ML17353A917
| ML17353A917 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Turkey Point  |
| Issue date: | 10/04/1996 |
| From: | NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17353A916 | List: |
| References | |
| TAC-M96208, NUDOCS 9610080443 | |
| Download: ML17353A917 (6) | |
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORYCOMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 2055&4001 SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION RE ATED TO AMENDMENT NO. 192 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO.
DPR-31 ND ENDMENT NO. 186TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO.
DPR-41 FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY TURKEY POINT UNIT NOS.
3 AND 4 DOCKET NOS. 50- 50 AND 50-251
1.0 INTRODUCTION
On September 12,
- 1995, the U.S. Nuclear regulatory Commission (NRC) approved issuance of a revision to 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J,
"Primary Reactor Containment Leakage Testing for Water-Cooled Power Reactors" which was subsequently published in the Federal
~Re ister on September 26,
- 1995, and became effective on October 26, 1995.
The NRC added Option B "Performance-Based Requirements" to allow licensees to voluntarily replace the prescriptive requirements of 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix J with testing requirements based on both overall performance and performance of individual components.
By letter dated July 17, 1996, Florida Power and Light (FPL or the licensee) proposed a change to the Technical Specifications (TS) for Turkey Point Units 3 and 4 to implement 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Option B performance-based requirements.
The licensee has established a "Primary Containment Leakage Rate Testing Program,"
and proposed adding this program to the TSs.
The program references Regulatory Guide 1. 163, "Performance-Based Containment Leak Test Program" which specifies a method acceptable to the NRC for complying with Option B.
2.0 BACKGROUND
Compliance with Appendix J provides assurance that the primary containment, including those systems and components which penetrate the primary containment, do not exceed the allowable leakage rate values specified in the TSs.
The allowable leakage rate is determined so that the leakage assumed in the safety analyses is not exceeded.
On February 4,
- 1992, the RRC published a notice in the Federal
~Re ister (57 FR 4166) discussing a planned initiative to begin eliminating requirements marginal to safety which impose a significant regulatory burden.
10 CFR Part 50 Appendix J, "Primary Containment Leakage Testing for Water-Cooled Power Reacto} s" was considered for this initiative and the staff undertook a
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study of possible changes to this regulation.
The study examined the previous performance history of domestic containments and examined the effect on risk of a revision to the requirements of Appendix J.
The results of this study are reported in NUREG-1493, "Performance-Based Leak-Test Program.'ased on the results of this study, the staff developed a performance-based approach to containment leakage rate testing.
On September 12, 1995, the NRC approved issuance of this revision to 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, which was subsequently published in the federal geeister on September 26,
- 1996, and became effective on October 26, 1995.
The revision added Option B
"Performance-Based Requirements" to Appendix J to allow licensees to voluntarily replace the prescriptive testing requirements of Appendix J with testing requirements based on both overall and individual component leakage rate 'performance.
,Regulatory Guide 1.163, September
- 1995, "Performance-Based Containment Leak Test Program,"
was developed as a method acceptable to the NRC staff for implementing Option B.
This regulatory guide states that the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) document NEI 94-01, "Industry Guideline for Implementing Performance-Based Option of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J" provides methods acceptable to the NRC staff for complying with Option B with four exceptions which are described therein.
Option B requires that the regulatory guide or other implementation document used by a licensee to develop a performance-based leakage testing program must be included, by general reference, in the plant TSs.
The licensee has proposed referencing RG 1.163 in TS 6.8.4.
Regulatory Guide 1.163 specifies an extension in Type A test frequency to at least one te t in 10 years based upon two consecutive successful tests.
Type B tests may be extended up to a maximum of 10 years based upon completion of two consecutive successful tests and Type C tests may be extended up to 5 years based on two consecutive successful tests.
By letter dated October 20,
- 1995, NEI proposed TSs implementing Option B.
After some discussion, the staff and NEI agreed on a set of TSs which were transmitted to NEI in a letter dated November 2, 1995.
These TSs are to serve as a model for licensees to develop plant-specific TSs in preparing amendment requests to implement Option B.
In order for a licensee to determine the performance of each component, factors that are indicative of, or affect, performance, such as an administrative leakage limit, must be established.
The administrative limit is selected to be indicative of the potential onset of component degradation.
Although these limits are subject to NRC inspection to assure that they are selected in a reasonable
- manner, they are not TS requirements.
Failure to meet an administrative limit requires the licensee to return to the minimum value of the test interval.
Option B requires that the licensee maintain records to show that the criteria for Type A, B, and C tests have been met.
In addition, the licensee must maintain comparisons of the performance of the overall containment system and the individual components to show that the test intervals are adequate.
These records are subject to NRC inspection.
gi
~EN The licensee's July 17, 1996 letter to the NRC proposed TSs changes to permit the use of Option B of the revised 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix J, establish a
"Primary Containment Leakage Rate Testing Program,"
and proposes to add this program to the TSs.
The program references Regulatory Guide 1.163, "Performance-Based Containment Leak Test Program" which specifies a method acceptable to the NRC for complying with Option B.
This requires a change to existing TS 4.6. l.l.c, 3/4.6.1.2, 3/4.6. 1.3, 4.6. 1.6.3 and the addition of the "Containment Leakage Rate Testing Program" to TS Section 6.8.4.
Option B permits a licensee to choose Type A; or Type B and C; or Type A, B, and C; testing to be done on a performance basis.
The licensee has elected to perform Type A, B, and C testing on a performance basis.
The TS changes proposed by the licensee are in compliance with the requirements of Option B and consistent with the guidance of Regulatory Guide
- 1. 163 and the generic TSs of the November 2, 1995 letter and are therefore acceptable to the staff.
4.0 STATE CONSULTATION
Based upon the written notice of the proposed amendments, the Florida State official had no comments.
- 5. 0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONS IDERATION The amendments change requirements with respect to installation or use of a facility component located within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20 and changes the surveillance requirements.
The NRC staff has determined that the amendments involve no significant increase in the amounts, and no significant change in the types, of any effluents that may be released
- offsite, and that there is no significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure.
The Commission has previously issued a
proposed finding that the amendments involve no significant hazards consideration, and there has been no public comment on such finding
(
FR
).
Accordingly, the amendments meet the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9).
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b) no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared in connection with the issuance of the amendments.
- 6. 0 CONCLUSION The Commission has concluded, based on the considerations discussed
- above, that (1) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by operation in the proposed
- manner, (2) such activities wil.l be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations, and (3) the issuance of the amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
Principal Contributors:
Richard Croteau and Richard Lobel Dated:
October 4,
1996
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