ML20245J378

Safety Evaluation Supporting Amend 71 to License DPR-34

ML20245J378
Person / Time
Site:	Fort Saint Vrain
Issue date:	08/14/1989
From:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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ML20245J356	List: ML20245J351 ML20245J367 ML20245J378
References
NUDOCS 8908180015
Download: ML20245J378 (3)

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UNITED STATES

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].p NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHING TON, D. C. 20555

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SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION RELATED TO AMENDMENT NO. 71 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE N0. DPR-34 FUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO FORT ST. VRAIN NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION DOCKET NO. 50-267

1.0 INTRODUCTION

By letter dated April 14, 1989, Public Service Company of Colorado, the licensee for Fort St. Vrain Nuclear Generating Station, requested a license amendment to revise their Technical Specifications (TS) (Ref. 1). The amendment concerns the monitoring of radioactive effluents at fort St. Vrain. This amendment request completely supersedes an earlier request dated October 1, 1987 (Ref. 2). The proposed amendment would: (1) allow the licensee to use additional monitors for monitoring (RT-4801, particulate, RT-4802, halogens, and and noble RT-4803) to fulfill the TS gases, respectively; (2 req)uirements require the licensee under some circumstances to repair inoperable monitors within 7 days, rather than 30 days; (3) clarify when a gamma spectral analysis will be performed on samples taken from the gas waste tank; (4) correct an error in Environmental Surveillance Requirement (ESR) 8.1.2, nate 4 (page 8.1-24); and (5) makes other editorial changes.

2.0 EVALUATION Item 1 - Accitional Monitors Environmental Limiting Condition of Operation (ELCO) 8.1.1.g.2 (page 8.1-3) currently requircs that if the halogen or the particulate monitor becomes inoperable, gaseous effluer.ts ray continue to be released from the reactor building ventilation system provided that the effluent is continuously monitored with auxiliery sampling equipment. The licensee has proposed amending this ELCO to state that the monitor referer.ced in the ELCO is "the required monitor,"

and that if "the required monitor" is not available, then samples shall be obtained at least once per seven days and analyzed within 48 hours5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br />. The effect of this change (and a corresponding change to Environmental Surveillance Requirement (ESR) 8.1.1, note, page 8.1-9) would be to allow the licensee to indefinitely use monitors (RT-4801 and 4802) that would alarm at a " local" location, rather than alarm in the control room, as the required monitors (see Attachment 1 of Ref. 2). The monitors that presently serve this function are required to alarm in the control room.

The additional monitors (RT-4801 and 4802) serve as a backup monitor. If they fail to operate, the failure would be known by a check of the local alarm location. The proposed TSs do require that this area is currently checked every four hours; the use of the backup monitor is limited to 90 days. Therefore, the l

staff finds that this proposed change is acceptable. 4 1'

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. ELC0 8.1.1.g.3 (page 8.1-4) currently requires that if both noble gas ronitors l become inoperable, gaseous effluents may continue to be released from the reactor building ventilation system provided that grab samples are taken at t least once per eight hours and analyzed within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />. The licensee has proposed amending thE ELCO (and also ELCO 8.1.1.g.4) to state that the monitor referenced in the ELCO is "the required monitor." The effect of this change L (and a corresponding change to ESR 8.1.1, note, page 8.1-9) is similar to the effect for the halogen and particulate monitors. The change would allow the licensee,to use a monitor (RT-4803) with a " local" alarm, rather than an alarm in the control room, as one of the required monitors. In contrast to the two I existing monitors (RT-7324-1 and 2), the added monitor is not capable of terminating releases from the reactor building vent. However, the proposed TS require that the operable monitors are checked every four hours which provides adequate centrol of the release. The staff finds the proposed change acceptable for the reasons noted in regard to the halogen and particulate monitors.

Item 2 - Inoperable Monitors ELC0 8.1.1.g.8 (page 8.1-6 and 7) currently requires that if one or more of the gaseous effluent monitors are inoperable, "best efforts shall be exerted to return the instruments to operable status within thirty days, and if unsuccessful," provide an explanation in the next Semi-Anrual Effluent Report.

The licensee has proposed amending the TS to exert "best efforts" to return the instruments to operable status within seven days and if unsuccessful, to submit a special report within 14 days. The staff finds the proposed change acceptable.

Item 3 - Gamma Spectral Analysis The licensee proposes to change ESR 8.1.1.1.d (page 8.1-10) to clarify when a gamma spectral analysis shall be performed on samples taken from the gas waste tank. The licensee proposes to analyze the samples within 48 hours5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br />. The staff finds this change acceptable since it is consistent with the standard technical specifications.

Item 4 - Correction The licensee proposed to delete ESR 8.1.2.d.4 (page 8.1-24) since it is not applicable to the instrument controls at Fort St. Vrain. The licensee has

~ also made other editorial changes. The staff finds these changes acceptable.

The staff has reviewed Public Service Ccmpany of Colorado's proposed amendment regarding the monitoring of radioactive effluents at Fort St. Vrain. The staff finds that Items 1, 2, 3 and 4 meet the applicable regulatory guidance and require-ments and are therefore acceptable.

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION

The amendment involves a change in the installation or use of a facility ccmponent lccated within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. The staff has determined that the amencment involves no significant increase in the amounts, and no significant change in the types, of any effluents that may be e

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y s sN released offsite, and that there is no significant increase in individual cr cumulative occupational radiation exposures. .The Comission has previously issued a proposed finding that the amendment involves no significant hazards l' consideration and there has been no public coment on such finding. Accordingly, the amendment meets the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR Section 51.22(c)(9). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared in connection with the issuance of the amendment.

5.0 CONCLUSION

The. staff has concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that:

(1) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the will not be endangered by operation in the proposed manner, and (2) public such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations, and the issuance of the anendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.

6.0 REFERENCES

i 1. Letter from R. O. Williams, Jr., Public Service Company of Colorado, to Nuclear Reculatory Commission, dated April 14, 1989.

l 2. Letter from R. O. Williams, Jr., Public Service Company of Colorado, to Nuclear Regulatory Commission, dated October 1,1987.

l Date: August 14, 1989 Principal Contributors: Robert A. Meck Kenneth L. Heitner 4

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