ML17312A966
| ML17312A966 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 09/06/1996 |
| From: | Clifford J NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17312A967 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9609180075 | |
| Download: ML17312A966 (16) | |
Text
7590-01 UN T D STAT S UC AR R GULATOR COMMISSION AR ONA PUB C SERVICE COMPANY OC T NOS.
STN 50-5 8 STN 50-529 AND STN 50-530 OT C
0 CONSIDERAT ON OF SSUANCE OF AMENDMENTS TO FAGI TY OP RAT NG C
NSES PROPOS D NO SIGNIFICANT HAZARDS ONSID RATION DETERMINATION AND OPPORTUNITY FOR 'A HEARING The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License Nos.
NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74 issued to Arizona Public Service Company (the licensee) for operation of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3, located in Maricopa County, Arizona.
The proposed amendment would modify the technical specifications (TS) to increase the minimum required amount of anhydrous trisodium phosphate (TSP) in the containment baskets.
TSP is used to ensure that, following a postulated design basis loss of coolant accident (LOCA), the containment sump pH is maintained greater than or equal to 7.
Before issuance of the proposed license amendment, the Commission will have made findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act) and the Commission's regulations.
The Commission has made a proposed determi'nation that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration.
Under the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR 50.92, this means that operation of the facility in accordance with the proposed amendment would not (1) involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated; or (2) create the possibility of a new or different kind of 9609180075 50005P8
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accident from any accident previously evaluated; or (3) involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety.
As required by 10 CFR 50.91(a),
the licensee has provided its analysis of the issue of no significant hazards.
consideration.
The NRC staff's analysis is presented below.
The proposed change does not involve a significant increase in, the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated.
The proposed amendment does not involve any change to the method of operation of any plant equipment or modify any plant equipment.
The proposed amendment only affects a passive component that mitigates the consequences of a design basis LOCA, and does not affect the event initiation scenarios for accidents previously evaluated.
Furthermore, the proposed.
amendment ensures that the correct volumes and mass of anhydrous TSP are used such that the post-LOCA emergency core cooling system (ECCS) solution is maintained at a
pH above 7, which is the current basis for use of TSP.
This basis maintains the existing analysis of consequences, which is that maintaining the ECCS solution above a
pH of 7 ensures that the radiological consequences are minimized by preventing significant amounts of iodine released from fuel failures, and subsequently dissolved in the recirculating water, from converting to a
volatile form and evolving into the containment atmosphere.
Therefore, the proposed amendments do not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident.
2.
The proposed change does not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated.
The proposed amendment does not modify the plants.'onfiguration, involve any change to plant equipment, or change the method of plant
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The proposed amendment does no't affect any equipments that are currently assumed as accident initiators.
The proposed amendment only increases the amount of. TSP, which is a passive component used to mitigate the consequences of an accident, thus no new:failure modes are introduced by the proposed amendment.
Therefore, the proposed amendment does not create the possibility of.a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated.
3.
The proposed
.change does not involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety.
The current margin of safety is defined by assuring that the ECCS circulating water is maintained above a
pH of 7 following a LOCA.
The proposed change continues to ensure this condition, therefore, the proposed amendment does not involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety.
Based on this review, it appears that the three standards of 10 CFR 50.92(c) are satisfied.
Therefore, the NRC staff proposes to determine that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration.
The Commission is seeking publ,ic comments on this proposed determination.
Any comments received within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice will be considered in making any final determination.
Normally, the Commission will not issue, the amendment until the expiration of the 30-day notice period.
- However, should circumstances change during the notice period such that failure to act in a timely way would result, for example, in derating or shutdown of the facility, the Commission may issue the license amendment before the expiration of the 30-day notice
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period provided that its final determination is that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration.
The final determination wil.l consider all public and State comments received.
Should the Commission take this action, it will publish in the FEDERAL REGISTER a notice of issuance and provide for opportunity for a hearing after issuance.
The Commission expects that the need to take this action. will occur very infrequently.
Written comments may be submitted by mail to the Chief, Rules Review and Directives Branch, Division of,Freedom of Information and Publications
- Services, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, and should cite the publication date and page number of this FEDERAL REGISTER, notice.
Written comments may also be delivered to Room 6D22, Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, from 7:30 a.m. to 4: 15 p.m.
Federal workdays.
Copies of written comments received may be examined at the NRC Public Document
- Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC.
The filing of requests for hearing and petitions for leave to intervene is discussed below.
By October 11, 1996
, the licensee may file a request for a hearing with respect to issuance of the amendment to the subject fac'ility operating license and any person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding must file a written request, for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene.
Requests for a hearing and' petition for leave to intervene shall be filed in accordance with the Commission's "Rules of Practice for Domestic Licensing Proceedings" in 10 CFR Part 2.
Interested persons should consult a current copy of 10 CFR
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2.714 which is available at the Commission's,Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington,.
OC,,and at the local public document room located at the Phoenix Public Library, 1221 N. Central
- Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.
If a request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene is filed by the above date, the Commission or an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, designated'y the Commission. or by the Chairman of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board panel, will'ule on the request and/or petition; and the Secretary or the designated Atomic Safety.
and Licensing Board will issue a notice of hearing or an appropriate order.
As required by 10 CFR 2.714, a petition for leave to intervene shall set forth with particularity the interest of the petitioner in the proceeding, and how that interest may be affected by the.results of the proceeding.
The petition should specifically explain the reasons why intervention should be permitted with particular reference to the following factors:
(1) the nature of the petitioner's right under the Act to be made party to the proceeding; (2) the nature and extent of the petitioner's property, financial, or other interest in the proceeding; and (3) the possible effect of any order which may be entered in the proceeding on the petitioner's interest.
The petition should also identify the specific aspect(s) of the subject matter of the proceeding as to which petitioner wishes to intervene.
Any person who has filed a petition for leave to intervene or who has '.been admitted as a party may amend the petition without requesting leave of the Board up to 15 days prior to the first prehearing conference scheduled in the proceeding, but such an amended pet'ition must sati'sfy the specificity requirements described above.
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Not later than 15 days prior to the first prehearing conference scheduled, in the proceeding, a petitioner shall file a supplement to the petition to intervene which must include a list of the contentions which are sought to be litigated in the matter.
Each contention must consist of a specific statement of the issue of law or fact to be raised or.controverted.
In addition, the petitioner shall provide a brief explanation of the bases of the contention and a concise statement of the alleged facts or expert opinion which support the contention and on which the petitioner intends to rely in proving the contention at the hearing.
The petitioner must also provide references to those specific sources and documents of which the petitioner is aware and on which the petitioner intends to rely to establish those facts or expert opinion.
Pet'itioner must provide sufficient information to show that a
genuine dispute exists with the applicant on a material issue of law or fact.
Contentions shall be limited to matters within the scope of the amendment under consideration.
The contention must be one which, if proven, would entitle the petitioner to relief.
A petitioner who fails to file such a
supplement which satisfies these requirements with respect to at least one contention will not be permitted to participate as a party.
Those, permitted to intervene become parties to the proceeding, subject to any limitations in the order granting leave to intervene, and have the opportunity to participate fully in the conduct of the hearing, including the opportunity to present evidence and cross-examine witnesses.
If, a hearing, is requested, the Commission will make a final determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration.
The final determination wil-1 serve to decide when the hearing is held.
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If the final determination is that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration, the Commission may issue the amendment and make it immediately effective, notwithstanding the request for a hearing.
Any hearing held would take place after issuance of the amendment.
If the final determination is that the amendment request involves a
significant hazards consideration, any hearing held would take place before the issuance of any amendment.
A request for a hearing or a petition for leave to intervene must be filed with the Secretary of the.Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention:
Docketing.and Services Branch, or may be delivered to the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, by the above date.
Where petitions are filed during the last 10 days of the notice period, it is requested that the petitioner promptly so inform the Commission by a toll-free telephone call to Western Union at 1-(800) 248-5100 (in Missouri 1-(800) 342-6700).
The Western Union operator should be given Datagram Identification Number N1023 and the following message addressed to William H. Bateman, Director, Project Directorate IV-2: petitioner's name and telephone
- number, date petition was mailed, plant
- name, and publication date and page number of this FEDERAL REGISTER notice.
A copy of the petition should also be sent to the Offi.ce of the General
- Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, and to Nancy C. Loftin, Esq.,
Corporate Secretary and Counsel, Arizona Public Service
- Company, P.O.
Box 53999, Mail Station
- 9068, Phoenix, Arizona 85072-3999, attorney for the licensee.
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Nontimely filings of petitions for leave to intervene, amended petitions, supplemental petitions and/or requests for hearing will not be entertained absent a determination by the Commission, the presiding officer or the. presiding Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.that the petition and/or request should be. granted based upon a balancing of the factors specified in 10 CFR 2.714(a)(l)(i)-(v) and 2.714'(d).
For further details with respect to this action, see the appl.ication for amendment dated June 28,
- 1996, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at the Phoenix Public Library, 1221 N. Central
- Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6th day of September 1996.
FOR THE NUCLEAR,REGULATORY COMMISSION J
es W. Cliffor, Senior Project Manager Project Directorate IV-2 Division of Reactor Projects'II/IV Office of Nucl'ear Reactor Regulation
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