ML20071G986
| ML20071G986 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 09/19/1980 |
| From: | Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20071G990 | List: |
| References | |
| IEB-79-01B, IEB-79-1B, NUDOCS 8009300598 | |
| Download: ML20071G986 (6) | |
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UNITED STATES OF AMLRICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of
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VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER
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CORPORATION
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Docket No. 50-271 (Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant) )
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REVISED ORDER FOR MODIFICATION OF LICENSE I.
The Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation (licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License No. DPR-28 which authorizes the operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant at steady state reactor power levels not in excess of 1593 megawatts thermal (rated power).
The facility consists of a boiling water reactor located at the licensee's site in Windham County, Vermont.
II.
On Novecher 4,1G, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) filed with the Commission a " Petition for Emergency and Remedial Relief.' The petition sought action in two areas:
fire protection for electrical cablec, and environmental qualification of electrical components.
By Memorandum and Order dated April 13,1978 (7 NRC 400), the Comission denied certain aspects of the petition and, with respect to other aspects, ordered the NRC staff to take several related actions. UCS filed a Petition for Reconsideration on May 2, 1978.
By Memorandum and Order, dated May 23, 1980, the Comission reaffirned its April 13, 1978 decision-8009300 g g 4
regard ng the possible shutdown of operating reactors.
However, the Commission's May 23, 1930 decision directed licensees and the NRC staff to undertake certain actions.
With respect to environmental qualification of safety-related electrical equipment, the Comnission determined that the provisions of the two staff docunents - the Division of Operating Reactors " Guidelines for Evaluating Environmental Qualification of Class 1E Electrical Equipment
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in Operating Reactors" (DOR Guidelines) and NUREG-0588, " Interim Staff Position on Environmental Qualification of Safety-Pelated Electrical l
Equipment," December 1979 " form the requirements which licensees and applicants must meet in order to satisfy those aspects of 10 CTR Part 50, Appendix A General Design C'riterion (GDC-4), which relate to envi-ronnental qualification of safety-related electrical equipment." The Commission directed, for replacement parts in operatf rig plants, "unless I
there are sound reasons to the contrary, the 1974 standard in NUREU-05Le will apply." The Commission also directed the staff to complete its 1
g review of the information sought from licensees by Bulletin 79-01B and to conplete its review of environraental qualification of safety-related electrical equipment in all operating plants, including the publication of Safety Evaluation Reports, by February 1,1981..The Commission 1
I Bulletin 79-01B was not sent to licensees for plants under review as part of the staff's Systematic Evaluation Program.
The information sought by Bulletin 79-01B was requested from these licensees by a series of letters and meetings 'during the months of February and March, 1980.
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imposed a deadline that, "by no later than June 30, 1982 all safety-related electrical equipment in all operating plants shall be qualified to the 00R Guidelines or NUREG-0588." The Commission requested the staff to, " keep the Commission and the public apprised of any further findings of incomplete environmental qualification of safety-related electrical equipment, along with corrective actions taken or planned,"
and requested the staff to provide bi-monthly progress reports to the Commission.
The Commission further directed the staff to add certain documentation requirements to each license after the specific requirea,ents were approved by the Commission.
The Commission also pointed out that the various deadlines imposed in its Order, "do not excuse a licensee from the obligation to modify or replace inadequate equipment promptly."
III.
d The information developed during this proceeding enphasizes the inportance
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of adequate documentation, the prompt completion of the review of environ-mental qualification of safety-related electrical equipment, and the prompt completion of any plant modification needed to assure conformance with the DOR Guidelines or NUREG-0588.
A significant aspect of this review is the timely submittal of environmental qualification information by the operating plant licensees to enable the staff to conplete its review in accordance with the Commission's Order.
The staff har a program presently underway to reevaluate, using the DOR Guidelines and NUREG-0588, the qualifications of safety-related electrical equipment exposed 3
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6 to environments that'may exist following postulated accidents.
These accidents are Loss of Coolant Accident and Main Steam Line Break J
inside containment, and High Energy Line Breaks inside and outside containment.
1 in this connection the licensee was requested by I&E Bulletin 75-01B of January 14, 1980 to provide a detailed review of the environnental qualification of Class lE electrical equipment.
This review was to
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include all equipment required to function under postulated accident conditions, both inside and outside the primary containment, and recognize all conditions specified in the kJlletin.
[VideDCO Of qualititation together with methods and justification, was requested.
Clarification was provided by supplemental information, briefings, and in some cases, neetings with the licensee.
Tirtiy completion of the staff's revies of environmental qualification of clattrical equipment r
and timely completion of needed modifications by the licensee is
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required to provide continuing reasonable assurance of public health and safety. Such completion is dependent on the prompt receipt of a complete response by the licensee to the staff's requests for information.
However, the licensee's response, to date, is incomplete.
Therefore, I have concluded that the public health, safety, and interest require that a firm schedule for the timely submission of all the information previously requested by the staff should be established by Order effective immediately.
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j IV.
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Accordingly, pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as-amended, and the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR Parts 2 and 50, IT IS ORDERED THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDI ATELY Facility Operating License No. DPR-28 is I
hereby amended to add the following provisions:
Infornetion which fully and completely responds to the staff's l (])
request as specified in I & E Bulletin 79-01B, shall be submitted to the Director, Region 1, Office-of Inspection and Enforcement, by the
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l licensee not iater than November 1,1980."
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1 An earlier response is encouraged to facilitate staff review and issuance i
of el.e safety evaluation report.
The licensee or ar.y person whose intecest j
ney be affected by this Order ney request a hearirg within 20 days J
cf the date of publication of this Revised Order in the Federal R_egister.
Any request for a hearing will not stay the effective date of this Order.
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Any request for a hearing shall be addressed to the Director, Office of i
Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Conmission, Washington, l
I D. C.
20555. A copy of the request should also be sent to the Executive i
Legal Director, U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Conmission, Washington, D. C.
20555, and to John A. Ritsher, Esquire, Ropes & Gray, 225 -Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 01581, attorney for the licensee.
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If a hearing is field concerning this Order, the issue to be considered at the hearing shall be whether the license should be modified to require submission of information as set forth in Section IV. of the Order.
i Operating of the facility on terms consistent with this Order is not stayed by the pendency of any proceedings on the Order.
This Order revises, in its entirety, the Order issued August 29, 1980, and published in the Federal Register September 11, 1980, (45 FR 60094).
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION E
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Darrel Ei{enhuf. Director
Division of Lfcensing i
Effective Date:
September 19, 1980 Bethesda, Maryland i
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