ML20055G784

Responds to Enclosing Article from Providence Journal Which Stated That Plant Could Operate at No More than 65% of Power While Recirculation Pump Working.License Condition Does Not Permit Continuous Single Loop Operation

ML20055G784
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	07/19/1990
From:	Barth C NRC OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL (OGC)
To:	Doherty J AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
CON-#390-10651 OLA, NUDOCS 9007240173
Download: ML20055G784 (3)

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g- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION bb O Ti j "

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[ July 19, 1990 90 Jll. 20 P4 :09 prFICf: OF S[CR[TARY 00CKEllHr A Si Pvict

Mr. John F. Doherty i ANCH 3 Governor Street Taunton, MA 02780 Re: Boston-Edison Company-Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station; Unit 1 - Docket No. 50-293 ,pCk

Dear Mr. Doherty:

This_ responds to your letter dated July 4~, 1990 regarding the subject nuclear . facility. You enclosed an article from - The

. Providence Journal dated July 4, 1990 which stated that Pilgrim could operate. at no more than 65% of power while any one recirculation pump is working. You' then referred to the NRC Atomic Safety and: Licensing Board. - Order dated January 26, 1984 which

-dismissed an administrative proceeding.- That January 26,- 1984:

1 Order ~ incorporated part- of a settlement between you .and the licensee.. That settlement provided that the licensee- would not operate' at power levels in excess of 50% with only one loop-operating. The pertinent paragraph of the order is set forth in your-July 4,'1990 letter.

Your settlement with the licensee was in regard to their request- for _an amendment to permit continuous single. loop operation. As part of the -ettlement-that request for amendment was. withdrawn. It has not .a renewed.

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At .the - time, Januar; 6, 1984, that you settled w3th the licensee, the f acility's Operating License permitted it- to operate with only one recirculation pump in operation for 24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />s-with' certain other facility Technical Specifications in force. A copy of-that license condition is attached. As you can see from the, text of the license condition, the Providence Journal article, although accurate, does not quite fully explain the circumstances for single loop operation. The underlying purpose of that license condition is to permit an orderly shutdown of the reactor if necessary.. This is what occurred on July 3, 1990. The license condition does not permit continuous single loop operation. That-9007240173 900719 PDR ADOCK 05000293 O PDR

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1 license condition has not changed in this regard since January l 1984. The power descent of July 3, 1990 at Pilgrim was consistent l with their present operating License.

Sincerely, 1

Charles A. Barth j Attorney -

office of the General Counsel I

Attachment:

As stated 1

cc: Thomas A. Dignan, Jr.

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3. This license shall be deemed to contain 6nd is subjec'; to the  ;

conditions specifieo in the following Commission regulations:

10 CFR Part 20, Section 30.34 of 10 CFR Part 30. Section 40.41 l

of 10 CFR Part 40 Sections 50.54 and 50.59 of 10 CFR Part 50 anc Section 70.32 of 10 CFR Part 70; and is_ subject to all applicable provisions of the Act and to the rules, regulations, and orders '

of the Commission now or hereafter in effect; and is subject to the additional conditions specified below; A. Maximum Power Level Boston Edison is authorized to operate the facility at steady state power levels not to exceed 1998 megawatts thermal.

B. Technical-Specifications The Technical Specifications contained in Appendix A, as revised through Amendment No. , are hereby incorporated in the license. The licensee shall. operate the facility in accordance with the Technical Specifications.

C. Records Boston Edison shall keep facility operating records in accordance with the requirements of the Technical Specifications.

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0. Eoualizer Valve Restriction - DELETED E. Recirculation Loop Inoperable  ;

The reactor shall not be operated with one recirculation loop out of service for more than 24 hcurs. With the reactor operating, if one recirculation loop is out of service, the plant will be placed in a hot shutdown condition within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> unless the loop is sooner returned to service.

Amendment No. )6, PJ, J#, 81 '

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