ML20217C268
| ML20217C268 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 03/23/1998 |
| From: | Croteau R NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20217C275 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9803260407 | |
| Download: ML20217C268 (7) | |
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Y 7590-01-P j
UNITED STATES NUCI FAR REGULATORY COMMISSION VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION DOCKET NO. 50-271
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NOTICE OF CONSIDERATION OF ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENT TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE PROPOSED NO SIGNIFICANT HAZARDS CONSIDERATION DETERMINATION. AND OPPORTUNITY FOR A HEARING The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. DPR-28 issued to Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation (the licensee) for operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY) located in Windham County, Vermont.
The proposed amendment would modify the licensing basis by limiting the time the large (18") purge and vent valves may be open to containment.
Before issuance of the proposed license amendment, the Commission will have made findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act) and the Commission's regulations.
The Commission has made a proposed determination that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration.' Under the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR 50.92, this meens that operation of the facility in accordance with the proposed amendment would not (1) involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated; or (2) create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated; or (3) involve a signifcant reduction in a margin of safety. As required by 10 CFR 50.91(a), the licensee has provided its analysis of the issue of no significant hazards consideration, which is presented below:
9803260407 980323 PDR ADOCK 05000271 P
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- 1. The operation of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Powcr Station in accordance with the proposed amendment, will not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated.
No physical change is being made to any systems or components that are credited in the safety analysis, therefore there is no change in the probability or consequences of any accident analyzed in the Final Safety Analysis Report.
The proposed change will not affect the ability of the purge and vent valves to isolate primary containment. The ability to isolate primary containment remains unaffected by the proposed amendment.
VY's current licensing basis allows for unlimited purge and vent operations, but this does not ensure the integrity of the [ standby gas treatment) SBGT system. The proposed change will assure the integrity and operability of the SBGT system if a design basis accident occurs. This is accomplished by restricting the use of each 18 inch containment vent and purge flow path during any period that primary containment integrity is required. The restrictions imposed by the license amendment request on the opening of the purge and vent valves will limit the period of time that a potential off-site release flow path exists. Consequently, the probability that a potential rolesse path exis's coincident with a breach of the primary coolant system will be reduced, providing additional assurance that a release of radioactive gases to the environment will be avoided.
1 Allowing limited use of the purge and vent valves during periods when primary containment integrity !s required reduces the probability of an accident by allowing personnel access to primary containment for the maintenance and inspection of equipment. In addition, it will allow performance of rated temperature and pressure inspections of the reactor coolant system (RCS) during plant startups which provide additional margin for safe operation of the unit by verifying all RCS boundaries that have been interrupted during the refueling outage have been returned to an operable condition.
- 2. The operation of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in accordance with the proposed amendment, will not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated.
The proposed change does not establish a new mode of operation for the purge and
' vent valve system, only the extent to which the system may be used. The proposed change imposes additional restrictions on the operations of the cordainment purge and vent valves. Additional restrictions for operation of these valves does not create the possibility for a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated.
Additionally, the proposed change does not affect the ability of the containment purge and vent valves to mitigate previcusly evalua;ed accidents during the modes they are credited. The purge and vent valves, if open during an accident will maintain the ability to close against the postulated differential pressure.
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- 3. The operation of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in accordance with the proposed amendment, will not involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety.
Currently, [the technical specification] TS allows unlimited use of containment purge and vent isolation valves. The proposed change will assure the integrity and operability of the SBGT system. This is accomplished by restricting the use of each 18 inch con:alnment purge and vent flow path during periods when primary containment integrity is required. The more restrictive requirements reduce the probability of an accident concurrent with purge and vent operations.
The NRC staff has reviewed the licensee's analysis and, based on this review, it appears that the three standards of 10 CFR 50.g2(c) are satisfied. Therefore, the NRC staff proposes to determine that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration.
The Commission is seeking public comments on this proposed determination. Any comments received within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice will be considered in making any final determination.
Normally, the Commission will not issue the amendment until the expiration of the 30-day notice period. However, should circumstances change during the notice period such that failure to act in a timely way would result, for example, in derating or shutdown of the facility, the Commission may issue the license amendment before the expiration of the 30-day notice period, provided that its final determination is that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration. The final determination will consider all public and State comments received. Should the Commission take this action, it will publish in the FEDERAL REGISTER a notice of issuance and provide for opportunity for a hearing after issuance. The Commission expects that the need to take this action will occur very infrequently.
Written comments may be submitted by mail to the Chief, Rules and Directives Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, and should cite the publication date and page
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number of this FEDERAL REGISTER notice. Written comments may also be delivered to Room 6D59, Two White Flint North,11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, from 7:30 a.m.
to 4:15 p.m. Federal workdays. Copies of written comments received may be examined at the NRC Public Document Room, the Gelman Building,2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC.
The filing of requests for hearing and petitions for leave to intervene is discussed below.
By April 27, 1998, the licensee may file a request for a hearing with respect to -
issuance of the amendment to the subject facility operating license and any person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding must file a written request for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene.
Requests for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene shall be filed in accordance with the Commission's " Rules of Practice for Domestic Licensing Proceedings"in 10 CFR Part 2.
Interested persons should consult a current copy of 10 CFR 2.714 which is available at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building,2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at the Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301. If a request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene is filed -
by the above date, the Commission or an Atomic Safety and Licensing Beard, designated by the Commission or by the Chairman of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, will rule on the request and/or petition; and the Secretary or the designated Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will issue ~a notice of hearing or an appropriate order.
As required by 10 CFR 2.714, a petition for leave to intervene shall set forth with particularity the interest of the petitioner in the proceeding, and how that interest may be affected by the results of the proceeding. The petition should specifically explain the reasons why intervention should be permitted with particular reference to tlw following factors: (1) the nature of the petitioner's right under the Act to be made party to the proceeding; (2) the nature
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and extent of the petitioners property, financial, or other interest in the proceeding; and (3) the possible effect of any order which may be entered in the pivceeding on the petitioners interest.
The petition should also identify the specific aspect (s) of tne subject matter of the proceeding as
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to which petitioner wishes to intervene. Any person who has filed a petition for leave to intervene or who has been admitted as a party may amend the petition without requesting leave of the Board up to 15 days prior to the first prehearing conference scheduled in the proceeding, but such an ame'nded petition must satisfy the specificity requirements described above.
Not later than 15 days prior to the first prehearing conference scheduled in the proceeding, a petitioner shall file a supplement to the petition to intervene which must include a list of the contentions which are sought to be litigated in the matter. Each contention must consist of a specific statement of the issue of law or fact to be raised or controverted. In addition, the petitioner shall provide a brief explanation of the bases of the contention and a I
- concise statement of the alleged facts or expert opinion which support the contention and on I
which the petitioner intends to rely in proving the contention at the hearing. The petitioner must also provide references to those specific sources and documents of which the petiboner is aware and on which the petitioner intends to rely to establish those facts or expert opinion.
Petitioner must provide sufficient information to show that a genuine dispute exists with the applicant on a material issue of law or fact. Contentions shall be limited to matters within the scope of the amendment under consideration. The contention must be one which, if proven, would entitle the petitioner to relief. A petitioner who falls to file such a supplement which satisfies these requirements with respect to at least one contention will not be permitted to participate as a party.
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- Those permitted to intervene become parties to the proceeding, subject to any limitations in the order granting leave to intervene, and have the opportunity to participate fully i
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in the conduct of the hearing, including the opportunity to present evidence and cross-examine witnesses.
If a hearing is requested, the Commission will make a final determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration.- The final determination will serve to decide when the hearing is held.
If the final determination is that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration, the Commission may issue the amendment and make it immediately effective, notwithstanding the request for a hearing. Any hearing held would take place after issuance of the amendment.
If the final determination is that the amendment request involves a significant hazards consideration, any hearing held would take place before the issuance of any arnendment.
A request for a hearing or a petition for leave to intervene must be filed with the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, or may be delivered to the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building,2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, by the above date. A copy of the petition should also be sent to the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, and to Mr. David R. Lewis, Shaw, Pittman, Potts and Trowbridge,2300 N Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037-1128, attorney for the licensee.
Nontimely filings of petitions for leave to intervene, amended petitions, supplemental petitions and/or requests for hearing will not be entertained absent a determination by the Commission, the presiding officer or the presiding Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that the petition and/or request should be granted based upon a balancing of the factors specified in 10 CFR 2.714(a)(1)(i)-(v) and 2.714(d).
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7 For further details with respect to this action, see the application for amendment dated March 20,1998, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building,2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at the Brooks Memorial Library,224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of March 1998.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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Richard P. Croteau, Project Manager l
Project Directorate 1-3 Division of Reactor Projects - t/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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