ML20070U109
| ML20070U109 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Prairie Island  |
| Issue date: | 02/02/1983 |
| From: | Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | NORTHERN STATES POWER CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20070U112 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8302100200 | |
| Download: ML20070U109 (4) | |
Text
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Enclosure UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of
)
)
NORTHERN STATES POWER.
) Docket Nos. 50-282 and 50-306 COMPANY
)
(Prairie Island Nuclear Generating )
Plant Unit Nos.1 and 2
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)
EXEMPTION I.
The Northern States Power Company (the licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-42 and DPR-60 which~ authorize opergtion.
of the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit Not.1 and 2 These licenses provide, among other things, that they are subject to all rules, regul.ations and Orders of the Commission now or hereafter in effect.
The facility comprises two pressurized water reactors at the licensee's site located in Goodhue, Minnesota, 1
IL On November 19, 1980., the Commisston pub 31shed'a revised Section 10 CFR 50.48 and a new Appendix R to 10 CFR 50 regarding fire protection features of nuclear power plants (45 FR 76602). The revised Section 50.48 and Appendix R became effectiva on February 17,'1981, Section'Ill.G,
of Appendix R contains fifteen subsections, lettered k through 0, each of which specifies requirements for a particular aspect of the fire pro,.,
tection features at a nuclear power plant. One of th'ese fifteen subsections.
III.G., is the subject of this exemption request.. III.G. specifies detailed requirements for fire protection of the equipment used for safe shutdown by means of separation and barriers (III.G.2).
If the requirements for separation 8302100200 830202 PDRADOCK05000g F
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capability, independent ot' that area and eguipment in that area,'as w
required (III.G.3).
By letter dated December 6,1982 the licensee requested an exemption from the requirements of Section III.G.3b to the extent that it requires the installation of a fixed fire suppression system in the control room.
In support of this request the licensee notes the. existing fire protection features, the fact that the control room is continuously manned and the potentially adverse impact on equipment and personnel occupancy of an inadvertent initiation of a fixed suppression system.
- III, We have reviewed the licensee's exemption requests The control room is located at the 735' elevation bounded by 3-hour rated fire barriers.
Safe shutdown equipment in the room consists of the main control consoles ~
and cabinets, including redundant control cables, indicating instruments and relays.
I
. Existing fire protection consists of an ionization-type smoke 4
detection system located thoughout the room, and a manual suppression system within and just outside the control room. The room is con-tinuously manned and access to it is controlled.
In'the event the control room becomes uninhabitable due to smoke or heat, en alternate system located outside the control room can be used to achieve safe shutdown.
In addition, the control room has a 4,000 cfm of ventilation system with 10,000 cfm recirculation capability that is capable of rapidly e
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removing smoke and byproducts. We have judged that the control room area is uncongested, access for manual suppression is'*co'nsidered excellent and the fire loading is light.
The intent of Section III.G is to require an acceptable level of fire safety to assure the maintenance of safe shutdown capability. Because the control room is continuously manned and has other fire protection
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features described above, there is reasonable assurance thatia fire would be promptly extinguished. Therefore, the installation of a fixed fire suppression system will not significantly increase the level of fire
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prote; tion in the centrol room and the exemption req'uested by the licensee should be granted.
IV.
Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, an exemption is authorized by law and will not endanger life or property or common defense and security and is otherwise in the public interest and hereby grants an exemption from the requirements of Section III.G.3b of Appendix R to 10 CFR 50 to the extent that it requires the installation of a fixed fire suppression system in the control room at Prairie Island.
The NRC staff has determined that the granting of this Exemption will not result in any significant environmental impact and that pursuant to e
e
a 4-10 CFR 51.5(d)(4) an environmental impact statement or negative declara-tion and environmental impact appraisal need not be prepared in connection with this action.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION w
rre G.
ise huf.,'
ec r Division oNLicensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Dated at Bethesda, Maryland this 2nd day of February, 1983.
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