ML20062D885

Application to Amend License NPF-8,revising Tech Spec for one-time Exemption to Extend Schedule in Surveillance Requirement 4.7.9.a Until First Refueling Outage

ML20062D885
Person / Time
Site:	Farley
Issue date:	08/02/1982
From:	Clayton F ALABAMA POWER CO.
To:	Varga S Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Shared Package
ML20062D890	List: ML20062D885 ML20062D892
References
NUDOCS 8208060255
Download: ML20062D885 (5)

Text

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Malling Address Alabama Power Company GC3 North 18th Street

/vP["'C Post Office Box 2641 o Dirmingham, Alabama 35291 Telephone 205 763-6081 F. L. Clayton, Jr. b

= 'J70%d*"' g AlabamaPower tre soutren e,xtnc systern August 2, 1982 Docket No. 50-364 Director, Nuclear Reactor Regulation U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 Attention: Mr. S. A. Varga Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant - Unit 2 Snubber Technical Specification Change Request Gentlemen:

In preparation to comply with a 6-month interval snubber surveillance requirement at Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant - Unit 2, Alabama Power Company has identified a scheduling problem that will result in a plant shutdown solely for the purpose of the snubber surveillance less than one month prior to a scheduled refueling outage. Therefore, a one-time exemp-tion is requested, as justified herein, to extend the schedule in Surveil-lance Requirement 4.7.9.a. until the first refueling outage.

On February 10, 1982, Surveillance Requirement 4.7.9.a. was performed at Farley Unit 2. The surveillance involved a 100% visual inspection of all snubbers listed in Technical Specification Table 3.7-4a. During that inspection, two inaccessible snubbers were reported to have insufficient fluid in their reservoirs and were therefore declared inoperable. The two inoperable snubbers represent less than 1.5% of the total number of inacces-sible snubbers inspected. Subsequently, the two snubbers were removed and functionally tested. No seal deterioration or other causes of fluid leakage were found. After functional testing, the two snubbers were returned to service in a verified operable condition. The most likely cause of the reported low fluid level was speculated to be loose fittings. Therefore, the reported failures were determined not to be of a recurring nature.

Based on the two reported inaccessible snubbers being inoperable, Technical Specification 4.7.9.a. requires another 100% visual inspection of inaccessible snubbers within 6 months + 25% (no later than September 25, 1982). In order to inspect inaccessible snubbers, a plant shutdown of 0 approximately five days is required. 9 N'/60 1

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1 Mr. S. A. Varga August 2, 1982 Director, Nuclear Reactor Regulation Page 2 l

Currently, Farley Unit 2 is scheduled to begin the first refueling outage on October 22, 1982. Based on the close proximity of the scheduled refueling outage with the required date for the snubber inspection and the fact that the reported snubber failure anchanism was not of a recurring nature, Alabama Power Company requests a one-time exemption from Technical Specification 4.7.9.a. until the first refueling outage at Farley Unit 2.

Such shutdown, solely for the purpose of performing a Surveillance Require-ment less than one month prior to the scheduled refueling outage, would not, in the opinion of Alabama Power Company, enhance safety.

In conclusion, Alabama Power Company requests a one-time exemption from the requirements of Section 4.7.9.a. for Farley Unit 2 by August 25, 1982, to support plant planning and scheduling requirements. A detailed safety evaluation for this change is included in Attachment I and the pro-posed revision to the Technical Specifications is included in Attachment 2.

Alabama Power Company's Plant Operations Review Committee has reviewed this proposed change to the Technical Specifications and has determined that the change does not involve an unreviewed safety question as shown in the attached safety evaluation. The Nuclear Operations Review Board is sched-uled to review this change at its next meeting.

This amendment is designated as Class III for Unit 2 in accordance with 10 CFR170.22 requirements. Enclosed is a check for $4,000.00 to cover the total amount of fees required.

In accordance with 10 CFR50.30 (c)(1)(1), three signed originals and forty (40) additional copies of the proposed changes are enclosed.

Yours very tr ,

F. L. Clayton, Jr.

FLCJ r/GGY:lsh-D19 SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME l Attachments THIS 4 DAY OF d yn.u A 1982.

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cc: Mr. R. A. Thomas //

Mr. G. F. Trowbridge l

Nt//< ,m j Mr. J. P. O'Reilly , f1d ff Notary Public

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Mr. E. A. Reeves e/

Mr. W. H. Bradford My Commission Expires:

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Attachment 1 Safety Evaluation for Proposed Change to the FNP-2 Technical Specifications Section 4.7.9.a.

I. BACKGROUND Technical Specification 4.7.9.a., FMP-2 On February 10, 1982, Surveillance Requirement 4.7.9.a. was per-formed at Farley Unit 2. The surveillance involved a 100% visual inspection of all snubbers listed in Technical Specification Table 3.7-4a. During that inspection, two inaccessible snubbers were reported to have insufficient fluid in their reservoirs and were therefore declared inoperable. The two inoperable snubbers repre-sent less than 1.5% of the total number of inaccessible snubbers inspected. Subsequently, the two snubbers were removed and func-tionally tested. No seal deterioration or other causes of fluid leakage were found. After functional testing, the two snubbers were returned to service in a verified operable condition. The most lixely cause of the reported low fluid level was speculated to be loose fittings. Therefore, the reported failures were determined not to be of a recurring nature.

Based on the two reported inaccessible snubbers being inoperable, Technical Specification 4.7.9.a. requires another 100% visual inspection of inaccessible snubbers by September 25, 1982. In order to inspect inaccessible snubbers, a plant shutdown of approximately five days is required.

II. REFERENCE FNP-2 Technical Specification Section 4.7.9.a III. BASES Technical Specification 4.7.9.a., FNP-2 Based on the two reported inaccessible snubber failures, Technical Specification 4.7.9.a. requires another 100% visual inspection of inaccessible snubbers within 6 months + 25% (no later than September 25,1982). In order to inspect inacces'sible snubbers, a plant shut-down of approximately five days is required.

Currently, Farley Unit 2 is scheduled to begin the first refueling outage on October 22, 1982. Based on the close proximity of the scheduled refueling outage with the required date for the snubber inspection and the fact that the reported snubber failure mechanism was not of a recurring nature, Alabama Power Company requests a one-time exemption from Technical Specification 4.7.9.a. until the

Attachment 1 Safety Evaluation Page 2 first refueling outage at Farley Unit 2. Such shutdown, solely for the purpose of performing a Surveillance Requirement less than one month prior to the scheduled refueling outage, woula not, in the opinion of Alabama Power Company, enhance safety.

In conclusion, Alabama Power Company requests a one-time exemption from the requirements of Section 4.7.9.a. for Farley Unit 2 by August 25, 1982, to support plant planning and scheduling requirements.

IV. CONCLUSION The proposed change to Technical Specificaton 4.7.9.a. (FNP-2) does not involve an unreviewed safety question as defined by 10 CFR50.59. This Technical Specification change will not significantly affect the safe operation of Farley Nuclear Plant, Unit 2.

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- Attachment 2 Proposed Technical Soecification Change z

FNP-2, Section 4.7.9.a.

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