ML14183A337
| ML14183A337 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Robinson  |
| Issue date: | 05/28/1996 |
| From: | NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML14183A336 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9606100079 | |
| Download: ML14183A337 (3) | |
Text
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N E UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 SAFETY EVALUATION.BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION RELATED TO AMENDMENT NO. 169 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
On September 12, 1995, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved issuance of a revision to 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, "Primary Reactor Containment Leakage Testing for Water-Cooled Power Reactors" which was subsequently published in the Federal Register on September 26, 1995, and became effective on October 26, 1995. The NRC added Option B "Performance Based Requirements" to allow licensees to voluntarily replace the prescriptive testing requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, with testing requirements based on both overall leakage rate performance and the performance of individual components.
By letter dated January 31, 1996, the Carolina Power & Light.Company (licensee) submitted a request for changes to the H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit No. 2 (HBR), Technical Specifications (TS). The requested changes would revise the TS section 4.4 to allow the use of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Option B, Performance-Based Containment Leakage Rate Testing. A new TS section 6.12 is proposed to describe the containment leakage rate testing program, adopting 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Option B for type A tests; and 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Option A, for types B and C tests. The Bases would be changed to reflect the proposed changes.
2.0 BACKGROUND
Compliance with 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, provides assurance that the primary containment, including those systems and components which penetrate the primary containment, do not exceed the allowable leakage rate specified in the TS and Bases. The allowable leakage rate is determined so that the leakage assumed in the safety analyses is not exceeded.
On February 4, 1992, the NRC published a notice in the Federal Register (57 FR 4166) discussing a planned initiative to begin eliminating requirements marginal to safety which impose a significant regulatory burden. Appendix J of 10 CFR Part 50 was considered for this initiative and the staff undertook a study of possible changes to this regulation. The study examined the previous performance history of domestic containments and examined the effect on risk of a revision to the requirements of Appendix J. The results of this study are reported in NUREG-1493, "Performance-Based Leak-Test Program."
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-2 Based on the results of this study, the staff developed a performance-based approach to containment leakage rate testing. On September 12, 1995, the NRC approved issuance of this revision to 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, which was subsequently published in the Federal Register on September 26, 1995, and became effective on October 26, 1995. The revision added Option B "Performance-Based Requirements" to Appendix J to allow licensees to voluntarily replace the prescriptive testing requirements of Appendix J with testing requirements based on both overall and individual component leakage rate performance.
Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.163 was developed as a method acceptable to the NRC staff for implementing Option B. RG 1.163 states that the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) guidance document NEI 94-01, "Industry Guideline for Implementing Performance-Based Option of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J" provides methods acceptable to the NRC staff for complying with Option B with four exceptions which are described therein.
Option B requires that the RG or other implementation document used by a licensee to develop a performance-based leakage rate testing program must be included, by general reference, in the plant TS. The licensee has referenced RG 1.163 in the HBR TS.
RG 1.163 specifies an extension in Type A test frequency to at least one test in 10 years based upon two consecutive successful tests. Type B tests may be extended up to a maximum interval of 10 years based upon completion of two consecutive successful tests and Type C tests may be extended up to 5 years based on two consecutive successful tests.
By letter dated October 20, 1995, NEI proposed TS to implemeht Option B.
After some discussion, the staff and NEI agreed on final TS which were attached to a letter from C. Grimes (NRC) to D. Modeen (NEI) dated November 2, 1995. These TS are to serve as a model for licensees to develop plant specific TS in preparing amendment requests to implement Option B.
For a licensee to determine the performance of each component, factors that are indicative of or affect performance, such as an administrative leakage limit, must be established. The administrative limit is selected to be indicative of the potential onset of component degradation. Although these limits are subject to NRC inspection to assure that they are selected in a reasonable manner, they are not TS requirements. Failure to meet an administrative limit requires the licensee to return to the minimum value of the test interval.
Option B requires the licensee to maintain records to show that the criteria for Type A, B and C tests have been met. In addition, the licensee must maintain comparisons of the performance of the overall containment system and the individual components to show that the test intervals are adequate. These records are subject to NRC inspection.
Through this amendment, specific surveillance requirements related to containment leakage rate testing and the corresponding acceptance criteria and test methods are replaced with a requirement to perform the required testing as required by 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Option B, as modified by approved exemptions, and in accordance with the guidelines contained in RG 1.163, dated September 1995.
-3 3.0 EVALUATION The licensee's January 31, 1996, letter to the NRC proposes to establish a "Containment Leakage-Rate Testing Program" and proposes to add this program to the TS. The program references RG 1.163, which specifies a method acceptable to the NRC for complying with Option B. This would require a change to existing TS 4.41, TS 4.42, and TS 4.43, and the addition of the "Containment Leakage Rate Testing Program" to TS Section 6.12. Corresponding Bases were also modified.
Option B permits a licensee to choose Type A; or Type B and C; or Type A, B and C; testing to be done on a performance basis. The licensee has elected to perform Type A testing on a performance basis.
The TS changes proposed by the licensee are in compliance with the requirements of Option B and consistent with the guidance of RG 1.163, and the generic TS of the November 2, 1995, letter and are, therefore, acceptable to the staff.
4.0 STATE CONSULTATION
In accordance with the Commission's regulations, the State of South Carolina official was notified of the proposed issuance of the amendment. The State official had no comments.
5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION
The amendment changes a requirement 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 NRC 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 offsite, and that there is no significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure. The Commission has previously issued a proposed finding that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration, and there has been no public comment on such finding (61 FR, 7545). Accordingly,,the 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 the amendment.
6.0 CONCLUSION
The Commission 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 the amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
Principal Contributor: J. Pulsipher Date:
May 28, 1996