ML060060474

Summary of December 13, 2005, Category 1 Meeting with PSEG Nuclear LLC, Regarding Salem Nuclear Generating Station Fire Protection Program

ML060060474
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	01/12/2006
From:	Stewart Bailey Plant Licensing Branch III-2
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Bailey S,NRR/DLPM,415-1321
References
Download: ML060060474 (7)

Text

January 12, 2006 LICENSEE: PSEG NUCLEAR, LLC.

FACILITY: SALEM NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2

SUMMARY

OF DECEMBER 13, 2005, CATEGORY 1 MEETING WITH PSEG NUCLEAR LLC, REGARDING SALEM NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION FIRE PROTECTION PROGRAM On December 13, 2005, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 (Salem). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the status of the Salem Fire Protection Program (FPP) and the licensees plans to return the FPP to conformance with its licensing basis. Specific discussion areas included Salems exemptions from Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50, Appendix R, the causes of reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration from the fire suppression system in the 4160-volt switchgear rooms, 460-volt switchgear rooms, and lower electrical penetration area rooms, and the effects of CO2 migration to other areas of the plant.

As background, the CO2 fire suppression system does not provide the design CO2 concentration or hold time for the electrical switchgear rooms or lower electrical penetration areas. The Salem design is based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Code NFPA-12. Further, the licensee identified that CO2 may migrate to other plant areas that must remain accessible to operators. The licensee requested a license amendment that would lower the required concentration and hold time, but withdrew the request when the NRC staff expressed concerns that PSEG had not adequately justified the lower concentration, had not discussed its effect on 10 CFR, Part 50 Appendix R exemptions, and had not addressed CO2 migration. In a letter dated September 29, 2005, the staff requested a meeting to discuss the above issues and the licensees plans to return the system to conformance with its licensing basis.

During the meeting, the licensee discussed the causes of the deficiency, the history of changes to their FPP (including plant modifications to provide additional methods to safely shut down the plant), steps they have taken to decrease the leakage, and thereby increase the CO2 concentration, for the above rooms, the defense in depth that still exists in the above rooms, and the compensatory measures that are in place to account for the deficiency. The licensee stated that they believe the lower concentration and hold time are appropriate, based on NFPA-2001 methodology, and that they withdrew the amendment request primarily to address the issue of CO2 migration. The licensee stressed that permanently resolving this issue is one of the top equipment priorities at Salem. The licensee is evaluating multiple solution paths and plans to select a path in March of 2006.

Members of the public were not in attendence.

A list of meeting attendees is enclosed (Enclosure 1). A copy of the licensees presentation is provided in Enclosure 2.

Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-1321, or snb@nrc.gov.

/RA/

Stewart N. Bailey, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 1-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-272 and 50-311

Enclosures:

As stated cc w/encls: See next page

A list of meeting attendees is enclosed (Enclosure 1). A copy of the licensees presentation is provided in Enclosure 2.

Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-1321, or snb@nrc.gov.

/RA/

Stewart N. Bailey, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 1-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-272 and 50-311

Enclosures:

As stated cc w/encls: See next page DISTRIBUTION PUBLIC LPL1-2 Reading CHolden DRoberts SBailey CRaynor SWeerakody PQuals RWolfgang OPA RJasinski GMatakas, RI SLee, EDO RI DScrenci, RI TMensah OGC ACRS ECobey, RI Meeting Summary: ML060060474 Package: ML060060503 Slides:

OFFICE LPLI-2/PM LPLI1-2/LA LPLI-2/BC NAME SBailey CRaynor DRoberts DATE 1/10/06 1/10/06 1/12/06 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

ATTENDEE LIST DECEMBER 13, 2005, MEETING ON FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM SALEM NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 Name Organization S. Bailey NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLI-2 D. Roberts NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLI-2 S. Weerakody NRC/NRR/ADRA/DRA/AFPB P. Quals NRC/NRR/ADRA/DRA/AFPB R. Wolfgang NRC/NRR/ADRA/DRA/AFPB D. Shumaker PSEG J. Wearne PSEG A. T. Roberts PSEG S. Mannon PSEG Enclosure 1

Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 cc:

Mr. Michael Gallagher Jeffrie J. Keenan, Esquire Vice President - Eng/Tech Support PSEG Nuclear - N21 PSEG Nuclear P.O. Box 236 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Lower Alloways Creek Township Mr. Dennis Winchester c/o Ms. Mary O. Henderson, Clerk Vice President - Nuclear Assessment Municipal Building, P.O. Box 157 PSEG Nuclear Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Dr. Jill Lipoti, Asst. Director Radiation Protection Programs Mr. Thomas P. Joyce NJ Department of Environmental Site Vice President - Salem Protection and Energy PSEG Nuclear CN 415 P.O. Box 236 Trenton, NJ 08625-0415 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Mr. Brian Beam Mr. George H. Gellrich Board of Public Utilities Plant Support Manager 2 Gateway Center, Tenth Floor PSEG Nuclear Newark, NJ 07102 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Regional Administrator, Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mr. Carl J. Fricker 475 Allendale Road Plant Manager King of Prussia, PA 19406 PSEG Nuclear - N21 P.O. Box 236 Senior Resident Inspector Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Salem Nuclear Generating Station U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mr. Darin Benyak Drawer 0509 Director - Regulatory Assurance Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 PSEG Nuclear - N21 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038