ML19296C455
| ML19296C455 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Sequoyah  |
| Issue date: | 02/12/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19296C454 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8002260081 | |
| Download: ML19296C455 (3) | |
Text
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For:
The Commissioners From:
Harold R. Denton, Director, NRR Thru:
Acting Executive Director for Operations /
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Subject:
CONSIDERATION OF OPERATING LICENSE FOR SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT N0. 1
Purpose:
To request Commission consideration of issuance of an operating license up to 170 PWt for Sequoyah Nuclear Staticri, Unit No. 1.
Discussion:
The staff has nearly completed its review of Sequoyah Nuclear Station, Unit No. 1.
Our review, which is documented in the enclosed draft Supplemental Safety Evaluation Report (SSER) includes disposition of the residual pre-TMI issues (some of which were discussed in our SER, NUREG-00ll, of March 1979) and the list of requirements for Near Term Operating Licenses (NTOL) which was based on consideration of the actions contained in the NRC TMI Action Plan.
This list of NT0L requirements was approved by the Commission on February 7, 1980.
At this time, two issues are outstanding which will delay issuance of a license for Sequoyah Nuclear Station Unit No.1:
e Our review indicates that not all requirements for fuel load license issuance identified in the NT0L list of February 6,1980 have been resolved; and a
FEMA has not concurred in the Tennessee Emergency Plan since it does not meet the criteria contained in NUREG-0654/ FEMA-REP /l issued in January 1980.
(See ).
The current status of the emergency plan review is contained in Enclosure 2.
With respect to the latter issue, I have directed staff to develop criteria suitable for evaluating State and local plans for nuclear power stations limited to low power operations.
The staff was further directed to work with FEMA in developing such criteria so that unnecessary delay in initiating the low power testing program at Sequoyah can be avoided.
Contact:
H. R. Denten, NRR 49-27691 8002260 OTs i t
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.. With respect to the former issue, it is my view that there has been an acceptable accounting of the NT0L items and that the residual matters are well defined and amenable to prompt resolution.
The enclosed SSER provides the detail of our review.
I would like to describe the philosophy of the SSER and characterize the manner in which this proposed license action should be viewed.
The SSER is divisible into two broad categories: pre-TMI matters, which disposes of outstanding issues from our base SER of March 1979 (as well as other non-TMI issues that arose since), and the TMI matters.
We have also provided an analysis of the status of the eleven unresolved safety issues which are applicable to Sequoyah.
(Appendix C of the SSER).
The SSER, pa'rt II, discusses the TMI matters identified as Fuel Load (FL) items of the near-term operating license (NTGL) list.
We have not fully completed our review of the items that were agreed to be necessary for fuel load.
In each case the required action is well-defined.
When the applicant executes the requirements, and our review is satisfactorily completed, then it would be appropriate for the license to issue.
A summary of the major residual items is provided in Enclosure 3.
I believe it is important to separate the fuel load (or FL) categorization into two parts.
I envision a need by TVA, or other utilities at this juncture, to proceed with an operating license for the limited purpose of zero-power physics tests.
These tests, which involve the actual fuel load as well as operation at very-low power could take as long as 2 months.
Granting an OL for this limited purpose while residual items are resolved, would permit the utility to proceed with undue risk to the public.
This limited authorization would be accomplished by appropriate technical specification provisions.
Then, after the residual items were completed to our satisfaction, authorization would be granted to continue up to 5% of full power.
I would not propose to use this two-step interpretation of "FL" unless the items to be complete were well-defined, agreed-to by the utility and capable of being completed without distracting from the zero-power testing.
1
. Recc m endation:
The Commission consider whether to authorize the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, to issue an apprcpriately conditioned operating license for Sequoyah Nuclear Station, Unit No. I when the outstanding issues are completed, authorizing operation to 170 MWt.
Coordination:
The Office of the Executive Legal Director and the Office of Inspection and Enforcement will concur before the license issues.
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Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosures:
1.
FEMA 1tr to NRC dtd 2/11/80 2.
Status of Emergency Plan 3.
Table of Residual TMI Matters 4.
Supplemental Safety Evaluation Report by NRR Staff dtd 2/8/80