ML20009G796
| ML20009G796 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Maine Yankee |
| Issue date: | 07/24/1981 |
| From: | Clark R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Groce R Maine Yankee |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20009G797 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8108040681 | |
| Download: ML20009G796 (3) | |
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Docket No. 50-309 4 N('N b- ($
d'r f7-JUL 29 $31" C Mr. Robert H. Groce
,e Senior Engineer Licensing
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Maine Yankee Atonic Power Company 1671 Worcester Road 3
Framingham, Massachusetts 01701
Dear Mr. Groce:
By letters dated April 25, 1978 and August 29, 1979, Florida Power and Light Company and Hortheast Muclear Energy Company provided technical reports on two different Loop Current Step Response (LCSR) nethods for deternining the resistance temperature detector (RTD) response time at St. Lucie, Unit No.1 and Millstone, Unit No. 2, respectively. These nethods are similar in nost respects, but have a few differences whien are discussed in the enclosed Safety Evaluation (SE). Based on our review of both reference reports, we find the LCSR rethods to detornine RTD time response as described in each report and docunented in the SE to be acceptable. We plan to issue the SE as a HUREG in the near future.
Extensive testing has shown the LCSR method to be extrerely reliable and provide results with an accuracy of 101, (naxinun error). This compares very favorably with the older plunge test method, which of ten has inaccuracies as high as a factor of 3.
Since the LCSR rethod offers a significant irprovement in RTD response tine testing, we recomnend you consider its use at your f acili ty.
It appears to us that use of the LCSR nethod would also result in a reduction in personnel radiation exposure.
The extensive RTD time response testing which has been done in conjunction with the development of the LCSR nethod has revealed that the RTOs in oparating reactors suffer time response degradation as they age. Current Standard Technical Specifications (STS) require that one quarter of the safety systen RTDs be tested each 18 months. This corresponds to testing each RTD once every six years.
In view of the RTD time responso degradation observed in our study, it is clear that the present RTD surveillance testing schedule is not adequate. We request that you nake application for TS changes to require the time response testing of all safety system RTDs within one nonth of operation for newly installed RTD and once every 18 months thereaf ter. This application shoeld he nade before or as a part of your application for the next core reload.
If you plan to use the provisions of 10 CFR 50.59 for the next core reload, please subnit the application for such a change at least 90 days ahead of the next planned reactor shutdown. This request is independent of whether you plan to use the LCSR or sone other method (plunge test for exanple) of determining the RTD response time.
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y in this review, it has come to our attention that your facility TS do not include limiting condition for operation (LCO) and surveillance requirocents (SR) for enoineered safety features response time of each ESFAS functior..
t You are regtetted to propose such LCOs and SRs, as necessary, in the same time frame as for the 18 month response testing. The current STS pages of interest are enclosed.
If you have any questions on this sut iect. ploete contact your assigned NRC project nanager.
Sincerely, Original si;;ned by Robert A. Clark Robert A. Clark, Chief Operating Reactors Branch #3 Division of Licensing Enclosure s : As stated cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION:
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e Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company cc:
E. W. Thurlow, President Mrs. L. Patricia Doyle, President Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company SAFE POWER.'OR MAINE Edison Drive Post Office Box 774 Augusta, Maine 04336 Camden, Maine 04843 Mr. Donald E. Vandenburgh First Selectman of Wiscasset Vice President - Engineering Municipal Building Yankee Atomic Electric Company U. S. Route 1 20 Turnpike Road Wiscasset, Maine 04578 Westboro, Massachusetts 01581 Stanley R. Tupper, Esq.
John A. Ritsher, Esquire Tupper and Bradley Ropes & Gray 102 Townsend Avenue 225 Franklin Street Boothbay harbor, Maine 04538 Boston, Massachusetts 02110 David Santee Miller, Esq.
Mr. Rufus E. Brown 213 Morgan Street, N. W.
Deputy Attorney General Washington, D. C.
20001 State of Maine Augusta, Maine 04330 Mr. Paul Swetland Resident Inspector / Maine Yankee Mr. Nicho'as Barth c/o U.S.N.R.C.
Executive Director P. O. Box E Sheepscot Valley Conservation Wisc1sset, Maine 04578 Association, Inc.
P. O. Box 125 Mr. Char 1&s B. Brinkman Alan, Maine 04535 Manager - Washington Nuclear Operations Combustion Engineering Inc.
Wiscassett Public Library Association 4853 Cordell Avenue, Suite A-1
.High Street Bethesda, Maryland 20014 Wiscasset, Maine 04578 Mr. John H. Garrity, Director Mr. Torbet H. Macdonald, Jr.
Nuclear Engineering & Licensing Office of Energy Resources Maine Yankee Ato.nic Power Company State House Station #53 Edison Drive Augusta, Maine 04333 Augusta, Maine 04336 Rooert M. Lazo, Esq., Ch.irman Atomic Safety and Licensius Board U.S. Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region I Office Washington, D. C.
20555 ATTN:
EIS COORDINATOR JFK Federal Building Dr. Cadet H. Hand, Jr., Director Boston, Massachusetts 02203 Bodega Marine Laboratory University of California Bodega Bay, Calif 7rnia 94923 Mr. Gustav? A. uinenberger Atomic Safety and Licensing Board State Planning Officer U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Executive Department Washington, D. C.
20555 189 State Street Augusta, Maine 04330 M
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