ML20209A853

Requests Expedited Issuance of 861120 Proposed Tech Spec Revs to Snubber Operability Criteria to Avoid Unnecessary Unit Shutdown,Per 10CFR50.91(a)(5)

ML20209A853
Person / Time
Site:	Hatch
Issue date:	01/27/1987
From:	Gucwa L GEORGIA POWER CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
GL-84-13, SL-1907, TAC-64157, TAC-64158, NUDOCS 8702030460
Download: ML20209A853 (2)

Text

Georgia Fower Company

- Ian Ge ga 8 Telephone 404 526 6526 Mailing Address:

Post Office Box 4545 Atlanta, Georgia 30302 Georgialbwer L T. Gucwa the southern tAcctrc sprem Manager Nuclear Safety and Licensing SL-1907 1088C January 27, 1987 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, D. C. 20555 NRC DOCKET 50-321 l

OPERATING LICENSE DPR-57 EDWIN I. HATCH NUCLEAR PLANT UNIT 1

REQUEST FOR EXPEDITED ISSUANCE 0F TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AMENDMENT Gentlemen

Georgia Power Company's (GPC) submittal of November 20, 1986, requested revisions to snubber operability criteria for Plant Hatch Units f 1 and 2 Technical Specifications (TS). Specifically, that submittal sought to remove the current requirement that all hydraulic snubbers showing visible signs of fluid leakage must be considered inoperable for the purpose of establishing the next snubber inspection interval. The requested change was consistent with NRC guidance provided by Generic Letter 84-13 and BWR Standard Technical Specifications. To avoid an l unnecessary plant shutdown, we request expedited issuance of the requested change for Plant Hatch Unit 1.

Subsequent to the submittal, a snubber inspection outage was entered, on November 28, 1986, at Plant Hatch Unit 1. Results of that inspection revealed a total of seven inoperable hydraulic snubbers (2 accessible and 5 inaccessible), six of which were conservatively declared inoperabic because the inspection revealed signs of fluid leakage, pursuant to TS 4.6.L.2. The seven snubbers were repaired or replaced; three of the seven snubbers were successfully functionally tested pursuant to TS 4.6.L.4, in the "as found" condition. However, TS 4.6.L.2 specifies that these snubbers cannot be considered operable for establishment of the next snubber inspection interval. (The requested amendment modifies this provision.) Accordingly, this results in a re-inspection interval, based on five inoperable inaccessible snubbers, of 62 days, pursuant to TS 4.6.L.1. Including applicability of the 25 percent interval extension allowed by TS Definition 1.0.11 " Surveillance Frequency", a unit shutdown will be required by February 5,1987, solely for the purpose of snubber inspection.

I()0 o Q2030460070127 p ADOCK 05000321 i PDR

Georgia Power d U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Committee January 27, 1987 Page Two Contingent upon NRC approval of the change requested by letter of November 20, 1986, those three hydraulic snubbers which were successfully functicnally tested after showing signs of fluid leakage in the November 1986 inspection outage, may be considered operable for the purpose of re-establishing the snubber surveillance interval pursuant to TS 4.6.L.2. Under the changed Specification for snubber operability, a re-consideration of past inoperable snubbers will provide a 124 day re-inspection interval (based on four inoperable snubbers) precluding the need for the February 5,1987 shutdown and allowing continued operation of Plant Hatch Unit 1 until the next scheduled refueling outage, currently planned for April 22, 1987. Thus, approval of the November 20, 1986 submittal for Plant Hatch Unit 1 will result in avoidance of an unnecessary unit shutdown with attendant cycling of equipment and adverse effects.

When the November 20, 1986 submittal was made, we did not identify the need for expedited review, since the submittal preceded the inspection outage discussed above. However, since it is now apparent that the requested change cannot be normally processed and granted prior to the above planned shutdown date, it is hereby requested that the Technical Specifications change proposed for Plant Hatch Unit 1 in GPC's letter of November 20, 1986, be treated pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 50.91(a)(5), which provides for expedited issuance of amendments which are necessary to prevent a unit derate or shutdown.

We appreciate your consideration of this matter. If you have any questions, please contact this office at any time.

Sincerely, WW L. T. Gucwa RED /lc c: Georgia Power Company U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mr. J. P. O'Reilly C. N. Grace, Regional Administrator i Mr. J. T. Beckham, Jr. Mr. P. Holnes-Ray, Senior Resident Mr. H. C. Nix, Jr. Inspector - Hatch GO-NORMS Mr. G. Rivenbark, Licensing Project Manager 700775 l