ML20045F890
| ML20045F890 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | San Onofre  |
| Issue date: | 07/02/1993 |
| From: | Grimes B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20045F889 | List: |
| References | |
| TAC-M85768, NUDOCS 9307090144 | |
| Download: ML20045F890 (3) | |
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the matter of
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t SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY, ET AL )
Docket No. 50-206 i
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(San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station,
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Unit 1)
EXEMPTION j
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Southern California Edison Company, (SCE or_ the licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License No. DPR-13, which authorizes possession and-maintenance of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Unit l'(SONGS 1).
The license provides, among other things, that the licensee is subject to all rules, regulations, and orders.of the Commission now or hereafter-in effect.
The facility consists of a permanently shutdown pressurized water reactor at the SCE site located in San Diego County, California.
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II.
Title 10 of the Code of Federal Reaulations, Section 50.54(x) [10 CFR 50.54(x)], allows each licensee to "take reasonable action that departs from a license condition or a technical specification (contained in a license isseed i
under this part) in an emergency when this action is immediately needed to protect the public health and safety and no action consistent with license i
conditions and technical specifications that can provide adequate or equivalent protection is immediately apparent." Section 50.54(y) of 10 CFR i-states that such " action permitted by paragraph (x) of this section shall be approved, as a minimum, by a licensed cenior operator prior to taking the action." The underlying purpose of 10 CFR 50.54(x) and (y) is to permit 9307090144 930702 PDR-ADDCK 05000206 V
, personnel to take emergency actions in response to abnormal conditions which may not have been considered when the License Conditions and Technical Specifications were formulated.
III.
By letter dated February 8, 1993, the licensee requested an exemption from 10 CFR 50.54(y) for SONGS 1.
SONGS I was permanently shut down.in November 1992 and defueling of the reactor completed in March 1993.
Upon licensee certification of the defueling on March 9,1993, Amendment No.150 to Facility Operating License No. DPR-13 became effective, changing the license to a possession only license. On May 27, 1993, the NRC staff issued Amendment No.154 to Facility Operating License No. DPR-13 which permitted replacement of the 10 CFR Part 55 licensed operator program with an approved Fuel Handler Progra.n at SONGS 1.
The amendment established the nonlicensed Certified Fuel Handler position as the highest level of defueled plant operator, analogous to a licensed senior operator at an operational facility. This exemption allows a Certified Fuel Handler, in lieu of a Senior Reactor Operator, to approve the taking of actions under 10 CFR 50.54(x) for a facility with a possession only license and a defueled reactor presents no undue risk to the public health and safety.
The licensee will assure that the underlying purpose of 10 CFR 50.54(y) is fulfilled by establishing administrative controls requiring that any emergency action permitted by 10 CFR 50.54(x) must be approved, as a minimum, by a Certified Fuel Handler prior to taking the action. The administrative controls will be implemented following issuance of the exemption.
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The Commission finds, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(ii), that special circumstances exist such that application of 10 CFR 50.54(y) in the particular_
circumstances existing at SONGS I would not serve the underlying purpose of the rule and is not necessary to achieve the underlying purpose of the rule.
I A Certified Fuel Handler will have appropriate technical qualifications to carry out licensed activities under the possession only license, and a Senior l
Reactor Operator is not necessary to approve the taking of action under 10 CFR 50.54(x).
Therefore, based on the considerations stated above, it is concluded that the request of the licensee for an exemption from the i
requirements of 10 CFR 50.54(y) is acceptable and should be granted.
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Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12(a)(1), an exemption is authorized by law, will not present an undue risk to the public health and safety, and is consistent with the common defense and security.
Therefore, the Commission hereby grants the exemption request from the requirements of 10 CFR 50.54(y), for.the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1 to allow the approvals provided for therein to be granted by a Certified Fuel Handler.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that the issuance of this exemption will have no significant impact on the quality of I
the human environment (58 FR 35986, July 2,1993).
This exemption is effective upon issuance.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULA ORY COMMISSION Brian K. Grimes, Director l
Division of Operating Reactor Suppor'.
l Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 1
Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 2nd day of July 1993 i
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