ML20149M923

Forwards Safety Evaluations Re non-nuclear Heatup Prior to Restart of Facility.Concludes Facility May Enter Modes 4 & 3 for non-nuclear Heatup.Final NRC Approval for Mode 2 Entry Will Be Subj of Separate Ltr

ML20149M923
Person / Time
Site:	Sequoyah
Issue date:	02/23/1988
From:	Ebneter S NRC OFFICE OF SPECIAL PROJECTS
To:	White S TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
Shared Package
ML20149M924	List: ML20149M923 ML20149M932 ML20149M936
References
TAC-R00253, TAC-R253, NUDOCS 8802290267
Download: ML20149M923 (5)

Text

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' \ +# o Docket No. 50-328 February 23, 1988 Mr. S. A. White Manager of Nuclear Power Tennessee Valley Authority 6N 38A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402-2801

SUBJECT:

NON-NUCLEAR HEATUP FOR SEQUOYAH UNIT 2 PRIOR TO RESTART (TAC R00253)

Re: Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Unit 2 In letters dated September 28 and December 4, 1987, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) proposed a heatup (operation in Modes 4 and 3) of Sequoyah Unit 2 prior to che completion of all restat activities and the restart (criticality, Mode 2) of Unit 2. The proposal was for a non-nuclear heatup of both the prinary and secondary plant systems using reactor coolant pump heat, with the reactor coolant system taken to rated temperature and pressure (i.e., 547'F and 2,235 psig). The plant systems would satisfy the operability requirements for Modes 4 and 3 in the Unit 2 Technir.a1 Specifications (TS). TVA anticipated that the heatup would extend for 5 to 6 weeks to allow a "shakedown" of plant equip-ment and systems to ensure system operability before the restart of Unit 2.

In letters of December 4 and 29,1987 and January 26, 1988 TVA provided the status, for this proposed heatup, of the resolution of the pipe support calculation regeneration program, silicone rubber insulated cable evaluation ,

program, and NPC Integrated Design Inspection (IDI) deficiencies. The staff l reviewed these letters and, based on the Safety Evaluation dated January 29, j 1988 (Enclosure 1), concluded that it was acceptable for Sequoyah Unit ? to '

enter Modes 4 and 3 for a ron-nuclear heatup. The staff also reviewed  !

allegations received on February 3, 1988 regarding fire protection concerns l which were characterized by the alleger as of sufficient import to preclude heatup of Sequoyah Unit 2. However, after discussing the concerns with the alleger, the staff concluded that these concerns do not alter our conclusions regarding the acceptability of heatup for Unit 2. This is based in part on TVA's comitment not to dilute the boron concentration in the reactor coolant system below the cold shutdown concentration until we give you approval for Unit 2 to enter Mode 2. The staff prepared a Safety Evaluation which contains the rationale for this conclusion (Enclosure 2). Based on these conclusions, and on the status of Unit 2. I gave you verbal approval on February 4,1988 for Sequoyah Unit 2 to heat up.

In Enclosure 1, the staff further concluded that the evaluation of piping supports using the TVA pipe support calcu1ation restart criteria (CEB-CI-?1.89) l is acceptable for restart. '

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8802290267 880223 PDR ADOCK 0S000328 l p PDR l

Mr. S. A. White Tennessee Valley Authority Sequcyah Nuclear Plant cc:

General Coursel Regional Administrator, Region II Tennessee Valley Authority U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Corrission 400 West Sumrit Hill Drive 101 Marietta Street, N.W.

E11 B33 Atlanta, Georoia 30323 Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 Resident Inspector /Seauoyah MP Mr. R. L. Gridley c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Cennission Tennessee Valley Authority 7600 Igou Ferry Road 5N 157B Lookout Place Soddy Daisy, Tennessae 37379 Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402-2801 Mr. Richard King Mr. H. L. Abercrombie c/o U.S. GA0 Tennessee Valley Authority 1111 North Shore Drive Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Suite 225, Box 194 P.O. Box 2000 Xnoxville, Tennessee 37919 Soddy Daisy, Tennessee 37379 .

Tennessee Department of Mr. M. R. Harding Public Fealth Tennessee Valley Authority ATTN: Director, Bureau of Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Envircnmental Health Services P.O. Box 2000 Cordell Hull Building Soddy Daisy, Tennessee 37379 Nashville, Tennessee 37219 Mr. D. L. Villiams Pr. Michael H. Mobley, Director Tennessee Valley Authority Division of Radiological Health 400 West Summit Hill Drive T.E.R.R.A. Building W10 885 150 9th Avenue North Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 Nashville, Tennessee 37203 County Judge Dr. Henry Myers, Science Advisor Hamilton County Courthouse Conmittee on Interior Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 and Insular Affairs U.S. House of Representatives Washingten, D.C. 20515 I

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e For the silicone rubber insulated cable inside containment, TVA has only environmentally qualified the cable through the recent Wyle Laboratory tests for 10 years. As previously agreed, TVA will qualify cables of the same configuration as those previously tested by Wyle to the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50.49 for the expected life of Sequoyah before the return to operation of Unit 2 from the first refueling outage after restart. Please confirm this by letter before the restart of Unit 2.

The exact duration of this heatup which began on February 6, 1988, will depend on the nature of the problems encountered and the time needed for the operators to refamilarize themselves with an operating plant environment. Unit 2 has been shut down for more than 2 years. This heatup will provide both TVA and the staff a final indication of Sequoyah Plant's readiness to restart Unit 2. TVA should take full advantage of this opportunity. Final staff approval to enter Mcde 2 will be the subject of a separate letter.

Sincerely, Original Signed by Stewart D. Ebneter, Director Office of Special Projects

Enclosure:

DISTRIBUTION As stated " Docke tJ11e . 0GC GZech HRC PCR JRutberg JPartlow cc w/r. closure: Local PDR Projects Rdg TVA-Bethesda See next page SEbneter/JAxelrad SRichardson ACRS(10)

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A Finally, in your letters dated September 28, 1987 and January 11, 1988, addressed the use of the staff approved restart criteria versus Techni The Specification (TS) operability requirements during this proposed heat y at all TS operability requirements are part of the Sequoyah license and ap times to Sequoyah when fuel is in the core. The restart criteria re only part of the TVA Sequoyah Nuclear Performance Plan to restart Se oyah from the voluntary shutdown in August 1985. The restart criteria are eeted re restrictive before the than TS operability requirements and define what nust be com restart of Unit 2. In the January 11, 1988 letter, TVA st ed that it would continue to review issues for Unit 2 against the restart riteria untilAllTVA mode requests NRC concurrence for restart (entry into Mode requirements.of Unit 2.

changes before restart would be based on TS operabili After this, issues affecting Unit 2 would be reviewed thr gh the Sequoyah site chedule consistent with TS Conditions Adverse to Quality Review Program on a 11 continue to be used for operability requirements. The restart criteria Unit 1. This transition from restart criteria o TS operability requirements is acceptable to the staff.

Based on the enclosed SE, the staff concitges that it is acceptable for Sequoyah Unit 2 to enter Modes 4 and 3 f f a non-nuclear heatup. Heatup may comence crce all the agreed upon heat required activities are complete.

This includes staff final verificatio activities; therefore, I request that ycu advise me after you have conclud d that Sequoyah Unit 2 is ready to enter Mode 4. At that time, I will indic te my agreement with the proposed heatup if this is appropriate.

The exact duration of this hea p will depend on the nature of the problems encountered and the time need for the operators to refamilarize themselves with an operating plant envi onment. Unit 2 has been shut down for more than 2 years. This heatup will rovide TVA and theTVA staffshould a fint.1 indication take full of advantage Sequoyah Plant's readiness to restart Unit 2.

of this opportunity. Fir 1 staff approval to enter Mode 2 will be the subject of a separate letter.

Sincerely, Stewart D. Ebneter, Director Office of Special Projects

Enclosure:

DISTRIBUTION Docket File OGC GZech As stated JPartlow NRC PDR JRutberg '

Local PDR Projects Rdg TVA-Bethesda cc w/encio re: SRichardson ACRS(10)  !

See next se SEbneter/JAxelrad FMiraglia CJamerson SQN Rdg.

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For the silicone rubber insulated cable inside' containment, TVA has only p

environmentally for 10 years. As y qualified the cable 1 " a previously agreed, through thequalify TVA will recenttin!ac Wylecableg Laboratory Atests [/ '

with enrrantly installed cahlr rcnGVcd-from-containmentyto the requirements of a

'10 CFR Part 50.49 for the expected life of Sequoyah before the return to l operation of Unit 2 from the first refueling outage after restart. Please }'

confirm this by letter before the restart of Unit 2.

The exact duration of this heatup which began on February 6,1988, will depend I on the nature of the problems encountered and the time needed for the operators to refamilarize themselves with an operating plant environment. Unit 2 has been shut down for nore than 2 years. This heatup will provide both TVA and the staff a final ~ indication of Sequoyah Piant's readiness to restart Unit 2. TVA should/

take full advantage of this opportunity. Final staff approval to enter Mode 2' will be the subject of a separate letter.

Sincerely,

,/ Stewart D. Ebneter, Director

/ Office of Special Projects Enclosr e: DISTRIBUTION As stated Docket File OGC GZech NRC PDR JRutberg JPartlow cc w/ enclosure: Local PDR Projects Rdg TVA-Bethesda See next page SEbneter/JAxel rad SRichardson ACRS(10)

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