ML19338D204
| ML19338D204 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 08/29/1980 |
| From: | Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19338D202 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8009220117 | |
| Download: ML19338D204 (6) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES OF' AMERICA i
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of
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VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER
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CORPORATION
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Docket No. 50-271 I
(Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant) )
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ORDER FOR MODIFICATION OF LICENSE I.
The Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation (licensee) is the holder of Facility 0perating License No. DPR-28 which authorizes the operation
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of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant at steady state reactor power levels not in excess of 1593 megawatts thermal (rated power).
The facility' consists of a boiling water reacto-located at the licensee /s site in Windham County, Vermont.
II.
3r November 4,1977, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) filed with the Commission a " Petition for Emergency and Remedial Relief." The
- etition sought action in two areas:
fire protection for electrical
- ables, and environmental qualification of electrical components.
By
'iemorandum and Order dated April 13,1978 (7 NRC 400), the Commission denied certain aspects of the petitior, and, with respect to other aspects, 4
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 800922e II7 e
4.
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.
i With respect to environmental qualification of safety-related electrical
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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 "fonn the r equirements 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 enmplete 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
Sulletin 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 meetings during the months of February and March, 1980.
e J
imposed a deadline that, "by no later than June 30, 1982 all safety-related electrical equipme't in all operating plants shall be qualified n
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 ssio n.
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.
=
he 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 cronpt completion of any plant modification needed to assure confomance with the DDR Guidelines or NUREG-0583.
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 Commissio;.ls Order.
The staff has a program cresently -underway to reevaluate, using the D00 Guidelines and NUREG-0588, the qualifications of safety-related electrical equipment exposed t
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g to environments that may exist following postulated accidents. These
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accidents are Loss of Coolant Accident and Main Steam Line Break inside ' containment, and High Energy Line Breaks inside and outside
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ii containment.
In this connection the licensee was requested by I&E Bulletin 79-018 of January 14, 1980 to provide a detailed review of the environmental qualification of Class lE electrical equipment.
This review was to include 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 cualification together with methods and justification, was requested.
Clarification was provided by supplemental infornation, briefings, and in some cases, meetings with the licensee. Timely completion of the staff 's review of environmental qualf f cc.t:an of electrical equipment and tinely completion of needed mt lificar'.ons 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 incanplete.
Therefore, I have concluded that the pub.lic health, safety, and interest
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require that a finn 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.
Accordingly, pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and 3
the Commission /s regulations in 10 CFR Parts 2 and 50, IT IS ORDERED THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY Facility Operating License No. OPR-28 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 November 1,1980."
An earlier response is encouraged to facilitate staff r eview and i;suance of the safety evaluation recort.
The licensee or any person whose interest
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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 recuest should also be sent to the Executive Legal Director, U. S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D. C.
20555, and to Jchn A. Ritsher, Esquire, Ropes & Gray, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, 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 be modified to require submission of information as set forth in Section IV. of the Order.
Operating of the facility on terms consistent with this Order is not stayed by the pendency of any proceedings on the Order.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Darrell G, (Eis~ennut, Director Division of Licensing Effective Date:
August 29, 1980 Eethesda, Maryland c
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