ML17053B475
| ML17053B475 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Nine Mile Point  |
| Issue date: | 02/21/1980 |
| From: | Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | NIAGARA MOHAWK POWER CORP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17053B473 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8003120783 | |
| Download: ML17053B475 (8) | |
Text
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of NIAGARA MOHAWK POWER CORPORATION (Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station)
)
Docket No. 50-220 CONFIRMATORY ORDER Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (the licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License No.
DPR-63 which authorizes the Licensee to operate the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station at power levels" not in excess of 1850 megawatts thermal (rated power).
The facility is a boiling water reactor located at the Licensee's site in Oswego County, New York.
Over the past eleven years the subject of anticipated transients without scram (ATWS) events and the manner in which they should be considered in the design of nuclear power plants has been discussed extensively between the Nuclear Regulatory Corrrnission (NRC) Staff and the nuclear industry.
In A'pril 1978, the Staff published a report on, "Anticipated Transients Without Scram for Light-Water Reactors",
NUREG-0460, Volumes 1
and 2, which summarized technical considerations related to ATWS and made recommendations.
8008 180 P P +
~ ~
Following additional investigations by the Staff and by the ACRS, the Sthff issued Volume 3 of NUREG-0460, in December 1978.
Although final determination of all the design changes to nuclear power plants which may be necessary to respond to ATWS events has not yet been
- reached, the Staff has concluded that the. addition of a Recirculation Pump Trip (RPT) in boiling water reactors (BWRs) would significantly limit the immediate consequences of an ATWS event.
Therefore, letters dated January 9, 1979 were sent to the BWR licensees who did not have installed RPTs.
These letters:
- described the reasons for requiring an RPT at this time,
- described two alternative ways to provide an acceptable
- RPT, and
- requested that licensees provide an RPT implementation schedule which would provide for installation within two years.
Because an RPT provides considerable additional assurance that a
BWR can'afely respond to an ATWS event, I have determined that installation of an RPT by BWR licensees should be completed as 'soon as practicable and in no event later than December 31, 1980.
In response to the letter of January 9, 1979, and additional discussions with the Staff, the licensee committed, by letter dated December 21, 1979, to installation of an RPT before reactor operation during calendar year 1981.
I have determined that this comnitment should be formalized by Order requiri ng that RPT installation b'e completed no later than December 31, 1980.
IV.
Accordingly, pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as
- amended, and the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR Parts 2 and 50, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
The licensee shall, by December 31, 1980, install a recirculation pump trip, or in the alternative, place and maintain its facility in a cold shutdown or refueling mode of operation.
V.
Any person who has an interest affected by this Order may request a
hearing within twenty (20) days of the date of the Order.
Any request for a hearing will not stay the effectiveness of this Order.
Any request for a hearing shall be addressed to the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D. C.
20555.
If a hearing is requested by a person whose interst may be affected by this Order, the Coranission will issue an Order designating the time and place of any such hearing.
In light of the Licensee's expressed willingness to install an RPT, if a hearing is held concerning this Order the issue to be considered at the hearing shall be:
whether RPT installation should be implemented as prescribed in this Order.
c~
Operation of the facility on terms consistent with this Order is not stayed by the pendency of any proceedings on the Order.
R THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Effective date:
- Bethesda, Maryland Darrell G.
isenhut, Acting Director Division of Operating Reactors Office of Nuc1 ear Reactor Regul at i on