ML20087N735
| ML20087N735 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | San Onofre  |
| Issue date: | 03/13/1984 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20087N736 | List: |
| References | |
| TAC-53463, NUDOCS 8404040270 | |
| Download: ML20087N735 (2) | |
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SAFETY EVALUATION AMEN 0 MENT NO. 9 TO NPF-15 SAN ONOFRE GENERATING STATION, UNIT 3 DOCKET NO. 50-367 Introduction and Sumnarv By letter dated January 3, 1984, the licensees (Southern California Edison Company, San Diego Gas and Electric Company, the City of Anaheim, California, and the City of Riversida, California) requested that an amendment be issued to Facility Operating License NPF-15 for operation of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 3.
The licensees requested that the limit on
- operation of the 8-inch containment purge system (1000 hours0.0116 days <br />0.278 hours <br />0.00165 weeks <br />3.805e-4 months <br /> per 365 days) be permanently chanaed to 3000 hours0.0347 days <br />0.833 hours <br />0.00496 weeks <br />0.00114 months <br /> per 365 days.
Evaluation Unexpectedly high noble gas activity levels in the San Onofre 3 containment building during 100% power operation have necessitated routine operation of the 8-inch purge system to prevent containment activity levels from exceeding the purge activity limit.
If the purge activity limit is exceeded, the plant must be shut down and no purgina done until the activity level decays to an acceptable level. Routine purging is also recuired to maintain the activity level sufficiently low to permit personnel access to system components inside containment for inspection and maintenanc, and to maintain containment pressure within the Technical Specification limit.
Because of the unexpectedly high noble gas activity levels in the San Onofre 3 containment, the licensees requested that they be permitted to use the 8-inch purge system up to 3,000 hours0 days <br />0 hours <br />0 weeks <br />0 months <br /> per 365 days.
Inasmuch as the high noble gas activity levels are thought to be unique to the first core of Unit 3, and purge system usage will continue to be restricted to safety-related needs in accordance with staff guidelines, and usage will be in compliance with the provisions of 10 CFR 50.36a so as to assure that releases are maintained as low as reasonably achievable, we conclude that using the 8-inch purge system for 3,000 hours0 days <br />0 hours <br />0 weeks <br />0 months <br /> per 365 days is acceptable for the life of the first core. Staff acceptance is also. based on the fact that i
l the proposed purge time and expected coolant activity levels are within the range considered in a previous staff safety evaluation (NUREG-0712), and the Technical Specifications include provisions for coping with levels.of radio-activity in the primary coolant that are higher than expected.
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Therefore, in accordance with the SRP requirement that purge time should be minimized, we are granting the requested change for the life of the first core, i.e., until the third refueling outage. The licensees have agreed that their request can be limited to this period of time.
Contact With State Official By copy of a letter dated January 30, 1984 to the licensees, the NRC staff advised the Chief of the Radiological Health Branch, State Department of Health Services, State of California, of its proposed determination of no significat hazards consideration. No comments were received.
Environmental Consideration We have determined that these amendments do not authorize a change in effluent types or total amount nor an increase in power level and will not result in any significant environmental impact. Having made this determination, we have further concluded that these amendments involve action which is insignificant from the standpoint of environmental impact and pursuant 10 CFR Section 51.5(d)
(4), that an environmental impact appraisal need not be prepared in connection with the issuance of this amendment.
Conclusion Based upon our evaluation of the proposed changes to the San Onofre, Unit 3 Technical Specifications, we have concluded that:
there is reasonable assurance that t' e health and safety of the public will not be endangered by n
operation in the proposed manner, and such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations and the issuance of this amend-ment will not be inimical to the commen defense and security or the health and safety of the public. We, therefore, conclude that the proposed changes are acceptable, but are limiting the change to the time period from now until the third refueling outage. By letter dated February 16, 1984, the licensees agreed that'this limiting of the change is acceptable.
Dated: MAR 131984 r
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