ML17299B003
| ML17299B003 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 01/27/1986 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17299B002 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8602130004 | |
| Download: ML17299B003 (6) | |
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 SAFETY EVALIIATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLFAR RFACTOR RFGULATION RELATED TO AMENDMENT NO.
5 TO FACILITY OPFRATING LICENSF. NO.
NPF-41 AND AMENDMENT NO.
1 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICFNSE NO.
NPF-46 ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY, ET AL.
PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT NOS.
1 AND 2 DOCKET NOS.
STN 50-528 AND STN 50-529
1.0 INTRODUCTION
By letter dated November 19, 1985, the Arizona Public Service Company (APS) nn behalf of itself, the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, Southern California Edison
- Company, EL Paso Electric Company, Public Service Company of New Mexico, Los Angeles Department of Water and
- Power, and Southern California Public Power Authority (licensees),
requested a one-time change to the Technical Specifications for the Palo Verde Nuclear Generatinq
- Station, Units 1 and 2 (Appendices A to Facilitv Operating Licenses NPF-41 and NPF-46, respectively).
The apnlication reauests that for Specification 3.6.4.2 on hydrogen recombiners, an exception tn the provisions-of Specifica-tion 3.0.4 be granted during the time (not to exceed March 30, 1986) that environmental qualification modifications are beina made to the hydrogen recombiner system when the containment hydroqen purqe system described in Specification 3.6.4.3 is operable.
2.0 DISCUSSION Palo Verde Units 1 and 2 are currently completing the environmental qualification testing for the hydrogen recombiner system, specifically the control panels for the system.
Upon completion, APS will replace the existing panels at the plant with the qualified panels.
The function of the hydrogen recombiner system is to maintain the hydrogen concentration inside containment below its flammable limit in the event of a postulated loss-of-coolant accident.
The system consists of two redundant hydrogen recombiners and is designed so that any one of the two recombiners can perform this function if the other recombiner is inoperable.
In addition, the containment hydrogen purge system can also perform this function.
Technical Specification 3.6.4.2 provides the following action statement if one of the two hydrogen recombiners is inoperable:
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I (a) restore the inoperable recombiner to operable status within 30 days or be in at least hot standby within the next 6 hours6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br />, or (b) meet the requirements of Technical Specification 3.6.4.3 for operability of the containment hydrogen purge system.
Action item (b) above permits continued operation of the plant without restrictions.
Hence modifications to the recombiners can be made while the plant is operating without restrictions when usinq action item (b).
However, if the plant is not operating or has been
- shutdown, Technical Specification 3.0.4 prohibits the use of any action statement to resume power operation.
During the time that the modifications to the hydrogen recombiners are heing
- made, APS requests that the provisions of Specification 3.0.4 be excluded from Specification 3.6.4.2.
This exception would be in effect only during the modifications and when the containment hydrogen purge system described in Specification 3.6.4.3 is operable.
The exception would expire upon completion of the modifications or on March 30, 1986, whichever comes first.
APS states that the proposed chanqe will not increase the probability of occurrence or consequences of an accident previously evaluated, nor will it create the possibility of a different type nf accident than previously evaluated, since the change will not result in operation of the plant outside of its current desiqn 'basis (i.e., the plant will continue to have available one hydroqen recombiner and the containment hydroqen purge system to maintain hydrogen concentration inside containment below flammable limits in the event of and accident).
Additionally, the proposed change will not reduce the margin of safety since it does not increase the out-of-service interval for the hydrogen recombiners.
3.0 EVALUATION The staff has evaluated the licensees'equest and concurs with the above APS evaluation that this one-time exception to the Technical Specifications will not create the possibility for an accident or malfunction of a different type than any evaluated previously.
In addition, during the time that the change is in effect, plant operation will be conducted only while both a
hydrogen recombiner and the containment hvdroaen purge system are operable.
Therefore, the staff concludes that the one-time exception to Technical Specifications for the purpose of making environmental qualification modifications to the hydrogen recombiner system is acceptable.
4.0 CONTACT WITH STATE OFFICIAL The Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency has been advised of the proposed determination of no significant hazards consideration with reqard to this request for one-time exception to the Technical Specifications.
No comments were received.
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5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION
S These amendments involve changes in the installation or use of facility components located within the restricted area.
The staff has determined that the amendments involve no significant increase in the amounts of any effluents tha'y be released offsite and that there is no significant increase in individual or commulative occupation radiation exposure.
The Commission has previously issued proposed findinas that the amendments involve no siqnificant hazards consideration, and there has been no public comment on such findinqs.
Accordingly, the amendments meet the eligibilitycriteria for cateqorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR Sec. 51.22(c)(9).
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b) no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need to he prepared in connection with the issuance of these amendments.
6.0 CONCLUSION
The staff has concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that
( I) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safetv of the public will not be endanaered by operation in the proposed
- manner, (2) such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations, and (3l the issuance of these amendments will not be. inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
lie, therefore, conclude that the proposed changes are acceptable.
Dated:
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~>> 87 1986 ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENT NO.
5 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NPF-41 FOR PALO VERDE UNIT 1
AND AMENDMENT NO.
1 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSF. NPF-46 FOR PALO VFRDE UNIT 2 DI STR I BUT ION
+Docket-Fi-1 e-50-528/529,
NRC PDR Local PDR PBD-7 Reading FMiraqlia JLee (5)
MLicitra
- Attorney, OELD LDewey LHarmon EJordan BGrimes JPartlow TBarnhart (8)
WJones WRegan ACRS (10)
- RDigqs, LFMB NVirgilio, TSRG