ML18107A375

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Safety Evaluation Accepting Licensee Request for Approval of Proposed Changes to Nuclear Business Unit EP for Hope Creek & Salem Generating Stations,Iaw 10CFR50.54(q)
ML18107A375
Person / Time
Site: Salem, Hope Creek  PSEG icon.png
Issue date: 06/15/1999
From:
NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:
Shared Package
ML18107A374 List:
References
NUDOCS 9906180070
Download: ML18107A375 (3)


Text

UNITED STATEe NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION CHANGES TO THE NUCLEAR BUSINESS UNIT EMERGENCY PLAN PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY HOPE CREEK GENERATING STATION AND SALEM NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION. UNITS 1AND2 DOCKET NOS. 50-354, 50-272. AND 50-311

1.0 INTRODUCTION

By letter dated September 8, 1998, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G or the licensee) requested approval of changes to the Nuclear Business Unit (NBU) Emergency Plan for the Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations. The licensee requested approval to eliminate the notification of a General Emergency and associated protective action recommendations to the local authorities. The current emergency plan requires notification of local authorities coincident with notification to the States of Delaware and New Jersey.

Following conference calls held on April 1 and 5, 1999, the licensee provided revised text to the proposed changes by letter dated April 5, 1999. Again, following conference calls held on April 12 and 19, 1999, the licensee provided revised text to the proposed changes by letter dated April 22, 1999. These changes were to clarify wording of the proposed changes.

2.0 BACKGROUND

In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.54(q), a licensee authorized to possess and operate a nuclear power reactor shall follow and maintain in

  • effect emergency plans which meet the standards in 1 O CFR 50.47(b) and the requirements in Appendix E of 10 CFR Part 50. The standards established by 10 CFR 50.47(b)(5) and (6) are that procedures be established for notification, by the licensee, of State and local response organizations and that provisions exist for prompt communications among principal response organizations. The requirements of Appendix E,Section IV. D. 3, are that a licensee shall have the capability to notify responsible State and local governmental agencies within 15 *minutes after declaring an emergency. Also, Appendix E,Section IV. E. 9, requires that provisions be made for communications with contiguous State/local governments within the plume exposure.

pathway emergency planning zone. Such communication links are to be tested monthly.

Communication plans shall have arrangements for emergencies, including titles and alternates for those in charge at both ends of the communication links and the primary and backup means of communication.

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PDR ADOCK 05000272 F

PDR Enclosure

-- Evaluation criteria applicable to the planning standards are found in Section E and F and Appendix 1 of NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, "Criteria for Preparation and Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear Power Plants," Revision 1. The guidance in Appendix 1 calls for licensees to promptly inform State and/or local authorities on declaration of an emergency at the level of a Site Area Emergency (SAE), Alert, or Notification of Unusual Event (UE). For an event classified as a General Emergency (GE), the guidance calls for notification of both State and local authorities in parallel.

Currently the PSE&G NBU Emergency Plan requires notification to the States only at the UE, Alert, or SAE classification level, and both State and local authorities at the GE. Procedures in both the States of Delaware and New Jersey require that local authorities receive notification and direction from their respective State emergency management agencies. The county and local municipalities then implement the directions they receive from their respective State emergency management agency. Therefore, notification of a GE declaration directly to local authorities does not expedite actions which might be taken by them in a declared GE. For this reason, the States of Delaware and New Jersey, with the agreement of respective local authorities, requested to have the licensee delete the parallel notification to local authorities of a GE declaration and associated protective action recommendations. Therefore, the licensee has proposed to revise the NBU Emergency Plan to eliminate the notification to local authorities of a GE and associated protective action recommendations.

The proposed changes involve both onsite and offsite emergency plans. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is responsible for assessing the adequacy of onsite emergency plans developed by the licensee, while the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for assessing the adequacy of State and local government offsite emergency planning. Accordingly, FEMA was consulted during the review of this proposed change.

3.0 DISCUSSION AND STAFF EVALUATION PSE&G has requested approval to eliminate the notification of a GE declaration and associated protective action recommendations directly to local authorities. Currently the licensee's emergency plan requires notification of a GE to the local authorities coincident with notification to the States of Delaware and New Jersey. Under the proposed changes, the States would be notified directly by the licensee and the local authorities would be notified by their respective State emergency management agency. If the licensee is not able to contact a State, then the licensee would make notifications directly to the local authorities. As discussed in the NBU Emergency Plan, Section 6, Step 1.3, all initial notifications would still be accomplished within 15 minutes.

In accordance with the applicable requirements found in Section IV. D. 3 of Appendix E to 1 O CFR Part 50, the licensee is still required to have the capability to notify responsible State and local authorities within 15 minutes after declaring an emergency. The proposed changes only alter the primary administrative means used to accomplish the notification. An alternate means of notification to local authorities is maintained.

,,. With implementation of the proposed changes, the licensee would still maintain the capability to notify contiguous State/local governments within the plume exposure pathway emergency planning zone. Such communication links would continue to be tested monthly. The communication plans continue to have arrangements for emergencies, including titles and alternates for those in charge at both ends of the communication links and a primary and backup means of communication.

The staff's preliminary review determined that these changes were acceptable. However, since the proposed changes affect State and local government emergency plans, the staff consulted with FEMA. By letter dated May 13, 1999, FEMA concurred with the staff's determination that these changes are acceptable.

4.0 CONCLUSION

S The staff concludes that the licensee's request to eliminate coincident.notification to local authorities of a GE*and associated protective.action recommendations, whenmaking*this*

notificationto State authorities, is acceptable. In accordance with established State procedures, local authorities will be notified and provided direction from their respective State emergency management agency.

  • The licensee still maintains the capability to notify both State and local authorities. Acceptable primary and alternate notification means have been provided.

Principal Contributor: Daniel M. Barss Date: June 15, 1999

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