ML18068A415

Requests NRC Concurrence That RAI Response Re GL 96-06, Assurance of Equipment Operability & Containment Integrity During DBA Conditions, Be Deferred Until 60 Days After Industry Initiative Final Rept Has Been Issued

ML18068A415
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	08/26/1998
From:	Haskell N CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.)
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
GL-96-06, GL-96-6, TAC-M96844, NUDOCS 9808310289
Download: ML18068A415 (2)

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,A CMS Energy Company Palisades Nuclear Plant Tel: 616 764 2276 27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway Fax: 616 764 2490 Covert, Ml 49043 Nathan L. Ha*kell Director, Licensing August 26, 1998 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 DOCKET 50-255 - LICENSE DPR PALISADES PLANT RESPONSE TO NRC REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING GENERIC LETTER 96-06 (TAC NO. M96844)

Generic Letter (GL) 96-06, "Assurance of Equipment Operability and Containment Integrity During Design Basis Accident Conditions," was issued on September 30, 1996.

On January 27, 1997, Consumers Energy submitted its 120-day response to GL 96-06.

This letter provided a commitment to verify compliance with the FSAR piping design criteria for the Containment Air Cooler discharge piping prior to the completion of the 1998 refueling outage. The completion date for this commitment was changed to the 1999 refueling outage in a January 29, 1998, submittal. On June 18, 1998, the NRC issued a request for additional information (RAI) regarding our response to GL 96-06.

On May 27 and 28, 1998, representatives from Palisades attended an industry meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and the NRC regarding GL 96-06. As a result of that meeting, the NEl.and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) have embarked on an initiative to develop a technical basis document that will justify an alternative methodology for analyzing waterhammer and two-phase flow in low-pressure systems.

Palisades has agreed to participate in that industry initiative and intends to use the .*

results of the industry initiative for additional justification for our analysis methods.

In accordance with a letter issued by the NRC on July 8, 1998, and supported by discussions with the Palisades Project Manager and Mr. George Hubbard of the NRC, it is our understanding that licensees who are participating in this industry initiative may defer their response to the RAI until the final report has been issued. Accordingly, we request staff concurrence that the RAI response can be deferred until 60 days after the industry initiative final report has been issued. This deferral will also require a change in our current commitment to verify compliance with the FSAR piping design criteria for the Containment Air Cooler discharge piping prior to the completion of the 1999 refueling outage. While it is not expected that any modifications will be required to

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.assure compliance, the final industry report will be needed to fully document the analyses.

SUMMARY

OF COMMITMENTS This letter contains one new commitment which is:

The response to the RAI regarding GL 96-06, issued by the NRC on June 18, 1998, will be submitted within 60 days after the industry initiative final report has been issued.

This letter also contains one revision to an existing commitment. The existing commitment is:

Compliance with FSAR piping design criteria for the Containment Air Cooler (CAC) discharge piping will be verified prior to the completion of the 1999 refueling outage.

The revision to the existing commitment is:

Compliance with FSAR piping design criteria for the Containment Air Cooler (CAC) discharge piping will be verified prior to the completion of the 2001 refueling outage.

athan L. Haskell irector, Licensing CC Administrator, Region Ill, USNRC Project Manager, NRR, USNRC NRC Resident Inspector - Palisades