ML16344A068

ACRS Report on the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit 2

ML16344A068
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/11/1985
From:	Ward D Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
To:	Palladino N NRC/Chairman
References
Download: ML16344A068 (2)

Text

D850311 The Honorable Nunzio J. Palladino Chairman U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555

SUBJECT:

ACRS REPORT ON THE NINE MILE POINT NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT 2 During its 299th meeting, March 7-9, l985, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards reviewed the application of Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (the Applicant), acting on behalf of itself and as agent for Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, and Long Island Lighting Company, for a license to operate the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit 2. The ACRS commented on the construction permit application for this Plant in a report dated July l7, l973. Members of the Nine Mile Point, Unit 2 Subcommittee toured the facility on February 20, l985 and met in Syracuse, New York on February 20-2l, l985 to discuss the application. During our review, we had the benefit of discussions with representatives and consultants of the Applicant, the General Electric Company, the Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation, and the NRC Staff. We also had the benefit of the documents listed.

Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit 2 is located in New York State on the shore of Lake Ontario immediately adjacent to Unit l and to the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant owned by the New York Power Authority. Unit 2 uses a boiling water reactor (BWR/5) with a rated power level of 3323 MWt. The nuclear steam supply system is similar to several other previously reviewed BWRs, such as Washington Public Power Supply System, Unit 2; Wm. H. Zimmer Nuclear Station, Unit l; and La Salle County Station, Units l and 2. The primary containment is a Mark II, steel lined, reinforced concrete design with multiple downcomers connecting the drywell to the water-filled pressure suppression chamber.

Condenser cooling for Unit 2 is provided from a counterflow, natural-draft, hyperbolic concrete cooling tower. The ultimate heat sink for emergency core cooling is Lake Ontario.

Construction of Unit 2 is about 86 percent complete and the Applicant currently estimates the fuel load date to be February l986.

The Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation has operated Unit l for about l5 years and at one time operated the FitzPatrick Plant for the then Power Authority of the State of New York.

During our meeting, the NRC Staff identified a number of open issues that must be resolved prior to granting an operating license. We believe that these can be resolved in a manner satisfactory to the NRC Staff.

NRC Staff inspections in the period l98l-83 revealed significant

deficiencies in some areas of the construction quality assurance programs, and some deficiencies in the construction of the plant itself. The Applicant has taken prompt and extensive measures to remedy these deficiencies. There have been major reorganizations and changes in personnel at all levels of the quality assurance organization, and the Applicant now has a strongly stated and clearly evident dedication to both quality and the assurance of quality. The NRC Region I Staff considers the current program to be generally acceptable but will, of course, continue its inspection and oversight functions. We believe that there is a reasonable basis for confidence that the quality of the completed plant will be adequate.

We believe that, subject to the resolution of open issues identified by the NRC Staff, and subject to the satisfactory completion of construc-tion, staffing, and preoperational testing, there is reasonable assur-ance that the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit 2 can be operated at power levels up to 3323 MWt without undue risk to the health and safety of the public.

Sincerely, David A. Ward Chairman

References:

l. Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, "Final Safety Analysis Report, Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit No. 2," Volumes l-28 and Amendments 4-l3 and l5-l7

2. U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, "Safety Evaluation Report Related to the Operation of Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit 2," USNRC Report NUREG-l047, dated February l985