ML17305B541

Informs That Actions Taken & Proposed to Be Taken for Continued Operation Re Potential for SBLOCA Due to Pipe Rapture in RCP Seal Cool, Appear to Be Appropriate

ML17305B541
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	05/20/1991
From:	Catherine Thompson Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Conway W ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE CO. (FORMERLY ARIZONA NUCLEAR
References
NUDOCS 9105290217
Download: ML17305B541 (9)

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/p +**~4 Docket No. 50-530 UNITED STATES

'UCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 MAY 2 0

1991 Mr. William F.

Conway Executive Vice President, Nuclear Arizona Public Service Company P. 0.

Box 53999 Phoenix, Arizona 85073-3999

SUBJECT:

PALO VERDE JUSTIFICATION FOR CONTINUED OPERATION - POTENTIAL FOR SMALL BREAK LOSS OF COOLANT ACCIDENT DUE TO PIPE RUPTURE IN THE REACTOR COOLANT PUMP SEAL COOLER By letter dated April 13, 1991, Arizona Public Service Company (APS) responded to the NRC staff's request for additional information concerning the subject Justification for Continued Operation (JCO).

Based on the staff recommendations, APS has deleted all reference to the leak-before-break methodology.

APS has also performed stress analysis on the seal cooler piping to show that the usage factor is small.

Furthermore, you stated that the original piping design calculation demonstrates that the seal cooler piping complies with the ASME Code.

The staff has also reviewed your radiological safety evaluations.

In your submittal, you committed to initiate an orderly plant shutdown if RCS activity exceeds 0.2m Ci/gm DOSE E(UIVALENT I-131 for more than 48 hours5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br /> and be in at least HOT STANDBY within the following 6 hours6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br />.

In addition, you offered suitable compensatory action in your modifications to certain operating procedures to require initiation of a plant shutdown within 4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br /> of identification of RCS activity in the nuclear cooling water system.

APS further indicated its plans to correct the identified deficiency at all of the Palo Verde units within the next thirty months.

You described a number of possible additions to, or modifications of, equipment and instrumentation which could be installed to address the identified concern.

While definite design details and plans have not yet been finalized, APS described a number of options which would likely resolve the High Pressure Seal Cooler (HPSC) failure issue.

Based on our review, we find that the actions taken and proposed to be taken by APS appear to be appropriate.

Please advise us of your final planned corrective actions for resolution of this issue.

U

Mr. William F.

Conway Based on the staff's reviews, your JCO concerning the potential for small break loss of coolant accident due to tube rupture in the reactor coolant pump seal cooler is acceptable.

S incere ly, cc:

See next page Catherine Thompson, Project Man er Project Directorate V

Division of Reactor Projects III/IV/V Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

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Arthur C. Gehr, Esq.

Snell 8 Wilmer 3100 Valley Center Phoenix, Arizona 85073 James A. Beoletto, Esq.

Southern California Edison Company P. 0.

Box 800

Rosemead, California 91770 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission HC-03 Box 293-NR Buckeye, Arizona 85326 Regional Administrator, Region V

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1450 Maria Lane Suite 210 Walnut Creek, California 94596 Jack R.

Newman, Esq.

Newman 5 Holtzinger, P.C.

1615 L Street, N.W., Suite 1000 Washington, D.C.

20036 Ignacio R. Troncoso Senior Vice President El Paso Electric Company Post Office Box 982 El Pasco, Texas 79960 Roy P. Lessey, Jr.,

Esq.

Bradley W. Jones, Esq.

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld El Paso Electric Company 1333 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 400 Washington, D.C.

20036 Mr. Charles B. Brinkman, Manager Washington Nuclear Operations ABB Combustion Engineering Nuclear Power 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 330 Rockvi lie, Maryland 20852 Mr. Char les Tedford, Director Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency 4814 South 40 Street Phoenix, Arizona 85040 Chairman Maricopa County Board of Supervisors 111 South Third Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85003

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April 26, 1991 Docket No. 50-530 Mr. Wi lliam F.

Conway Executive Vice President, Nuclear Arizona Public Service Company P. 0.

Box 53999 Phoenix, Arizona 85072-3999

SUBJECT:

PALO VERDE UNIT 3 CYCLE 3 REVIEW (TAC NO. 79785)

We have only recently received your letter of April 16, 1991, in which you provided the additional information requested by the NRC staff concerning the reload for fuel cycle 3. It is our desire to issue the cycle 3 amendment as one package, rather than issue it piecemeal.

We understand from your staff that Palo Verde Unit No.

3 will enter Mode 5 soon.

Some of the technical specifications for fuel cycle 3 are applicable to that mode.

We have completed our review of all aspects of the reload application dated February 21, 1991, except for the material presented in your letter of April 16 cited above which concerns power operation.

Pending receipt of the reload amendment, you must use the more conservative limits for shutdown margin contained in your application.

We expect to issue the amendment on or about May 20, in time for the scheduled startup of the uni t, Sincere ly, Original signed by Char les M. Trammell, Senior Project Manager Project Directorate V

Division of Reactor Projects III/IV/V Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc:

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Conway Arizona Public Service Company Palo Verde CC:

Arthur C. Gehr, Esq.

Snell 5 Wilmer 3100 Valley Center Phoenix, Arizona 85073 James A. Beoletto, Esq.

Southern California Edison Company P.. 0.

Box 800

Rosemead, California 91770 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission HC-03 Box 293-NR Buckeye, Arizona 85326 Regional Administrator, Regi on V

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1450 Maria Lane Suite 210 Walnut Creek, California 94596 Mr. Charles B. Brinkman, Manager Washington Nuclear Operations ABB Combustion Engineering Nuclear Power 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 330 Rockvi 1 le, Maryland 20852 Mr. Charles Tedford, Director Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency 4814 South 40 Street Phoenix, Arizona 85040 Chairman Maricopa County Board of Supervisors 111 South Third Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85003 Jack R.

Newman, Esq.

Newman 5 Holtzinger, P.C.

1615 L Street, N.W., Suite 1000 Washington, D.C.

20036 Ignacio R. Troncoso Senior Vice President El Paso Electric Company Post Office Box 982 El Pasco, Texas 79960 Roy P. Lessey, Jr., Esq.

Bradley W. Jones, Esq.

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld El Paso Electric Company 1333 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 400 Washington, D.C.

20036