ML030990106
| ML030990106 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hope Creek  |
| Issue date: | 04/14/2003 |
| From: | Richards S NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD1 |
| To: | Tosch K State of NJ, Dept of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Nuclear Engineering |
| Wunder G, NRR/DLPM, 415-1494 | |
| References | |
| TAC MB5448 | |
| Download: ML030990106 (5) | |
Text
April 14, 2003 Mr. Kent Tosch, Manager New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Nuclear Engineering P.O. Box 415 Trenton, NJ 08625-0415
SUBJECT:
STATE OF NEW JERSEY COMMENTS ON RELAXATION OF SECONDARY CONTAINMENT OPERABILITY REQUIREMENTS AND ELIMINATION OF FILTRATION, RECIRCULATION, AND VENTILATION SYSTEM CHARCOAL FILTERS AT HOPE CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION (TAC NO.
MB5548)
Dear Mr. Tosch:
I am responding to your letter of April 4, 2003, in which you provided comments from the State of New Jersey on a proposed amendment to the Technical Specifications (TSs) of the Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station (Hope Creek). In your letter you opposed the removal of the Filtration, Recirculation, and Ventilation System, Recirculation Subsystem (FRVS-RS) charcoal adsorbers from the TSs. You stated that removal of these filters could lead to an increase in the postulated amount of radioiodine released off-site in the event of an accident. You also questioned the prudence of relaxing containment requirements during refueling operations and you asked whether or not the licensee could secure the containment to protect public health and safety in the event of a fuel-handling accident (FHA).
Licensees must obtain Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff approval before making changes to their TSs. Before approving a licensees request, the staff must make a finding that the changes will provide an adequate level of safety to protect the public health and safety.
This adequate level of safety is defined by the NRCs regulations.
The NRC staff reviewed PSEGs request for relaxation of containment requirements and removal of FRVS-RS charcoal filters from the TSs. This review found that the changes proposed by the licensee will not result in doses to the public in excess of a small percentage of the regulatory limits contained in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 50.67, Accident Source Term, in the unlikely event that a significant accident should occur. Your letter did not identify any issues that would indicate that the licensees analysis of the proposed changes is in error, or that the proposed amendment does not meet the adequate protection standards of the regulations. The staffs detailed evaluation of the licensees request will be contained in its Safety Evaluation for the amendment request.
In regard to your question about whether or not the licensee would be able to secure containment to protect the public in the event of an FHA, PSEG committed to adopt industry guidance that states that they should have a method to close containment penetrations and ventilate through a cleanup and monitoring system in the event of an accident. However, even without this commitment to follow industry guidance, the licensees proposal appears to meet the adequate protection standard; the commitment to provide containment closure is an enhancement above this standard.
K. Tosch Based on the staffs review of the proposed changes, and our findings that the applicable regulations have been satisfied, we intend to approve the amendment.
We appreciate the comments provided by the State of New Jersey. If you have any other questions, please contact the Project Manager, George Wunder, at (301) 415-1494.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Stuart A. Richards, Director Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: See next page
K. Tosch Based on the staffs review of the proposed changes, and our findings that the applicable regulations have been satisfied, we intend to approve the amendment.
We appreciate the comments provided by the State of New Jersey. If you have any other questions, please contact the Project Manager, George Wunder, at (301) 415-1494.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Stuart A. Richards, Director Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC PDReadingLAPDI-2 RLaufer GMeyer CRaynor GWunder OGC ACRS/ACNW TMcGinty ADAMS Accession Number: ML030990106 OFFICE PDI-2/PM PDI-2/LA PDI-2/SC PDI/D NAME GWunder CRaynor JBoska for JClifford SRichards DATE 04/14/03 4/14/03 4/14/03 4-14-03 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Hope Creek Generating Station and Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 cc:
Jeffrie J. Keenan, Esquire PSEG Nuclear - N21 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Hope Creek Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Drawer 0509 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Senior Resident Inspector Salem Nuclear Generating Station U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Drawer 0509 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Mr. John T. Carlin Vice President - Nuclear Reliability and Technical Support PSEG Nuclear - N10 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Mr. David F. Garchow Vice President - Operations PSEG Nuclear - X10 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Mr. Gabor Salamon Manager - Nuclear Safety and Licensing PSEG Nuclear - N21 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Regional Administrator, Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Brian Beam Division of Energy Board of Public Utilities 2 Gateway Center, Tenth Floor Newark, NJ 07102 Lower Alloways Creek Township c/o Mary O. Henderson, Clerk Municipal Building, P.O. Box 157 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Dr. Jill Lipoti, Asst. Director Radiation Protection Programs NJ Department of Environmental Protection and Energy CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625-0415 Richard Hartung Electric Service Evaluation Board of Regulatory Commissioners 2 Gateway Center, Tenth Floor Newark, NJ 07102 Ms. R. A. Kankus Joint Owner Affairs PECO Energy Company Nuclear Group Headquarters KSA1-E 200 Exelon Way Kennett Square, PA 19348