[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 1994)]
[Notices]
[Pages 788-789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-252]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: January 6, 1994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-498 and 50-499]
Houston Lighting & Power Co. (South Texas Project, Units 1 and
2); Exemption
I
On March 22, 1988, and March 28, 1989, the Commission issued
Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-76 and NPF-80 to Houston Lighting &
Power Company, et al. (the licensee) for South Texas Project, Unit Nos.
1 and 2, respectively. These licenses provided, among other things,
that the facilities are subject to all rules, regulations, and orders
of the Commission.
II
Appendix A of part 20 of title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, ``Protection Factors for Respirators,'' establishes
protection factors of air-purifying respirators for protection against
particulates only. Furthermore, footnoted d-2(c) states, ``No allowance
is to be made for the use of sorbents against radioactive material in
the form of gases or vapors.'' This restriction was needed since an
inadequate data base has existed for evaluating the complex interaction
of many factors affecting the service life and removal efficiency of
radioactive gases and vapors by sorbent canisters. Also, due to the
lack of a data base, a National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health/Mine Safety and Health Administration (NIOSH/MSHA) certification
schedule has not been established to ensure that the canisters meet
acceptable performance criteria.
Section 20.103(e) of 10 CFR part 20 allows the Commission to
authorize the use of respiratory equipment in lieu of an NIOSH/MSHA
certification when such an action is justified based on adequate
testing of material and performance characteristics.
By letter dated December 19, 1991, as supplemented by letters dated
July 1, 1993, and November 3, 1993, HL&P requested an exemption based
on 10 CFR 20.501 to allow the use of radioiodine Mine Safety Appliance
Company (MSA) GMR-1 canisters with a protection factor of 50 for
personnel respiratory protection. In support of the exemption request,
HL&P cited test results and a quality assurance plan that satisfies the
recommended qualification process of NUREG/CR-3403, ``Criteria and Test
Methods for Certifying Air-Purifying Respirator Cartridges and
Canisters Against Radioiodine.''
III
The NRC staff evaluated the information provided by HL&P. The
licensee provided reliable test information verifying that the MSA GMR-
1 canister is capable of providing a protection factor of 50 over a
period of 8 hours of continuous use, provided that the total challenge
of radioactive and non-radioactive iodine and other halogenated
compounds does not exceed 1 ppm, and temperature does not exceed
110 deg.F provided the dewpoint does not exceed 107 deg. F. The data
showed the breakthrough point to be well beyond 8 hours.
Testing has been conducted under acceptable conditions of cyclic
flow and under worst-case conditions for those environmental factors
affecting service life (i.e., temperature, relative humidity, and
challenge concentration of CH3I (methyliodide/methyl radioiodide),
the most penetrating of the challenge forms). The data showed that the
MSA GMR-I canisters performed adequately under acceptable test
conditions. These conditions, including criteria and test methods, are
consistent with those derived by the NRC staff from NUREG/CR-3403,
``Criteria and Test Methods for Certifying Air-Purifying Respirator
Cartridges and Canisters Against Radioiodine.''
HL&P, through acceptance of MSA QA controls, has provided
commitments that the MSA GMR-1 canisters will meet standards for
quality assurance and quality control that are recognized by NIOSH and
are compatible with NRC staff positions. This includes a commitment to
establish a 1 percent AQL (acceptable quality limit) in a 5 to 10 ppm
challenge concentration of CH3I, 90 percent relative humidity,
110 deg.F, 64 liters per minute cyclic flow, for a service life of 8
hours or more at a penetration equal to 1 percent of the challenge
concentration. Test data referenced by HL&P demonstrate that
performance (i.e., service life) of canisters at 100 percent relative
humidity is acceptable.
IV
Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR
20.501, this exemption is authorized by law and will not result in
undue hazard to life or property.
Accordingly, the Commission hereby grants an exemption as described
in Section III above from 10 CFR part 20, appendix A, footnote d-2(c)
to authorize the use of the MSA GMR-1 canister at South Texas Project,
Units 1 and 2. For additional details regarding the basis of this
exemption, including usage limitations and restrictions, see the
staff's safety evaluation dated December 30, 1993 available for public
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC and at the Wharton County
Junior College, J.M. Hodges Learning Center, 911 Boling Highway,
Wharton, Texas 77488.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that the
granting of the Exemption will have no significant impact on the
environment (58 FR 42112).
This Exemption is effective upon issuance.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 30th day of December 1993.
For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Elinor G. Adensam,
Acting Director, Division of Reactor Projects III/IV/V, Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-252 Filed 1-5-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
