ML20062F705
| ML20062F705 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry  |
| Issue date: | 12/13/1978 |
| From: | Gilleland J TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY |
| To: | Ippolito T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7812200256 | |
| Download: ML20062F705 (1) | |
Text
I TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY CH ATrANCCG A. TENNESSEE 374ot 500C Chestnut Street Tower II L\\
DEC~ 3.' 1978 l~
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'D Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Attention:
Mr. Thomas A. Ippolito, Chief Branch No. 3 Division of Operating Reactors U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555 l
l
Dear Mr. Ippolito:
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This is in response to your letter to N. B.~Hughes dated August 7, 1978, l
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concerning the reactor protection system power supply at the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. We believe that the problem outlined in your letter is not a concern for operating plants based on the long history of trouble-free performance of the equipment in operation in the field and the low probability of occurrence of the unique combination and sequence of events postulated in your August 7, 1978, letter. We understand that the General Electric Company has presented the same conclusion concerning this subject in a meeting with you and your staff on September 14, 1978.
Even though General Electric opposes these modifications (as GE presented to you in the September 14, 1978, meeting), members of the NRC staff'believe that GE presented a hardware modification which might alleviate the " problem."
l However, the NRC staff should recognize that the utility is the licensee and not the vendor.
The power cupplies in question have been installed in BWR's since 1970. Over 134-reactor years of operation have been logged with no failures of this equipment ever reported. This includes three foreign BWR's operating during a severe earthquake (7.5 on the Richter scale). We believe that further surveillance of the reactor protection system supplies is unwarranted.
Therefore, the surveillance recommended by your letter of August 7, 1978, will' be discontinued af ter January 1,1979. At this time, TVA does not plan to perform any modifications or propose any additional technical specification changes.
Very truly yours, s
l
'J.E.G111elar$
Assistant Manager of Power 4
V812200256
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