ML19338D180
| ML19338D180 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry  |
| Issue date: | 08/29/1980 |
| From: | Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19338D179 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8009220019 | |
| Download: ML19338D180 (6) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l
In the Matter of
)
l-TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
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Docket Nos. 50-259 (Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant,
)
50-260
-Units 1, 2 and 3)'
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50-296
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ORDER FOR MODIFICATION OF LICENSES I.
The Tennessee Valley Authority (licensee) is the holder of Facility 0;:erating License Nos. DPR-33, DPR-52, and DPR-68 which autnorize the operation of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2 'and 3 at steady state reactor power levels each not in excess of 3293 megawatts themal (rated power). The facilities consist of boiling water reactors located at the licensee.'s site in Limestone Cwnty, Alabama.
II.
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j or November 4,1977, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) filed with the Commission a." Petition for Emergency and Remedial Relief." The l
l petition sought action in two areas: fire protection for electrical cables, and environmental qualification of electrical components.
By f
Memorandum and Order dated April 13,1978 (7 NRC 400). the Commission l
denied certain aspects of the petition and, with respect to other aspects, I
ordered the NRC staff to take several related actions.
UCS filed a Petition for. Reconsideration on May 2,1978.
By Memorandum and Order, l
l-dated May _23,- 1980, the Commission reaffimed its April 13, 1978 decision L
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regarding_ the possible shutdown of operating reactors.
However, the Ccomission/s May 23, 1980 decision directed licensees and the NRC staff tc undertake certain actions.
With respect to environmental qualification of safety-related electrical ecuipment, 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 ir. Operating Reactors" (00R Guidelines) and NUREG-0588, " Interim Staff Pcsition on Environmental Qualification of Safety-Related Electrical Ecuipment," December 1979 " form the requirenents which licensees and applicants must meet in order to satisfy those aspects of 10 CFR Part 5C, Appendix A General Design Criterion (GDC-4), which relate to envi-renmental qualification of safety-related electrical equipment." The Ocmnission 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-OlB and tc 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
Eulletin 79-01B was not sent to licensees for plants under review as part of the staff's Systematic Evaluation Program.
The information sought t; Bulletin 79-OlB was requested from these licensees by a series of letters and meetings during the months of February and March, 19EO.
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. 4 imposed a deadline that, "by 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 provide bi-monthly progress reports to the Ccmmission.
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 frm the obligation to modify or replace inadequate equipment promptly."
III.
The infomation 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 confomance with the 00R Guidelines or NUREG-0588.
A significant aspect of this review is the timely submittal of environmental qualification infomation 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 00R Guidelines and NUREG-l 0538, the qualifications of safety-related electrical equipment exposed L
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6 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 centainment.,
In this connection the licensee was requested by I&E Bulletin 79-OlB of January 14, 1980 to provide a detailed review of the environmental qualification of Class lE electrical equipment.
This review was to ir.clude all equipment required to function under postulated accident conditions, both inside and outside the primary containment, and recognize all conditions specified in the bulletin.
Evidence of qualification together with methods and justification, was requested.
Clarification was provided by supplemental information, briefings, and ir. some cases, meetings with the licensee. Timely completion of the staff 's review of environmental qualification of electrical equipment ar.d timely completion 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.
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However, the licenseeis response, to date, is incomplete.
Therefore, I have concluded that the public health, safety, and interest require that a firm. schedule for the timely submission of all the information previously requested by the staff should be established by Order. effective immediately.
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IV.
Acco~ dingly, pursuant to the Atomic Energy,Act of 1954, as amended, and r
t the Commissian/s regulations in 10 CFR Parts 2 and 50, IT IS ORDERED THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY Facility Operating License Nos. OPR-33, DPR-52, and DPR-68 are 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 November 1,1980."
Ar. 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 addressed to the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D. C.
20555.
A copy of the request should also be sent to the Executive Legal Director, U. S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D. C.
20555, and to M. S. Sanger, Jr., Esquire, General Counsel, Tennessee Valley Authority, 4C0 Commerce Avenue, E11B, 33C Knoxville, Tennessee 37902, attorney fer the licensee.
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. -If a hearing is held concerning this Order, the issue to be considered at the hearing shall be whether the licenses should be modified to require submission of information as set forth in Section IV. of the Order.
Operating of the facilities on terms consistent with this Order is not stayed by the pendency of any proceedings on the Order.
FOR THE NUCLEAR -REGULATORY C0relISSION J,
DarrellG.(/Eisennut, Director Division c Licensing Effective Date: August 29, 1980 Bethesda, Maryland I
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