ML20005A167
| ML20005A167 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 06/23/1981 |
| From: | Novak T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Rich Smith VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8106290470 | |
| Download: ML20005A167 (4) | |
Text
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em)g UNITED STATES p
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
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- j WASHINC TON, D. C. 20555 k..... /
Docket No. 50-271 June 23,1981 c3 hh Mr. Robert L. Smith JUN 25198W Licensing Engineer vag.p rl)
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power y
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1671 Worcester Road h
Framingham, Masachusetts 01701
Dear Mr. Smith:
In response to your letters dated February 13, 1981 and March 17, 1981 we have considered your request for exemption from the requirement for a recirculation pump oil collection system in a deinerted containment.
Section III 0 of Appendix R to 10 CFR 50 requires that "the reactor coolant pump shall be equipped with an oil collection system if the con-tainment is not inerted during normal operation."
For BWRs it was intended that this requirement pertains to the recirculation pumps. The Vermont Yankee plant does not presently have an inert. atmosphere in con-tainment. A proposed rule published in the Federal Register on October 2, 1980 would require Vermont Yankee to inert containment after this rule is published in final form and becomes effective.
Because of the pending inerting requirenent, and because of the provision of appropriately equipped hose stations and standpipes outside of containment until inerting is required, your letter of February 11,120 stated that " Vermont Yankee meets Appendix R."
After being advised by tae staff that the staff dis-l agrees with this conclusion, you requested exemption from this requirement until such time as the pending regulation becomes effective.
Installation of an approved oil collection systen would require a plant shutdown. According to 10 CFR 50.48, such fire protection features that involve installation of modifications that requi.re plant shuthwn shall be implemented before startup after the earliest of the following events l
commencin 17, 1981:
(') the first refueling outage; (g 180 days or more after February ii) another planned outage that lasts for at itast 60 days; or (iii) an unplanned outage that lasts for at least 120 days. Therefore, Vermont Yankee must meet the requirement for an approved oil collection system if operation is planned with a deinerted containment after starting up from the first extended outage af ter mid-August 1981. According to current refueling outage scheduling we understand that this would require modifications to be completed in December 1981 if Vermont Yankee were not inerted by that time.
If inerting were required for purposes other than fire protection, the protection provided by the oil collection system would be unnecessary. However, as you know, inerting requirements under the pro-posed Interim Requirements Related to Hydrogen Control and Certain Degraded Core Considerations are still under consideration by the Commission.
If inerting requirements are, in fact, promulgated by the Commission with imolementation schedules shortly after the date called for by Section 50.47
_81oe2eo p o
Mr. Robert L. Smith for the oil collection system, this indeed may warrant a temporarily
. _. limited exemption.
If inerting requirenents are not adopted, there is D' no justification for your requested exemption. Rather than hold your
~: request in abeyance pending Commission, action on inerting requirements, we are denying your request, since such requirements have not, in fact, been adopted thus far by the Commission. Our denial is, of course, without prejudice to your resubmittal of your exemption request upon adoption of inerting requirements applicable to Vermont Yankee.
In addition, we have considered your request for exemption from Section 50.48(c)(1) submitted in your letter of February 13, 1981. You have stated that you are not able to provide hands-on practice sessions for all fire brigade members in the time allowed. The training program has already been implemented and fire protection consultants have been involved in hands-on practice. However, due to the lack of availability of an outdoor training facility during the winter in Vermont, the training program of the entire fire brigade will not be completed until July 30, 1 981. Therefore, you have asked that the date for compliance with the training requirement be extended to July 30, 1981. You have implemented a training program which meets all of our requirements and have staffed the fire brigade with the requisite number of brigade mambers. The training program will result in the fire brigade being fully trained, including hands-on training, when weather conditions pertiit. Therefore, you meet the requirements of Section 50.48(c)(1), and no exemption is necessary.
We are separately considering your request for axemption from Section 10 CFR 50.48(c)(5) concerning the delay in submitting design descriptions of modifications and your request pertaining to the requirement that Shift Supervisors be permitted to be members of the fire brigade for an interim period, and we will advise you when our review of your request is complete.
Si ncer'ely, h
ZM Q
Thomas M. Novak, Assistant Director for Operating Reactors Division of Licensing cc:
See next page l
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Mr. Robert L. Smith cc:
Mr. W. F. Conway John R. Stanton, Director Vice President and Manager Radiation Control Agency of Operations Hazen Drive Vemont Yankee Nuclear Power Concord, New Hampshire 03301 Corporation P. O. Box 157 John W. Stevens Vernon, Vemont 05602 Conservation Society of Southern Vermont Mr. Louis H. Heider, V.P.
P. O. Box 256 Vemont Yankee Nuclear Power Townshend, Vement 05353 Corocration Raymond N. McCandles's 25 Research Drive Radiation Control Program Westboro, Massachusetts 01581 Occupational & Radiological Hith Administration-Buil ding John A. Ritscher, Esquire Montpelier, Vermont 05602 Ropes & Gray 226 Franklin Street New England Coalition on Nuclear Boston, Massachusetts 02110 Po.11ution Hill and Dale Fam Laurie Burt West Hill - Faraway Road Assistant Attorney General Putney, Vermont 05346 Environmental Protection Division Attorney General's Office Public Service Board One Ashburton Place,19th Floor State of Vemont '
Boston, Massachusetts 02108 120 State Street Montpelier, Vemont 05602 Ronald J. Wilson 81018th Street, N. W.
W. P. Murohy, Plant Superintendent Suite 802 Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Washington, D. C.
20006 Corocration P. O. Box 157 Honorable M. Jerome Diamond Vernon, Vemont 05354 Attorney General State of Vemont David White 109 State Street Co-Director Pavilion Office Building Vemont Pub 7ic Interest Montpelier, Vemont 05602 Reserach Group, Inc.
43 State Street Mr. J. E. Griffin, President Montpeiler, Yemont 05602 Vermont Yankee Nuclear Powcr Corocratio.n Vemont Yankee Decommissioning 77 Grove Street Alliance Rutland, Yemont 05701 5 State Street Box 1117 i
Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Montpelier, Vemint 05602 Alliance 127 Main Street Brooks Memorial Library Brattleboro, Vemont 05301 224 Main Street Brattleboro, Vemont 05301
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4 Mr. Robert L. Smith cc:
Resident Inspector
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c/o U. S. NRC P. O. Box 176 Vernon, Vermont 05453 k
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