ML20127G315

Discusses Delay in Submittal of Reactor Vessel Surveillance Test Results for Plant

ML20127G315
Person / Time
Site:	Cooper
Issue date:	01/14/1993
From:	Hubbard G Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Horn G NEBRASKA PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT
References
TAC-M85167, NUDOCS 9301210214
Download: ML20127G315 (4)

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January 14, 1993 i.

Docket No. 50-298 Mr. Guy R. Horn Nuclear Power Group Manager Nebraska Public Power District Post Office Box 499 Columbus, Nebraska 68602-0499

SUBJECT:

DELAY IN SUBMITTAL OF REACTOR VESSEL SURVEILLANCE TEST RESULTS FOR COOPER NUCLEAR STATION (TAC NO. M85167)

By letter dated October 28, 1992, the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) requested that the NRC grant a schedular extension for the submittal of the Cooper Nuclear Station (CNS) reactor vessel material surveillance test results-for the surveillance capsule withdrawn from the CNS reactor on October 31, 1991'. Appendix H to 10 CFR Part 50 requires that, for each reactor vessel material surveillance capsule withdrawn from the reactor, a report summarizing the results of tests conducted on the withdrawn capsule specimens must be submitted to the NRC within ona year of capsule withdrawal.

Thus, under Appendix H, a report summarizing the results of tests conducted on the specimens in the capsule withdrawn on October 31, 1991 should have been submitted by October 31, I?92. However, Appendix H allows the-NRC to grant a

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schedular extension to the 1-year requirement, and such extensions have been granted in the past~for good cause shown.

In your October 28, 1992 letter, you requested that the submittal deadline for the capsule withdrawn on October 31, 1991, be extended from October 31, 1992, to March 1, 1993.

In support of your request for-a schedular extension,:you also stated-that, due to circumstances beyond your control, shipment of the-capsule to-the testing facilhy was delayed by nearly 6 months.

Specifically, y% state that (1) during early 1991, previously-certified GE-Nuclear Energy

-shipping casks were removed-from service due to safety-concerns,-(2) in July 1991-a single GE-Nuclear-Fnergy cask of a new. and improved design was-certified for use by-the NRC, and (3) there was a high level'of demand by the p

nuclear industry,for what was at :he time the only licensed shipping cask in the GE-Nuclear Energy fleet.

These factors prevented shipment of the CNS capsule on-schodule.

While we do not dispute the above-points, we believe that your request-for a-schedular extension could have been submitted well before the deadline for submittal of the' summary report. This would.have afforded us the opportunity to. review and act.on your request before the deadline had passed.

We suggest that you review your system for tracking regulatory commitments, and make changes to allow early identification and corrective action when unanticipated circumstances jeopardize reguhtory commitments.

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• Mr. Guy R. Horn ~

With regard to the safety aspects of the requested schedular extension, the CNS reactor vessel material, configuration, and irradiation history are such that we do not believe that a safety problem would result from the delay of the summary report until March 1993.

Specifically, the current pressure-temperature (PT) limit curves in the CNS technical specifications are valid up through 21 effective full-power years (EFPY) of operation, whereas the CNS vessel now has experienced approximatoly 12 EFPY of operation.

Based on the above considerations, we hereby grant a schedular extension until March 1, 1993, for submittal of the report on the reactor vessel material capsule specimens removed from the CNS vessel on October 31, 1991.

Sincerely, ORIGINAL SIGNED BY:

George T. Hubbard, Acting Director Project Directorate IV-1 Division of Reactor Projects - Ill/IV/V Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc:

See next page DISTRIBUTION:

.. Docket File NRC & Local PDRs PD4-1 Reading M. Virgilio G. Hubbard P. Noonan ACRS (10) (P-315)

OGC (15B18)

A. B. Beach, RIV PD4-1 Plant File H. Rood J. Gagliardo, RIV J. Strosnider J. Tsao E. Collins, RIV K. Wichman B. Elliot.

R. Kopriva, R:V J. Roe

• See-previous concurrence OFC 4: PD4-1PMp4-1 BC:EMCB*

OGC*

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[ //J/9) \\/13/93 12/23/92 12/29/92 / /N /9h//g/93 I /li93 DATE 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY Document Name: C0085167.ltr

Mr, Guy R. Horn '

With regard to the safety aspects of the requested schedular extension, the CNS reactor vessel material, configuration, and irradiation history are such that we do not believe that a safety problem would result from the delay of the summary report until March 1993.

Specifically, the current pressure-temperature (PT) limit curves in the CNS technical specifications are valid up through 21 effective full-power years (EFPY) of operation, whereas the CNS vessel now has experienced approximately 12 EFPY of operation.

Based on the above considerations, we hereby grant a schedular extension until March _1, 1993, for submittal of the report on the reactor vessel material capsule specimens removed from the CNS vessel on October 31, 1991.

Sincerely, f

George T. Hubbard, Acting Director Project Directorate IV-1 Division of Reactor Projects - III/IV/V Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc:

See next page

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Mr.. Guy R. Horn Nuclear Power Group Manager Cooper Nuclear Station cc:

Mr. G. D. Watson, General Counsel Nebraska Public Power District

'P. O. Box 499 Columbus, Nebraska 68602-0499 Cooper Nuclear Station ATTN: Mr. John M. Meacham Site Manager P. O. Box 98 Brownville, Nebraska 68321 Randolph Wood, Director Nebraska Department of Environmental Control l

P. O. Box 98922 l

Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-8922 Mr. Richard Moody, Chairman

.Nemaha County Board of Commissioners Nemaha County Courthouse 1824 N Street Auburn, Nebraska 68305 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P. O. Box 218 Brownville, Nebraska 68321 Regional Administrator, Region IV U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 1

Arlington, Texas 76011 L

l Mr. Harold Borchert, Director Division of Radiological Health Nebraska Department of Health 301 Centennial Mall, South i

P. O. Box 95007 j

Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-5007 l

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