ML20247F102

Discusses Util 890216 Response & 890320 Telcon Re Generic Ltr 88-14, Instrument Air Supply Sys Problems.... Pursuit of Issue Re Reactor Bldg to Torus Vacuum Breakers W/Bwr Owners Group Acceptable as Interim Action

ML20247F102
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	03/27/1989
From:	Fairtile M Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Capstick R VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP.
References
RTR-NUREG-1275 GL-88-14, TAC-71734, NUDOCS 8904030313
Download: ML20247F102 (4)

Text

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ - _ _ -

K'009 i.,

,,s jo UNITED STATES g

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 2

n s,

j WASHINGTON, D. C. 20665

%..... p' March 27,1989 Docket No. 50-271 i

Mr. R. W.-Capstick Licensing Engineer Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation 580 Main Street Bolton, Massachusetts 01740-1398 l

SUBJECT:

RESPONSE TO GENERIC LETTER 88-14 (TAC NO.71734)

On August 8,1988, the NRC staff issued Generic Letter 88-14 " Instrument Air Supply System Problems Affecting Safety-Related Equipment." The purpose of this generic letter was to request that each licensee / applicant review NUREG-1275, Volume 2, and perform a design and operations verification of the instrument air system.

This verification should include:

1.

Verification by test that actual instrument air quality is consistent with the manufacturer's recommendations for individual components served.

2.

Verification that maintenance practices, emergency procedures, and training are adequate to ensure that safety-related equipment will function as intended on loss of instrument air.

3.

Verification that the design of the entire instrument air system including air or other pneumatic accumulators is in accordance with its intended function, including verification by test that air-operated safety-related components will perform as expected in accordance with all design-basis eventa, including a loss of the normal instrument air system.

This design verification should include an analysis of current air operated component failure positions to verify that they are correct for assuring required safety functions.

In addition, to the above, each licensee / applicant should provide a discussion of their program for maintaining proper instrument air quality.

In a letter dated February 16, 1989, you responded to Generic Letter 88-14, describing your verification of the above requirements except for Reactor Building door seals as discussed herein.

Y 8904030313 890327 PDR ADOCK 05000271 P

PDC

Mr. R. W. Capstick

-2_

March 27, 1989 You stated that no component, other than the inflatable door seals for reactor building equipment access doors have been identified that may not accomplish its required safety function.

In order to provide assurance that secondary _

containment integrity will be maintained in the event of loss of instrument air, an additional temporary passive-type seal was installed. A permanent fix will be designed and installed as soon as practical following receipt of materials required to implement the design modification. You reported by telephone on March 20,1989 that these temporary seals were successfully tested on February 14, 1989.

A specific concern of the Generic Letter was in regard to the Reactor Building to torus vacuum breakers.

If instrument air failed, the air-operated vacuum breakers would open, leaving only a check valve in each vent path to maintain primary containment isolation.

You stated that an investigation into the requirements of these vacuum breakers found the components to be in compliance with the original design basis and VY's current licensing basis. However, you are pursuing the issue with the BWR Owner's Group as the concern applies to all BWRs similar in design to VY. We find this to be a reasonable interim action.

When all the requirements of this generic letter have been implemented, a written notification should be provided stating that all actions are complete. Additionally, you should retain the documentation assembled for this verification for future audit by the staff. This documentation should be maintained for a minimum of two years from the date of your submittal. This fulfills your requirement in responding to Generic Letter 88-14.

This completes our effort under TAC No. 71734.

Sincerely, Uriginal signed by:

Morton B. Fairtile, Project Manager Project Directorate I-3 Division of Reactor Projects I/II cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION: Dodket" File, NRC& Local PDRs, PDI-3 r/f, Glainas, BBoger, MRushbrook, MFairtile, OGC, EJordan, BGrimes, ACRS(10), RWessman, JWiggins Rgn.I G.Ediso n> W. Le Feve

[VER. YANK.GL )88-14 TAD 1734]

t, A

'DFC :PDI-3

DIR/PD

.._ _. : _ _ g.._ _ _ _ :p 3.. :.. _ _./ -3 g

NAME :MR syttrook :MFai. 'l e:mw: RWessi 3

DATE:3/yY89

3/M /89

3/T1 /89 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

1 i

s l

Mr. R. W. Capstick Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station 1

cc:

l Mr. J. Gary Weigand W. P. Murphy, Vice President l

President & Chief Executive Officer and Manager of Operations l

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp.

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp.

R.D. 5, Box 169 R.D. 5, Box 169 Ferry Road Ferry Road Brattleboro, Vermont 05301 Brattleboro, Vermont 05301 Mr. John DeVincentis, Vice President Mr. George Sterzinger, Commissioner Yankee Atomic Electric Company Vermont Department of Public Service 580 Main Street 120 State Street, 3rd Floor Bolton, Massachusetts 01740-1398 Montpelier, Vermont 05602 New England Coalition on Nuclear Public Service Board Pollution State of Vermont Hill and Dale Farm 120 State Street R.D. 2, Box 223 Montpelier, Vermont 05602 Putney, Vermont 053a6 Vermont Public Interest Research Group, Inc.

G. Dean Weyman 43 State Street Chairman, Board of Selectman Montpelier, Vermont 05602 Post Office Box 116 Vernon, Vermont 05354 William Russell, Regional Administrator Raymond N. McCandless Region 1 Office Vermont Division of Occupational U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Radiological Health 475 Allendale Road Administration Building King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 Montpelier, Vermont 05602 Mr. R. W. Capstick Honorable John J. Easton l

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Attorney General Power Corporation State of Vermont 580 Main St.

109 State Street Bolton, Massachusetts 01740-1398 Montpelier, Vermont 05602 R. K. Gad III Ropes & Gray Conner & Wetterhahn, P.C.

225 Franklin Street Suite 1050 Boston, Massachusetts 02110 1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20006

~

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Corporation cc:

(

Ellyn R. Weiss, Esq.

Resident Inspector j

Harmon & Weiss U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission l

2001 S Street, N.W.

P.O. Box 176 i

Washington, D.C.

20009 Vernon, Vermont 05354 David J. Mullett, Esq.

Carol S. Sneider, Esq.

Special Assistant Attorney General Assistant Attorney General Vermont Depart. of Public Service Office of the Attorney General 120 State Street One Ashburton Place,19th Floor Montpelier, VT 05602 Boston, MA 02108 Jay Gutierrez Geoffrey M. Huntington, Esquire Regional Counsel Office of the Attorney General USNRC, Region I Environmental Protection Bureau 475 Allendale Road State House Annex King of Prussia, PA 19406 25 Capitol Street Concord, NH 03301-6397 G. Dana Bisbee, Esq.

Charles Bechhoefer, Esq.

Office of the Attorney General Administrative Judge Environmental Protection Bureau Atomic Safety and Licensing Board State House Annex U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission 25 Capitol Street Washington, DC 20555 Concord, NH 03301-6397 Dr. James H. Caipenter Administrative Judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Atomic Safety and Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington, DC 20555 Washington, DC 20555 Mr. Gustave A. Linenberger, Jr.

Ad,iudicatory File (2)

Administrative Judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Docket U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington, DC 20555 Washington, D.C. 20555 I

_ _ _ _ _ _. _ _ _ _. _ _ _ _ _. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. _ _ _ _ _ _ - - _