ML20204C800
| ML20204C800 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Nine Mile Point  |
| Issue date: | 03/16/1999 |
| From: | NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20204C797 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9903230291 | |
| Download: ML20204C800 (3) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION t
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SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION 1
RELATED TO AMENDMENT NO. 165 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. DPR-63 NIAGARA MOHAWK POWER CORPORATION NINE MILE POINT NUCLEAR STATION. UNIT NO.1 DOCKET NO. 50-220 10 INTRODUCTION By letter dated December 30,1998, Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (NMPC or the licensee), proposed a license amendment to change the Technical Specifications (TSs) for Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit No.1 (NMP1). The proposed amendment would change TS Tables 3.6.14-2 and 4.6.14-2 regarding the noble gas activity monitor channel operability requirement and the daily sensor check suneillance requirement to be consistent with the conditions specified in Limiting Condition for Operation 3.1.3.a for operability of the Emergency Cooling System (ECS). Also, this amendment corrects a clerical error in TS 4.6.15.d.
2.0 BACKGROUND
The licensee is proposing changes to TS Tables 3.6.14-2 and 4.6.14-2 to satisfy the requirement of 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix A, General Design Criterion (GDC) 64, to monitor effluent discharge paths and to assure that the radioactive effluents are maintained within the dose and dose rate limits of 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix l and 10 CFR Part 20 for the ECS noble gas activity monitor. GDC 64, requires monitoring of effluent discharge paths and plant environs for radioactivity that may be released from normal operations, including anticipated operational occurrences, and from postulated accidents. The ECS noble gas activity monitor, provides the monitoring of emergency cooling condenser atmospheric vent path. TS 3.13.a requires the emergency cooling system to be operable during power operating conditions and whenever the reactor coolant temperature is greater than 212 *F, except for hydrostatic testing with the reactor net critical. Currently, TS Table 3.6.14-2 requires the ECS noble gas activity monitor to be operable during reactor power operating condition. Currently, TS Table 4.6.14-2 requires that a daily sensor check surveil!ance be performed during the reactor power operating condition. The proposed amendment would extend the operability requirement and the daily sensor check surveillance requirement of the ECS noble gas activity monitor to be consistent with the requirements for operability of the ECS.
The ECS is a standby system that is designed to remove fission product decay heat following a reactor scram, if the main condenser is not available as a heat sink, or in the event of a loss of reactor feedwater. The ECS is described in Section V-E and the associated noble gas activity monitor is described in Section Vill-C.3.1.1 of the NMP1 Final Safety Analysis Report.
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The ECS consists of two independent loops, each with two emergency condensers. Steam is I
supplied from the reactor to the tube side of the emergency condensers. Cooling water surrounds the tubes on the shell side of the condensers. When the system is in operation, the steam from the reactor causes the cooling water that surrounds the tubes to boil at approximately 5 psig, transferring the heat from the reactor to the cooling water. The steam from the reactor is condensed to water and is retumed to the reactor vessel. The cooling water in the emergency condenser that absorbed the heat boils, and is vented to atmosphere.
The vent line from each of the ECS loops is provided with two noble gas activity monitor channels. These monitors provide a high radiation alarm in the control room in the event of a tube leak in the emergency condenser. Isolation of a loop with indication of tube leakage is accomplished by manually closing the inlet and outlet valves.
3.0 EVALUATION The proposed TS amendment consists of changes to TS Sections 3.6.14 and 4.6.14 regarding the operability requirement and daily sensor check surveillance requirement. This amendment 1
also corrects a clerical error in TS 4.6.15.d. These proposed changes are summarized and discussed below.
i (1) TS Table 3.6.14-2, Radioactive Effluent Monitoring instrumentation: The proposed change is to modify the ECS noble gas activity monitor applicability from "During reactor j
power operating condition" to "During power operating conditions and whenever the reactor coolant temperature is greater than 212 'F, except for hydrostatic testing with the reactor not critical."
(2) TS Table 4.6.14 2, Radioactive Gaseous Process and Effluent Monitoring instruments:
The proposed cf ange is to modify the ECS noble gas activity monitor requirement for the daily sensor check surveillance from "During reactor power operating condition" to *During power operating conditions and whenever the reactor coolant temperature is greater than 212 *F, except for hydrostatic testing with the reactor not critical."
(3) TS 4.6.15.d, Radioactive Effluents Uranium Fuel Cycle: The proposed change is to cite TS 4.6.15.b.(3)instead of TS 4.6.16.b.(3). The current TS 4.6.15.d requires the cumulative dose contributions from liquid and gaseous effluent for the uranium fuel cycle to be determined in accordance with TS 4.6.15.a.(2),4.6.15.b.(2), and 4.6.16.b.(3);
however there is no TS 4.6.16.b.(3). TS 4.6.15.b.3, which applies to the cumulative dose contributions of iodine-131, iodine-133, tritium, and radionuclides in particulate form with half-lives greater than 8 days, is the correct citation. The change is a proper editorial
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correction and is, therefore, acceptable.
i 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix A. GDC 64, " Monitoring Radioactivity Releases," requires monitoring of effluent discharge paths r.d plant environs for radioactivity that may be released from normtd nwrations, including anticipated operational occurrences, and from postulated accidents.
. 1 Currently, at least one channel of the ECS noble gas activity monitor is required to be operable and a daily sensor check surveillance is required to be performed when the reactor is in the power operating condition. The ECS noble gas activity monitor provides the monitoring of emergency cooling condenser atmospheric vent path. Since the ECS is required to be i
operable during power operating conditions and whenever the reactor coolant temperature exceeds 212 *F except for hydrostatic testing with the reactor not critical, the ECS noble gas activity monitor should have the same operability and daily sensor check surveillance requirement to assure that the emergency cooling condenser vent path is being monitored as required by GDC 64 and the radioactive effluents are maintained within the dose and dose rate limits of 10 CFR Part 20 and 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix 1. The NRC staff finds this more restrictive change acceptable.
4.0 STATE CONSULTATION
in accordance with the Commission's regulations, the New York State official was notified of the proposed issuance of the amendment. The State official had no comments.
5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION
The amendment changes a requirement with respect to installation or use of a facility component located within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20 and changes surveillance requirements. The NRC staff has determined that the amendment involves no i
significant 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 previously issued a proposed finding that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration, and there has been no public comment on such finding (64 FR 6699). Accordingly, the amendment meets the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b)no environmentalimpact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared in connection with the issuance of the amendment.
6.0 CONCLUSION
The Commission has concluded, based on the considerations 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 amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
Principal Contributor: Jack Cushing Darl Hood l
Date: March 16, 1999 i
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