[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 68 (Wednesday, April 9, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17220-17221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9060]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-461]
Illinois Power Co.; Notice of Consideration of Issuance of
Amendment to Facility Operating License 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-62, issued to Illinois Power Company (the licensee), for operation
of the Clinton Power Station, Unit 1 (CPS), located in DeWitt County,
Illinois.
As described in CPS Licensee Event Report 94-005, the degraded
voltage relays at CPS and their setpoints are not sufficient to ensure
proper operation of all Class 1E equipment, contrary to the current
licensing basis for CPS. As interim corrective action, the licensee
installed an undervoltage alarm for the Division 1, 2, and 3, 4.16-kV
buses and established contingent operator actions in order to minimize
the potential that the Class 1E loads would receive inadequate voltage
for proper operation. Subsequent licensee review of these interim
administrative controls has concluded that, although the use of
compensatory administrative controls reduces the risk associated with a
degraded voltage condition, reliance on the interim administrative
controls can potentially result in a malfunction of equipment important
to safety of a different type than previously evaluated in the CPS
Updated Safety Analysis Report and therefore, constitutes an unreviewed
safety question. In addition, the licensee has concluded that the
interim administrative controls can result in a small reduction in the
margin of safety as defined in the CPS technical specifications.
The proposed amendment, requested by the licensee in their letter
dated April 1, 1997, would modify Technical Specification Table
3.3.8.1-1, ``Loss of Power Instrumentation.'' The proposed change
requires the interim administrative controls to be maintained to
minimize the potential that the Class 1E loads would receive inadequate
voltage in the event of a degraded voltage condition. These controls
are to be maintained until the licensee completes planned modifications
for upgrading the degraded voltage protection instrumentation and
distribution system for all three divisions of safety-related AC power.
The new interim administrative controls primarily consist of system
planning controls on the voltage of the 345-kV offsite grid,
notification of plant operators under offsite grid conditions that may
result in a degraded voltage condition if CPS tripped off-line, and
utilizing an installed degraded voltage alarm that will prompt
operators to take action to transfer the 4.16-kV buses to their
associated diesel generators in the event voltage is not adequate to
ensure proper operation of the Class 1E loads.
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.
By May 9, 1997, 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
[[Page 17221]]
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
the Vespasian Warner Public Library, 120 West Johnson Street, Clinton,
Illinois 61727. If a request for a hearing or petition for leave to
intervene is filed by the above date, the Commission or an 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 a 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.
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 20555-0001, 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 Gail Marcus, Director, Project
Directorate III-3: 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 20555-0001, and to Leah Manning Stetzner,
Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, 500 South
27th Street, Decatur, Illinois 62525, 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).
If a request for a hearing is received, the Commission's staff may
issue the amendment after it completes its technical review and prior
to the completion of any required hearing if it publishes a further
notice for public comment of its proposed finding of no significant
hazards consideration in accordance with 10 CFR 50.91 and 50.92.
For further details with respect to this action, see the
application for amendment dated April 1, 1997, 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 the Vespasian Warner Public Library, 120 West
Johnson Street, Clinton, Illinois 61727.
Dated at Rockville, MD, this 3rd day of April 1997.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Cynthia A. Carpenter,
Acting Director, Project Directorate III-3, Division of Reactor
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-9060 Filed 4-8-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
