ML14133A268
| ML14133A268 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | San Onofre  |
| Issue date: | 05/30/2014 |
| From: | Chernoff M Plant Licensing Branch IV |
| To: | Thomas J. Palmisano Southern California Edison Co |
| Chernoff M | |
| References | |
| TAC MF2795, TAC MF2796 | |
| Download: ML14133A268 (3) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 Mr. Thomas J. Palmisano Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Southern California Edison Company San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station P.O. Box 128 San Clemente, CA 92674-0128 May 30, 2014
SUBJECT:
SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 2 AND 3-REQUEST FOR EXEMPTION FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF 10 CFR 50.54(m) CLOSEOUT (TAC NOS. MF2795 AND MF2796)
Dear Mr. Palmisano:
By letter dated September 11, 2013 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML13268A143), Southern California Edison (SCE, the licensee) requested an exemption from certain requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Section 50.54(m) for San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS)
Units 2 and 3. These requirements establish the minimum staffing for reactor operators and senior reactor operators at licensed nuclear power reactors. The purpose of this letter is to provide you the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff's evaluation.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, "Specific exemptions," the Commission may, upon application by any interested person or upon its own initiative, grant exemptions from the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50 when: 1) the exemptions are authorized by law, will not present an undue risk to public health or safety, and are consistent with the common defense and security; and 2) when special circumstances are present.
The NRC staff reviewed the proposed exemption from 10 CFR 50.54(m) to determine the applicability of the license conditions established by 10 CFR 50.54(m) to SONGS, Units 2 and 3.
The staff determined that 10 CFR 50.54(m) prescribes the conditions of applicability in terms of operational modes (consistent with definition of modes in technical specifications) for each section in 10 CFR 50.54(m). The operational mode statements within 10 CFR 50.54(m) indicate that this regulation is not intended to be applicable to reactors that are permanently shutdown and defueled. Specifically, a facility that has submitted certifications under §50.82(a)(1 )(i) and (ii), is no longer authorized to operate the reactor or load fuel into the reactor vessel. Therefore, facilities in this configuration are no longer in a condition under which the operational modes described in 10 CFR 50.54(m) apply. For example, 10 CFR 50.54(m)(1) discusses startup, shutdown, and refueling modes; Footnote 2 of the table in 10 CFR 50.54(m)(2)(i) describes a nuclear power unit as operating when it is in a mode other than cold shutdown or refueling; 10 CFR 50.54(m)(2)(ii) refers to fueled units; 10 CFR 50.54(m)(2)(iii) applies to units in a mode other than cold shutdown or refueling; and 10 CFR 50.54(m)(2)(iv) concerns core alterations.
Since all the subsections in 10 CFR 50.54(m) refer to modes that require fuel to be in the core and anticipates a return to an operational mode, the regulation is not applicable to permanently shut down and defueled reactors, such as SONGS, Units 2 and 3.
Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that the requirements in 10 CFR 50.54(m) do not apply and an exemption would not be needed for facilities that have submitted certifications under 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1 )(i) and (ii).
By letter dated June 12, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML131640201 ), SCE submitted a certification to the NRC indicating it permanently ceased power operations at SONGS, Units 2 and 3 on June 7, 2013. By letters dated July 22, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13204A304),
and June 28, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13183A391 ), SCE certified that it had permanently defueled the SONGS, Units 2 and 3 reactor vessels. The Part 50 license for SONGS, Units 2 and 3 no longer authorizes operation of the reactor or emplacement or retention of fuel into the reactor vessel. With these certifications in place, the requirements of 10 CFR 50.54(m) are no longer applicable and an exemption from 10 CFR 50.54(m) for SONGS, Units 2 and 3 is unnecessary. Therefore, the NRC staff will not process the exemption request and is terminating its review.
Since no further action is required on this licensing request, the NRC staff will close Technical Assignment Control (TAC) Nos. MF2795 and MF2796. If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-2240 or via e-mail at Margaret. Chernoff@ nrc.gov.
Docket Nos. 50-361 and 50-362 cc w/encls: Distribution via ListServ Sincerely, lvl~u.~
Margaret H. Chernoff, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing IV-2 and Decommissioning Transition Brarich Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
ML131640201 ), SCE submitted a certification to the NRC indicating it permanently ceased power operations at SONGS, Units 2 and 3 on June 7, 2013. By letters dated July 22, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13204A304),
and June 28, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13183A391), SCE certified that it had permanently defueled the SONGS, Units 2 and 3 reactor vessels. The Part 50 license for SONGS, Units 2 and 3 no longer authorizes operation of the reactor or emplacement or retention of fuel into the reactor vessel. With these certifications in place, the requirements of 10 CFR 50.54(m) is no longer applicable and an exemption from 10 CFR 50.54(m) for SONGS, Units 2 and 3 is unnecessary. Therefore, the NRC staff will not process the exemption request and is terminating its review.
Since no further action is required on this licensing request, the NRC staff will close Technical Assignment Control (TAC) Nos. MF2795*and MF2796. If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-2240 or via e-mail at Margaret.Chernoff@nrc.gov.
Docket Nos. 50-361 and 50-362 cc w/encls: Distribution via ListServ DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC LPL4-2 r/f RidsAcrsAcnw_MaiiCTR Resource RidsNrrDoriDpr Resource RidsNrrDorllp14-2 Resource RidsNrrPMSanOnofre Resource RidsNrrLAJBurkhardt Resource RidsRgn4MaiiCenter Resource ADAMS Accession No. ML14133A268 Sincerely, IRA/
Margaret H. Chernoff, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing IV-2 and Decommissioning Transition Branch Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
- via email OFFICE NRRIDORLILPL4-2/PM NRR/DORLILPL4-2/LA OGC NLO NRR/DORL/LPL4-2/BC NRR/DORLILPL4-2/PM NAME MChernoff JBurkhardt*
SUttal DBroaddus MChernoff DATE 5/21/14 5/13/14 5/19/14 5/30/14 5/30/14