ML16274A260

Full-Term Operating License for the Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Unit 2

ML16274A260
Person / Time
Issue date:	12/11/1990
From:	Michelson C Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
To:	Carr K NRC/Chairman
References
D901211
Download: ML16274A260 (2)

Text

D901211 The Honorable Kenneth M. Carr Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555

SUBJECT:

FULL-TERM OPERATING LICENSE FOR THE DRESDEN NUCLEAR POWER STATION, UNIT 2 During the 368th meeting of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, December 6-8, 1990, we completed our review of the application by the Commonwealth Edison Company (licensee) for conversion of the provisional operating license (POL) for the Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Unit 2, to a full-term operating license (FTOL). During our review, we had the benefit of discus-sions with representatives of the licensee 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 December 13, 1982, relating to the Systematic Evaluation Program (SEP) review of Dresden, Unit 2.

Dresden, Unit 2, received a POL in December 1969 and began commer-cial operation in July 1970. The licensee applied for an FTOL in November 1972, but review of this application was deferred by the NRC staff in 1975, along with several other FTOL reviews. In 1978, Dresden, Unit 2, 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. We call attention to the fact that Dresden, Unit 3, was given an FTOL in January 1971, after a rule change had eliminated the POL as an option. Units 2 and 3 are essentially identical.

The Committee, in its December 13, 1982 letter reporting on the results of the SEP as applied to Dresden, Unit 2, 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 (USIs) and TMI Action Plan items. All but three of the SEP issues were resolved to the satisfaction of the NRC staff in the manner reported in Supplement 1 to the Integrated Plant Safety Assessment Report for Dresden, Unit 2. The status of these three issues and of the USI and TMI Action Plan items has been discussed by the staff in its Safety Evaluation Report related to the FTOL for Dresden, Unit 2. 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.

We believe that there is reasonable assurance that the Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Unit 2, can continue to be operated at power levels up to 2527 MWt under a full-term operating license without undue risk to the health and safety of the public.

Sincerely, Carlyle Michelson Chairman

References:

1. U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NUREG-1403, "Safety Evaluation Report Related to the Full-Term Operating License for Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Unit 2," dated October 1990

2. U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NUREG-0823, Supplement No. 1, "Integrated Plant Safety Assessment, Systematic Evaluation Program, Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Unit 2, dated October 1989