ML20149J791
| ML20149J791 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Brunswick  |
| Issue date: | 02/17/1988 |
| From: | Varga S Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20149J750 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8802230218 | |
| Download: ML20149J791 (5) | |
Text
__
e 1
I s
j 7590 01 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY CO*!SSION
]
In the Matter of
}
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY Docket No. 50-325/324 Brunswick Steam Electric Plant.
Units 1 and 2 I
i EXEPPTION i
i I.
1 l
Carolina Fower & Light Compaay (the licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-71 and CFR-62, which authorize operation of the i
Brunswick Steam Electric Plant. Units 1 and 2.
The licenses provide, among other things, that the facility is subject to all rules, regulations and Orders of the Nuclear Regulatory Cossnission (the Cosmission) now or hereafter in effect.
]
The facilities are General 1:lectric boiling water reactors located at the l
t i
licensee's site in Southport No-th Carolina.
i t
l i
)
i l
i i
j Paragraph !!!.A.3 of Appendix J to 10 CFR Part 50 requires that all Type A Containment Integrated Leak Rate tests be perfomed in accordance with AmericanNationalStandardInstitute(ANSI)M45.41972,"LeakageRateTesting of Containment Structures fer huclear Reactors." AhS! N45.4 requires that
]
leakage calculatiens be perforved using the Total Time rethod or the Foint-to-l Poirt method.
By letter dated August 5, 1967, the licensee requested an exeeption from 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J. Paragraph !!!.A.3, regarding Type A Centainment i
l 8802230218 880217 j
PDR ADOCK 05000324 P
PDR i
_ =
i
)
a i
i i
l j
ntegrated Leak Rate Test calculations.
Specifically, the licensee requested i
an exemption to permit the use of the Mass-Point method (as proviced in i
ANS!/Ah5 56.8-1981, paragraph 5), rather than the Total Time method described i
}
in Ah51 h45.4-1972, paragraph 7.9.
In support of its request, the licensee I
i l
notes that the Mass-Point method is a newer and more accurate method of l
j calculating contairwent leakage. The licensee also notes that utilizing the r
Total Time method produces results that are less reliable than results by the j
Mass-Point method. The licensee has, therefore, requested the Exemption to l
l enable use of the Mass Point method.
I The acceptability of the exemption request is addressed below. More details are contained in the Cersnission's related Safety Evaluation issued
{
concurrently with this Exemption.
J i
l j
I I
l l
i The licensee's exemption request under consideration involves the Type A testing requirerents of Appendix J for containments. As indicated in the i
l licensee's letter of Au9ust 5,1987, until about 1976 containment leakage rate calculations were performed using only the Point-to Foint or the Total Time methods in accordance with ANS! N45.4 1972.
In 1976, the NRC staff ur. officially recognized the merits of a t. ewer method, known as the Mass-Feint method. AN5!
N45.4 1972 has since been revised to incorporate the Mass-Point methcd into I
1 AhS1/Ah5 56.8 1981.
The staff anticipates publishing for cossment in the near future a proposed amendrent to Appendix J that would permit the use of the
)
Mats Point method.
J l
1 1
l l
i j
The licensee submits that that the more accurate techniqua provides in:reased j
i confidence in the integrity of the containtrent.
In addition, the licensee provided a determination that special circum.
stances exist under 10 CFR 50.12(a). The rule specifies particular methods l
j for calculating leakage to assure that accurate and conseNative metheds are l
used to assess the results of containment leak rate tests. As discussed
)
above, the licensee has detemined that this underlying purpose is achieved i
with use of the riore accurate Mass-Point method. Therefore, they concluded that applicatien of the regulation in these particular circurstances is not necessary to achieve the underlying purpose of the rule.
The staff agrees with the
]
licensee's conclusion and has detemined that, under 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(ii).
I special circurstances exist.
Based on the above discussion, the Itcensee's l
request for exemption (allowing the Mass-Foint technique for calculating centain-ment leakage rate) from the requirements of Appendix J is granted for Brunswick Units 1 and 2, with the condition that the test be conducted over a 1
j period of at least 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />.
i i
IV.
i J
The Comission has detemined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12 this exemp-tion is authorited by law, will not present an undue risk to the public health and safety, and is consistent with the cceen defense and security. The Comission has further detemined that spesial circumstances, as provided in 10(FR50.12(a)(2)(11),arepresent,justifyingtheExemption. Nantly, appli.
cation of the regulation in the particular circumstances is not necissary to J
1 l
achieve its underlying purpose, which h to ent.ure that accurate and con-servative rrethods are used to assess the results of containment leak rate tests. The Mass-Point rethod, which provides accurate results, has bean a widely used rethod of per#orring lee.k rate calculations ard satisfies the urc'erlying Purpose of the rule.
Accordingly, the Comission hereby grants an Exerption 'ron Paragraph 3
III.A.3 of Appendix J to 10 CFR Part 50 to allow ute of the Mass-Point nethnd in perfomirg leakage rate calculetions associated with Containment integrated leakane rate tests, proviced that the ninimum test duratien is ?4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br />.
Pursuant to 10 CFR M.3?, the Co"riitsion has deteminad that the qrartirq of this ExerPtion will have nn sierificant impact on the environment (51 FR 18?9 0,
i 4
i This Exerption is e'fective upon issuance.
j f
4 1
i FOR TWE NUCLEAR REGULATOPY CnWISSION i
Steven A. Varge Director Divisien of D* actor Pro.iects I-!!
j Office of Nuclear Peactor Peculatien 1
Dated at Bethesda, Maryland I
this 17th day of February 1ggs, i
1 1
j
- See previous concurren.:e page l
Ud8hOid, ifl LA:Ph*1:00PR*
PE:PD?l:DRPR*
PM: PD?l:DRPD*
OGC*
PArdersen FPrrafari E5vivestar Stewis 1/u/ps 1/1 1/1?/ss 1/'5/M
I I 9
r has Sta
'l
/88 a,(y
/FA l
J
r f
I I
achieve its underlying purpose, which is to ensure that accurate and cen-1 servative methods are used to assess the results of containment leak rate tests.
The Mass-Point method, which provides accurate results, has been a f
widely used rethod of performing leak rate calculations and satisfies the f
underlying purpose of the rule, j
Accordingly, the Commission hereby grants an Exeirption from Paragraph
!!1.A.3 of Appendix J to 10 CFR Part 50 to allow use of the Mass-Point methed j
l in perfonning leakage rate calculations associated with Containment Integrated
[
Leakage Rate Tests, provided that the r.inimum test duration is 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Cormission has determined that the granting of this Exceptien will have no significant impact on the environment f
(51FR18296).
This Exemption is effective upon issuance, j
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l
i f
t Steven A. Varga. Director Division of Reactor Projects I-!!
Office of huelear Reactor Regulation i
l Dated at Bethesda, Maryland f
this17th ay of February 1987 d
t I
i
$f
/
1
^
PR PE:P021:DRPR FM:?021:DRFR OGCA / 3' L LA:
par pg}
BFozafari ESylvester S H lnerf Ill489 M/\\t./E9 12/ - l87*
I
/[:r//f CF# :0RPR D:DRPR CLe as SYarga
$2/
87 iii,
.,_.-~ _ _. _ -.__ _- _ -. _ _ ___ >
-