ML19256E748
| ML19256E748 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Grand Gulf  |
| Issue date: | 10/30/1979 |
| From: | Vassallo D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | MISSISSIPPI POWER & LIGHT CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19256E749 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7911150132 | |
| Download: ML19256E748 (5) | |
Text
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i1ISSISSIPPI POWER & LIGHT C04 ANY MIDCLE SOUTH ENERGY, INC.
DOCKET NOS. 50-416 AND 50-417 ORDER EXTENDING CONSTRUCTION C0bPLETION DATES Mississippi Power & Light Company and Middle South Energy, Inc. are the holders of Construction Pennits Nos. CPPR-ll3 and CP?R-119 issued by the Atomic Energy Comission* on September 4,1974 for the construction of the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, presentl.v under construction at the site of Middle South Energy, Inc. in Claiborne County, Mississippi.
By letters dated April 28, 1978, August 31, 1979 and September 25, 1979, Mississippi Powr & Light Company, on behalf of itself and as agent for Middle South Energy, Inc., requested an extension of the construction completion dates for the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2.
The extension was requested because construction had been delayed due to, among other things, (1) later than expected receipt of a Limited Work Authorization, (2) adverse weather con-ditions, (3) a labor strike, (4) a number of design modifications, (5) lower than expected bulk comodity installation rates and (6) financial and power generation requirements.
This action involves no significant hazards consideration; good cause has been shown for the delays; and the rcque:ted extension is for a reasonable period, the bases for which are set forth in a staff evaluation of One request
- Effective January 20, 1975, the Atomic Energy Comission became the Nuclear Regulatory Comission and Pennits in effect on that day were continued under the authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Coanission.
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. for extension. The preparation of an environmental impact statement for this particular action is not warranted because there will be no significant impact attributable to the Order other than that which has already been predicted and described in the Comission's Final Environmental Statement for the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 published in August 1973. An Environmental Impact Appraisal and Negative Declaration have been prepared for this action.
For further details with respect to this action, see (1) Mississippi Power
& Light Company's letters dated April 28, 1978, August 31, 1973 and September 25, 1979 requesting an extension of the construction completion dates, and (2) the staff's related evaluation, environmental impact appraisal and negative declara-tion all of wnich are available for public inspection at the Comission's Public Document Room,1717 H Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. 20555 and at the Claiborne County Courthouse, Port Gibson, Mississippi 39150.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the earliest and latest construction completion dates are extended for CPPR-ll8 from April 1,1979 and October 1,1979, respec-tively, to September 1,1980 and March 1,1982, respectively; and for CPPR-119 from October 1,1980 and April 1,1981, respectively, to April 1,1983 and October 1,1984, respectively.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY C0!HISSION Dom nic B. Vassallo, Acting Director Division of Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Date of Issuance: October 30, 1979 1336 308
EVALUATION OF REQUEST,FOR EXTENSION OF CONSTRUCTION PERMITS NOS. CPPR-118. AND CPPR-119 FOR THE GRAND GULF NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 DOCKET NOS. 50-416 AND 50-417 Introduction By letters dated April 28., 1978, August 31, 1979 and September 25, 1979, Mississippi Power & Light Company, on behalf of itself and as an agent for Middle South Energy, Inc., e squested an extension of the construction completion dates for the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2.
Mississippi Power &
Light Company stated that the colistruction schedules have been revised for various reasons resulting in total construction delays of approximately 17 and 30 months for Units 1 and 2, respectively. The earliest and latest construction completion dates requested for Unit 1 are fra April 1,1979 and October 1,1979, respectively, to September 1,1980 and March 1,1982, respectively; and for Unit 2 fran October 1,1980 and April 1,1981, respectively, to April 1,1983 and October 1,1984, respectively.
Discussion Mississippi Power & Light Company attributes the delay for Unit 1 to (1) later than expected receipt of a Limited Work Authorization, (2) adverse weather condi-tions, (3) a labor strike, (4) a number of design modifications and (5) lower than expected bulk commodity installation rates. The delay for Unit 2 is attributed to financial and power generation requirements in addition to those factors that contributed to the delay of Unit 1.
Details of the factors contributing to the approximately 17-month < delay for Unit 1 are as follows:
(1) Mississippi Powr & Light Company had originally expected to receive in early April 1974 a Limited Work Authorization which would allow certain construction activities to be performed prior to the issuance of the construction pemit. However, the Limited Work Authorization was not issued until May 3,1974. Consequently, Mississippi Power & Light Company attributes one month of the total de: lay to this factor.
(2 ) Unusually heavy rainfall from the summer of 1974 to early spring of 1975 severely impaired the movement and efficiency of heavy equipnent. Mississippi Pour & Light Company attributes three mcnths of the total delay to this factor.
(3 ) During July and August 1975, a labor strike virtually halted all construction progress. Mississippi Power & Light Company attributes two months of the total delay to this factor.
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. (A) During 1975 and 1976, a number of design modifications, including modifi-cations to the drywell wall, suppression pool and reactor pressure vessel pedestal and modifications due to our review of the suopression pool swell phenomenon, severely impacted construction progress. Mississippi Power &
Light Company attributes three months of the total delay to tnis factor.
(5) Lower than expected rate of installation of bulk comodities (concrete, large and small pipe, conduit and cable trays, wire and cable) was expe-rienced due to lack of the proper level of skilled labor, late completion of the struc'tures into which the commodities were to be installed and late delivery of some commodities to the jobsite. Mississippi Power &
Light Company attributes eight months of the total delay to this factor.
Details of the factors contributing to the approximately 30-month delay for Unit 2 are ts follows:
(1) In mid-1975, Middle South Utilities, Inc. announced its decision to delay the construction of Unit 2 due to such factors as inflation, cost and availability of capital, cost of accomodating environmental requirements, reappraisal of electric load growth and the impact of price elasticity and conservation upon energy usage. Mississippi Power & Light Company attributes 24 months of the total delay to this factor.
(2)
In late 1976, it was realized that the construction schedule for Unit 2, like that for Unit 1, was optimistic. Since it was felt that the lessons learned on Unit I would offset some of the potential slippage on Unit 2 Mississippi Power & Light Company attributes six months of the total delay to this factor.
The requested 18-month intervals between the earliest and latest construction completion dates for both units are based upon uncertainties associated with the construction and licensing schedules. Mississippi Power & Light Company estimates the uncertainties associated with meeting its overall constructicn schedules to be six months. Mi:sissippi Power & Light Company estimates the uncertainties associated with the licensing schedules, considering such factors as lead plant containment loads, Three Mile Island impacts and review manpower availability, to be 12 months.
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. Conclusions Based on our review of Mississippi Power & Light Company's request, we conclude that the factors discussed above are reasonable and constitute good cause for delay. Based on our evaluation of the causes for delay, we conciade that the requested extensions are for reasonable periods of time.
As a result of our review of the Final Safety Analysis Report to date and con-sidering the nature of the delays, we have identified no area of significant safety considerations in connection with the extension of the construction completion dates for the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2.
4 Therefore, we find that (1) this action does not involve a significant hazards consideration; (2) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by the extension of the construction comple-tion dates; (3) the issuance of this order for the extension of a permit for the construction of the fac.ilities will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public; and (4) good cause exists for ths issuance of an Order extending the completion dates. The preparation of an environmental impact statement for this particular action is not warranted because there will be no significant impact attributable to the Order other than that which has already been predicted and described in the Comission's Final Environmental Statement for the Grand Gulf Nuclear StatN, Units 1 and 2 published in August 1973. An Environmental Impact Appraisal and Negative Declaration have been prepared for this action.
Accordingly, issuance of an Order exten' ling the. earliest and latest completion dates for the construction of the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1, as set forth in CPPR-ll8, to September 1,1980 and March 1,1982 respectively; and of Unit 2, as set forth in CPPR-119, to April 1,1983 and October 1,1984 respectively, is reasonable and should be auth ized.
Cf Thomas C. Houghton, Project Manager Light Water Reactors Branch No. 2 Division of Project Management i
/. ;.q.s.
- -- a Robert L. Baer, Chief Light Water Reactors Branch No. 2 Division of Project Management Dated: October 30, 1979
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