ML20054B055
| ML20054B055 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Big Rock Point File:Consumers Energy icon.png |
| Issue date: | 04/05/1982 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20054B052 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8204160296 | |
| Download: ML20054B055 (3) | |
Text
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s 7590-01 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of
)
Consumers Power Company Docket No. 50-155
)
(Big Rock Point Plant)
)
EXEMPTION I-The Consumers Power Company (the licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License No. DPR-6 which authorizes operation of the Big Rock Point Plant, located in Charlevoix County, Michigan. This license provides,
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among other, things, that it is subject to all rules, regulations a' d Orders n
of the Comission now or hereafter in effect.
II.
Section III.0 of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 requires that the reactor coolant pump (recirculation pump or forced circulation pump for boiling water reactors) be equipped with an oil collection system if the containment is not inerted duririg normal operation.
Because Big Rock Point l
-is not inerted during normal operation, under this provision an oil collection system is required.
Section III.0 of Appendix R specifies that the oil collection system shall be so designed, engineered, and installed that failure will not lead to fire during normal or design basis accidents and that there is reasonable assurance that the system will withstand the Safe Shutdown Earthquake (SSE).
l 8204160296 820405 PDR ADOCK 05000155 F
. By letter dated February 9,1982, the licensee requested an exemption from Section III.0 "011 Collection System for Reactor Coolant Pump," of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 to the extent that it requires an oil collection system for the reactor coolant pumps.
The exemption request is based on the following arguments. The Big
,o Rock Point plant has two reactor coolant pumps.
Each contains 31.75 gallons of lube oil in two independent reservoirs.
The lower reservoir contains 1.75 gallons of oil, and the upper contains 30 gallons. A11' oil is contained within the motor housings. A manually. operated sprinkler system covers the area over the pumps and sump. The system is designed to provide a discharge 2
density of.35 gpm/FT, and to withstand seismic events.
The licensee has also calculated the effects of an uncontrolled fire in the area. This calculation is based upon a spill from one pump, consisting of 31.75 gallons of lube oil with a heat of combustion of 20,400 BTV's/lb.
Assuming totally efficient combustion and the only heat loss being through the pump room ventilation system, the licensee estimates a temperature rise of 1630F.
The lube oil is fully contained in the electric motor housings; there-fore, the potential for leakage of the entire quantity is small.
Any possible leakage of oil would therefore result in a fire of limited magnitude.
We have performed an independent calculation of the temperature rise which would occur in the event of a fire.
Based on that calculation, we conclude l
that the licensee's estimated temperature rise of 1630F is acceptable. The v.
W t
o-
- o. estimate assumes that the sprinklers would not operata; if the sprinklers operated properly as expected, the temperature rise would be negligible.
Based on our evaluation, we conclude that the modification to provide an oil collection system would not provide a sign)ficant increase in fire safety. Therefore, the liceii'see's request for examption from Section III.0 of 10 CFR Part 50 should be granted.
o III. ~
Accordingly, the Comission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, an exemption is authorized by law and will not endanger life or property or 'the common defense and security and is otherwise in the public interest.
Therefore, the Commission hereby approves the exemption request identified above.
The NRC staff has determined that the granting of this exemption will not result in any significant environmental impact and that pursuant to l
10 CFR 51.5(d)(4), an environmental impact statement or negative declaration and environmental impact appraisal need not be prepared in connection with this action.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION MYl Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Dated at Bethesda, Maryland this 5th day of April,1982.
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