ML20035B010
| ML20035B010 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Trojan File:Portland General Electric icon.png |
| Issue date: | 03/24/1993 |
| From: | Murley T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20035A969 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9303300345 | |
| Download: ML20035B010 (5) | |
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of
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PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC
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Docket No. 50-344 COMPANY
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Trojan Nuclear Plant
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License No. NPF-1 CONFIRMATORY ORDER MODIFYING LICENSE (EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY)
I.
Portland General Electric Company (PGE, the licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License No. NPF-1 issued by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the NRC) pursuant to 10 CFR Part 50 on November 21, 1975. The license autho'rizes the operation of the Trojan Nuclear Plant (the facility) at steady-state power levels not to exceed 3411 megawatts thermal. The facility consists of a pressurized water reactor (PWR) and supporting systems located at the licensee site in Columbia County, Oregon.
II.
On January 4, 1993, the Directors of PGE voted to accept the recommen-dation by PGE management to permanently cease power operations at the Trojan Nuclear Plant. The facility had been shut down since November 9, 1992, when a leak in the "B" steam generator was detected.
PGE began defueling the reactor on January 23, 1993, and completed the movement of all fuel elements to the spent fuel pool on January 27, 1993.
Since the vote on January 4, 1993, PGE has decided to decommission the facility. On January 27, 1993, the licensee submitted, to the NRC, an amendment request for a Possession-Only License.
9303300345 930324 PDR ADOCK 05000344 f
At the end of January 1993, PGE gave 60-day notice of termination of employment to approximately 45 percent of its operating and support starf.
The licensee assured the NRC that it would ensure adequate staffing to conform to the requirements of its current license for the shutdown condition.
PGE is also proceeding with plans to discontinue customary maintenance on equipment necessary to support operations other than that needed to safely store fuel in the. spent fuel pool.
III.
The NRC has determined that the public health and safety require that the licensee not return fuel to the reactor vessel because the licensee is currently revising its procedures to no longer require the maintenance of structures, systems, or components in a condition that would allow power operation. As revised, the procedures would only encompass structures, systems, or components required to be maintained during the current defueled mode 6 condition of the facility, and would not cover, for example, the reactor coolant system, the reactor protection system and the safety injection system.
Additionally, the licensee notified the NRC on January 14, 1993 and February 11,.1993, that they are withdrawing certain commitments made to the staff. These commitments included system upgrades, analyses, and revisions to procedures necessary for power operations. As a result of the permanent cessation of operations at the facility, the licensee no longer plans to complete the system upgrades, perform the analyses, or revise the procedures.
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If PGE were to place nuclear fuel into the reactor vessel, this could result in a core criticality and the production of power.
Should this occur after the end of March 1993, there may r.at be a sufficient number of adequately trained personnel to control operation.
In addition, if the licensee begins to curtail maintenance of systems needed for operation of the facility, as currently planned, it is questionable whether necessary safety equipment would be available to ensure the protection of the public health and safety.
On January 27, 1993, the licensee submitted a letter notifying the NRC that PGE decided to permanently cease power operations at the Trojan Nuclear Plant. On February 2,1993, the licensee alsc submitted a letter to the NRC informing the staff that as of January 27, 1993, all reactor fuel had been moved to the spent fuel storage facility.
In a letter of February 17, 1993, the licensee requested that a condition be placed in the Trojan Nuclear Plant Operating License that prohibits the movement of new or spent fuel into the reactor building without prior NRC approval.
In that letter, the licensee committed to not move new or spent fuel into the reactor building without prior NRC approval.
I find the licensee commitment as stated in its letter of Feoruary 17, 1993, acceptable and necessary and conclude that with this
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In view of the foregoing, I have determined that the public health and safety require the licensee commitment not to move new or spent fuel into the reactor building without prior NRC approval be confirmed by this Order. The licensee has agreed to this action pursuant to 10 CFR 2.202.
I have also l
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i determined based on the licensee consent and on the significance of this prohibition, that the public health and safety require that this Order be effective immediately.
IV.
1 Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 103, 161b, 1611, of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and the Commission regulations in 10 CFR 2.202 and 3
10 CFR Part 50, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, that facility Operating License No. NPF-1 is modified as follows:
The licensee is prohibited from placing any nuclear fuel -into the Trojan 1
Nuclear Plant reactor building without prior approval in writing from the NRC.
i This Confirmatory Order in no way relieves the licensee of the terms and conditions of its operating license.
i V.
Any person adversely affected by this Confirmatory Order, other than the licensee, may request a hearing within 20 days of it; issuance. Any request j
for a hearing shall be submitted to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, Attention: Chief, Docketing and Service Section. Copies of the hearing request also shall be sent to the Director, Office of Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.
20555, to the Assistant General Counsel for Hearings and Enforcement at the same address, and the Regional Administrator, NRC Region V, at 1450 Maria l
Lane, Suite 210, Walnut Creek, California 94596, and to the licensee.
If such i
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a person requests a hearing, that person shall set forth with particularity the manner in which his interest is adversely affected by this Order and shall address the criteria in 10 CFR 2.714(a).
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If a hearing is requested by a person whose interest is adversely affected, the Commission will issue an order designating the time and place of
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any hearing.
If a hearing is held, the issue to be considered at such hearing shall be whether this Confirmatory Order should be sustained.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 2.202(c)(2)(i), (57 FR 20194) May 12, 1992, any person other than the licensee adversely affected by this Order, may, in addition to demanding a hearing, at the time the answer is filed or sooner, move the presiding officer to set aside the immediate effectiveness of the Order on the ground that the Order, including the need for immediate effectiveness, is not based on adequate evidence, but on mere suspicion, unfounded allegations, or error.
In the absence of any request for hearing, the provisions specified in Section IV above shall be final 20 days from the date of this Order without further order or proceedings. An answer or a request for hearing shall not stay the immediate effectiveness of this order.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
$E Thomas E. Murley, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Dated at Rockville, Maryland
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this 24th day of March 1993 i