ML14183A182
| ML14183A182 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Robinson  |
| Issue date: | 01/10/1991 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML14183A181 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9101160156 | |
| Download: ML14183A182 (4) | |
Text
UNITED STATES gv NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 4
0 WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 0C SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION SUPPORTING AMENDMENT NO. 131 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. DPR-23 CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY H. B. ROBINSON STEAM ELECTRIC PLANT, UNIT NO. 2 DOCKET NO. 50-261
1.0 INTRODUCTION
By letter dated August 21, 1990, as supplemented September 19, 1990, September 28, 1990, and October 18, 1990, Carolina Power & Light Company (CP&L or the licensee) requested an amendment to Facility Operating License No. DPR-23 for the H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit No. 2 (HBR-2). This request was to modify Technical Specification (TS) Tables 3.5-7, 4.10-2, and 4.19-2 to support upgrade modifications to the radiation monitoring system (RMS). A proposed determination of no significant hazards consideration for this request was noticed in the Federal Register on October 3, 1990 (55 FR 40461).
On September 21, 1990, the licensee requested a waiver of compliance to the TS 3.5.3.3, Table 3.5-7, Items 3.a and 3.b, Required Action b. to permit effluent releases via the plant vent pathway when all RMS monitors were out of service during the upgrade of the RMS. Following conversa tions with the NRC staff, the licensee, by letter dated September 28 1990 requested exigent handling of the August 21, 1990, amendment request in lieu of the waiver of compliance requested on September 21, 1990.
When the NRC staff identified that they could not act on the September 28, 1990, request for exigent handling, the licensee submitted, on October 5, 1990, a request for an emergency TS amendment and waiver of compliance to take all RMS monitors out of service during the upgrade. A temporary waiver of compliance was verbally granted to the licensee on October 5, 1990, and confirmed by letter dated October 9, 1990, to be immediately effective and to remain in effect until the NRC staff completed processing of the emergency TS amendment request. The emergency TS was issued October 16, 1990 (See Amendment No. 130 to Facility Operating License No.
DPR-23).
On October 19, 1990, following additional communications with the NRC staff, the licensee re-submitted their amendment request to supersede the August 21, 1990, amendment request and the September 21, 1990, waiver of compliance request. This new amendment request was supplemented by letters dated November 1, 1990 and December 21, 1990, which provided clarifying information. The December 21, 1990, letter provided a clarifica tion of a commitment in the October 19, 1990, request.
The November 1, 1990, and December 21, 1990, letters did not change the proposed determina tion of no significant hazards consideration published in the Federal Register on November 7, 1990 (55 FR 46880).
910160156 910110 PDR ADOCK 05OO21 PPDR
-2 The TS changes requested are required as a result of Plant Modification M1005 related to the plant vent system. The modification will (1) upgrade the plant vent radiation monitor for particulate iodine, and noble gas detections; (2) upgrade the stack flow monitors and incorporate isokinetic sampling of the plant vent effluents; (3) provide new control room indication and recording equipment for the upgraded instrumentation; and (4) permanently divert the condenser air ejector discharge from the atmospheric vent to the plant vent and remove the automatic divert interlock from the condenser air ejector radiation monitor.
2.0 EVALUATION (a) Instrument Tag Number Revision The modifications described in the October 19, 1990, application involve a number of TS changes to reflect revisions to instrument tag numbers associated with the planned changes to the RMS at HBR-2. We find the changes proposed by the licensee reflect revised instrument identification numbers and are acceptable as an administrative change.
(b) Replacement of Existing Plant Vent Gaseous Monitoring System CP&L has proposed changes to the plant vent radioactive gaseous effluent monitoring system which require certain changes to the TS.
At present, there are two low range noble gas detectors which monitor the plant vent. TS Table 3.5-7 currently requires that one of these two low range monitors be operable or that certain required actions related to reporting and effluent sampling and analysis be undertaken.
The licensee proposes replacing these two low range noble gas detectors with a single detector which would provide the control, isolation (of the waste gas storage tank), and alarm functions of the existing two detectors. In addition, the new monitor to be installed uses present-day technology and components to improve reliability and equipment performance.
In addition to the normal low range plant vent effluent monitors, the licensee has also proposed replacing the intermediate and high range effluent monitors (R-35 and R-36). The licensee stated that these monitors, to be designated as R-14D and R-14E, will hqve ranges in uCi/cc) covering effluent concentrations from 1.0x10-to 1.Ox1O uCi/cc.
The staff has reviewed the changes proposed by the licensee related to the plant vent radiation monitors and finds that the changes provide an adequate level of accountability and control of effluents discharged via the plant vent. Consequently, we find these proposed changes acceptable.
-3 (c)
Re-routing of Condenser Offgas Directly to Plant Vent The licensee has also proposed routing condenser vacuum pump vent effluents directly to the plant vent, thereby obviating the need for diversion of condenser offgas effluent to the plant vent on high activity. Since the condenser air ejector offgas discharge will be permanently routed to the plant vent, CP&L will remove the automatic divert interlock from the condenser air ejector offgas radiation monitor. The condenser air ejector radiation monitor provides an indication to the operator of steam generator tube leakage. While other monitors, such as the main steam line radiation monitor and the steam generator blowdown monitor, provide indication of steam generator (SG) tube leakage, the staff considers the condenser offgas monitor to be an important diagnostic aid in detecting SG tube leakage, which indicates that a breach of the reactor coolant pressure boundary has occurred. Thus, the licensee has stated that the noble gas monitor associated with air ejector offgas will be maintained and used by operators as an indicator of steam generator tube leakage. Further, the licensee has committed, by letter dated December 21, 1990, to perform calibration and surveillance requirements of the level currently specified in TSs.
All condenser air ejector discharges will be monitored by the plant vent monitor to assure effluent accountability in accordance with 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix A, General Design Criterion (GDC) 64. This GDC requires that effluent discharge paths be monitored for radioactive materials that may be released. In addition, the licensee indicated in its application that the existing offgas radiation monitor will be maintained so that it may be used as an indicator of steam generator tube leakage. In view of the foregoing, we find the licensee's plan to re-route the condenser offgas directly to the plant vent and remove the automatic divert interlock acceptable.
3.0
SUMMARY
Based on the above, the staff finds that the modifications to the RMS proposed by the licensee in its October 19, 1990, application, as modified by letters dated November 1, 1990, and December 21, 1990, will provide for appropriate effluent accountability and control. In addition, the TS changes proposed by the licensee are appropriate for use with the modified system and are acceptable.
4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION
This amendment changes requirements with respect to installation or use of a facility component located within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20 and changes the surveillance requirements. The staff has determined that the amendment involves no significant increase in the amounts, and no significant change in the types, of any effluents that may be released off site; and that there is no significant increase in
-4 individualVur cumulative occupational rddiation exposure. The Commission has previously issued a proposed finding that this amendment involves no significant hazards consideratiun, and there has been no public comment on such finding. Accordingly, this amendment meets the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared in connection with the issuance of this amendment.
5.0 CONCLUSION
The Commission made a pruposed determination that this amendment involves no significant hazards consideration, which was published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on October 3, 1990 (55 FR 40461) and renoticed on November 7, 1990 (55 FR 46880), and consulted with the State of South Carolina. No public comments or requests for hearing were received, and the State of South Carolina did not have any comments.
The staff has concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that: (1) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by operation in the proposed manner, (2) such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations, and (3) the issuance of this amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
Dated: January 10, 1991 Principal Contributor: K. Eccleston