ML18051B477
| ML18051B477 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 07/23/1985 |
| From: | Thompson H Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18051B478 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8507260178 | |
| Download: ML18051B477 (4) | |
Text
0 In the Matter of CONSU~ERS POWER COMPANY
. (Palisades Plant)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATOPY COMMISSION ENCLOSURE
)
)
)
)
)
Docket No. 50-255 EXEMPTION I.
The Consumers Power Company (CPC, the licensee) is the holder of Provisional Operating License No. DPR-20 which authorizes operation of the Palisades Plant.
Thi~ license provides, among other things, that it is subject to all ru1es, regulations and Orders of the Commission now or hereafter in effect.
The facility comprises one pressurized water reactor at the licensee's
~
site located in Van Buren County, Michigan.
I I.
On November 19, 1980, the Commission published a revised Section 50.48 and a new Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 regarding fire protection features of nuclear power plants. The revised Section 50.48 and Appendix R became effective on February 17, 1981.
Section III of Appendix R contains fifteen subsec.:tion_s, lettered A through (), ea_ch of which specifi.es requirements-for a particular aspect of the fire protection features at a nuclear power plant.
On~ of these subsections, III.G., is the subject of the licensee's exemption request.Section III.G.2.d. requires separation of cable and equipment and associated non-safety circuits of redundant trains by a
r-..
0 horizontal distance of more than 20 feet with no intervening combustibles or fire hazards.
I I I.
By letter dated July 20, 1984 the licensee requested an exemption from Section III.G.2.d. of Appendix R inside of containment.
The exemption was requested from the requirement to separate redundant trains with no intervening combustibles.
Inside of containment left and right channel cable trays containing redundant instrumentation circuitry arP. routed such that they enter containment in separate penetration areas and then pass through containment with at least 35 feet of horizontal separation.
At one location inside containment two cable trays containing intervening combustibles (i~e., cables) connect the two redundant sets of trays.
To prevent a fire from propagating
~~oM one redundant cable tray to the other via the intervening combustibles, fire s~ors have been installed in the intervening cable trays.
The design of the fire stops was reviewed and approved by the staff in a supplement to the Appendix A Fire Protection Safety Evaluation dated March 11, 1980.
The intervening combustibles and other in-situ combustibles in the area of the redundant cable tray compile a light fuel load. Strict administrative controls limit transient combustibles being brought into containment during operation. Administrative controls also require removal of all transient com_b_usti_b]es from the containment prior. to startup. There are no i*gnition sources in the area of the redundant cable trays.
Fire protection inside containment consists of early warning fire detectors installed in areas of cable concentrations, hose reels and portable fire extinguishers.
- Due to the light fuel lc~d, separation of the redundant cable trays and the fire stops installed 1 in the intervenin~ cable trays, the staff has reasonable assurance th~t rnP train of instrumentation circuits will be free of fire damage for anticipated fires inside containment.
The early warning fire detectors will provide rapid detection of fires inside containment.
The light fuel load and strict administrative controls on transient combustib1es assure that anticipated fires will be limited in size and duration.
The separation of the redundant cable trays and the ~ire stops installed in t.he intervening cable trays p~ovide adequate passive protection for the redundant circuits prior to the arrival of the fire brigade and their effective extinguishment of the fire.
Based on the above evaluation, the staff c0ncludes that the removal of-the intervening combustibles between the redundant cable trays would not significantly increase the level of fire protection insi~e containment. Therefore, the exemption request should be granted.
IV.
Accordingly, the Commissi~n has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12(a), the requested exemption is authorized by law and will not endanger life or pr~perty or the common defense and security and is otherwise in the public interest. Therefore, the Commission hereby grants an exemption from the requirements of Section III.G.2.d. of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 to.the extent ft requires*separ~tion bf tables a~d equipment and associated non-safety circt1its of redundant trains with no intervening combustibles installed between the redundant cable trays identified in Section III above.
- "."':)
0 Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Comrrlissio~ had determined that the granting of this exPmption will have no significant impact on the envir0l"ment (,luly 5, 1985, 50 FR 27707).
This Exempt.ion is effective upon issuance.
Dated at Bethesda, Maryland, this 23th day of July 1985.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION t~:~~{~..
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation