ML042110381

License Amendment Request Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.90: Revision of Intermediate Range Monitor Surveillance Frequency and Relocation of Selected Instrumentation Requirements to a License-Controlled Document

ML042110381
Person / Time
Site:	Nine Mile Point
Issue date:	07/16/2004
From:	Spina J Constellation Energy Group
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
NMPIL 1853, TAC MC2734
Download: ML042110381 (3)

Text

Constellation Energy P.O. Box 63 Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station Lycoming, New York 13093 July 16, 2004 NMP1L 1853 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555

SUBJECT:

Nine Mile Point Unit 1 Docket No. 50-220 License Amendment Request Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.90: Revision of Intermediate Range Monitor Surveillance Frequency and Rel&cationiof SMlEt-e-d1Ifstrumentatio-iR quirements to a Licensee-Controlled Document TAC No. MC2734 Gentlemen:

By letterNMPlL 1828, dated April 19, 2004, Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, LLC, (NMPNS) requested an amendment to Nine Mile Point Unit 1 (NMP 1) Operating License DPR-63 that would revise Technical Specification (TS).3/4.6.2, "Protective Instrumentation." The proposed changes would (1) establish an operating cycle (24-month) calibration surveillance frequeicy for the Intermediate Range Monitor (IRM) instrumentation, which would replace the current "prior to startup and normal shutdown" surveillance requirement, and (2) relocate the Limiting Conditions for Operation (LCOs) and Surveillance Requirements (SRs) for selected 'control rod withdrawal block instrumentation to the NMP1 Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR).

In the letter, NMPNS had requested approval of the amendment application and issuance of the license amendment by January 31, 2005 to support plant shutdown for the Spring 2005 refueling outage (RFO18). As requested by the NRC Project Manager forNine Mile Point, this letter is being submitted to formalize a previous verbal request that the NRC expedite review and approvalofThe amend-e-nt-a p-plicati6n-to6facilitate the planning for and efficient execution of a planned maintenance shutdown that is scheduled for October 2004. Due to recently received off-normal motor thrust bearing lube oil level indications for reactor recirculation pump (RRP) #15, it is currently planned to conduct a plant shutdown to determine the cause and effect repairs. RRP #15 has been removed from service since its continued operation could result in significant motor and/or pump damage, potentially including failure of the pump mechanical seal. Mechanical seal failure would cause reactor coolant leakage into the primary containment drywell that would exceed the TS leakage limit, requiring a plant shutdown. The TSs permit continued plant operation with four or three operating RRPs. However, overall plant' reliability is reduced beca'use'a single failure 'of power board #11;which is the power I, ear.,w

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Page 2 NNMP1L 1853 source for the motor-generator sets for RRPs #11 and #12, would result in plant shutdown, since only RRPs #13 and #14 would remain operational. The TSs do not permit power operation with less than three operating RRPs. Therefore, it is highly desirable to repair RRP #15 and return it to service in orderto restore operating margin and maximize plant reliability.

Approval of the subject license amendment application will eliminate having to perform the IRM and Source Range Monitor (SRM) calibrations prior to the plant shutdown for the repair of RRP #15 and then having to perform the calibrations again prior to startup following the repair. Each performance of these calibrations involves approximately 30 hour3.472222e-4 days <br />0.00833 hours <br />4.960317e-5 weeks <br />1.1415e-5 months <br />s-of potential outage-critical path-time-Givenhthat-these-calibrations-were last completed on April 28, 2004 during a previous planned maintenance shutdown, NMPNS believes that there would be no commensurate safety benefit provided by the considerable expenditure of the time and resources involved in re-performing the calibrations in October 2004. This conclusion is based on the justifications provided in the subject amendment application. Therefore, NMPNS requests approval of the application on an expedited schedule and issuance of the license amendment by October 1, 2004 to support the planned shutdown for the repair of RRP #15.

Very truly yours, Jes A. Spina Vice President Nine Mile Point JAS/CDM/jm

Page 3 NMPIL 1853 STATE OF NEW YORK

TO WIT:

COUNTY OF OSWEGO I, James A. Spina, being duly sworn, state that I am Vice President Nine Mile Point, and that I am duly authorized to execute and file this request on behalf of Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, LLC. To the best of my knowledge and belief, the statements contained in this document are true and correct. To the extent that these statements are not based on my personal knowledge, they are based upon information provided by other Nine Mile Point employees and/or consultants. Such information has been reviewed in accordance

- Fitli-66ompany -practice-andIeli-eve-it to b-ereliible.

J~es A. Spina Veice President Nine Mile Point Subscribed and sworn before me, a Notary Public in and for the State of New York and County of Oswego, this 16 day of 0 ) 2004.

WITNESS my Hand and Notarial Seal:

SANDRA A. OSWALD Notary Public, State of New York No. 010S6032276 Guallifed in Oswo Coutv0 Commission Expires - 5 NotaryPublic My Commission Expires: -7h(,,oq0 cc: Mr. H. J. Miller, NRC Regional Administrator, Region I Mr. G. K. Hunegs, NRC Senior Resident Inspector Mr. P. S. Tam, Senior Project Manager, NRR (2 copies)

Mr. John P. Spath, NYSERDA