ML20044F909
| ML20044F909 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Maine Yankee |
| Issue date: | 05/19/1993 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20044F904 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9306010183 | |
| Download: ML20044F909 (3) | |
Text
.
~.
'1 UNITED STATES
[
}
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g
]
'f WAsHtNGTON, D.C. 20666-0001
...../
s, SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION RELATED TO AMENDMENT NO.138 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. DPR-36 MAINE YANKEE ATOMIC DOWER COMPANY MAINE YANKEE ATOMLQ POWER STATION DOCKET NO. 50-309
)
l
1.0 INTRODUCTION
By letter dated March 4, 1993, the Maine Atomic Power Company (the licensee)
'j submitted a request for changes to the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station
-l Technical Specifications (TS).
The requested changes would reorganize plant i
radiation monitors into two new groupings; Radiation Area Monitors, and Radiation Process and Effluent Monitors.
In addition, a monthly functional i
test was proposed for all monitors, and all daily checks of these monitors i
would be performed using an internally-generated test signal..
j 2.0 EVALUATION Separating plant radiation monitors into two groups will permit different
.)
functional testing methods, cased on monitoring appl.ication. Specifically, j
Area Radiation Monitors help. verify and provide backup for periodic local area radiation surveys, and alert plant personnel to abrupt changes in radiation levels.
Radiation Process and Effluent Monitors control and verify releases i
to the environment.
Currently, the Technical Specifications require a daily-test of all radiaticn monitors. All daily tests use an internally-generated test signal, with the exception of the primary vent stack high range noble gas monitor, which is required to use an internal radiation check source. to verify its proper operation.
The licensee proposes to use an internally-generated test signal for-the daily check of all plant radiation monitors.
The licensee further proposes to add a monthly functional test of all plant: radiation monitors;
-1 Radiation Area Monitors would use either an._ internal or external radiation i
check source, or an internally-generated test signal, while Radiation Process.-
and Effluent Monitors would use either an internal or external radiation' check source. The calibrations performed every refueling outage would remain unchanged for all plant radiation monitors.
Since receiving its operating license over 20 years ago,-the licensee has been performing daily checks of all plant radiation monitors through'use of each monitor's internal radiation check source. These daily checks have not improved the availability of these monitors, as evidenced by the absence of q
failure data arising from these daily checks. Continued daily testing using i
an internal radiation check source is not expected to improve monitor 1
9306010183.930519 PDR ADOCK 05000309 p..
! May 19, 1993 y
performance, and could lead to a stuck source or premature failure of the
-I monitor.
Such premature failures could decrease the reliability of the Radiation Monitoring System.
i I
The licensee recently has replaced the primary vent stack high range noble gas ef fluent monitor with a newer model. The new model is not equipped with an internal radiation check source, so the licensee is modifying tne instrument to use an external radiation source. When the modification is complete and in the absence of the proposed change, daily checks would then be manually i
performed.
The change to item 3 of Technical Specifications Table 4.1-3, Minimum Frequencies for Checks, Calibrations and Testing of Miscellaneous Instrumentation and Controls, would establish a separate category for all Radiation Area Monitors and add a monthly functional test requirement. The monthly test would allow use of an internal or external. radiation check source, or an internally-generated test signal, to functionally test the alarm setpoint and operation of these monitors.
The change to item 18 of Table 4.1-3 would allow daily checks of process and effluent monitors to be performed using an internally-generated test' signal, and permits use of an internal or external radiation check source for the newly-created monthly functional test of alarm setpoint and instrument operation.
j These changes provide the licensee with the flexibility to demonstrate operability on a daily and monthly basis, using alternate methods. The availability of these options is'important as monitors are replaced and upgraded due to equipment obsolescence.
As a result of its review, the staff concludes that the proposed amendment may be granted.
The_ proposed action improves the organization, reliability and overall effectiveness of the radiation monitoring program at Maine Yankee.
3.0 STATE CONSULTATION
l l
In accordance with the Commission's regulations, the Maine State official was i
notified of the proposed issuance of the amendment. The State official had no i
comments.
J
4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION
The amendment changes a requirement with respect to installation or use_of a
_i facility component located within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20 and changes surveillance requirements. The NRC staff has determined that the amendment involves no significant increase in the amounts, and no significant change in the types, of any effluents that may be released 1
offsite, and that there is no significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure. The Commission has previously. issued a
]
4 I
l
. May 19,.1993 proposed finding that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration, and there has been no public comment on such finding l
(58 FR 19483). Accordingly, the amendment meets the eligibility criteria for i
categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9).
Pursuant to t
10 CFR 51.22(b) no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment i
need be prepared in connection with the issuance of the amendment.
i
5.0 CONCLUSION
t i
The Commission has concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that:
(1) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the i
public will not be endangered by operation in the proposed mancer, (2) such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations, i
and (3) the issuance of the amendment will not be inimical to-the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
i Principal Contributor:
E. H. Trottier Date: May 19, 1993 i
4 i
i O
r i
I t
m
.