ML20207E672

Exemption from Requirements of 10CFR50.71,extending Date for Submittal of Amend 6 of Updated SAR

ML20207E672
Person / Time
Site:	Rancho Seco
Issue date:	08/04/1988
From:	Crutchfield D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	SACRAMENTO MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT
Shared Package
ML20207E657	List: ML20207E651 ML20207E672
References
NUDOCS 8808180121
Download: ML20207E672 (4)

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7590-01 i

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of SACRAMENTO MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT, ET AL Docket No. STN 50-312 (Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station)

EXEMPTION 1.

Section 50.71(e)(4) of 10 CFR 50 requires licensees of nuclear power reactors to revise the Updated Safety Analysis Report (USAR) at least once a year. The USAR revisions shall reflect all changes up to a maximum of 6 months prior to the date of filing the revision.

By letter dated April 22, 1988, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)ownerandoperatoroftheRanchoSecoNuclearGeneratingStation, requested a six month extension for submitting the next revision to the USAR.

The next revision, Amendment 6, was due no later than ; y 22, 1988.

The SMUD request would extend the due date to no later than January 22, 1989.

Subsequent revisions would be due on an annual schedule beginning on January 22, 1989.

l II.

l l The request for extension of the submittal date for the USAR revision l is based on the timing of a major Rancho Seco systems modification outage which i

ended on March 30, 1988. Most of the systems modified during the outage are

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addressed in the USAR. From March 30, 1988 to approximately September 1988, the licensee will conduct tests on the modified systems. In an effort to include all the plant modifications in the next USAR revision, the licensee requested a six month extension of the submittal due date.

The Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station had been shutdown from December 26, 1985 to March 30, 1988. During this period extensive plant modifications were completed. The plant restarted and a scheduled six month power ascension program began on March 30, 1988. The plant modifications will be tested under operating conditions during the power ascension period.

Problems which may surface during the test phase may result in additional plant modifications. A revised USAR submitted on the date rcquested by the licensee should contain system descriptions and evaluations in final form.

Under the existing USAR revision schedule, a licensee submittal was required no later than July 22, 1988. Plant modifications, in place six months prior to the due date, are required to be included in the submittal.

As a result, a revised USAR submittal on July 22, 1988, would have included a plant description and safety evaluation which were current through January 22, 1988. The first three months of 1988 were a period of rapid

- change at Rancho Seco and a USAR version current through January 1988 would describe transient system status at the plant. Plant modifications completed during the shutdown are evaluated and described in detail in NUREG-1286, the Rancho Seco Restart Safety Evaluation Report. A USAR, current through January 1988, would not be useful as a document to describe plant systems nor as a comprehensive safety evaluation of plant changes.

• Based on the timing of the Rancho Seco plant modifications outage, the staff finds that there is good cause for the licensee's request for extension of the next USAR revision. A revised USAR submitted on January 22, 1989 will address plant changes through July 1988 and should include the final versions of all recent modifications. The staff finds that the requested extension is acceptable.

For these reasons, the staff finds that the licensee has shown good cause for the requested extension for submittal of Amendment 6 to the USAR. Therefore, the requested extension to January 22, 1989 is acceptable.

III.

Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12(a)(1), this exemption is authorized by law, will not present an undue risk to the public health and safety, and is consistent with the common defense and security. The Commission further determines that special circumstances, as provided in 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(ii), are present to justify the exemption.

The referenced special circumstances pertain to exemptions to regulations which do not alter the underlying purpose of the regulations. Extending the due date for the next USAR update, under the circumstances described, does not alter the underlying purpose of the requirement to maintain the USAR current.

Accordingly, the Commission hereby grants an exemption as described in Section II above from Section 50.71(e)(4) of 10 CFR Part 50 to extend the date for submittal of the next USAR revision to January 22, 1989.

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Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that the granting l of this exemption will have no significant impact on the quality of the human environment (53 FR 23322).

This exemption is effective upon issuance.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

-:,;;E: W ': f Y Is Y Dennis M. Crutchfiel G Efrec' tor Division of Reactor W ojects - III, IV, V and Special Projects >

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 4th day of August , 1968.

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