ML20206F202

Informs That NPPD Now Anticipates LAR Committed in Will Be Submitted by 990615.Operability Evaluations Presently in Effect Ensure That ECCS Pumps Are Operable But Nonconforming & Are Capable of Fulfilling Safety Functions

ML20206F202
Person / Time
Site:	Cooper
Issue date:	04/30/1999
From:	Swailes J NEBRASKA PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NLS990042, NUDOCS 9905060028
Download: ML20206F202 (3)

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2 Nebraska Public Power District NebmMs Enegy Leada NLS990042 April 30,1999 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission i Attention: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Gentlemen:

Subject:

Revision of Commitment Made in Response to NRC Generic Letter 97-04 Request for AdditionalInformation Cooper Nuclear Station, NRC Docket 50-298, DPR-46

Reference:

1. NRC Generic Letter 97-04 dated October 7,1997," Assurance of Sufficient Net Positive Suction Head for Emergency Core Cooling and Containment Heat Removal Pumps"

2. Letter NLS930149 to USNRC from M. F. Peckham (NPPD) dated September 22,1998, " Response to NRC Generic Letter 97-04, Request for \

Additional Information"

3. Letter to G. R. Horn from NRC dated November 24,1998, " Cooper Nuclear Station Response to Request for Information Pertaining to Generic Letter 97-04," Assurance of Sufficier.t Net Positive Suction Head for Emergency Core Cooling and Containment Heat Removal Pumps"(TAC No. M99978)"

4. L,etter NLS980201 to USNRC from J. H. Swailes (NPPD) dated December 23, h

1998, "Re :ponse to NRC Generic Letter 97-04, Request for Additional Information" t

On October 7,1997, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Generic Letter 97-04 (Reference 1) regarding an issue which may have generic implications for Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) and containment heat removal system pumps.

The District's response to a Request for Additional Information (Reference 2) was that by maintaining adequate margins between the ECCS pump Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) requirements and the available NPSH, including a contribution from containment overpressure, Cooper Nuclear Station (CNS) is operating within its licensing basis. The NRC response 9905060028 990430 PDR "

P ADOCK 05000298 Cooper Nudear Station PDR 98/Brownwile, NE 683214098 reseynwee: (4W) 825 3811/ Fax: (4W) 825-5211 http//www nppd com E _

NLS990042 l April 30,1999 l

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(Reference 3) stated that the increased magnitude of the reliance on containment overpressure to ensure adequate NPSH for the ECCS pumps had not been reviewed and approved by the NRC l staff, Since the NRC believes that the magnitude of the containment overpressure contribution, 'I as well as the margins, are part of the CNS design basis, the NRC maintains its position that CNS is operating beyond the licensing basis for the facility.

In the District's response (Reference 4) to the NRC letter dated November 24,1998 (Reference 3), the District committed to prepare and submit for NRC approval, a License Amendment on this issue by April 30,1999.

An analysis was provided to the District by General Electric Nuclear Energy on April 15,1999, ,

to support the License Amendment. Formal review and approval of the analysis, and the I preparation of the Licensing Amendment is continuing but, is not expected to be completed by I April 30,1999.

The District now anticipates this License Amendment will be submitted by June 15,1999. As discussed in Reference 4, the Operability Evaluations, presently in effect, ensure that the ECCS pumps are operable, but nonconforming, and are therefore capable of fulfilling their safety  !

function if required. I Should you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact me. i Sincerely, J. H. S a.les i

' e P sident of uc r Energy

/rar l

cc: Regional Administrator USNRC - Region IV Senior Project Manager USNRC -NRR Project Directorate IV-1 Senior Resident Inspector USNRC NPG Distribution -

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, l ATTACHMENT 3 LIST OF NRC COMMITMENTS l l l

.. Correspondence No: NLS990042 The'following table identifies those actions committed to by the District in this document. .Any other actions _ discussed in the submittal represent intended or

_ planned actions by the District. They are described to the NRC for the NRC's information and are_not regulatory commitments. Please notify the Licensing Manager at Cooper Nuclear Station of any questions regarding this document or any associated 1 regulatory commitments. I COMMITTED DATE COMMITMENT OR OUTAGE The District will submit for NRC approval a License i Amendment which details the ECCS pump NPSH requirements June 15, 1999 in a post LOCA condition.

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l PROCEDURE NUMBER 0.42 l REVISION NUMBER S l PAGE 9 OF 13 l