[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 226 (Friday, November 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58108-58109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28603]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-155]
Consumers Power Company (Big Rock Point Plant); Exemption
I
Consumers Power Company (CPCo, the licensee) is the holder of
Facility Operating License No. DPR-6 which authorizes operation of the
Big Rock Point Plant. The facility consists of a boiling water reactor
located at the licensee's site in Charlevoix County, Michigan. The
license provides, among other things, that the facility is subject to
all rules, regulations, and orders of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(the Commission) now or hereafter in effect.
II
Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12(a), the NRC may grant exemptions from the
requirements of the regulations (1) which are authorized by law, will
not present an undue risk to the public health and safety, and are
consistent with the common defense and security; and (2) where special
circumstances are present.
Section 50.54(o) of 10 CFR requires that all licensees meet the
requirements of Appendix J to Part 50--Primary Reactor Containment
Leakage Testing for Water-Cooled Power Reactors. Paragraph
III.D.2(b)(i) of Appendix J to 10 CFR Part 50 requires that containment
air locks be tested at an internal pressure not less than peak pressure
(Pa), which is 23 psig for Big Rock Point.
III
By letter dated October 4, 1994, as supplemented September 27,
1995, Consumers Power Company (the licensee) requested an exemption
from the Appendix J requirement to test the air lock (escape lock) at
Pa. Currently, the containment emergency (or escape) air lock at
Big Rock Point is tested at a pressure of 2 psig. Therefore, the
explicit requirement of paragraph III.D.2(b)(i) of Appendix J is not
met. The requested exemption is required because of the emergency air
lock manufacturer's restrictions on internal pressurization and the Big
Rock Point design which necessitates frequent personnel entries. The
licensee stated
[[Page 58109]]
that the escape air lock internal pressurization is limited by the
manufacturer to 2 psig without a strongback and 5 psig with a
strongback in place, thereby making pressurization to peak pressure
impossible for local leak rate tests. In addition, the licensee stated
that the required use of a strongback for the 5-psig test and its
positioning on the inside of the lock which tends to assist the door in
sealing is less conservative than the 2-psig test for the inner door.
The 5-psig test has no significant increase in value. Therefore, the
licensee believes that the escape air lock's performance is
demonstrated with the local leak rate test at 2 psig.
As stated above, due to the manufacturer's restriction on internal
pressurization, Big Rock Point has been conducting the local leak rate
test of the escape air lock at 2 psig. In addition, since the reduced-
pressure test is employed, the results of the 2-psig leakage test are
extrapolated to the equivalent Pa test results to determine
acceptability, as required by the Big Rock Point Technical
Specifications. Moreover, the as-found leakage observed during the past
4 years' tests has been acceptably low. Based on the above, the staff
concludes that testing the escape air lock at 2 psig, in accordance
with the manufacturer's recommendations, would provide an acceptable
alternative to strict compliance with the applicable Appendix J
requirements. The conclusion is further supported by the past good
leakage rate performance. The alternative actions proposed by the
licensee in the exemption request provide reasonable assurance that
airlock leakage will not exceed acceptable levels. Therefore, granting
this exemption does not significantly affect the risk of facility
accidents.
Thus, the staff concludes that an exemption from the requirements
of paragraph III.D.2(b)(i) of Appendix J to 10 CFR Part 50 should be
granted. The Commission further determines that special circumstances
as provided in 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(ii) are present justifying the
exemption; namely, that application of the regulation in the particular
circumstances is not necessary to achieve the underlying purpose of the
rule.
The underlying purpose of the requirement to perform leakage rate
testing of escape air lock at Pa is to measure leakage at
conditions representative of the design basis accident. The escape air
lock internal pressurization at Big Rock Point is limited to the
manufacturer recommendation of 2 psig. In addition, the 2-psig leakage
tests are extrapolated to the equivalent Pa test results to
determine acceptability, as required by the Big Rock Point Technical
Specifications. The testing history and the structural capability of
the containment establish that there is significant assurance that
testing the emergency air lock at 2 psig will not adversely impact the
leak tight integrity of the containment and that test is representative
of the design basis accident. Therefore, the emergency air lock at
Pa is not necessary to achieve the underlying purpose of Appendix
J.
IV
Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR
50.12, this exemption is authorized by law, and 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
justifying the exemption. Therefore, the Commission hereby grants an
exemption from the requirement of paragraph III.D.2(b)(i) of Appendix J
to 10 CFR Part 50 to the extent that the containment emergency air lock
test will be conducted at 2 psig.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that
granting this exemption will not have a significant effect on the
quality of the human environment (60 FR 57025).
This exemption is effective upon issuance.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 14th day of November 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Jack W. Roe,
Director, Division of Reactor Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-28603 Filed 11-22-95; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
