ML071500608

Commitment for Hydrogen Igniter Power Supply Change and Closure Process for Generic Issue 189

ML071500608
Person / Time
Site:	Mcguire, Catawba, McGuire
Issue date:	06/15/2007
From:	Catherine Haney Plant Licensing Branch III-2
To:	Barron H Duke Power Co
Stang J, NRR/DORL, 415-1345
References
GI-189
Download: ML071500608 (6)

Text

June 15, 2007 Mr. H. B. Barron Group Vice President Nuclear Generation and Chief Nuclear Officer Duke Power Company LLC P. O. Box 1006/EC07H Charlotte, NC 28201-1006

SUBJECT:

MCGUIRE NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2, AND CATAWBA NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - COMMITMENT FOR HYDROGEN IGNITER POWER SUPPLY CHANGE AND CLOSURE PROCESS FOR GENERIC ISSUE 189, SUSCEPTIBILITY OF ICE CONDENSER AND MARK III CONTAINMENTS TO EARLY FAILURE FROM HYDROGEN COMBUSTION DURING A SEVERE ACCIDENT

Dear Mr. Barron:

This letter acknowledges your March 8, 2007, letter committing to changes at McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 (McGuire), and Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 (Catawba), that will enhance plant capabilities to mitigate the potential for early containment failure from hydrogen combustion. The proposed changes involve powering one train of igniters for each unit from the sites safe shutdown facility.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff agrees that the proposed modifications will resolve concerns related to Generic Issue 189 (GI-189), Susceptibility of Ice Condenser and Mark III Containments to Early Failure from Hydrogen Combustion During a Severe Accident, and provide benefits for certain security scenarios. The NRC staff understands that your commitments will enhance the electrical independence of the containment hydrogen igniter system. This action is warranted for pressurized-water reactors with ice condenser containments because many systems that prevent core damage rely on the same power supplies and electrical distribution system as the hydrogen igniters. This enhancement mitigates the potential for early containment failure by allowing control of hydrogen within containment following certain beyond-design-basis events that may progress to core damage and preclude operation of the hydrogen igniters from the normal power supply. The NRC staff expects this enhancement will provide hydrogen igniter system electrical independence commensurate with the expected frequency, challenges, and uncertainties associated with these beyond-design-basis events.

Consistent with the guidelines of NRC Management Directive 6.4, Generic Issues Program, the NRC staff will perform verification inspections at Catawba and McGuire. These inspections will include elements to verify that you establish procedures to provide back-up power to the hydrogen igniters, train appropriate staff in the procedures, and institute appropriate controls on the reliability and availability of necessary equipment. Procedures that allow trained personnel

H. B. Barron to establish power to the igniters within 3 hours3.472222e-5 days <br />8.333333e-4 hours <br />4.960317e-6 weeks <br />1.1415e-6 months <br /> are fully consistent with goals to mitigate potential hydrogen accumulation. The NRC staff understands existing technical specifications for the Catawba and McGuire sites will ensure adequate availability and reliability of the igniters and the power supplies. In addition, NRC licensing project managers may verify the integrity of your commitments over time through established review procedures for your commitment management program.

Verification of your committed actions and those of other affected licensees will provide the basis by which the NRC will close out GI-189. The NRC staff will perform the verification inspections at a time consistent with the implementation dates specified in your letter.

Accordingly, please keep the NRC staff informed of any changes in the scope of modifications or the implementation dates.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Catherine Haney, Director Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-369, 50-370, 50-413, and 50-414 License Nos. NPF-9, NPF-17, NPF-35, and NPF-52 cc: See next page

H. B. Barron June 15, 2007 to establish power to the igniters within 3 hours3.472222e-5 days <br />8.333333e-4 hours <br />4.960317e-6 weeks <br />1.1415e-6 months <br /> are fully consistent with goals to mitigate potential hydrogen accumulation. The NRC staff understands existing technical specifications for the Catawba and McGuire sites will ensure adequate availability and reliability of the igniters and the power supplies. In addition, NRC licensing project managers may verify the integrity of your commitments over time through established review procedures for your commitment management program.

Verification of your committed actions and those of other affected licensees will provide the basis by which the NRC will close out GI-189. The NRC staff will perform the verification inspections at a time consistent with the implementation dates specified in your letter.

Accordingly, please keep the NRC staff informed of any changes in the scope of modifications or the implementation dates.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Catherine Haney, Director Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-369, 50-370, 50-413, and 50-414 License Nos. NPF-9, NPF-17, NPF-35, and NPF-52 cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION:

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Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 & 2 Page 1 of 2 cc:

Site Vice President Catawba Nulcear Station Duke Power Company, LLC 4800 Concord Road York, SC 29745 Associate General Counsel and Managing Attorney Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 526 South Church Street - EC07H Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 Regulatory Compliance Duke Energy Corporation 4800 Concord Road York, South Carolina 29745 North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1 1427 Meadowwood Boulevard P.O. Box 29513 Raleigh, North Carolina 27626 County Manager of York County York County Courthouse York, South Carolina 29745 Piedmont Municipal Power Agency 121 Village Drive Greer, South Carolina 29651 Assistant Attorney General North Carolina Department of Justice P.O. Box 629 Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 NCEM REP Program Manager 4713 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-4713 North Carolina Electric Membership Corp.

P.O. Box 27306 Raleigh, North Carolina 27611 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 4830 Concord Road York, South Carolina 29745 Assistant Director Division of Waste Management Bureau of Land and Waste Management Dept. of Health and Environmental Control 2600 Bull Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201-1708 Manager Nuclear Regulatory Issues and Industry Affairs Duke Energy Corporation 526 South Church Street Mail Stop EC05P Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 Saluda River Electric P.O. Box 929 Laurens, South Carolina 29360 Vice President Customer Relations and Sales Westinghouse Electric Company 6000 Fairview Road 12th Floor Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 Owners Group (NCEMC)

Duke Energy Corporation 4800 Concord Road York, South Carolina 29745 Senior Counsel Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 526 South Church Street - EC07H Charlotte, NC 28202

Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 & 2 Page 2 of 2 cc:

Division of Radiation Protection NC Dept. of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources 3825 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27609-7721 Group Vice President, Nuclear Generation and Chief Nuclear Officer P.O. Box 1006-EC07H Charlotte, NC 28201-1006 Regional Administrator, Region II U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 23T85 Atlanta, GA 30303-8931

McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 & 2 cc:

Vice President McGuire Nuclear Station Duke Power Company, LLC 12700 Hagers Ferry Road Huntersville, NC 28078 Associate General Counsel and Managing Attorney Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 526 South Church Street - EC07H Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 County Manager of Mecklenburg County 720 E. Fourth St.

Charlotte, NC 28202 Regulatory Compliance Manager Duke Energy Corporation McGuire Nuclear Site 12700 Hagers Ferry Road Huntersville, NC 28078 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 12700 Hagers Ferry Road Huntersville, NC 28078 Mecklenburg County Department of Environmental Protection 700 N. Tryon St Charlotte, NC 28202 Vice President Customer Relations and Sales Westinghouse Electric Company 6000 Fairview Road, 12th Floor Charlotte, NC 28210 NCEM REP Program Manager 4713 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-4713 Assistant Attorney General NC Department of Justice P.O. Box 629 Raleigh, NC 27602 Manager Nuclear Regulatory Issues &

Industry Affairs Duke Energy Corporation 526 S. Church St.

Mail Stop EC05P Charlotte, NC 28202 Division of Radiation Protection NC Dept of Environment, Health & Natural Resources 3825 Barrett Dr.

Raleigh, NC 27609-7721 Owners Group (NCEMC)

Duke Energy Corporation 4800 Concord Road York, SC 29745 Group Vice President, Nuclear Generation

& Chief Nuclear Officer P.O. Box 1006-EC07H Charlotte, NC 28201-1006 Senior Counsel Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 526 South Church Street - EC07H Charlotte, NC 28202