ML22053A283
ML22053A283 | |
Person / Time | |
---|---|
Site: | Callaway ![]() |
Issue date: | 04/07/2022 |
From: | Mahesh Chawla Plant Licensing Branch IV |
To: | Diya F Ameren Missouri, Union Electric Co |
Chawla M | |
References | |
EPID L-2021-LLA-0225 | |
Download: ML22053A283 (21) | |
Text
April 7, 2022 Mr. Fadi Diya Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Ameren Missouri Callaway Energy Center 8315 County Road 459 Steedman, MO 65077
SUBJECT:
CALLAWAY PLANT, UNIT NO. 1 - ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENT NO. 227 TO REVISE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS TO ADOPT TSTF-529, REVISION 4, CLARIFY USE AND APPLICATION RULES (EPID L-2021-LLA-0225)
Dear Mr. Diya:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) has issued the enclosed Amendment No. 227 to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-30 for Callaway Plant, Unit No. 1 (Callaway). The amendment consists of changes to the Technical Specifications (TSs) in response to your application dated December 9, 2021.
The amendment revises TS requirements in Sections 1.3, Completion Times, and 3.0, Limiting Conditions for Operation (LCO) Applicability, and Surveillance Requirement (SR)
Applicability. Specifically, these changes clarify and expand the use and application of the Callaway TS usage rules and are consistent with NRC-approved Technical Specifications Task Force (TSTF) Traveler TSTF-529, Revision 4, Clarify Use and Application Rules. TSTF-529, Revision 4, was approved by the NRC on April 21, 2016.
F. Diya A copy of the related Safety Evaluation is also enclosed. Notice of Issuance will be included in the Commissions monthly Federal Register notice.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Mahesh L. Chawla, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-483
Enclosures:
- 1. Amendment No. 227 to NPF-30
- 2. Safety Evaluation cc: Listserv
UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY CALLAWAY PLANT, UNIT NO. 1 DOCKET NO. 50-483 AMENDMENT TO RENEWED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE Amendment No. 227 License No. NPF-30
- 1. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has found that:
A. The application for amendment by Union Electric Company (UE, the licensee),
dated December 9, 2021, complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act) and the Commissions regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I; B. The facility will operate in conformity with the application, the provisions of the Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission; C. There is reasonable assurance (i) that the activities authorized by this amendment can be conducted without endangering the health and safety of the public, and (ii) that such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commissions regulations; D. The issuance of this amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public; and E. The issuance of this amendment is in accordance with 10 CFR Part 51 of the Commissions regulations and all applicable requirements have been satisfied.
Enclosure 1
- 2. Accordingly, the license is amended by changes to the Technical Specifications as indicated in the attachment to this license amendment, and paragraph 2.C.(2) of Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-30 is hereby amended to read as follows:
(2) Technical Specifications and Environmental Protection Plan*
The Technical Specifications contained in Appendix A, as revised through Amendment No. 227 and the Environmental Protection Plan contained in Appendix B, are hereby incorporated in the renewed license. The licensee shall operate the facility in accordance with the Technical Specifications and the Environmental Protection Plan.
- 3. This amendment is effective as of its date of issuance, and shall be implemented within 90 days of the date of issuance.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Digitally signed by Jennifer L. Jennifer L. Dixon-Herrity Date: 2022.04.07 Dixon-Herrity 11:42:04 -04'00' Jennifer L. Dixon-Herrity, Chief Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Attachment:
Changes to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-30 and the Technical Specifications Date of Issuance: April 7, 2022
ATTACHMENT TO LICENSE AMENDMENT NO. 227 CALLAWAY PLANT, UNIT NO. 1 RENEWED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. NPF-30 DOCKET NO. 50-483 Replace the following pages of Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-30 and the Appendix A, Technical Specifications, with the attached revised pages. The revised pages are identified by amendment number and contain marginal lines indicating the areas of change.
Renewed Facility Operating License REMOVE INSERT Technical Specifications REMOVE INSERT 1.3-1 1.3-1 1.3-2 1.3-2 1.3-3 1.3-3 3.0-2 3.0-2 3.0-4 3.0-4
(3) UE, pursuant to the Act and 10 CFR Parts 30, 40 and 70, to receive, possess, and use at any time any byproduct, source and special nuclear material as sealed neutron sources for reactor startup, sealed sources for reactor instrumentation and radiation monitoring equipment calibration, and as fission detectors in amounts as required; (4) UE, pursuant to the Act and 10 CFR Parts 30, 40 and 70, to receive, possess, and use in amounts as required any byproduct, source of special nuclear material without restriction to chemical or physical form, for sample analysis or instrument calibration or associated with radioactive apparatus or components; and (5) UE, pursuant to the Act and 10 CFR Parts 30, 40 and 70, to possess, but not separate, such byproduct and special nuclear materials as may be produced by the operation of the facility.
C. This renewed license shall be deemed to contain and is subject to the conditions specified in the Commissions regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I and is subject to all applicable provisions of the Act and to the rules, regulations, and orders of the Commission now or hereafter in effect; and is subject to the additional conditions specified or incorporated below:
(1) Maximum Power Level UE is authorized to operate the facility at reactor core power levels not in excess of 3565 megawatts thermal (100% power) in accordance with the conditions specified herein.
(2) Technical Specifications and Environmental Protection Plan*
The Technical Specifications contained in Appendix A, as revised through Amendment No. 227 and the Environmental Protection Plan contained in Appendix B, are hereby incorporated in the renewed license. The licensee shall operate the facility in accordance with the Technical Specifications and the Environmental Protection Plan.
(3) Environmental Qualification (Section 3.11, SSER #3)**
Deleted per Amendment No. 169.
- Amendments 133, 134, & 135 were effective as of April 30, 2000 however these amendments were implemented on April 1, 2000.
- The parenthetical notation following the title of many license conditions denotes the section of the Safety Evaluation Report and/or its supplements wherein the license condition is discussed.
Renewed License No. NPF-30 Amendment No. 227
Completion Times 1.3 1.0 USE AND APPLICATION 1.3 Completion Times PURPOSE The purpose of this section is to establish the Completion Time convention and to provide guidance for its use.
BACKGROUND Limiting Conditions for Operation (LCOs) specify minimum requirements for ensuring safe operation of the unit. The ACTIONS associated with an LCO state Conditions that typically describe the ways in which the requirements of the LCO can fail to be met. Specified with each stated Condition are Required Action(s) and Completion Time(s).
DESCRIPTION The Completion Time is the amount of time allowed for completing a Required Action. It is referenced to the discovery of a situation (e.g.,
inoperable equipment or variable not within limits) that requires entering an ACTIONS Condition unless otherwise specified, providing the unit is in a MODE or specified condition stated in the Applicability of the LCO.
Unless otherwise specified, the Completion Time begins when a senior licensed operator on the operating shift crew with responsibility for plant operations makes the determination that an LCO is not met and an ACTIONS Condition is entered. The "otherwise specified" exceptions are varied, such as a Required Action Note or Surveillance Requirement Note that provides an alternative time to perform specific tasks, such as testing, without starting the Completion Time. While utilizing the Note, should a Condition be applicable for any reason not addressed by the Note, the Completion Time begins. Should the time allowance in the Note be exceeded, the Completion Time begins at that point. The exceptions may also be incorporated into the Completion Time. For example, LCO 3.8.1, "AC Sources - Operating," Required Action B.2, requires declaring required feature(s) supported by an inoperable diesel generator inoperable when the redundant required feature(s) are inoperable. The Completion Time states, "4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br /> from discovery of Condition B concurrent with inoperability of redundant required feature(s)." In this case, the Completion Time does not begin until the conditions in the Completion Time are satisfied.
Required Actions must be completed prior to the expiration of the specified Completion Time. An ACTIONS Condition remains in effect and the Required Actions apply until the Condition no longer exists or the unit is not within the LCO Applicability.
(Continued)
CALLAWAY PLANT 1.3-1 Amendment 227
Completion Times 1.3 1.3 Completion Times DESCRIPTION If situations are discovered that require entry into more than one Condition (continued) at a time within a single LCO (multiple Conditions), the Required Actions for each Condition must be performed within the associated Completion Time. When in multiple Conditions, separate Completion Times are tracked for each Condition starting from the discovery of the situation that required entry into the Condition, unless otherwise specified.
Once a Condition has been entered, subsequent trains, subsystems, components, or variables expressed in the Condition, discovered to be inoperable or not within limits, will not result in separate entry into the Condition, unless specifically stated. The Required Actions of the Condition continue to apply to each additional failure, with Completion Times based on initial entry into the Condition, unless otherwise specified.
However, when a subsequent train, subsystem, component, or variable expressed in the Condition is discovered to be inoperable or not within limits, the Completion Time(s) may be extended. To apply this Completion Time extension, two criteria must first be met. The subsequent inoperability:
- a. Must exist concurrent with the first inoperability; and
- b. Must remain inoperable or not within limits after the first inoperability is resolved.
The total Completion Time allowed for completing a Required Action to address the subsequent inoperability shall be limited to the more restrictive of either:
- a. The stated Completion Time, as measured from the initial entry into the Condition, plus an additional 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />; or
- b. The stated Completion Time as measured from discovery of the subsequent inoperability.
The above Completion Time extensions do not apply to those Specifications that have exceptions that allow completely separate re-entry into the Condition (for each train, subsystem, component, or variable expressed in the Condition) and separate tracking of Completion Times based on this re-entry. These exceptions are stated in individual Specifications.
The above Completion Time extension does not apply to a Completion Time with a modified "time zero." This modified "time zero" may be (continued)
CALLAWAY PLANT 1.3-2 Amendment 227
Completion Times 1.3 1.3 Completion Times (continued)
DESCRIPTION expressed as a repetitive time (i.e., "once per 8 hours9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br />," where the (continued) Completion Time is referenced from a previous completion of the Required Action versus the time of Condition entry) or as a time modified by the phrase "from discovery . . ." Example 1.3-3 illustrates one use of this type of Completion Time. The 10 day Completion Time specified for Conditions A and B in Example 1.3-3 may not be extended.
EXAMPLES The following examples illustrate the use of Completion Times with different types of Conditions and changing Conditions.
EXAMPLE 1.3-1 ACTIONS COMPLETION CONDITION REQUIRED ACTION TIME B. Required B.1 Be in MODE 3. 6 hours6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br /> Action and associated AND Completion Time not met. B.2 Be in MODE 5. 36 hours4.166667e-4 days <br />0.01 hours <br />5.952381e-5 weeks <br />1.3698e-5 months <br /> Condition B has two Required Actions. Each Required Action has its own separate Completion Time. Each Completion Time is referenced to the time that Condition B is entered.
The Required Actions of Condition B are to be in MODE 3 within 6 hours6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br /> AND in MODE 5 within 36 hours4.166667e-4 days <br />0.01 hours <br />5.952381e-5 weeks <br />1.3698e-5 months <br />. A total of 6 hours6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br /> is allowed for reaching MODE 3 and a total of 36 hours4.166667e-4 days <br />0.01 hours <br />5.952381e-5 weeks <br />1.3698e-5 months <br /> (not 42 hours4.861111e-4 days <br />0.0117 hours <br />6.944444e-5 weeks <br />1.5981e-5 months <br />) is allowed for reaching MODE 5 from the time that Condition B was entered. If MODE 3 is reached within 3 hours3.472222e-5 days <br />8.333333e-4 hours <br />4.960317e-6 weeks <br />1.1415e-6 months <br />, the time allowed for reaching MODE 5 is the next 33 hours3.819444e-4 days <br />0.00917 hours <br />5.456349e-5 weeks <br />1.25565e-5 months <br /> because the total time allowed for reaching MODE 5 is 36 hours4.166667e-4 days <br />0.01 hours <br />5.952381e-5 weeks <br />1.3698e-5 months <br />.
If Condition B is entered while in MODE 3, the time allowed for reaching MODE 5 is the next 36 hours4.166667e-4 days <br />0.01 hours <br />5.952381e-5 weeks <br />1.3698e-5 months <br />.
(continued)
CALLAWAY PLANT 1.3-3 Amendment 227
LCO Applicability 3.0 3.0 LCO APPLICABILITY (continued)
LCO 3.0.4 When an LCO is not met, entry into a MODE or other specified condition in the Applicability shall only be made:
- a. When the associated ACTIONS to be entered permit continued operation in the MODE or other specified condition in the Applicability for an unlimited period of time; or
- b. After performance of a risk assessment addressing inoperable systems and components, consideration of the results, determination of the acceptability of entering the MODE or other specified condition in the Applicability, and establishment of risk management actions, if appropriate (exceptions to this Specification are stated in the individual Specifications); or
- c. When an allowance is stated in the individual value, parameter, or other Specification.
This Specification shall not prevent changes in MODES or other specified conditions in the Applicability that are required to comply with ACTIONS or that are part of a shutdown of the unit.
LCO 3.0.5 Equipment removed from service or declared inoperable to comply with ACTIONS may be returned to service under administrative control solely to perform testing required to demonstrate its OPERABILITY or the OPERABILITY of other equipment. This is an exception to LCO 3.0.2 for the system returned to service under administrative control to perform the testing required to demonstrate OPERABILITY.
LCO 3.0.6 When a supported system LCO is not met solely due to a support system LCO not being met, the Conditions and Required Actions associated with this supported system are not required to be entered. Only the support system LCO ACTIONS are required to be entered. This is an exception to LCO 3.0.2 for the supported system. In this event, an evaluation shall be performed in accordance with Specification 5.5.15, "Safety Function Determination Program (SFDP)." If a loss of safety function is determined to exist by this program, the appropriate Conditions and Required Actions of the LCO in which the loss of safety function exists are required to be entered.
When a support system's Required Action directs a supported system to be declared inoperable or directs entry into Conditions and Required Actions for a supported system, the applicable Conditions and Required Actions shall be entered in accordance with LCO 3.0.2.
(continued)
CALLAWAY PLANT 3.0-2 Amendment 227
SR Applicability 3.0 3.0 SURVEILLANCE REQUIREMENT (SR) APPLICABILITY SR 3.0.1 SRs shall be met during the MODES or other specified conditions in the Applicability for individual LCOs, unless otherwise stated in the SR.
Failure to meet a Surveillance, whether such failure is experienced during the performance of the Surveillance or between performances of the Surveillance, shall be failure to meet the LCO. Failure to perform a Surveillance within the specified Frequency shall be failure to meet the LCO except as provided in SR 3.0.3. Surveillances do not have to be performed on inoperable equipment or variables outside specified limits.
SR 3.0.2 The specified Frequency for each SR is met if the Surveillance is performed within 1.25 times the interval specified in the Frequency, as measured from the previous performance or as measured from the time a specified condition of the Frequency is met.
For Frequencies specified as "once," the above interval extension does not apply.
If a Completion Time requires periodic performance on a "once per . . ."
basis, the above Frequency extension applies to each performance after the initial performance.
Exceptions to this Specification are stated in the individual Specifications.
SR 3.0.3 If it is discovered that a Surveillance was not performed within its specified Frequency, then compliance with the requirement to declare the LCO not met may be delayed, from the time of discovery, up to 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> or up to the limit of the specified Frequency, whichever is greater. This delay period is permitted to allow performance of the Surveillance. The delay period is only applicable when there is a reasonable expectation the surveillance will be met when performed. A risk evaluation shall be performed for any Surveillance delayed greater than 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> and the risk impact shall be managed.
If the Surveillance is not performed within the delay period, the LCO must immediately be declared not met, and the applicable Condition(s) must be entered.
When the Surveillance is performed within the delay period and the Surveillance is not met, the LCO must immediately be declared not met, and the applicable Condition(s) must be entered.
CALLAWAY PLANT 3.0-4 Amendment 227
SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION RELATED TO AMENDMENT NO. 227 TO RENEWED FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. NPF-30 UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY CALLAWAY PLANT, UNIT NO. 1 DOCKET NO. 50-483
1.0 INTRODUCTION
By letter dated December 9, 2021 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML21343A092), Union Electric Company, dba Ameren Missouri (the licensee) requested changes to the Technical Specifications (TSs) for Callaway Plant, Unit No. 1 (Callaway).
The proposed changes would revise the Callaway TS Sections 1.3, Completion Times, and 3.0, Limiting Conditions for Operation (LCO) Applicability, and Surveillance Requirement (SR) Applicability. Specifically, these changes would clarify and expand the use and application of the Callaway TS usage rules and are consistent with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission)-approved Technical Specifications Task Force (TSTF)
Traveler TSTF-529, Revision 4, Clarify Use and Application Rules. TSTF-529, Revision 4, made changes to Standard Technical Specification (STS) Section 1.3, STS LCO 3.0.4, and SR 3.0.3. TSTF-529, Revision 4 was approved by the NRC by letter dated April 21, 2016 (ADAMS Package Accession No. ML16060A441).
2.0 REGULATORY EVALUATION
2.1 Description of Subject TS Sections LCOs specify minimum requirements for ensuring safe operation of the unit. The actions associated with an LCO state conditions that typically describe the ways in which the requirements of the LCO can fail to be met. Required action(s) and completion time(s) are specified with each stated condition.
Callaway TS Section 1.3 currently describes completion times, in part, as follows:
The completion time is the amount of time allowed for completing a Required Action. It is referenced to the time of discovery of a situation (e.g., inoperable equipment or variable not within limits) that requires entering an ACTIONS Condition unless otherwise specified, providing the unit is in a MODE or specified Enclosure 2
condition stated in the Applicability of the LCO. Required Actions must be completed prior to the expiration of the specified Completion Time. An ACTIONS Condition remains in effect and the Required Actions apply until the Condition no longer exists or the unit is not within the LCO Applicability.
If situations are discovered that require entry into more than one Condition at a time within a single LCO (multiple Conditions), the Required Actions for each Condition must be performed within the associated Completion Time. When in multiple Conditions, separate Completion Times are tracked for each Condition starting from the time of discovery of the situation that required entry into the Condition.
Once a Condition has been entered, subsequent trains, subsystems, components, or variables expressed in the Condition, discovered to be inoperable or not within limits, will not result in separate entry into the Condition, unless specifically stated. The Required Actions of the Condition continue to apply to each additional failure, with Completion Times based on initial entry into the Condition.
Callaway TS LCOs 3.0.1 through 3.0.9 establish the general requirements applicable to all TSs and apply at all times, unless otherwise stated. Similarly, SRs 3.0.1 through 3.0.4 establish the general requirements for surveillances that are applicable to all TSs and apply at all times, unless otherwise stated.
Callaway TS LCO 3.0.4 currently states:
When an LCO is not met, entry into a MODE or other specified condition in the Applicability shall only be made:
- a. When the associated ACTIONS to be entered permit continued operation in the MODE or other specified condition in the Applicability for an unlimited period of time; or
- b. After performance of a risk assessment addressing inoperable systems and components, consideration of the results, determination of the acceptability of entering the MODE or other specified condition in the Applicability, and establishment of risk management actions, if appropriate; exceptions to this Specification are stated in the individual Specifications; or
- c. When an allowance is stated in the individual value, parameter, or other Specification.
This Specification shall not prevent changes in MODES or other specified conditions in the Applicability that are required to comply with ACTIONS or that are part of a shutdown of the unit.
Callaway TS SR 3.0.3 currently states the following:
If it is discovered that a Surveillance was not performed within its specified Frequency, then compliance with the requirement to declare the LCO not met
may be delayed, from the time of discovery, up to 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> or up to the limit of the specified Frequency, whichever is greater. This delay period is permitted to allow performance of the Surveillance. A risk evaluation shall be performed for any Surveillance delayed greater than 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> and the risk impact shall be managed.
If the Surveillance is not performed within the delay period, the LCO must immediately be declared not met, and the applicable Condition(s) must be entered.
When the Surveillance is performed within the delay period and the Surveillance is not met, the LCO must immediately be declared not met, and the applicable Condition(s) must be entered.
2.2 Description of TS Changes The proposed change will revise the Callaway TS Sections 1.3 and 3.0. The proposed changes are described in more detail below.
2.2.1 Proposed Changes to Time of Discovery The licensees proposed changes to Callaway TS Section 1.3 would delete time of from the previous statements and read as follows:
The Completion Time is the amount of time allowed for completing a Required Action. It is referenced to the discovery of a situation (e.g., inoperable equipment or variable not within limits) that requires entering an ACTIONS Condition unless otherwise specified, providing the unit is in a MODE or specified condition stated in the Applicability of the LCO.
[]
If situations are discovered that require entry into more than one Condition at a time within a single LCO (multiple Conditions), the Required Actions for each Condition must be performed within the associated Completion Time. When in multiple Conditions, separate Completion Times are tracked for each Condition starting from the discovery of the situation that required entry into the Condition.
2.2.2 Proposed Addition to Time of Discovery The licensee proposed to add the following paragraph to Section 1.3 of the TS under
==
Description:==
Unless otherwise specified, the Completion Time begins when a senior licensed operator on the operating shift crew with responsibility for plant operations makes the determination that an LCO is not met and an ACTIONS Condition is entered.
The otherwise specified exceptions are varied, such as a Required Action Note or Surveillance Requirement Note that provides an alternative time to perform specific tasks, such as testing, without starting the Completion Time. While utilizing the Note, should a Condition be applicable for any reason not addressed by the Note, the Completion Time begins. Should the time allowance in the Note
be exceeded, the Completion Time begins at that point. The exceptions may also be incorporated into the Completion Time. For example, LCO 3.8.1, AC
[Alternating Current] Sources - Operating, Required Action B.2, requires declaring required feature(s) supported by an inoperable diesel generator, inoperable when the redundant required feature(s) are inoperable. The Completion Time states, 4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br /> from discovery of Condition B concurrent with inoperability of redundant required feature(s). In this case, the Completion Time does not begin until the conditions in the Completion Time are satisfied.
2.2.3 Proposed Addition of Unless Otherwise Specified The licensee proposed adding the phrase unless otherwise specified to the following two statements in Callaway TS Section 1.3 (with emphasis added):
When in multiple Conditions, separate Completion Times are tracked for each Condition starting from the discovery of the situation that required entry into the Condition, unless otherwise specified.
and The Required Actions of the Condition continue to apply to each additional failure, with Completion Times based on initial entry into the Condition, unless otherwise specified.
2.2.4 Proposed Changes to LCO 3.0.4 The licensee proposed to clarify LCO 3.0.4.b. by placing the statement regarding exceptions in parenthesis. The proposed TS LCO 3.0.4.b. would state the following:
- b. After performance of a risk assessment addressing inoperable systems and components, consideration of the results, determination of the acceptability of entering the MODE or other specified condition in the Applicability, and establishment of risk management actions, if appropriate (exceptions to this Specification are stated in the individual Specifications); or 2.2.5 Proposed Changes to SR 3.0.3 The licensees proposed changes to Callaway SR 3.0.3 modify the first paragraph to state the following (the additional sentence is underlined):
If it is discovered that a Surveillance was not performed within its specified Frequency, then compliance with the requirement to declare the LCO not met may be delayed, from the time of discovery, up to 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> or up to the limit of the specified Frequency, whichever is greater. This delay period is permitted to allow performance of the Surveillance. The delay period is only applicable when there is a reasonable expectation the surveillance will be met when performed. A risk evaluation shall be performed for any Surveillance delayed greater than 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> and the risk impact shall be managed.
2.3 Regulatory Requirements, Licensing Information, Guidance Documents The NRC staff considered the following regulatory requirements, guidance, and licensing information during its review of the proposed changes.
Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.36(c) requires TSs to include the following categories: (1) safety limits, limiting safety system settings, and limiting control settings; (2) LCOs; (3) SRs; (4) design features; (5) administrative controls; (6) decommissioning; (7) initial notification; and (8) written reports.
Section 50.36(c)(2) of 10 CFR states, in part, that:
Limiting conditions for operation are the lowest functional capability or performance levels of equipment required for safe operation of the facility. When a limiting condition for operation of a nuclear reactor is not met, the licensee shall shut down the reactor or follow any remedial action permitted by the technical specifications until the condition can be met. When a limiting condition for operation of any process step in the system of a fuel reprocessing plant is not met, the licensee shall shut down that part of the operation or follow any remedial action permitted by the technical specifications until the condition can be met.
Section 50.36(c)(3) of 10 CFR states that:
Surveillance requirements are requirements relating to test, calibration, or inspection to assure that the necessary quality of systems and components is maintained, that facility operation will be within safety limits, and that the limiting conditions for operation will be met.
The NRC staffs guidance for the review of the TSs is in NUREG-0800, Standard Review Plan
[SRP] for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants: LWR [Light-Water Reactor] Edition, Chapter 16, Technical Specifications, Revision 3, dated March 2010 (ADAMS Accession No. ML100351425). As described therein, as part of the regulatory standardization effort, the NRC staff has prepared improved STSs for each of the LWR nuclear steam supply systems and associated balance-of-plant equipment systems. The licensees proposed amendment is based on TSTF-529, Revision 4, which is an NRC-approved change to the improved STSs. The NRC staffs review includes consideration of whether the proposed changes are consistent with the NRC-approved TSTF-529, Revision 4. Special attention is given to TS provisions that depart from the improved STSs, as modified by NRC-approved TSTF travelers, to determine whether proposed differences are justified by uniqueness in plant design or other considerations so that 10 CFR 50.36 is met. In addition, the guidance states that comparing the change to previous STSs can help clarify the TS intent.
3.0 TECHNICAL EVALUATION
During the review of TSTF-529, Revision 4, the NRC staff considered generally the guidance on acceptance criteria of the SRP sections described in Section 2.3 of this SE, and, in particular, the acceptance criteria in Chapter 16 of NUREG-0800, Revision 3. Additionally, the NRC staff evaluated the proposed changes to the Callaway TSs against the STS, as modified by approved TSTF-529, Revision 4 changes, as well as the requirements of 10 CFR 50.36(c).
3.1 Requested Changes 3.1.1 Proposed Changes to Section 1.3, Completion Times 3.1.1.1 Proposed Changes to Time of Discovery The only mention of the term time of discovery in relation to completion times is in Callaway TS Section 1.3 (quoted in Section 2.2.1 of this SE). Throughout the Callaway TSs, the term discovery is used to describe the point in time that it is recognized that the requirements of an LCO are not met. For example, TS LCO 3.0.2 states in part, Upon discovery of a failure to meet an LCO, the Required Actions of the associated Conditions shall be met, except as provided in LCO 3.0.5 and LCO 3.0.6. In addition, the Bases to LCO 3.0.2, state, in part, LCO 3.0.2 establishes that upon discovery of a failure to meet an LCO, the associated ACTIONS shall be met.
The proposed change to Callaway TS Section 1.3 would delete time of from the previous statements. This deletion was approved for the STS in TSTF-529. The NRC staff finds the proposed change acceptable because it makes Section 1.3 consistent with the language used throughout the rest of the TSs. This provides clarity to the term discovery, and therefore, provides a clear and objective application of the TS required actions and associated completion times. The change is editorial and has no effect on the requirements currently in the TSs. The change also adopts an approved TSTF-529 change to the Callaway TSs. Therefore, the NRC staff finds the proposed change acceptable.
3.1.1.2 Proposed Addition to Time of Discovery The proposed addition of the paragraph quoted in Section 2.2.2 of this SE is a TSTF-529 approved change.
The operating shift crew is responsible for overall control of facility operation. As part of that responsibility, the operating shift crew must be aware of the status of the plant and condition of structures, systems and components. This includes status of degraded or nonconforming conditions that may affect plant operation. Therefore, the proposed change simply augments the NRC staffs expectation that a senior licensed operator on the operating shift crew with responsibility for plant operations makes the determination that an LCO is not met and a Condition is entered. The phrase and an ACTIONS Condition is entered in the above proposed insertion, is necessary to accommodate circumstances in which LCO 3.0.6 allows an LCO to not be met without entry into the Conditions. In those circumstances, a completion time does not begin. In addition, an example is added to the proposed insertion in order to explain the concept presented.
The NRC staff finds the proposed change acceptable since it clarifies senior reactor operators responsibilities and the allowances of LCO 3.0.6, and therefore, provides a clear and objective application of Callaways TS required actions and associated completion times and it adopts an approved TSTF-529 change to the Callaway TSs.
3.1.1.3 Proposed Addition of Unless Otherwise Specified The phrase, unless otherwise specified, in Callaway TS Section 1.3, refers to those instances in which TS LCOs define the start of the Completion Time as different from discovery. For example, Callaway TS 3.8.1, AC Sources - Operating, Required Action B.2, calls for declaring
required feature(s) supported by an inoperable diesel generator inoperable when the redundant required feature(s) are inoperable. The Completion Time states, 4 hours4.62963e-5 days <br />0.00111 hours <br />6.613757e-6 weeks <br />1.522e-6 months <br /> from discovery of Condition B concurrent with inoperability of redundant required feature(s). In this case, the completion time does not begin until the conditions in the completion time are satisfied.
The licensee proposed adding the phrase unless otherwise specified. to the paragraphs described in Section 2.2.3 of this SE. The addition of the phrase unless otherwise specified acknowledges that there are instances, as indicated in the individual TSs, when the completion time does not start at discovery. These exceptions are varied, such as when a Required Action Note or SR Note provides an alternative time to perform specific tasks, such as testing, without starting the Completion Time. While utilizing the Note, should a Condition be applicable for any reason not addressed by the Note, the completion time begins. Should the time allowance in the Note be exceeded, the completion time begins at that point as well.
The NRC staff approved the addition of the phrase to the STS in TSTF-529. The NRC staff finds the proposed change acceptable since it clarifies that there are exceptions and therefore provides a clear and objective application of the Callaway TS required actions and associated completion times and it adopts an approved TSTF-529 change to the Callaway TSs.
3.1.2 Proposed Changes to LCO 3.0.4 As stated in Section 2.2.4 of this SE, the current TS LCO 3.0.4 contains three options, (a, b, and c). LCO 3.0.4.a ends with a semicolon followed by an or and LCO 3.0.4.b ends with a semicolon followed by an or.
The LCO 3.0.4.b, After performance of a risk assessment stated in the individual Specifications; or, could lead to operator misinterpretation. Operators could misapply this statement by believing the or applies to the phrase regarding exceptions and that LCO 3.0.4.a, b, and c apply concurrently. The licensee proposed to clarify this sentence by placing the statement regarding exceptions in parenthesis.
The NRC staff finds that the change is editorial since it does not change the requirements currently in the TSs. Prior to approval of TSTF-529, LCO 3.0.4.b ended with a comma followed by an or. The NRC staff approved placing the statement regarding exceptions in parenthesis and replacing the ending comma with a semicolon in the STS in TSTF-529. For Callaway, the semicolon already exists, and therefore, removes potential for misapplication of LCO 3.0.4 allowances, thereby providing a clear and objective application of the Callaway TS Required Actions as intended by TSTF-529.
3.1.3 Proposed Changes to SR 3.0.3 The NRC has typically interpreted SR 3.0.3, which is quoted in Section 2.2.5 of this SE, as inapplicable to SRs that have never been performed previously. This is because the allowance provided by SR 3.0.3 is based on the fact that the SR was satisfactorily met in the past and the most probable result of performing the SR is the verification of conformance with the requirements. Therefore, there is reasonable expectation the SR will be met when performed.
However, the NRC staff recognizes that there are instances in which an SR may not have been performed in the past, but there is still a reasonable expectation the SR will be met when performed. For example, an SR requires testing of a relay contact. A licensee identifies that the relay contact has never been tested as required in accordance with a particular SR. The
licensee, however, finds there is a reasonable expectation the SR will be met when performed because the subject relay contact has been tested by another SR or historical operation of the subject relay contact has been successful.
The delay period allowed by Callaway SR 3.0.3 offers adequate time to complete SRs that have been missed. In addition, this delay period permits the completion of an SR before complying with required actions or other remedial measures that might preclude completion of the SR.
The NRC staff finds the application of the delay period provided by Callaway SR 3.0.3 acceptable for use on SRs that have never been performed so as long as licensees can provide an adequate determination of reasonable expectation the SR will be met when performed.
The license proposed adding the sentence to Callaway SR 3.0.3 as described in Section 2.2.5 of this SE. The NRC staff approved adding the sentence to STS SR 3.0.3 in TSTF-529. When making a determination of reasonable expectation that the SR will be met when performed, licensees should consider many factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, things such as the period of time since the SR was last performed, or whether the SR, or a portion thereof, has ever been performed, and many other indications, tests, or activities that might support the expectation that the SR will be met when performed. It is not sufficient to infer the behavior of the associated equipment from the performance of similar equipment. The rigor of determining whether there is a reasonable expectation an SR will be met when performed should increase based on the length of time since the last performance of the SR. If the SR has been performed recently, a review of the SR history and equipment performance may be sufficient to support a reasonable expectation that the SR will be met when performed. For SRs that have not been performed for a long period or that have never been performed, a rigorous evaluation based on objective evidence should provide a high degree of confidence that the equipment is capable of performing its specified safety function(s). The evaluation should be documented in sufficient detail to allow a knowledgeable individual to understand the basis for the determination.
The proposed change, which expands the scope of SR 3.0.3 to SRs that have never been performed, is acceptable because it requires there to be an adequate determination of a reasonable expectation the SR will be met when performed. In addition, the proposed change augments plant safety since it could prevent unnecessary shutdowns by providing adequate time to complete SRs that have never been performed but are likely to achieve satisfactory results. Finally, addition of the sentence adopts an approved TSTF-529 change to the Callaway TSs.
3.2 Summary As described in Section 2.3 of this SE, the regulations contained in 10 CFR 50.36 require that TSs include items in specified categories, including LCOs and SRs. The proposed changes modify the LCOs, conditions, required actions, completion times, and SRs applicable to their usage and application by adopting changes approved by the NRC staff in TSTF-529. The Callaway TSs continue to specify the LCOs and specify the remedial measures to be taken if one of these requirements is not satisfied. The TSs continue to specify the appropriate SRs to ensure the necessary quality of affected structures, systems and components are maintained.
Therefore, the NRC staff finds that the proposed changes to the LCOs and SRs are acceptable because the TSs, as amended, will continue to meet 10 CFR 50.36(c)(2) and 50.36(c)(3),
respectively.
4.0 STATE CONSULTATION
In accordance with the Commissions regulations, the Missouri State official was notified of the proposed issuance of the amendment on March 14, 2022. The State official had no comments.
5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION
The amendment changes a requirement with respect to the installation or use of a facility component located within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20 and changes SRs.
The NRC staff has determined that the amendment involves no significant increase in the amounts, and no significant change in the types, of any effluents that may be released offsite, and that there is no significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure. The Commission has previously issued a proposed finding that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration as published in the Federal Register on January 25, 2022 (87 FR 3848), and there has been no public comment on such finding.
Accordingly, the amendment meets the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 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.
6.0 CONCLUSION
The Commission has concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that: (1) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by operation in the proposed manner, (2) there is reasonable assurance that such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commissions regulations, and (3) the issuance of the amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.
Principal Contributor: M. Hamm, NRR Date: April 7, 2022
ML22053A283 *via email OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM* NRR/DORL/LPL4/LA* NRR/DSS/STSB/BC*
NAME MChawla (SLingam for) PBlechman VCusumano DATE 2/18/2022 3/29/2022 1/21/2022 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL4/BC* NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM*
NAME JDixon-Herrity MChawla DATE 3/14/2022 4/7/2022