." By letter dated July 12, 2000, the staff accepted Revision 2 of WCAP-13878. Based on the staffs Safety Evaluation report, finding WCAP-13878 acceptable, each licensee is required to address the following plant-specific items:

1. Confirm the applicability of the WCAP-13878 analyses to its plant.

2. Ensure that the procurement program for P&B MDR relays is adequate for detecting the types of failures that are discussed in the Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data Special Study Report (AEOD/S93-06), "Potter & Brumfield Model MDR Rotary Relay Failures," dated December 1993; Information Notice IN 90-57, "Substandard, Refurbished Potter & Brumfield Relays Misrepresented as New," dated September 5, 1990, and the associated Supplement 1 dated November 27, 1991; and 10 CFR Part 21 report from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, dated July 21, 1995.

3. Ensure that all pre-1992 P&B MDR relays, that are used either normally energized or in a 20 percent duty cycle, have been removed from engineered safety features actuation system (ESFAS) applications.

4. Ensure that the contact loading analysis for P&B MDR relays has been performed to determine the acceptability of these relays.

5. Establish a program to evaluate the adequacy of the proposed test interval if two or more slave relays fail in a 12-month period.

2.0 EVALUATION The licensee addressed each of the above plant-specific items. The staff evaluation of these plant-specific items is described below.

1. The licensee confirmed the applicability of WCAP-13878 to VEGP. The licensee stated that the relay types used are the same as those analyzed in WCAP-13878. The licensee also stated that the environmental conditions in which these relays are located are bounded by the assumptions in WCAP-13878. On this basis, the staff considers that the licensee has adequately addressed the applicability of WCAP-13878 to VEGP.

2. The licensee stated that P&B MDR relays are purchased as new, safety-related components. No P&B MDR relays are sent out for work. Although the licensee does not utilize refurbished or reworked P&B MDR relays, each new P&B MDR relay is inspected for conditions that could indicate substandard refurbishment. During receipt inspection, new P&B MDR relays are verified to have been manufactured after 1992. All P&B MDR relays in the warehouse have been inspected and any that were manufactured before 1993 were removed from inventory. On this basis, the staff finds that the licensee has adequately addressed the staffs concern regarding refurbishing relays.

3. The licensee stated that a review of the solid state protection system (SSPS) was performed and it was determined that all slave relays that perform TS required functions are normally de-energized while the plant is at power. The SSPS is normally removed from service during refueling outages and cold shutdowns; thus, VEGP does not have any CVI slave relays that are either normally energized or energized for a 20 percent duty cycle. Therefore, this item is not applicable to VEGP.

4. The licensee provided the results of the contact loading analysis. The analysis concluded that each contact on every SSPS slave relay for Unit 1 was found to be well within the design basis of the slave relays. Unit 2 SSPS designs and loads are similar to Unit 1 and were not analyzed. However, a cursory review of Unit 2 SSPS slave relay contact loading has been performed and found to be the same as Unit 1. On this basis, the staff finds that the licensee has adequately addressed the staffs concern regarding contact loading of slave relays.

5. The licensee stated that plant procedures have been revised to specifically require monitoring for P&B MDR ESFAS and CVI subgroup relay failures. If two or more relays fail in a 12-month period, the licensee will re-evaluate the adequacy of the extended surveillance frequency. The staff finds the licensees commitment acceptable.

The TS requirement for CVI slave relay testing will continue to be implemented by Surveillance Requirement (SR) 3.3.6.5. The associated Bases for SR 3.3.6.5 will be revised to clarify that circuits containing P&B MDR series relays may be tested on an 18-month frequency.

Based on the review of the licensees submittal the staff has determined that the generic analysis contained in WCAP-13878, Revision 2, is applicable to VEGP, Units 1 and 2 and the licensee has adequately addressed the staffs plant-specific concerns. Therefore, the proposed test interval extension from 92 days to 18 months for P&B MDR slave relays contained in TS 3.3.6 is acceptable.

3.0 STATE CONSULTATION

In accordance with the Commission's regulations, the Georgia State official was notified of the proposed issuance of the amendments. The State official had no comments.

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION

The amendments change Surveillance Requirements. The NRC staff has determined that the amendments involve no significant increase in the amounts and no significant change in the types of any effluents that may be released offsite and that there is no significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure. The Commission has previously issued a proposed finding that the amendments involve no significant hazards consideration, and there has been no public comment on such finding (66 FR 31714). Accordingly, the amendments meet the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b) no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared in connection with the issuance of the amendments.

5.0 CONCLUSION

The Commission has concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that: (1) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by operation in the proposed manner, (2) such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations, and (3) the issuance of the amendments will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.

Principal Contributor: Barry Marcus Date: February 21, 2002

Vogtle Electric Generating Plant cc:

Mr. J. A. Bailey Manager, Licensing Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

P. O. Box 1295 Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295 Mr. J. Gasser General Manager, Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

P. O. Box 1600 Waynesboro, Georgia 30830 Office of Planning and Budget Room 615B 270 Washington Street, SW.

Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Mr. J. D. Woodard Executive Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

P. O. Box 1295 Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295 Steven M. Jackson Senior Engineer - Power Supply Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia 1470 Riveredge Parkway, NW.

Atlanta, Georgia 30328-4684 Harold Reheis, Director Department of Natural Resources 205 Butler Street, SE. Suite 1252 Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Attorney General Law Department 132 Judicial Building Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Mr. J. D. Sharpe Resident Manager Oglethorpe Power Corporation Alvin W. Vogtle Nuclear Plant P. O. Box 1600 Waynesboro, Georgia 30830 Charles A. Patrizia, Esquire Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker 10th Floor 1299 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20004-9500 Arthur H. Domby, Esquire Troutman Sanders NationsBank Plaza 600 Peachtree Street, NE.

Suite 5200 Atlanta, Georgia 30308-2216 Resident Inspector Vogtle Plant 8805 River Road Waynesboro, Georgia 30830 Office of the County Commissioner Burke County Commission Waynesboro, Georgia 30830