ML20205C656

Submits Semiannual Update on Project Plans for USAR Review Project & Conversion to ITS

ML20205C656
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello, Prairie Island
Issue date:	03/26/1999
From:	Wadley M NORTHERN STATES POWER CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NUDOCS 9904010296
Download: ML20205C656 (5)

Text

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Northern states Power Company 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401-1927 Telephone (612) 330-5500 Marcli 26,1999 10 CFR 50.71(e)

U S Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 MONTICELLO NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT Docket No. 50-263 License No. DPR-22 PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT Docket Nos. 50-282 License Nos. DPR-42 50-306 DPR-60 Semiannual Status Update on Project Plans for USAR Review Project and Conversion to improved Technical Specifications (ITS)

Reference:

1) Letter from M D Wadley, VP Nuclear Generation, Northern f,/

States Power Company to USNRC Document Control Desk, dated September 2G,1997, " Project Plans for USAR Review D

/

Project and Conversion to Improved Technical Specifications (ITS)"

Reference:

2) Letter from M D Wadley, President Nuclear Generation, Northern States Power Company to USNRC Document Control ofg/

Desk dated December 28,1998, " Change to Commitment for Submittal of Imptoved Technical Specification Application" in the reference (1) and (2) letters, NSP provided the following commitments:

(1) Prairie Island plans to complete its USAR Review Project in December of 2001.

(2) Monticello plans to complete its USAR Review Project in June of 2001.

9904010296 990326

• PDR ADOCK 05000263 P PDR j

. USNRC March 26,1999 Page 2 of 5 (3) Prairie Islandplans u 'rovide an Improved Technical Specification conversion package suu.... ital to the NRC in October of 1999. (revised below).

(4) Monticello p!ans to provide an Improved Technical Specification conversion package submittal to the NRC in December of 2000. (revised below).

PRAIRIE ISLAND USAR REVIEW PROJECT Taraet milestone summary:

Milestone: Phase I; Final document completed by 6l30198 The final document is complete. The information has been submitted for typing. A revision to the USAR is expected to be made in the second quarter of 1999. Two sections (14.4 and Appeno.x I) are on a punch list for completion at a later date.

Phase ll Activities Part A (Accuracy)- the risk significant systems have been identified. The subsections related to those systems have been scheduled to be completed prior to the proposed end of the anforcement discretion period. The review has identified some discrepancies between the USAR and the plantiprocedures. The discrepancies have been processed using the existing NCR (nonconformance) process.

Part B (Completeness)- the documents to be reviewed have been identified and entered into a database. An initial review was done to screen out those items not related to Praiiie Island's USAR. The remainder of the documents are being reviewed in more detail.

Phase lll No activities have begun on Phase lii. Initial plans will be formulated in the third quarter of 1999.

Other activities related to the USAR Project

. Prairie Island continues to have a member participating on the NEl Task Force for developing guidance for SAR Updates, NEl 98-03.

. USNRC March 26,1999 Page 3 of 5 MONTICELLO USAR REVIEW PROJECT Taraet milestone summarv:

Phase i Subject Matter Expert Review is complete.

Phase 11 Part A (Comprehensive Review) will be completed by 6/30/00.

Phase ll Part B (Issue Resolution) will be completed by 6/30/01.

USAR Project Status:

• Phase I is complete. All USAR sections have been reviewed by a Subject Matter Expert.

• Phase ll Is in process of performing checks for completeness following guidance provided in NEl 98-03 Rev 0.This review is currently looking at Generic Letters, Bulletins, Orders and Rules for applicability to Monticello's USAR.

. Emphasis is being placed on resolving issues found during Phase i reviews and the incorporation of USAR changes resulting from the approval of the Power Rerate License Amendment.

. The USAR revision incorporating power rerate changes will be submitted by August 28*,1999 as required by the License Conditions from Amendment #102.

• Continued to participate on the NEl Design Basis Task Force developing the Design Basis guidance document NEl 97-04 and the BWROG Design Basis / USAR infonnation exchange committee.

PRAIRIE ISLAND ITS PROJECT Taraet Submittal:

Prairie Island has made significant progress on ITS conversion since the last update as shown below. The drafts of two technical sections,3.5 and 3.6, were completed including technical, Operations and Safety Audit committee reviews and work on all sections has been initiated. In mid-1998, NSP introduced a new computer network environment which required extensive rework of project electronic files. Also, the committee reviews of the ITS technical sections require more resources and time than previously anticipated. Based on these factors, NSP has re-evaluated the P1 ITS conversion schedule. NSP now plans to submit the PI ITS conversion package in August of 2000.

. _USNRC' March 26,1999 Page 4 of 5 Onaoina Activities:

1.0 Definitions Draft Complete 2.0 Safety Limits Draft Complete 3.0 LCO/SR Applicability Draft Complete 3.1 Reactivity Control Systems in Progress 3.2 Power Distribution Limits In Progress 3.3 Instrumentation in Progress 3.4 RCS in Progress 3.5 ECCS Draft Complete 3.6 Containment Draft Complete 3.7 Plant Systems In Progress 3.8 Electrical Power Systems In Progress 3.9 Refueling Operations In Progress 4.0 Design Features' in Progress 5.0 Administrative Controls in Progress Accordingly, the commitment made in Reference 1 to provide an ITS conversion package submittel, for Prairie Island, to the NRC in October 1999 is hereby revised to August 2000.

MONTICELLO ITS PROJECT The Improved Technica! Specification (ITS) conversion at Monticello will be deferred unfl a decision is made and a schedule developed for license renewal. Without license renewal, the potential benefit period for ITS is quite short (approximately 7 years) making it difficult to justify the investment required for conversion, especially with the ongoing restructuring of the electric utility industry. Our decision also

- considered that the current Monticello Technical Specifications are sound and present few problems, thus reducing the potential benefit of ITS conversion. '

Additionally, there is a potential for significant Technical Specification content -

change as a result of the NRC/ industry initiatives toward risk informed regulation.

However, NSP recognizes that the current Technical Specifications could benefit from certain incrementalimprovements such as incorporation of the 24-hour missed surveillance provision and the relocation of certain Technical Gpecifications which are more appropriately controlled through the 10CFR 50.59 process. In addition, we are mindful of the provisions of NRC Administrative Letter 98-10, "Dispositioning of Technical Specifications that are Insufficient to Assure Plant Safety", and will ensure that any discovery of Technical Specifications that are non-conservative or specify incorrect actions will be promptly and appropriately dispositioned.

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,- USNRC March 26,1999 Page 5 of 6 These considerations were discussed in a meeting witn the Staff on February 24, 1999.

Accordingly, the commitment made in Reference 2 to provide an ITS conversion package submittal, for Monticello, to the NRC by December 2000 is hereby withdrawn. i Please contact Mark McKeown (012-330-6989) if you have any questions related to i this letter.

/}'k h Mike Wadley President, Nuclear Generation Northern States Power Company i c: Regiora' Administrator-lil, NRC NRR Project Manager (Monticello), NRC NRR Project Manager (Prairie Island), NRC Resident inspector (Monticello), NRC Resident inspector (Prairie Island), NRC State of Minnesota, Attn: Steve Minn J Silberg