ML19336A709
| ML19336A709 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Big Rock Point, Palisades File:Consumers Energy icon.png |
| Issue date: | 09/19/1980 |
| From: | Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18045A835 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8010300538 | |
| Download: ML19336A709 (6) | |
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7590-01 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of Consumers Power
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Company
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Palisades Plant
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Docket No. 50-255 REVISED ORDER FOR MODIFICATION OF LICENSE I
I.
Consumers Power Company (the licensee) is the holder of Provisional Operating License No. DPR-20, which authorizes the operation of the Palisades Plant at steady-state reactor power levels not in excess of 2530 megawatts thermal (rated power). The f acility consists of a pressurized water reactor located at the licensee's site in Covert Township, Van Buren County, Michigan.
II.
On November 4,1977, the Union of Concerned Scientists (VCS) filed with the. Commission a " Petition for Emergency and Remedial Relief."
The petition sought action in two areas:
fire protection for electrical cables, and 2nvironmental qualification of electrical components. By Memorandum era Order dated April 13,1978 (7 NRC 400), the Commission denied cartrin aspects of the petition and, with respect to other aspects, ordered the NRC staff to take several related actions.
UCS filed a Petition for Reconsideration on May 2,1978. By Memorandum and Order, dated May 23, 1980, the Commission reaffirmed its April 13, 1978 decision 8010300 My
i re90rding the possible shutdown of operating reactors.
However, the Commission's May 23, 1980 decision directeri licensees and the NRC staff to undertake certain actions.
With respect to environmental qualification of safety-related electrical equipment, the Commission determined that the provisions of the two staff documents - the Division of Operating Reactors " Guidelines for Evaluating Environmental Qualification of Class lE Electrical Equipment in Operating Reactors" (DOR Guidelines) and NUREG-0588, " Interim Staff Position on Environmental Qualification of Safety-Related Electrical Equipment," December 1979 " form the requirements which licensees and applicants must meet in order to satisfy those aspects of 10 CFR Part
' 50, Appendix A General Design Criterion (GDC-4), which relate to envi-conmental qualification of safety-related electrical equipment." The Commission directed, for replacement parts in operating plants, "unless there are sound reasons to the contrary, the 1974 standard in NUREG-0588 will apply." The Commissica also directed the staff to conglete its 1
review of the information sought f rom licensees by Bulletin 79-OlB and to complete its review of environmental qualification of safety-related electrical equipment in all operating plants, including the publication of Safety Evaluation Reports, by February 1,1981.
The Commission 1 Bulletin 79-01B was not sent to licensees for plants under review as The information part of the staff's Systematic Evaluation Program.
sought by Bulletin 79-01B was requested from these licensees by a series of letters and meetings during the months of February and March, 1980.
imposed a deadline that, "by no later than June 30, 1982 ali safety-related electrical equipment in all operating plants shall be qualified to the 00R Guidelines or NUREG-0588." The Commission requested the staff to, " keep the Commission and the public apprised of any further findings of incomplete environmental qualification of safety-related electrical equipment, along with corrective actions taken or planned,"
and requested the staff to provide bi-monthly progress reports to the Commi ssion.
The Commission further directed the staff to add certain documentation requirements to each license af ter the specific requirements were approved by the Commission. The Commission also pointed out that the various deadlines imposed in its Order, "do not exctme a licensee f rom the obligation to modify or replace inadequate equipment promptly."
III.
The information developed during this proceeding emphasizes the importance of adequate documentation, the prompt completion of the review of environ-mental qualification of safety-related electrical equipment, and the prompt completion of any plant modification needed to assure conformance with the D0R Guidelines or NUREG-0588. A significant aspect of this review is the timely submittal of environnental qualification information by the operating plant licensees to enable the staf f to complete its review in accordance with the Commission's Order. The staff has a program presently underway to reevaluate, using the D0R Guidelines and NUREG-l 0588, the qualifications of safety'-related electrical equipment exposed l
to environments that nay exist foliowing postulatec accidents. These o
accidents are loss of Coolant Accident and Main Steam Line Break inside containment, and High Energy Line Breaks inside and outside contai nment.
'In this connection the licensee was requested by our letter of March 6, 1980, as modified by our letter of March 28, 1980, to provide information on emergency procedures and safety related systems.
The licensee was requested to oefine and provide the basis for the hostile environment, inside and outside containment. This hostile environment would then be used, by the licensee, in the determination of unqualified equipment.
A conplete package, including justification for methods used, was requested.
Clarification was provided by supplemental information, briefings, and in some cases, meetings with the licensee.
Timely completion of the staf f's review of environmental qualification of electrical equipment and timely corpletion of needed modifications by the licensee is required to provide continuing reasonable assurance of public health and safety.
Such completion is dependent on the prompt receipt of a complete response by the licensee to the staff's requests for information.
However, the licensee's response, to date, is incomplete.
Theref ore, I have concluded that the public health, safety, and interest require that a firm schedule for the tinely submission of all the information previously requested by the staf f should be established by Order ef fective immediately.
IV.
Accordingly, pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and the Corinission's regulations in 10 CFR Parts 2 and 50, IT IS ORDERED THAT Ei FECTIVE IMMEDIATELY Provisional Operating License No. DPR-20 is f
hereby amended to add the following provisions:
"Information which fully and completely responds to the staff's request as specified in NRC's letters dated March 6,1980, and March 28,1980, shall be submitted to the Director, Division of Licensire by the licensee not later than November 1,1980."
An earlier response is encouraged to facilitate staff review and issuance of the safety evaluation report. The licensee or any person whose interest may be affected h; this Order may request a hearing within 20 days of the date of publication of inis Revised Order in the Federal Register.
Any request for a hearing shall be addressed to the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission, Washington, D. C.
20555.
A copy of the request should also be sent to the Executive Legal Director, U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Conunission, Washington, D. C.
20555, and to Judd L. Bacon, Esquire, Consumers Power Company, 212 West Michigan Avenue, Jackson, Michigan 49201, attorney for the licensee.
If a hearing is held concerning t.his Order, the issue to be considered at the hearing shall be whether the license should be modified to require submission of information as set forth in Section IV. of the Order.
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6-Operating of the f acility on terms consistent with this Order is not stayed by the pendency of any proceedings on the Order. This Order revises, in its entirety, the Order issued August 29,1980 (45 FR 60058, September 11, 1980).
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION fl 1164) il Darrell G'. p senhut, Director Division oflicensing Effective Date: September 19, 1980 Bethesda, Maryland l
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