ML16138A627
| ML16138A627 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oconee  |
| Issue date: | 06/15/1988 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML16138A626 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8806210327 | |
| Download: ML16138A627 (3) | |
Text
Rk REGU UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION RELATED TO AMENDMENT NO.167 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE DPR-38 AMENDMENT NO.167 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE DPR-47 AMENDMENT NO. 164TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE DPR-55 DUKE POWER COMPANY OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1, 2 AND 3 DOCKET NOS. 50-269, 50-270 AND 50-287 I. INTRODUCTION By application dated January 21, 1986, Duke Power Company (the licensee) requested amendments to Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-38, DPR-47, and DPR-55 for the Oconee Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2, and 3. These amendments concern the transfer of radioactive effluents to the chemical treatment pond.
By a March 3, 1987 letter, the licensee revised the original application. The revisions would change Part C of Technical Specification (TS) 3.9.4, "Chemical Treatment Ponds (CTP 1 and 2)."
The Bases of the Oconee TS state that the inventory limits (of TS 3.9.4) for the Chemical Treatment Ponds are based on minimizing the consequences of an uncontrolled release of the pond inventory. The current Part c. of TS 3.9.4 provides that the quantity of radioactive material per transferred batch of used powdex resin averaged over the transfers of the previous 13 weeks shall not exceed 0.01% of the pond radionuclide inventory limit. The proposed amendment would delete this requirement and substitute it with a requirement that the total quantity of radioactive material of all batches of used powdex resin transferred to the Chemical Treatment Ponds over the previous 13 weeks shall not exceed 0.4% of the pond radionuclide inventory limit.
The licensee stated that in a situation where most of the powdex resin transfers are to the Powdex Backwash Tank rather than to the Chemical Treatment Ponds, the current technical specification can restrict transfers to the Chemical Treatment Ponds far beyond the original intent of the specification. Therefore, the licensee indicated that this amendment is being proposed to remove this inconsistency.
8606210327 880615 PDR ADOCK 0500026 9 P
-2 II. EVALUATION The intent of Part c. of Oconee TS 3.9.4 is to limit the quantities of radioactive materials transferred to the Chemical Treatment Ponds in order to ensure that the total inventory limit in the ponds is not exceeded over the life of the nuclear station. The current Part c. limits only the average quantities of radioactive materials per batch of powdex resin transferred over the specified 13 week period. There is no limit on the total quantities transferred to the ponds during these time periods. The amendment proposed by the licensee would limit the total quantity of radioactive materials transferred to the ponds during these time periods, but would not limit the average quantity per batch as in the current Part c. The staff finds that the proposed revised approach is more in keeping with the intent of the TS than is the current Part c.
The licensee stated that over the 13 week time period specified, on the average, there are a total of 40 to 50 transfers of used powdex resin to the Chemical Treatment Ponds and the Powdex Backwash Tank. Assuming an average of 40 transfers to the ponds during this period and the current Part c. of the TS (which permits transfers of a per batch average quantity of radioactive materials of 0.01% of the pond inventory limit during this period), the total quantity of radioactive materials transferred during this period could be as much as 0.4% of the pond inventory limit. However, Part c. currently does not limit the number of batches transferred to the ponds. Therefore, since there is no limit on the percentage of the total pond inventory transferred to the ponds during any time period, the total quantity of radioactive material transferred to the ponds during a 13 week.period could exceed 0.4% of the pond inventory limit.
To correct the above condition, the proposed revision to Part c. would limit the total quantity of radioactive materials transferred in a 13 week period to 0.4% of the pond inventory limit. Conservatively assuming a uniform input level at 0.4% of the pond inventory limit each 13 week period and no radioactive decay, no more than 48% of the total pond inventory limit will be accumulated in the ponds over the remaining 30 year life of the Oconee Nuclear Station under the proposed revision. This is consistent with the intent of the basis for this TS and provides assurance against unacceptable radioactive releases to the environment.
III. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION These amendments involve a change in the installation or use of a facility component located within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. We have determined that the amendments involve 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 these amendments involve no significant hazards consideration, and there has been no public comment on such finding.
Accordingly, these amendments meet 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 these amendments.
-3 IV. CONCLUSION The Commission made a proposed determination that the amendments involve no sionificant hazards consideration which was published in the Federal Register (51 FR 24253) on July 2, 1986 and (53 FR 15911) on May 4, 1989, an2 c5nsuTed with the state of South Carolina. No public comments were received, and the state of South Carolina did not have any comments.
We have 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, and (2) such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations, and the issuance of these amendments will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
Principal Contributor:
C. Nichols H. Pastis, PD#II-3/DRP-I/II Dated:
June 15, 1988