ML20141H325

Requests Exemption Per 10CFR50.12 from Conducting Plant 1997 Annual Evaluated Emergency Preparedness Exercise on 971021.Plant Will Permanently Cease to Generate Power by 970830,as Cited in Correspondence to NRC

ML20141H325
Person / Time
Site:	Big Rock Point File:Consumers Energy icon.png
Issue date:	07/17/1997
From:	Powers K CMS ENERGY CORP.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NUDOCS 9707220345
Download: ML20141H325 (2)

Text

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.. i ChassunsersEnergy A CMS Energy Company Big Rxk PointNxlear Plant Reneeth R 90eners

, 10269 US-31 North Plant GeneralManager Charlevant. MI49720 i

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July 17,1997 i

I Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001 DOCKET 50-155 - LICENSE DPR BIG ROCK POINT PLANT - EXEMPTION REQUEST FROM THE ANNUAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EXERCISE.

1 The purpose of this letter is to formally request an exemption pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12 from conducting Big Rock Point's 1997 Annual Evaluated Emergency Preparedriess Exercise, scheduled to occur October 21,1997. Special circumstances are present as Big Rock Point f()

will permanently cease to generate power by August 30,1997, as cited in correspondence to 1 the NRC dated June 26,1997. All fuel is planned to be removed from the reactor as of September 15,1997. A letter of certification attesting to permanent fuel removal from the reactor will be submitted to the NRC at that time.

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The Decommissioning Emergency Plan is scheduled to be in effect December 1,1997,  !!!!!!!.

contingent upon NRC approval of the plan. This plan limits protective actions to the site ,E .

boundary. Therefore, before year-end, the surrounding Counties and State of Michigan will go have minimal responsibility for a radiological emergency at Big Rock Point. Conducting an g' ]

exercise on October 21 would utilize Emergency Plan procedures and practices that would g" i exist only until December 1,1997. The Big Rock Point staff will be conducting a

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Decommissioning emergency event exercise the first quarter of 1998. NRC participation participation or observation of this exercise would be welcome.

Since permanent shutdown will occur by August 30,1997, the Plant's General Operating Procedures, Emergency Operating Procedures, Off-Normal Procedures, System Operating Procedures, and Alarm Response Procedures which would be used in the exercise are expected to be cancelled. In addition, the scenario written for the exercise contains postulated events which are not credible in the plant's shutdown condition. I 9707220345 970717  ;

PDR ADOCK 05000155  ;

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, Ass}iming a Decommissioning Emergency Plan implementation at Big Rock Point by i 4' December 1,1997, development of implementing procedures and training to the new plan for l emergency msponse personnel will be in progress during the exercise period for the curmntly scheduled graded exercise.

Conducting an annual exercise involves significant resource expenditure by the Company and outside agencies. Specifically, the following would be required:

j 1. Over $5% of full-time Big Rock Point Plant personnel to participate.

2. Approximately 30 additional support personnel from Palisades Nuclear Plant and

Midland Training Center participate in planning and conduct of the exercise.

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3. Up to 200 State and County personnel for the day of the exercise. l l.

, 4. NRC Inspectors would require travel time, lodging, and panicipation on site to evaluate and repon to the public on exercise perfonnance. i

5. FEMA personnel would require travel time, lodging, and participation on site to

, evaluate and mport to the public on exercise performance. ,

4 Big Rock Point's last Annual Emergency Preparedness Exercise was conducted on September

10,1996, and was evaluated by NRC Region III Inspectors. Overall performance was j acceptable and no significant issues were identified. Furthennore, an annual Routine Inspection conducted in March,1997, by NRC Region IIIInspectors mported that the overall effectiveness of the Emergency Planning program was very good and no significant issues were identified. Big Rock Point will continue to adhem to the existing Emergency Plan to ensum our preparedness to protect the health and safety of the public.

Consumers Energy Company considers it pnident to not expend the utility and govemment msources necessary for an emergency exercise in 1997. Your msponse is requested by August 15, 1997.

Respectfully, Kenneth P Powers Plant General Manager CC: Administrator, Region III, USNRC NRC Resident Inspector - Big Rock Point Dan Sibo, Michigan State Police KMHaas, Palisades