ML19337A897
| ML19337A897 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Yankee Rowe |
| Issue date: | 08/29/1980 |
| From: | Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | YANKEE ATOMIC ELECTRIC CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19337A895 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8009300653 | |
| Download: ML19337A897 (6) | |
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA h
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of Yankee Atoraic
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Electric Company
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Docket No. 50-29
[ Yankee Nuclear Power Station
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(Yankee Rowe)]
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ORDER FOR MODIFICA110N OF LICENSE I.
Yankee Atomic Electric Company (the licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License No. DPR-3, which authorizes the operation of the Yankee Nuclear Power Station (Yankee Rowe) at steady-state reactor power levels not in excess of 600 megawatts thermal (rated power).
The f acility consists of a pressurized water reactor located at the licensee's site in Franklin County, Rowe, Massachusetts.
II.
On November 4,1977, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) filed with the Commission a " Petition for Emergency and Remedial Relief." The petition sought action in two areas:
fire protection for electrical cables, and environmental qualification of electrical components.
By Memorandum and Order dated April 13,1978 (7 NRC 400), the Commission denied certain 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 Mem randum and Order, dated May 23, 1980, the Commission reaffirmed ite April 13,1978 decision 8009300 6 6 3
. regarding the possible shutdown of operating reactors. However, the Commission's May 23, 1980 decision directed licensees and the NRC staff to undertake certain actions.
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With respect to environmental qualification of safety-related electrical equipment, the Commission determined that the provisions of the two staff documents - the Division of Opere,ing Reactors " Guidelines for Evaluating Environmental Qualification of Class lE Electrical Equipment in Operating Reactors" (D0R Guidelines) and NUREG-0588, " Interim Staff 1
Position on Environmental Qualification of Safety-Related Electrical I
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-ronmental 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 Commission also directed the staff to complete its 1
review of the information sought from licensees by Bulletin 79-01B 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
'l Bulletin 79-01B was not sent to licensees for plants under review as part of the staff's Systematic Evaluation Program.
The information sought by Bulletin 79-01B was requested from these licensees by a series of letters and p.eetings during the months of February and March, N80.
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. imposed a deadline that, "hy no later than June 30, 1982, all 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 provioe bi-monthly progress reports to the Connission.
i The Commission further directed the staff to add certain documentation requirements to each license after the specific requirements were approved by the Commission.
The Commission also pointed out that the various deadlines imposed in its Order, "do not excuse a licensee from 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 tne prompt completion of any plant modification needed to assure conformance with the 00R Guidelines or NUREG-0588. A significant aspect of this review is the timely submittal of environmental qualification information by the operating plant licensees to enable the staff 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-0588, the qualifications of safety-related electrical equipment exposeo
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. to environments that may exist following postulated accidents.
These accidents are loss of Coolant Accident and Main Steam Line Break inside containment, and High Energy Line Breaks inside and outside containment.
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 define 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 complete package, including justification for methods used, was requested.
t Clarification was provided by supplemental information, briefings, and, in some cases, meetings with the licensee. Timely completion of the staff's review of environmental qualification of electrical equipment and timely completion of needed modifications by the licensee is required to provide i
continuing reasonable assurance of public health and safety. Such completion 1s 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.
Tnerefore, I have concluded that the public health, safety, and interest required that a firm schedule for the timely submission of all the infon..a-tion previously requested by the staff should be established by Order effective immediately.
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. IV.
Accordingly, pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR Parts 2 and 50, IT IS ORDERED THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY Facility Operating License No. DPR-3 is hereby amended to add the following provisions:
"Information which fully and completely responds to the staff's request as specified above, shall be submitted to the Director, Division of Licensing by the licensee not later than NovemDer 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 by this Order may request a hearing within 20 days of the date of this Order. Any request for a hearing will not stay the effective date of this Order. Any request for a hearing shall be adoressed to the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission, Washington, D. C.
20555. A copy of the reiquest snould also De sent to tne Executive Legal Director, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D. C.
20555, and to Frederic Greenmond, Esquire, New England Electric System, 20 Turnpike Road, Westooro, Massachusetts 01581, attorney for the licensee.
If a hearing is held concerning this Order, the issue to be considered at the hearing shall be whether the license should oe mocified to require suDmission of information as set forth in Section IV. of the Order.
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e Operating of the facility on terms consistent with this Order is not s ayed by the pendency of any proceedings on the Order.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY C0!411SSIO!!
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Darrel' G. Eisen'1Dt, Director Divisiono(fLicensing Effective Date:
August 29, 1980 Bethesda, Maryland l
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