ML20210D263

Environ Assessment & Finding of No Significant Impact Supporting Licensee 870304-06 Requests for Exemption from Requirements of 10CFR50.55a(h),App J

ML20210D263
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley
Issue date:	04/30/1987
From:	Stolz J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
Shared Package
ML20210D267	List: ML20210D263
References
NUDOCS 8705070088
Download: ML20210D263 (5)

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7590-01 l

c UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

.j DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY OHIO EDISON COMPANY CLEVELAND ELECTRIC ILLHMINATING COMPANY l

TOLEDO EDISON COMPANY DOCKET NO. 50-412 3

NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF l

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N0 SIGNIFICANT IMPACT 1

The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission (the Cornission) is considering j

issuance of exemptions from the requirements of (1) 10 CFR 50.55a(h), and (2) Appendix J to 10 CFR 50, to Duquesne Light Company, et. al. Ithe applicants),

i for the Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit 2, located in Shippingport, Pennsylvania.

I ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT I

j Identification of Proposed Actions: Duquesne Light Company, on behalf of all i

l the applicants, filed letters to identify the need for these exemptions.

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These are described as follows:

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(1) 10 CFR 50.55a(h) codifies the requirements of IEEE Standard 279.

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Currently, the design of the feedwater isolation actuation circuitry does not meet the requirements prescribed in paragraph 4.7 of.IEEE 279. Several options i

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are available to satisfy the subject requirements and the applicants, by letter t

dated March 4,1987, comitted to install a device called a median selector.

This is an acceptable option but the device cannot be installed prior to fuel Icad. The applicants requested a schedular exemption to pemit operation without the subject device during the first fuel cycle.

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8705070088 870430 PDR ADOCK 05000412 i

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2 7-(2)Section III.D.2(b)(ii) of Appendix J,10 CFR 50, states that " Air locks opened during periods when containment integrity is not required by the plant Technical Specifications shall be tested at the end of such periods at not less than P,."

By letter dated March 6, 1987, the applicants requested that the Beaver Valley Unit No. 2 Technical Specifications be written to require an overall air lock leak rate test at P, (44.7 psig) to be perfomed "Upon completion of maintenance which has been perfomed on the air lock that could affect the air lock sealing capability." This requested exemption is consistent with the staff's position on the acceptable testing frequency necessary to demonstrate air lock sealing capability intended in Appendix J.

The staff's current position is shown in the Standard Technical Specifications i

for Westinghouse Pressurized Water Reactors (NUREG-0452 Rev. 4). Until

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Comission Rulemaking changes the current requirement in Appendix J, an exemption to the present regulation must be granted before the licensee can adopt the requested regulation.

The Need for Proposed Actions: The proposed exemptions are needed because:

(1)

A steam generator overfill event that happens as a result of the current design is extremely unlikely.

In addition, operators are trained to immediately identify potential overfill events and take remedial actions.

Literal compliance with IEEE-279 at this time would cause a delay to startup of the unit. The requested schedular exemption would be granted on the basis of the staff's analysis of compensatory measures.

(2) Based on experience at various plants, the staff found that literal compliance with Section III.D.2(b)(ii) of Appendix J is not necessary to assure containment leaktightness. The requested exemption is in compliance with the

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staff's technical position and has been granted to many plants, including Beaver Valley Unit 1.

Literal compliance with the regulation would lead to increased costs and occupational exposure.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Actions:

(1) The proposed exemption to 10 CFR 50.55a(h) is based on compensatory measures that would insure the same degree of safety as that provided by the requirements of IEEE 279. Therefore, this exemption will not increase the probability of accidents and the i

post-accident radiological releases to greater than previously determined, nor

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otherwise affect radiological plant effluents.

(2) Similiarly, the proposed l

exemption to 10 CFR 50 Appendix J Section II.D.2(D)(ii) will assure air lock sealing capability and containment integrity; therefore, this exemption will not increase the probability of accidents and the post-accident radiological l

l releases to greater than previously detennined, nor otherwise affect i

j radiological plant effluents. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there j

are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with this proposed exemption.

With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed exemptions involve features located entirely within the restricted area as defined in 10 l

CFR Part 20. They would not affect non-radiological plant effluents and would i

have no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Connission concludes that 4

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there are no significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed exemptions.

j Alternatives to the Proposed Actions: The principal alternative to the proposed i

j actions would be to deny the requested exemptions. This would cause an l

unnecessary delay to startup of the unit, resulting in increased costs (for each exemption) and occupational exposure (for the second exemptioni.

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, Alternative itse of Resources: These actions involve no use of resources not previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement (construction permit and operating license) for the Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit No. 2.

Agencies and Persons Consulted: The NRC staff reviewed the applicants' requests and did not consult other agencies or persons.

FINDING OF SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed exemption.

Based upon the foregoing environmental assessment, the Comission concludes that the proposed actions will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment.

For further details with respect to these actions, see the applications for exemptions dated March 4 and 6,1987, which are available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room,1717 H Street, N.W.,

Washington, D.C., and at the R. F. Jones Memorial Library, 663 Franklin Avenue Aliquippa, Pennsylvania 15001.

Dated at Bethesda, Maryland this 30th day of April,1987.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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J n 9 Stolz, Director P' of t Directorate I-4 0 g ion of Reactor Projects I/II i

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PTam April 30,1987

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50-412 Rules and Procedures Branch IIEttoRANOUed FoR:

Division of Rules and Records Office of Administration i

FRoas:

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Division of Reactor Projects 1/II SUSJECT:

BEAVER VALLEY POER STATION, UlGT 3 One signed original of the Federal Reg / ster Notice identified below is enclosed for your transmittal to the Office of the Federal Register for publication. Additional conformed copies (

$ ) of the Notice are enclosed for your use.

Notice of Receipt of Application for Construction Permit (s) and Operating License (s).

Notice of Receipt of Partial Application for Construction Permit (s)and Facility License (s): Time for Submission of Views on Antitrust Matters.

Notice of Consideration of lasuance of Amendment to Facility Operating License.

Notice of Receipt of Application fo-r Facility License (s); Notice of Availability of Applicant's Environmental Report; and Notice of Consideration of issuance of Facility Licerise(s)and Notice of Opportunity for Hearing.

Notice of Availability of NRC Draf t/ Final Environmental Statement.

Notice of Limited Work Authorization.

Notice of Availability of Safety Evaluation Report.

Notice of Issuance of Construction Permit (s).

Notice of lasuance of Facility Operating License (s) or Amendment (s).

Order.

O E,empiion.

Notice of Oranting Exemption.

h Environmental Assessment.and finding of No Significant Impact Notice of Preparation of Environmental Assessment.

@ Otner: Please publish in the next Federal Regis_t_er Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Project Directorate I-4 Division of Reactor Projects I/I!

Enclosure:

As stated

Contact:

E. Hackley Phone:

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