ML20203A568
| ML20203A568 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 01/29/1998 |
| From: | NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20203A549 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9802240061 | |
| Download: ML20203A568 (3) | |
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UNr:ED STATES 3
,j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
't WASHINGTON. D.C. 205 6 0001
.....,o SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF t{QCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION RElATED TO AMENDMENT NOS.204AND186TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NOS. DPR-70 AND DPR-75 PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC & GAS COMPANY E
PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC COMPANY DELMARVA POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC COMPANY SALEM NUCLFAR GENERATING STATION. UNIT NOS.1 AND 2 DOCKET NOS. 50-272 AND 50-311
1.0 INTRODUCTION
By latter dated October 24,1997, the Public Service Electric & Gas Company (the licensee) submitted a request for changes to the Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos.1 and 2, Technical Specifications (TSs). The requested changes would revise the hydrogen analyzer surveillance requirements in TS 4.6.4.1 to increase the calibration frequency from once per refueling outage to quarterly.
2.0 EVALUATION The hydrogen analyzers are part of the Containment Hydrogen Monitoring System and provide the measurement of hydrogen concer,tration at two sample locations. Hydrogen analyzers are used after a loss-of-coolant accident to determine when to start the hydrogen recombiners.
Hydrogen concentration is measured by a hydrogen partial pressure sensor in conjunction with a total pressure sensor. The partial pressure sensor is galvanic in nature, consisting of a platinum black electrode and a platinurn oxide counter electrode within a polysulfone housing. The output of the analyzers provides indication and alarm functions in the control room.
In NRC Generic Letter (GL) 93-05, "Line item Technical Specifications improvements to Reduce Surveillance Requirements for Testing During Power Operation," dated September 27,1993, the NRC informed licensees that, as part of its effort on the Technical Specifications improvement Program, it had performed an examination of surveillance requirements that require testing during powar operation. The NPC staff foun i that a small fraction of the T6 surveillance intervals warranted relaxation and proposed guidance for implementing the line-item TSs improvements to resduce testing during power operation. Specifically, in Section 5.4 of enclosure 1 to GL 93-05, 9802240061 980129 PDR ADOCK 05000272 P
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the staff recommcded that the frequency for calibration of the hydrogen monitors could be changed to once each refueling interval. The staff also indicated that licensees should not extend any surveillence intervalif the recommendations were not compatible with plant operating experience, in a letter dated hlay 3,1994, the licensee applied for changes to the Salem Unit Nos.1 and 2 j
TSs on the basis of GL 93-05 to revise, in part, the surveillance frequericles for the combustion gas control system. In this application, the licensee stated that the operating experience at Salem was compatible with the requested change. in amendments nos.153 and 134 dated July 27,1994, the NRC staff issued revisions to the Salem Unit Nos.1 and 2 TS, respectively, that reduced the surveillance frequency requirement for the channel calibrations of the hydrogen analyzers. These amendments changed the calibration frequency from quarterly to once per refueling outage.
On May 14,1997, the licensee informed the NRC staff that it had not considered the manufacturer's recommendation for calibration frequency when applying for the changes to the channel calibration frequency for the hydrogen analyzers in addition to administratively imposing a retum to the quarterly frequ6ncy, the licensee committed to revise the frequency in TS 4.6.4.1, On the basis of this commitment, the licensee submitted its application in a "LR-N970603, Application for Amends to Licenses DPR-70 & DPR-75,revising Containment Hydrogen Analyzer SRs of [[TS" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid..1|letter dated October 24,1997]], to retum the TS calibration frequency to quarterty.
The proposed revisions retun, the channel calibration frequency to the value recommended by the instrument manufacturer, and the proposed frequency is more restrictive than the current surveillance requirement. The quarterly calibration frequency will provide an earlier and more i
frequent Indication of the system status and will increase the probability that ',he system will perform in accordance with design function. Therefore, the NRC staff finds the changes to be acceptable.
3.0 STATE CONSULTATION
l In accordance with the Commission's regulations, the New Jersey State official was notified of the proposed issuance of the amendments. The State official had no comments.-
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4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION
The amendments change a requirement with respect tc installation or use of a facitty component located within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20 and change surveillance -
requirements. The NRC staff has determined that the amendments involve no significant 1
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,nreviously issued a proposed finding that the amendments involve no significant hazards consideration, and there has been no public comment on such finding (62 FR 66140). Accordingly, the amendments meet the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b) no
. environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared in connection with the issuance of the amendments.
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5.0 CONCLUSION
The Commission has concluded, based on the cor siderations discussed above, that: (1) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by operation in the proposed manner, (2) such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations, and (3) the issuance of the amendments will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to 'he health and safety of the public.
Principal Contributor: P. Milano Date: January 29, 1998 i
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