[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 190 (Monday, October 2, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51505-51506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24404]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-443]
North Altantic Energy Service Company, et al.; Notice of
Consideration of Issuance of Amendment to Facility Operating License,
Proposed No Significant Hazards Consideration Determination, and
Opportunity for a Hearing
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No.
NPF-86 issued to North Atlantic Energy Service Corporation (the
licensee) for operation of the Seabrook Station, Unit No. 1 located in
Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
The proposed amendment would modify the Appendix A Technical
Specifications (TSs) for the Turbine Cycle Safety Valves. Specifically,
the proposed amendment would change Seabrook Station Appendix A
Technical Specification Table 3.7-1 to reduce the maximum allowable
Power Range Neutron Flux - High setpoints with inoperable Main Steam
Safety Valves (MSSVs) and Table 3.7-2 to reduce the opening setpoints
of the MSSVs.
Before issuance of the proposed license amendment, the Commission
will have made findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as
amended (the Act) and the Commission's regulations.
The Commission has made a proposed determination that the amendment
request involves no significant hazards consideration. Under the
Commission's regulations in 10 CFR 50.92, this means that operation of
the facility in accordance with the proposed amendment would not (1)
involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an
accident previously evaluated; or (2) create the possibility of a new
or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated;
or (3) involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety. As
required by 10 CFR 50.91(a), the licensee has provided its analysis of
the issue of no significant hazards consideration. The NRC staff has
reviewed the licensee's analysis against the standards of 10 CFR
50.92(c). The NRC staff's review is presented below.
A. The changes do not involve a significant increase in the
probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated (10 CFR
50.92(c)(1)) because the proposed setpoint reductions assure that the
secondary system pressure will be limited to within 110% (1320 psia) of
its design pressure of 1200 psia during the most severe anticipated
system operational transient. The most severe anticipated transient
remains a turbine trip from 100% rated thermal power coincident with an
assumed loss of condenser heat sink. No other changes are made to the
design or manner of operation of structures, systems or components.
B. The changes do not create the possibility of a new or different
kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated (10 CFR
50.92(c)(2)) because the changes do not cause the associated
structures, systems, or components to be operated outside their
original design envelope. No other changes are made to the design or
manner of operation of structures, systems, or components, and no new
failure mechanisms are introduced.
C. The changes do not involve a significant reduction in a margin
of safety (10 CFR 50.92(c)(3)) because the changes will assure that the
associated structures, systems and components will continue to be
operated within their original design envelope, and the proposed
changes assure that the acceptance criteria for previously evaluated
accidents will continue to be met. The proposed changes assure that the
consequences of postulated overpressure events will remain in
compliance with the Basis to Technical Specification 3.7.1.1.
Specifically, the Secondary System pressure will be limited to within
110% (1320 psia) of its design pressure of 1200 psia during the most
severe anticipated system operational transient. The most severe
anticipated transient remains a Turbine trip from 100% Rated Thermal
Power coincident with an assumed loss of condenser heat sink.
Based on this review, it appears that the three standards of 10 CFR
50.92(c) are satisfied. Therefore, the NRC staff proposes to determine
that the amendment request involves no significant hazards
consideration.
The Commission is seeking public comments on this proposed
determination. Any comments received within 30 days after the date of
publication of this notice will be considered in making any final
determination.
Normally, the Commission will not issue the amendment until the
expiration of the 30-day notice period. However, should circumstances
change during the notice period such that failure to act in a timely
way would result, for example, in derating or shutdown of the facility,
the Commission may issue the license amendment before the expiration of
the 30-day notice period, provided that its final determination is that
the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration. The final
determination will consider all public and State comments received.
Should the Commission take this action, it will publish in the Federal
Register a notice of issuance and provide for opportunity for a hearing
after issuance. The Commission expects that the need to take this
action will occur very infrequently.
Written comments may be submitted by mail to the Rules Review and
Directives Branch, Division of Freedom of Information and Publications
Services, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Washington, DC 20555, and should cite the publication date and page
number of this Federal Register notice. Written comments may also be
delivered to Room 6D22, Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, Maryland, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Federal workdays.
Copies of written comments received may be examined at the NRC Public
Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC.
The filing of requests for hearing and petitions for leave to
intervene is discussed below.
By November 1, 1995, the licensee may file a request for a hearing
with respect to issuance of the amendment to the subject facility
operating license and any person whose interest may be affected by this
proceeding and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding
must file a written request for a hearing and a petition for leave to
intervene. Requests for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene
shall be filed in accordance with the Commission's ``Rules of Practice
for Domestic Licensing Proceedings'' in 10 CFR Part 2. Interested
persons should consult a current copy of 10 CFR 2.714 which is
available at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public
document room located at Exeter Public Library, Founders Park, Exeter,
NH 03833. If a request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene
is filed by the above date, the Commission or an
[[Page 51506]]
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, designated by the Commission or by
the Chairman of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, will rule
on the request and/or petition; and the Secretary or the designated
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will issue a notice of hearing or an
appropriate order.
As required by 10 CFR 2.714, a petition for leave to intervene
shall set forth with particularity the interest of the petitioner in
the proceeding and how that interest may be affected by the results of
the proceeding. The petition should specifically explain the reasons
why intervention should be permitted with particular reference to the
following factors: (1) The nature of the petitioner's right under the
Act to be made party to the proceeding; (2) the nature and extent of
the petitioner's property, financial, or other interest in the
proceeding; and (3) the possible effect of any order which may be
entered in the proceeding on the petitioner's interest. The petition
should also identify the specific aspect(s) of the subject matter of
the proceeding as to which petitioner wishes to intervene. Any person
who has filed a petition for leave to intervene or who has been
admitted as a party may amend the petition without requesting leave of
the Board up to 15 days prior to the first prehearing conference
scheduled in the proceeding, but such an amended petition must satisfy
the specificity requirements described above.
Not later than 15 days prior to the first prehearing conference
scheduled in the proceeding, a petitioner shall file a supplement to
the petition to intervene which must include a list of the contentions
which are sought to be litigated in the matter. Each contention must
consist of a specific statement of the issue of law or fact to be
raised or controverted. In addition, the petitioner shall provide a
brief explanation of the bases of the contention and a concise
statement of the alleged facts or expert opinion which support the
contention and on which the petitioner intends to rely in proving the
contention at the hearing. The petitioner must also provide references
to those specific sources and documents of which the petitioner is
aware and on which the petitioner intends to rely to establish those
facts or expert opinion. Petitioner must provide sufficient information
to show that a genuine dispute exists with the applicant on a material
issue of law or fact. Contentions shall be limited to matters within
the scope of the amendment under consideration. The contention must be
one which, if proven, would entitle the petitioner to relief. A
petitioner who fails to file such a supplement which satisfies these
requirements with respect to at least one contention will not be
permitted to participate as a party.
Those permitted to intervene become parties to the proceeding,
subject to any limitations in the order granting leave to intervene,
and have the opportunity to participate fully in the conduct of the
hearing, including the opportunity to present evidence and cross-
examine witnesses.
If a hearing is requested, the Commission will make a final
determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration. The
final determination will serve to decide when the hearing is held.
If the final determination is that the amendment request involves
no significant hazards consideration, the Commission may issue the
amendment and make it immediately effective, notwithstanding the
request for a hearing. Any hearing held would take place after issuance
of the amendment.
If the final determination is that the amendment request involves a
significant hazards consideration, any hearing held would take place
before the issuance of any amendment.
A request for a hearing or a petition for leave to intervene must
be filed with the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555, Attention: Docketing and Services
Branch, or may be delivered to the Commission's Public Document Room,
the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, by the above
date. Where petitions are filed during the last 10 days of the notice
period, it is requested that the petitioner promptly so inform the
Commission by a toll-free telephone call to Western Union at 1-(800)
248-5100 (in Missouri 1-(800) 342-6700). The Western Union operator
should be given Datagram Identification Number N1023 and the following
message addressed to Phillip F. McKee: petitioner's name and telephone
number, date petition was mailed, plant name, and publication date and
page number of this Federal Register notice. A copy of the petition
should also be sent to the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, and to Lillian M. Cuoco,
Esquire, Northeast Utilities Service Company, Post Office Box 270,
Hartford CT 06141-0270, attorney for the licensee.
Nontimely filings of petitions for leave to intervene, amended
petitions, supplemental petitions and/or requests for hearing will not
be entertained absent a determination by the Commission, the presiding
officer or the presiding Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that the
petition and/or request should be granted based upon a balancing of the
factors specified in 10 CFR 2.714(a)(1)(i)--(v) and 2.714(d).
For further details with respect to this action, see the
application for amendment dated September 5, 1995, which is available
for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, the
Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local
public document room located at Exeter Public Library, Founders Park,
Exeter, NH 03833.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 26th day of September 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Albert W. De Agazio, Sr.,
Project Manager, Project Directorate I-3, Division of Reactor
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-24404 Filed 9-29-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
