ML090270006
| ML090270006 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Kewaunee  |
| Issue date: | 01/27/2009 |
| From: | Plant Licensing Branch III |
| To: | Dominion Energy Kewaunee |
| Tam P | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML090260798 | List: |
| References | |
| TAC ME0436 | |
| Download: ML090270006 (5) | |
Text
PUBLIC NOTICE NRC STAFF PROPOSES TO AMEND OPERATING LICENSE AT THE KEWAUNEE POWER STATION The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has received an application dated January 23, 2009, as supplemented on January 26, 2009, from Dominion Energy Kewaunee, Inc., (DEK) the licensee, for an amendment under exigent circumstances to the operating license for Kewaunee Power Station (KPS), located in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin.
The proposed amendment would revise the KPS facility operating license by modifying Technical Specifications Section 3.7.a.7 to change the required volume of emergency diesel generator (EDG) fuel oil. Currently Section 3.7.a.7 requires 35,000 gallons of fuel oil for either diesel generator. The proposed change would decrease that requirement to a useable volume of 32,858 gallons.
On January 23, 2009, the NRC staff notified the licensee that without a siphon arrangement to equalize EDG underground fuel oil storage tank levels, KPS was not in compliance with the requirements of Section TS 3.7.a.7. DEK had relied on a portable transfer pump to provide an interconnection between the tanks to ensure the combined fuel oil volume of at least 35,000 gallons was available from the storage tanks to either EDG. The NRC has determined that using the portable transfer pump is not consistent with the KPS current licensing bases. Therefore, compliance with Section 3.7.a.7 is not physically possible with the existing storage tanks because the siphon line is not functional and the NRC informed DEK that the portable transfer pump was not an appropriate substitute for the siphon line. Consequently, this condition rendered both EDGs inoperable.
Although the EDG fuel oil tanks currently contain a seven-day supply of fuel oil for each EDG onsite, DEK is not in strict compliance with Section 3.7.a.7. Because there is insufficient capacity in the individual storage tanks to meet the current requirement of at least 35,000
gallons, and the siphon line cannot be readily restored, Section 3.7.a.7 must be changed to resolve this issue.
On January 23, 2009, DEK requested and received a verbal notice of enforcement discretion (NOED) from the NRC. The NRC also stated that the NOED would expire after 14 days (i.e., on February 6, 2009). Approval of the proposed change to Section 3.7.a.7 would restore KPS compliance with TS 3.7.a.7. If the proposed amendment is not approved by February 6, 2009, KPS Technical Specifications would require that DEK be shut down in several hours.
The licensee and the NRC staff have evaluated this proposed amendment with regard to the determination of whether or not a significant hazards consideration is involved in accordance with the provisions of NRCs regulation in 10 CFR 50.92. The NRC staff has reviewed the licensees analysis of no significant hazards consideration, which is reproduced below:
(1)
Does the proposed amendment involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated?
No. The probability or consequences of accidents previously evaluated in the Updated Safety Analysis Report are unaffected by this proposed change. There is no change to any equipment response or accident mitigation scenario, and this change results in no additional challenges to fission product barrier integrity. The proposed change does not alter the design, configuration, operation, or function of any plant system, structure, or component. As a result, the outcomes of previously evaluated accidents are unaffected.
The proposed change maintains the current required 7 days of available fuel oil to the emergency diesel generators consistent with the requirements of [American National
Standards Institute] ANSI N195-1976/[American Nuclear Society] ANS-59.51, section 5.4.
Therefore, the proposed change does not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated.
(2)
Does the proposed amendment create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated?
No. No new accident scenarios, failure mechanisms, or limiting single failures are introduced as a result of the proposed change. The proposed change does not challenge the performance or integrity of any safety-related system. The proposed change does not install or remove any plant equipment. The proposed change does not alter the design, physical configuration, or mode of operation of any plant structure, system, or component. No physical changes are being made to the plant, so no new accident causal mechanisms are being introduced. The proposed change maintains the current required 7 days of available fuel oil to the emergency diesel generators consistent with the requirements of ANSI N1 95-1976/ANS-59.51, section 5.4.
Therefore, the proposed change does not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any previously evaluated.
(3)
Does the proposed amendment involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety?
No. The margin of safety associated with the acceptance criteria of any accident is unchanged. The proposed change will have no affect on the availability, operability, or performance of the safety-related systems and components. The proposed change does not alter the design, configuration, operation, or function of any plant system, structure, or component. The ability of operable structures, systems, and components to
perform their designated safety function is unaffected by this proposed change. The proposed change maintains the current required 7 days of available fuel oil to the emergency diesel generators consistent with the requirements of ANSI N195-1976/ANS-59.51, section 5.4.
Therefore, the proposed change does not involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety.
Following an initial review of this application, the proposed amendment has been evaluated against the standards in 10 CFR 50.92 and the NRC staff has made a proposed (preliminary) determination that the requested amendment involves no significant hazards considerations. The proposed amendment does not significantly increase the probability or consequences of any accident previously considered, nor create the possibility of an accident of a different kind, nor significantly decrease any margin of safety.
If the proposed determination that the requested license amendment involves no significant hazards consideration becomes final, the NRC staff will issue the amendment without first offering an opportunity for a public hearing. An opportunity for a hearing will be published in the Federal Register at a later date and any hearing request will not delay the effective date of the amendment.
If the NRC staff decides in its final determination that the amendment does involve a significant hazards consideration, a notice of opportunity for a prior hearing will be published in the Federal Register and, if a hearing is granted, it will be held before the amendment is issued.
Comments on the proposed determination of no significant hazards consideration may be (1) telephoned to Ms. Lois James, Chief, Plant Licensing Branch III-1, by collect call to 301-415-3306, or by facsimile to 301-415-2102, (2) e-mailed to lois.james@nrc.gov, or (3) submitted in writing to the Chief, Rulemaking, Directives and Editing Branch, Division of Administrative
Services, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. All comments received by close of business on February 5, 2009, will be considered in reaching a final determination. A copy of the application may be examined electronically through the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)
Public Electronic Reading Room link at the NRC Web site http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html and at the Commission's Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, Public File Area O1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland.
Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS should contact the NRC PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209, or 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr.resource@nrc.gov.