ML20072L641
| ML20072L641 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Brunswick  |
| Issue date: | 06/21/1983 |
| From: | Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20072L644 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8307140135 | |
| Download: ML20072L641 (4) | |
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA '
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter
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Docket No. 50-325
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50-324 CAROLINA POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
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(Brunswick Steam Electric Plant,
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Units 1 and 2)
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EXEMPTION I.
The Carolina Power and. Light Company (the licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License Nos.
OPR-7T and DPR-62 (the licenses) which j
authorize operatfort of the Brunswick Steam ETectric Plant, Units 1 and 2 located in Brunswick County, Norttr Carolina at steady state reactor core power levels eactr not in excess of 243E megawatts thermai (rated power).
l This license provides,. amon'g other things, that it is subject to all rules, regulationr and Orders of the Connission now or hereafter in effect.
II.
On October 2,1980, the Commissiort proposed rulemaking on " Interim Requirements Related to Hydrogert Control and Certain Degradad Core Considera-tions." The proposed amendments ta 10 CFR Part 50 would improve. hydrogen management in light-water reactor facilities and provide-specific design and other requirements to mitigate the consequences of accidents.
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On January 4,1982, the proposed rule became effective and as part.of the 40h amendments, it required hydrogen recombiner capability to reduce the likelihood j
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- . venting radioactive gases following an accident.
The hydrogen recombiner 58y capability applies to light-water nuclear power reactors that rely upon b-i' 88 purge /repressurization systerre as the primary means of hydrogen control.
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7590-01 2
5ection 50.4(.)(3)(11) of 10 CFR Part 50 requires that by the end of the first scheduled outage after July 5,1982 and of sufficient duration to permit-required modifications, each light-water power reactor, that relies upon a purge /repressurization system as the primary means for controlling combustible gtses following a Loss-of-Coolant Accident, shat 1 be provided with either an internal recadriner or the cap @iTity to install an external recombiner following the start of an accident.
I?f.
In a March T6,1983 submittal, the licensee requested an exemption from the requirement of Section SQ.4(c)(3)(ii) for provision of either an internal recombiner or the capabiTity to insta1T'an externaT recombiner following the start of'an accident. The request was based on BWR Owners Group studies. of combustibTe gas control submitted for NRC review by Tetter. dated June 2T,.1982.
In the event that the Consission is unable to issue promptly its decision on request for exemption from the equipaent requirements of 50.4(c)(3)(11), the licensee requested an extension of the schedule requirements of 10 CFR 50.4 (c)(3)(ii)_
._.We have very nearly completed our review of the BWR Owners Group studies on which the licensea's exemption request was based. We will be able to consider the licensees request for pemanent exemption following completion of that review.
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7590-01 3
During the interim period, with respect to combustible gas control in the event of a loss-of-coolant accident, the Brunswick units can use the ex-isting containment atmosphere control systems, in conjunction with the stand-by gas control systems, to avoid unacceptable combustible gas concentrations.
The containment atmosphere control system maintains an inert atmosphere during normal operation and the Containment Atmosphere Dilution (CAD) system is used to control combustible gas concentrations after an accident.
Gy means of the CAD system, hydrogen and oxygen concentrations are monitored as nitrogen is added to the containment atmosphere to dilute combustible gases.
In the unlikely prospect of high containment vessel pressureythe pressure may be relieved by venting through the standby gas control system.
A detailed procedure has been developed by the licensee, with operating personnel trained to use these systems in the control of combustible gasts.
We find these means of combustible' gas control acceptable for interim
' operation of the Brunswick Steam ETectric Plants Units 1 and 2 through December 31, 1983.
IV.
Accordingly, the Commission has determined that pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, an exemption ir authorized by law, and will not endanger life or property or the common defense and security and is otherwise in the public interest.
Therefore, the Commission hereby approves the following exemption request.
Exemption is granted from the schedular requirement of Section 50.44 (c)(3)(fi) to extend the required date from "the end of the first l
7590-01 4
scheduled outage beginning after July 5,1982 and of sufficient duration to permit modifications" to no later than December 31, 1983, or, if the plant is shutdown on that date, before the resumption of operation thereafter.
The Commission has determined that the granting of this exemption will not result in any significant environmental impact and that, pursuant to 10 CFR 515(d)(4), an environmental impact statement or negative declaration and environmental impact appraisal need not be prepared in connection with this action.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION s
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irector a re1T G. Eise Division of Licensino Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Dated-at Bethesda, Maryland this 21st day of June 1983.
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