ML20073J553
| ML20073J553 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Limerick  |
| Issue date: | 09/26/1994 |
| From: | Rinaldi F Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20073J557 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9410070041 | |
| Download: ML20073J553 (9) | |
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC COMPANY DOCKET NOS. 50-352/50-353 NOTICE OF CONSIDERATION OF ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENT TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE. PROPOSED NO SIGNIFICANT HAZARDS CONSIDERATION DETERMINATION AND OPPORTUNITY FOR A HEARING The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-39 and NPF-85 issued to Philadelphia Electrie. Company (the licensee) for operation of the Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2, located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
The proposed amendment would extend the snubber functional testing interval from 18-months (+/- 25%) to 24 months (+/- 25%), and to increase the sample plan size from 10% to 13.3%.
Before issuance of the proposed license amendment, the Commission will have made findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act) and the Commission's regulations.
The Commission has made a proposed determination that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration. Under the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR 50.92, this means that operation of the facility in accordance with the proposed amendment would not (1) involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated; or (2) create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated; or (3) involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety. As required by 10 CFR 50.91(a), the licensee ENCLOSURE i
9410070041 940926 PDR ADOCK 05000352 P
- has provided its analysis of the issue of no significant hazards consideration, which is presented below:
1.
The proposed Technical Specifications (TS) changes do not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated.
The proposed TS changes do not. require any modifications to plant systems, snubbers, or other plant equipment.
The snubbers will continue to function as designed to mitigate the effects of earthquakes and other dynamic transients (e.g., main turbine trip).
Extending the snubber functional testing interval from 18 months to 24 months ([ greater than or equal to] 25%) and increasing the initial sample size from 10% to 13.3%, as proposed, will continue to maintain the same test scope ratio as that which currently exists (i.e.1.5 yr./ interval [at] 10% snubbers / interval and 2 yr./ interval [at] 13.3% snubbers / interval results in approximately 100% of all snubbers of a given type being tested within 15 years). The proposed TS change will only affect the interval betwaen functional tests and the initial sample size population. As previously stated, LGS currently uses the 10% plan for compensating struts only, and since there are less thar.10 struts per Unit, this proposed change will have a negligible impact on the number of struts in the initial sample size to be tested during a particular interval (i.e., each refueling outage).
All systems and equipment important to safety that rely on snubbers will continue to function as designed.
Therefore, the proposed TS changes do not involve an increase in n;
the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated.
s
~ u The proposed TS changes do not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated.
The proposed TS changes do not involve any physical changes to plant systems or equipment. The snubbers will continue to function as designed to mitigate the effects of earthquakes and
- ther dynamic transients (e.g., main turbine trip).
Snubbers are not accident initiators, and function to mitigate the effects of
- n accident. The snubbers will continue to protect piping and equipment during dynamic events.
Extending the snubber functional testing interval from 18 months to 24 months ([ greater than or equal to] 25%) and increasing the initial sample size from 10% to 13.31,, as proposed, will continue to maintain the same test scope ratio as that which currently exists in the TS.
The proposed TS
I changes will continue to ensure that approximately 100% of the snubbers of a given type are tested within a 15-year period.
Therefore, the proposed TS changes do not create the possibility i
of a new or different kind of accident from any previously i
evaluated.
3.
The proposed TS changes do not involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety.
The bases for the TS require that all snubbers whose failure could have an adverse effect on any safety-related systems, be operable.
This ensures that the structural integrity of the reactor coolant system and other safety-related systems is maintained during and following a seismic or other event initiating dynamic loads. The bases also discuss clarification and grouping of the general-snubber population, snubber listing requirements, visual inspection frequency, and visual acceptance criteria. The proposed TS changes will provide for the same confidence level as that which currently exists in TS for determining snubber operability. The proposed TS changes will continue to maintain the same test scope ratio as that currently provided in the TS.
The 10% plan is used at LGS for compensating struts only, and increasing initial sample size to 13.3%, as proposed, will have a negligible effect on the number of struts functionally tested during each interval. No other aspects of the bases associated l
with snubber surveillance will be affected by these proposed TS changes.
Therefore, the proposed'TS changes do not involve a reduction in a margin of safety.
The NRC staff has reviewed the licensee's analysis and, based on tMs review, it appears that the three standards of 10 CFR 50.92(c) are satisfied.
Therefore, the NRC staff proposes to determine that the amendment request-involves no significant hazards consideration.
I The Commission is seeking public comments on this proposed determination.
Any comments received within 30 days after the date of l
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. publication of this notice will be considered in making any final determination.
Normally, the Commission will not issue the amendment until the expiration of the 30-day notice period. However, should circumstances change during the notice period such that failure to act in a timely way would result, for example, in derating or shutdown of the facility, the Commission may issue the license amendment before the expiration of the 30-day notice period, provided that its final determination is that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration.
The final determination will consider all public and State comments received.
Should the Commission take this action, it will publish in the FEDERAL REGISTER a notice of issuance and provide for opportunity for a hearing after issuance. The Commission expects that the need to take this action will occur very infrequently.
Written comments may be submitted by mail to the Rules Review and Directives Branch, Division of Freedom of Information and Publications Services, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, and should cite the publication date and page number of this FEDERAL REGISTER notice. Written comments may also be delivered to Room 6022, Two White Flint North,11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville Maryland, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Federal workdays. Copies of written comments received may be examined at the NRC Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555.
._. The filing of requests for hearing and petitions for leave to intervene is discussed below.
By October =31,1994
, the licensee may file a. request for a hearing with respect to issuance of the amendment to the subject facility operating license and any person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding and who wishes-to participate as a party in the proceeding must file a written request for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene. Requests for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene shall be filed in accordance with the Commission's " Rules of Practice for Domestic Licensing Proceedings" in 10 CFR Part 2.
Interested persons should consult a current copy of 10 CFR 2.714 which is available at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555 and at the local public document room located at the Pottstown Public Library, 500 High Street, Potttown, Pennsylvania 19464.
If a request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene is filed by the above date, the Commission or an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, designated by the Commission or by the Chairman of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, will rule on the request and/or petition; and the Secretary or the designated Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will issue a notice of hearing or an appropriate order.
As required by 10 CFR 2.714, a petition for leave to intervene shall set forth with particularity the interest of the petitioner in the proceeding, and how that interest may be affected by the results of the proceeding. The petition should specifically explain the reasons why intervention should be permitted with particular reference to the following factors:
(1) the
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4 nature of the petitioner's right under the Act to be made party to the proceeding; (2) the nature and extent of the petitioner's property, financial, or other interest in the proceeding; and (3) the possible effect of any order which may be entered in the proceeding on the petitioner's interest.
The petition should also identify the specific aspect (s) of the subject matter of the proceeding as to which petitioner wishes to intervene. Any person who has filed a petition for leave to intervene or who has been admitted as a party may amend the petition without requesting leave of the Board up to 15 days prior to the first prehearing conference scheduled in the proceeding, but such an amended petition must satisfy the specificity requirements described above.
Not later than 15 days prior to the first prehearing conference schedulad in the proceeding, a petitioner shall file a supplement to the petition to intervene which must include a list of the contentions which are 1
sought to be litigated in the matter.
Each contention must consist of a specific statement of the issue of law or fact to be raised or controverted.
In addition, the petitioner shall provide a brief explanation of the bases of the contention and a concise statement of the alleged facts or expert opinion which support the contention and on which the petitioner intends to rely in proving the contention at the hearing.
The petitioner must also provide references to those specific sources and documents of which the petitioner is aware and on which the petitioner intends to rely to establish those facts or expert opinion.
Petitioner must provide sufficient information to show that a l
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- . genuine dispute exists with the applicant on a material issue of law or fact.
Contentions shall be limited to matters within the scope of the amendment under consideration. The contention must be one which, if proven, would entitle the petitioner to relief. A petitioner who fails to file such a supplement which satisfies these requirements with respect to at least one contention will not be permitted to participate as a party.
Those permitted to intervene become parties to the proceeding, subject to any limitations in the order granting leave to intervene, and have the opportunity to participate fully in the conduct of the hearing, including the opportunity to present evidence and cross-examine witnesses.
If a hearing is requested, the Commission will make a final determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration. The final determination will serve to decide when the hearing is held.
If the final determination is that the amendment request involves no ficant hazards consideration, the Commission may issue the amendment and w it immediately effective, notwithstanding the request for a hearing. Any h u bg held would take place after issuance of the amendment.
If the final determination is that the amendment request involves a ricant hazards consideration, any hearing held would take place before
- suance of any amendmant.
1 request for a hearing or a petition for leave to intervene must be Y Mett the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory i
Washington, DC 20555, Attention: Docketing and Services Branch, w
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. i or may be delivered to the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555, by the above date. Where petitions are filed during the last 10 days of the notice period, it is requested that the petitioner promptly so inform the Commission by a toll-free telephone call to Western Union at 1-(800) 248-5100 (in Missouri 1-(800) 342-6700).
The Western Union operator should be given Datagram Identification Number N1023 and the following message addressed to Mohan C. Thadani (Acting):
petitioner's name and telephone number, date petition was mailed, plant name, i
and publication date and page number of this FEDERAL REGISTER notice. A copy of the petition should also be sent to the Office of the General Counsel, U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, and to J.W. Durham, Sr.
V.P. and General Counsel, Philadelphia Electric Company, 2301 market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101, attorney for the licensee.
Nontimely filings of petitions for leave to intervene, amended petitions, supplemental petitions and/or requests for hearing will not be entertained absent a determination by the Commission, the presiding officer or the presiding Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that the petition and/or request should be granted based upon a balancing of the factors specified in 10 CFR 2.714(a)(1)(1)-(v) and 2.714(d).
For further details with respect to this action, see the application for amendment dated September 16,1994, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, 1
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_g-NW., Washington, DC 20555 and at the local public document room located at the Pottstown Public Library, 500 High Street, Pottstown, Pennsylvania 19464.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 26th day of September 1994.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION yn tc k W r Frank Rinaldi, Project Manager Project Directorate I-2 Division of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation a