ML20059H878
| ML20059H878 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Millstone  |
| Issue date: | 11/01/1993 |
| From: | Varga S Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20059H743 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9311100251 | |
| Download: ML20059H878 (5) | |
Text
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7590-01 l
l UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of
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1
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NORTHEAST NUCLEAR ENERGY
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Docket No. 50-245 l
COMPANY
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(Millstone Nuclear Power Station,
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Unit 1)
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i REVOCATION OF EXEMPTION I
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Northeast Nuclear Energy Company (NNECO or the licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License No. DPR-21, which authorizes the operation of i
the Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1, (the facility) at steady-state j
power levels not in excess of 2011 megawatts thermal. The facility is a boiling water reactor (BWR) located at the licensee's site in New London County, Connecticut. The license provides, among other things, that it is i
subject to all rules, regulations and orders of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) now or hereafter in effect.
i II.
The Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 50, Appendix J, paragraph j
III.D.2(b)(ii), requires that air locks which are opened during periods-when.
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containment integrity is not required by the Technical Specifications be
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i tested at greater than or equal to P, (maximum accident pressure or 43 psig) at the end of such periods. On May 10, 1985, the NRC granted three exemptions 9311100251 931101 PDR ADOCK 05000245-P PDR j
i l published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on May 17, 1985 (50 FR 20635).
Specifically, the NRC granted exemptions concerning Type A testing of penetrations with expansion bellaws, main steam isolation valve testing, and containment air lock testing. The third exemption, air lock testing at 10 j
psig, is an exemption to paragraph III.D.2(b)(ii) of 10 CFR 50, Appendix J, which requires testing at P, prior to entering a mode in which primary containment integrity is required. NNECO requested this exemption to allow l
the deferral of the full pressure test until after the last containment entry is made during startup.
By the licensee's letter dated July 27, 1993, the licensee requested f
that the exemption for containment air locks be revoked. Revocation of the exemption will require NNECO to test the containment air locks per the i
requirements of 10 CFR 50, Appendix J, paragraph III.D.2(b)(ii).
III.
.l Upon recoipt of the May 10, 1985, Appendix J exemption, the appropriate changes to cperating and surveillance procedures and technical specifications were not implemented, resulting in the lack of procedural guidance necessary to adequately comply with the requirements of the Appendix J exemption. This resulted in a level IV violation in May 1991 for not performing a 10_psig local leak rate test of the drywell personnel air lock prior to operating the plant in a condition in which primary containment integrity was required.
j In response to the violation, NNECO stated that future compliance with the requirements of 10 CFR 50, Appendix J would be ensured by revising the j
applicable operations and surveillance procedures to test the air lock at I
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- i 43 psig prior to entering a mode in which primary containment integrity is required if the air lock was opened during the period when primary containment l
integrity was not required by technical specifications. NNECO has proposed to:
(1) replace TS Section 4.7.A.3.d(2) with wording consistent with paragraph III.D.2(b) of 10 CFR 50, Appendix J, and (2) revise TS Bases Section 4.7. A to state that personnel air lock door seal testing is performed in accordance with 10 CFR 50, Appendix J requirements.
Therefore, based on the approval of the TS change and the future compliance with 10 CFR 50, Appendix J, paragraph III.D.2(b) requirements, the licensee requested revocation for the exemption for containment air lock testing.
In the July 27, 1993, letter, NNEC0 proposed to eliminate the exemption concerning containment air lock testing and reword the description of the May 10, 1985, Appendix J exemption, which is described in Millstone Unit 1 Operating License Section 2.D(2), to delete the reference to low pressure tests of the containment access air locks.
In addition, NNECO proposed to:
(1) replace Technical Specification Section 4.7.A.3.d(2) with wording consistent with paragraph III.D.2(b) of 10 CFR 50, Appendix J, and (2) revise the Technical Specification Bases Section 4.7.A to state that personnel air lock door seal testing is performed in accordance with 10 CFR 50, Appendix J requirements.
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The NRC staff has reviewed the information submitted by the licensee and concludes that the basis upon which the exemption for the containment air locks was granted is no longer needed in that the licensee will tes_t the containment air locks per the requirements of 10 CFR 50, Appendix J, paragraph III.D.2(b)(ii).
IV.
Accordingly, the Commission has determined that the specific exemption from 10 CFR 50, Appendix J, granted on May 10, 1985, for air lock testing is l
hereby revoked in that it is no longer needed.
This revocation of exemption is effective upon issuance.
i FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Original signed by:
Steven A. Varga, Director Division of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 1st day of November 1993.
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- l The NRC staff has reviewed the information submitted by the licensee and concludes that the basis upon which the exemption for the containment air locks was granted is no longer needed in that the licensee will test the
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i containment air locks per the requirements of 10 CFR 50, Appendix J, paragraph t
111.0 2(b)(ii).
IV.
Accordingly, the Commission has determined that the specific exemption i
from 10 CFR 50, Appendix J, granted on May 10, 1985, for air lock testing is hereby revoked in that it is no longer needed.
t This revocation of exemption is effective upon issuance.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION li's) ioh e ga;/Directo St i
Division of Reactor Proje t - I/II Office of Nuclear Peactor Regulation l
t Dated at Rockville, Maryland i
this 1st day of Novenber 1993.
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