ML16253A282

Full-Term Operating License for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1

ML16253A282
Person / Time
Issue date:	08/13/1991
From:	Ward D NRC/Chairman
To:	Selin I NRC/Chairman
References
D910813
Download: ML16253A282 (2)

Text

D910813 The Honorable Ivan Selin Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555

SUBJECT:

FULL-TERM OPERATING LICENSE FOR THE SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT 1 During the 376th meeting of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, August 8-9, 1991, we completed our review of the application by the Southern California Edison Company and San Diego Gas and Electric Company (licensees) for conversion of the provisional operating license (POL) for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1, to a full-term operating license (FTOL). During our review, we had the benefit of discussions with representatives of the licensees and the NRC staff. We also had the benefit of the documents referenced. The Committee most recently discussed and reported on this plant in a letter dated August 13, 1985, relating to the Systematic Evaluation Program (SEP) review of San Onofre, Unit 1.

San Onofre, Unit 1, received a POL in March 1967 and began commercial operation in January 1968. The licensees applied for an FTOL in July 1970, but review of this application was deferred by the NRC staff in 1975, along with several other FTOL reviews.

In 1978, San Onofre, Unit 1, was included in Phase II of the SEP because much of the review needed for the FTOL was similar in scope to that for the SEP.

The Committee, in its August 13, 1985 letter reporting on the results of the SEP as applied to San Onofre, Unit 1, indicated that its review of the FTOL would be deferred until the NRC staff had completed its actions on the SEP issues that were still pending, and on the Unresolved Safety Issues and TMI Action Plan items. The status of outstanding issues in all of these categories has been discussed by the staff in its Safety Evaluation Report related to the FTOL for San Onofre, Unit 1 (NUREG-1443), and a schedule for their resolution has been established by the licensees and confirmed by the staff in its confirmatory order dated January 2, 1990. We believe that the procedures and schedules that have been agreed to for the resolution of these items are satisfactory, and that the remaining actions to resolve these items would not be accelerated by withholding an FTOL at this time.

We believe that there is reasonable assurance that the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1, can continue to be operated at power levels up to 1347 MWt under a full-term operating license without undue risk to the health and safety of the public.

Sincerely,

David A. Ward Chairman

References:

1. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NUREG-1443, "Safety Evaluation Report Related to the Full-Term Operating License for San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1," July 1991.

2. U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NUREG-0829, "Integrated Plant Safety Assessment, Systematic Evaluation Program, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1," December 1986.