ML20086U157
| ML20086U157 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Peach Bottom, Limerick  |
| Issue date: | 12/26/1991 |
| From: | Varga S Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | PECO ENERGY CO., (FORMERLY PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20086U159 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9201070232 | |
| Download: ML20086U157 (5) | |
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7590-01 UFITED STATES Of AMERICA NUCLEARREGUL/1TORYCOMMISSION In the Matter of PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC COMPANY PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY OELMARVA POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY Docket Fos. 50-277 ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC COMPANY 50-278 50-352 (Peach Bottor Atomic Power Station, 50-353 Units 2 and 3)
(LimerickGeneratirgStation, Units I and 2)
)
EXEMPTION l
1.
The Philadelphia Electric-Company, et. al. (PEco, the licensee), is the holder of Operating License Nos. DPR-44, DPR-56, NPF-39 and NPF-85 which authorizes operation of the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and-3 (PBAPS), and the Limerick Generating Station, Unit! I and 2 (LCS), at steady state reactor core pwer levels not in excess of 5293 megawatts thermal.
These 11cen::es provide, among other things, that the licensee is subject to the rules, regulations, and orders of the Connission now or hereafter in effect.
The Limerick facility consists of two boiling water reactors located at the licensee's site in Montgomery and Chester Counties, Pennsylvania. The Peach Bottom facility-also consists of two boiling water reactors located at the licensee's site in York County, Pennsylvania.
II.
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This exemption grants a one-tNe sche'dular exemption to eight (8) Senior Reactor Operators limited to fuel handling (LSR0s) to permit them e take i
I 9201070232 911226 PDR ADOCK 05000277 P
e their first annual requalification operating test during January 1992 instead J
of the end of 1991. The docket numbers for tre eight LSR0s are:
55-61452, I
55-61453, 55-01454, 55-61455, 55-F1456, 55-61457, 55-61459 and 55-61461.
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- III, j
By letter dated October 18, 1991, the licensee requested an exemption, in accordance with 10 CFR 55.11 from the requirements of 10 CFR 55.59(a)(2) and i
10 CFR 55.59(c)(4)(i) related to annual requalification operating tests for LSR0s.
Pursucnt to 10 CFR 55.53(h) a licensee, as a condition of the license, shall corplete a requalification program as described by 10 CFR 55.59.
In 10 CFR 55.59(c)(4)(i), the reevalification program must include annual operating tests, and 10 CFR 55.59(a)(2) stipulates that each licensee shall pass an annual operating test.
NRC Generic Letter (GL) tio. 89-03, " Operator Licensing National Examination Schedule," issued March 24, 1989, specified two examination months for each facility during which operator licensing examinations would be conducted each y a r.
The purpose of the national examination schedule is to provide a consistent time period for conducting the examinations at each facility so that the facility can establish a standard schedule for conducting the required licen',ed operator training, and so that the NRC can schedule the resources required fo" conducting the examinations. The national examination schedule months for LGS, Units I and 2, are January and July. The scheduled months for PBAPS are February and August. PEco is requesting, on behalf of the licensed LSk0s, a one-time schedular exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 55.59(a)(2) with regard to each individ::a1 licensed LSR0 to conduct the first annual requalification operating test for the multi-site licensed LSR0s l
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in January 1992 in conformance with the national examination schedule for LGS instead of the end of 1991.
By letter dated October 18, 1991, from R. J. Conte, Region 1, to D. P. Smith, PEco, the NRC confirmed that arrangements have been made for administration of fuel handling licensing examinations at LGS, for both Limerick and Peach Pottom, during the week of January 13, 1992.
The two units at PBAPS and the two units at LGS are all BWR-4 reactors.
PEco has a nuclear maintenance group responsible for core alterations, reactor refueling and in-vessel maintenance activities (e.g., control rod drive replacement) during refueling outages at both LGS and PBAPS. The Technical Specifications (TS) require that all core alterations shall be observed and directly supervised by either a licenseo Senior Operator (SRO) or licensed LSRO.
To meet this requirement, PEco has implemented a new LSR0 program that established LSR0s with a dual license applicable at both PBAPS, Units 2 and 3 and LGS, Units 1 and 2.
The objective of the LSR0 program is to maintain a small group of licensed persennel to supervise core alterations (rea: tor refueling and in-vessel maintenance activities) during refueling outages at each of the four nuclear units, LGS and PBAPS. There are currently eight (8)
LSR0s who hnid a dual SRO license limited to fuel handling involved in the current Peach Bottom Unit 3 refueling outage.
The LSR0s were initially licensed at LGS, Units 1 and 2, on September 10, 1990.
The licenses were amended on January 9,1991, to include PBAPS, Units 2 and 3, based on successful completion of training or, the differences between LGS and PBAPS, and m itten and operating examinations on these differences.
According to 10 CFR 55,59(a)(2) and 10 CFR 55.59(c)(4)(1), the LSR0s licensed in September 1990 have to pass an annual operating test (i.e., by the end of l
e
. 1991) to maintain their licenses. The licensees are requesting a one-time schedular exemption in order to bring the requalification exams in accordance with the NEC's Natieral Examination Schedule.
Prior to shutcown of Peach Pottom Unit 3 on Septetter 14, 1991, for the current refueling outage, there was an indication of several fuel pin failures as evidenced by slightly elevated offgas activity. A sample inspection of some fuel bundles revealed the possibility of widespread debris (netal shavings, etc) in the core. PEto decided to remove, inspect, clean, as necessary and reinsert the 508 fuel assemblies that would otherwise have remained in the reactor.
The additionel, unanticipated fuel bandling and other core alterations are going to tie-up the LSR0s until the end of Dececher 1991.
IV.
The Cornission has determined that pursuant to 10 CFR 55.11, the er.emption recuested by PEco's letter of October 18, 1991, is authorized by law and will r.ot endanger life or pruperty, and is otherwise in the public interst. Accordingly, the Commission hareby grants the following exemption:
Philadelphia Electric Company and the eight Senior Reactor Operators limited to fuel handling (LSR0s) ider.tified in the letter of October 18, 1991, are granted a one-time schedular exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 55.59(a)(2) and 10 CFR 55.59(c)(4)(i) to permit the LSR0s to take the anntal requalification operating test in January 1992 instead of in 1991.
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' Pursuant to 10 CFR 51,32, the Comission has determined that the granting
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of this exemption will have no significant effect on the quality of the human environment (56 FR 65514),
This exemption is ef 'ctive upon issuance.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION L %
Steven 1,7e&, (ire t r.
.'lG)OjI CA G
- rga, J
Division of Reactor Pr ycts - 1/11 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Dated at Pochille, Maryland, this 26th day of December
- 1991, l
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