ML20058J603
| ML20058J603 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Yankee Rowe |
| Issue date: | 08/05/1982 |
| From: | Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | YANKEE ATOMIC ELECTRIC CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20058J601 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8208110122 | |
| Download: ML20058J603 (4) | |
Text
7590-01 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of
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YANKEE ATOMIC ELECTRIC COMPANY Docket No. 50-29 7
(Yankee Nuclear Power Station)
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EXEMPTION 1.
The Yankee Atomic Electric Conpany (the licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License No. DPR-3 which authorizes operation of the Yankee Nuclear Power Station (Yankee). This license provides, among other things, that it is subject to all rules, regulations and Orders of the Commission now or hereafter in effect.
The facility is a pressurized water reactor located at the licensee's site located in Rowe, Massachusetts.
II.
Section III.G.3 of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 requires that a-fixed fire suppression system be installed in an area, room or zone under consideration for alternative, safe shutdown modifications.
In the case of Yankee, under this provision a fire suppression system would be required in the conrol room.
t The licensee indicated in its May 13, 1982 letter that the fire protection features currently installed in the control room are equal in effectiveness to a fixed fire suppression system and, therefore, requested e200110122 820805 PDR ADOCK 05000029 F
7590-01 an exenption from the requirenent to install a fixed suppression system in the control room. The licensee's exemption request is based on the following:
The control room is continually manned.
Fire detection equipment has been installed generally throughout the control room including in cabinets and other areas not readily visible to operators.
All electrical penetrations into the control room are sealed.
Fire dampers have been provided on ventilation lines.
- Portable extinguishers are immediately available to operating personnel.
Inadvertent operation of any known suppressant could cause equipment damage or make it necessary for per-sonnel to evacuate the room.
Fire loading in the Control Room is low and there is strict control over the use of flammable material.
The modifications, which the licensee's exemption request is based on, are required by Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50. Therefore, the above modifi-cations alone do not justify an exemption from the requirement to install a fixed fire suppression system in areas where redundant divisions are located.
l However, fhe control room is a unique area of the plant that is required by Technical Specifications to be continually occupied by the operators.
In the event of a fire, manual fire suppresion would be effective and prompt.
I Because the operators provide a continuous fire watch in the control room, a 9
7590-01 fixed suppression system is not necessary to achieve adequate fire protection in the control room.
This is similar to the concept reflected in the staff's acceptance, on a short-term basis, of a continuous fire watch as an alternative to fixed suppression systhms in other locations when fire protection systems become unavailable (See Section 3.7.7.2 of the BWR Standard Technical Specifications, NUREG-0123, Rev. 3, as an example).
Based on our evaluation, we conclude.that the licensee's fire protection features for the control room meet the objectives of Section III.G, " Fire Protection of Safe Shutdown Capability," of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 and, therefore, the licensee's request to be exempted from the requirement to provide a fixed fire suppression system in the control room should be granted.
Accordingly, the Commission has determined that I rsuant 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 ap~ proves the following exemption:
With respect to the control room, the licensee is
' exempt f rom the requirement of Section III.G.3.b of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 for a fixed fire suppression system.
7590-01 The NRC staff has determined that the granting of this exemption will not result in any significant environmental impact and that' pursuant to 10 CFR 51.5(d)(4) an environmental impact statement or negative declaration and environmental impact appraisal need not be prepared in connec. tion with this action.
OR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION y
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{Eisenhut, irector re Division of Licensing Dated at Bethesda, Maryland, this 5th day of August, 1982.
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