ML20137H346

Memorandum & Order Denying Util Request for Extension of 851130 Deadline for Environ Qualification of Electric Equipment at Plant.Served on 851127

ML20137H346
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	11/27/1985
From:	Chilk S NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY)
To:	BOSTON EDISON CO.
References
CON-#485-334 GL-85-15, OL, NUDOCS 8512020372
Download: ML20137H346 (3)

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

,85 Hou 27 A9:46 COMMISSIONERS: y r, '

Nunzio J. Palladino, Chairman Thomas M. Roberts James K. Asselstine Frederick M. Bernthal SO WD M V'A7198b Lando W. Zech, Jr.

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BOSTON EDISON COMPANY )

) Docket No. 50-293 - 6 C (Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, )

Unit 1) )

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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER By letter dated September 23, 1985, as supplemented on October 30, November 15, and November 26, 1985, the Boston Edison Company ("BEC0")

requested that the Commission grant an extension from the November 30, 1985, deadline for environmental qualification of electric equipment at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1. The request covered five items of equipment for which an extension was sought until February 8, 1986. The Commission has reviewed in detail the licensee's submittals and the staff's analysis and recommendation as set forth in SECY-85-338 and SECY-85-338A. Based on this review the Commission finds that the licensee has failed to demonstrate the exceptional nature of its case such that an extension is denied.

The Commission most recently addressed the environmental qualifica-tion issue in Generic Letter 85-15, issued August 6, 1985. In that letter the Comission stated that extensions from the November 30 8512020372 051127 PDR ADOCK 05000293 G pyg r

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2 deadline established in 10 CFR 50.49(g) would be granted "only in rare circumstances." The Commission further stated that extension requests "must clearly identify the exceptional nature of the case, e.g., why, through events entirely beyond its control, the licensee will not be in compliance on November 30; the date when compliance will be achieved; and a justification for continued operation until compliance will be achieved." The Commission also set forth an enforcement policy >

regarding failure to meet the deadline.

This licensee's request involves five items: eight Yarway level indicating switches, two Fenwal temperature switches, two Electroswitches in the alternate shutdown panels, one Type S1 cable, and two Type S15 cables. BEC0 has advised the Commission that qualification testing recently has been completed as to only four of the five items and that the documentation necessary to support qualification has not been finalized as to any of these four. Under Generic Letter 85-15, failure to complete qualification documentation is considered by the Commission as a failure to be in compliance with 10 C.F.R. 50.49.

Licensee has put forth a number of factors that it suggests are grounds for an extension, including late discovery of the need for testing one of the items when it was determined that qualified replacements did not meet the facility's required operating characteristics, delays in obtaining test samples of items, the inability o'f the test laboratory retained by BEC0 to complete the

< testing sooner, and the need to revise its test program for one item to address conditions unique to the Pilgrim facility. After reviewing n

these explanations, the Commission finds the licensee has failed to

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3 demonstrate as to each item that circumstances beyond its control resulted in its failure to qualify the equipment. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that an extension of the November 30 deadline is not appropriate.

The Commission therefore denies the request of BECO for an extension on Pilgrim Unit 1. The staff has reviewed the justifications for continued operation and finds they support safe operation until February 8, 1986, the date to which BEC0 has requested an extension for completion of qualification of the equipment in question. However, if BECO chooses to operate the Pilgrim facility at any time between November 30, 1985, and February 8,1986, without completing qualification of the equipment in question, it will be subject to civil penalties in accordance with Generic Letter 85-15.

Commissioners Roberts and Zech disapproved this order.

It is so ORDERED.

F the Commission c,#R 8E4f fhf\Jt k

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j SAMUEL J.[ttilLK jj Secretary

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DatedatWashington,U.'b."..>'.V '

T.1 this 2 ; day of A/%f<e% 1985.

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