ML20135F868

Safety Evaluation Supporting Amend 57 to License NPF-5

ML20135F868
Person / Time
Site:	Hatch
Issue date:	09/11/1985
From:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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ML20135F866	List: ML20135F868
References
TAC-59576, NUDOCS 8509170456
Download: ML20135F868 (4)

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UNITED STATES i

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+,*...,o SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION SUPPORTING AMENDMENT NO. 57 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE N0. NPF-5 GEORGIA POWER COMPANY i

OGLETHD1&FFOlHT'UDRPDRATION MUN8CIPAL ELECTRIC AUTHORITY OF GEORGIA i

CITY OF DALTON, GEORGIA EDWIN I. HATCH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT NO. 2 i

DOCKET NO. 50-366 i

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Introduction I

By letter dated August 30, 1985 Georgia Power Company (the licensee) requested a change in the Technical Specifications (TSs) for the Edwin I, Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit 2.

The change involves a correction of a footnote to the setpoint specification for the level in the condensate storage tank i

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(CST) at which the suction of the reactor core isolation cooling system (RCIC) is automatically transferred to the suppression pool.

4 The licensee requested that this change be handled on an emergency basis because, on a technicality, the RCIC has been declared to be inoperable, 4

i Unless the system is restored to operable status within 14 days, the plant-4 will be required to shutdown.

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Evaluation The change to the TSs involves a footnote to Table 3.3.4-2 "RCIC Actuation i

Instrumentation" on page 3/4 3-35.

Item."b" in this table specifies the j'

The reference footnote on this item states that zero inches correspond to i

setpoint for the low level of the CST to be greater than or equal to zero inches.

131 feet, O inches above mean sea level.

l The licensee's proposal is to delete the reference to sea level and to replace it with a reference to'10,000 gallons of water in the CST.

i TMI Action Plan Item II.K 3.22 required modification to BWR RCIC systems such i

that, like the high pressure core injection (HPCI) system, the suction source l

for RCIC would be transferred automatically from the CST to the suppression pool when low level is reached in the CST. The licensee installed level instruments in the CST at the same elevation as the HPCI instruments for the l

suction transfer of the RCIC. The associated TS proposed by the licensee in f

1983 included an incorrect reference to the corresponding level above sea j

level, which read 131 feet, 0 inches. License Amendment No. 38 issued July 11, 1984, approved several TMI Action Plan items, including the incorrect cross-reference to sea level. The actual level is 130 feet, 10.5 inches.

It was not recognized that the TS was incorrect until August 30, 1985.

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The licensee has stated that the actual value of the actuation setpoint is correct and that the RCIC system is, and has been, capable of performing in the desired manner. The only problem is simply the incorrect reference to i

height above sea level. The licensee has stated also that, as a practical i

matter, the instrument could not be adjusted to the 131-foot value and provide reliable performance.

2 The licensee's proposal is that, rather than correct the reference value i

above sea level, a footnote should be changed to reference the remaining water volume in the tank (10,000 gallons). The 10,000 gallon value is part i

of the safety basis for selecting the low level setpoint and is therefore a j

more meaningful reference. Further, the corresponding footnote in the TS for the l

HPCI references the 10,000 gallon water volume, not elevation above sea level.

We have determined that the licensee's proposed change is, in fact, the j

correction of an error and, therefore, has no safety significance.

In view of the infonnation provided by the licensee and the considerations discussed i

above, the licensee's proposed change is acceptable. Approval of this pennanent change on an emergency basis is also acceptable because it would be inappropriate to require a plant shutdown because of a technicality, when the systen is capable of performing its intended safety function.

Emergency Circumstances i

The emergency results from the licensee's discovery on August 30, 1985 that the trip setpoint for automatic transfer of the RCIC pump suction from the CST to the suppression pool on low CST water level is not consistent with the TS i

values for this setpoint. Upon discovering this discrepancy, the licensee, as required by the TS Action Statements, placed the Unit in a 14-day Limiting

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Condition for Operation (LCO). Unless this discrepancy is corrected before i

the 14-day LCO period expires, the plant will be required to shutdown. Since the trip setpoint cannot be adjusted to confonn with the TS, the licensee has i

requested an emergency change to the TSs. The request for the emergency i

change to TSs was made on August 30, 1985, the date on which the discrepancy was discovered.

Final No Significant Hazards Consideration Determination l

l The Connission's regulations in 10 CFR 50.92 state that the Commission may l

make a final detennination that a license amendment involves no significant hazards consideration if operation of the facility in accordance with the l

amendment would not:

(1) Involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated; or l

(2) Create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any l

accident previously evaluated; or (3)

Involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety.

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The requested change corrects an existing error in the TSs and results in a minor change in the trip setpoint for automatic transfer of the RCIC pump suction from the CST to the suppression pool on low CST water level. As noted above in this Safety Evaluation, we have concluded that this change is acceptable. The change does not affect the manner in which the plant is operated or the design bases for the plant.

Therefore, we conclude that:

(1) Operation of the facility in accordance with the amendment would not significantly increase the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated.

(2) Operation of the facility in accordance with the amendment would not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any 4

accident previously evaluated.

(3) Operation of the facility in accordance with the amendment would not involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety.

Accordingly, we conclude that the amendment to Facility Operating License NPF-5 revising the trip setpoint for automatic transfer of'RCIC suction involves no significant hazards considerations.

The State of Georgia was consulted on this matter and had no comments on the determination.

Environmental Considerations The amendment involves a change in the installation or use of a facility component located within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20.

We have determined that the amendment involves no significant increase in the amounts, and no significant change in the types, of any effluents that may be released offsite, and that there is no significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure. The Commission has made a final no significant hazards consideration finding with respect to this amendment. Accordingly, the amendment meets the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9).

Pursuantto10CFR51.22(b),noenvironmentalimpactstatementor environmental assessment need be prepared in connection with the issuance of the amendment.

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. o 4-Conclusion We have concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that:

will not be endangered by operation in the proposed manner, and (2) public (1) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the j

such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations, and the issuance of the amendment will not be inimical to the common 4

defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.

Dated:

September 11, 1985 Principal Contributor:

J. T. Beard 4

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