[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15132]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 22, 1994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-397]
Washington Public Power Supply System Nuclear Project No. 2 (WNP-
2); Exemption
I
Washington Public Power Supply System (the licensee) is the holder
of Facility Operating License No. NPF-21 which authorizes operation of
the WNP-2 Nuclear Plant at steady-state reactor power levels not in
excess of 3323 megawatts thermal. The WNP-2 facility is a boiling water
reactor located on Hanford Reservation in Benton County near Richland,
Washington. The license provides, among other things, that it is
subject to all rules, regulations, and Orders of the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (the Commission) now or hereafter in effect.
II
Paragraph III.D.3 of Appendix J to 10 CFR Part 50 requires, in
part, that ``Type C tests shall be performed during each reactor
shutdown for refueling but in no case at intervals greater than two
years.'' By letter dated April 29, 1987, the staff issued an exemption
from the requirement for Type C testing during each reactor refueling
shutdown, and an extension of the maximum interval from 24 months to 27
months for Type B and C testing. This exemption specifically excluded
Containment Purge Supply and Exhaust Valves, which the staff required
to continue to be tested at the existing 6-month interval.
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 public health and safety, and are
consistent with the common defense and security; and (2) where special
circumstances at present.
III
By letter dated March 25, 1994, the licensee requested an exemption
from 10 CFR 50 Appendix J to allow Type C testing of Containment Purge
Supply and Exhaust Valves with metal-to-metal seats at 27-month
intervals. The licensee plans to replace approximately half of the
valves during the 1994 refueling outage, and the remainder at a future
date. No change to the 6-month test interval is requested for the
remaining Containment Purge Supply and Exhaust Valves that have
resilient seats. In a letter dated December 20, 1993, regarding an
associated technical specification change request, the licensee stated
that the new valves have been proven by industry experience and design
to be capable of maintaining design requirements for leakage over an
extended period of time. The licensee indicated that the replacement
valves will be required to meet even tighter permissible leakage
limits. Extending the maximum allowable interval between tests to 27
months is requested to allow for variations in the weather-related
length of the approximately annual operating cycle from year to year.
Details concerning the justification for extending the Type C test
interval from 24 to 27 months are contained in the staff's letter
granting the exemption dated April 29, 1987.
IV
Accordingly, the Commission concluded that the licensee's proposed
test schedule for the metal-to-metal seated Containment Purge Supply
and Exhaust Valves is acceptable, and can be tested at a 27-month
maximum interval. The remaining valves with resilient seats will
continue to be tested every 6 months.
The special circumstances for granting this exemption pursuant to
10 CFR 50.12 have also been identified. As stated in part 10 CFR
50.12(a)(2)(ii), special circumstances are present when applicable of
the regulation in the particular circumstance is not necessary to
achieve the underlying purpose of the rule. Application of the
resilient-seated valve leak test requirements to metallic-seated valves
would increase surveillance and maintenance costs for no increased
safety benefit. The vendor certifies that appropriate leakage criteria
are met, as applicable. The licensee states that the valve design,
specifications, and qualification documentation for these valves verify
that Type C leakage testing intervals are appropriate. The special
circumstance of 10 CFR 50.12(as)(2)(ii) for extending the Type C
leakage test interval from 24 months to 27 months is as described in
the staff's letter granting the exemption dated April 29, 1987.
Consequently, the Commission concludes that the special circumstances
of 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(ii) exist in that application of the regulation
in these particular circumstances is not necessary to achieve the
underlying purpose of the rule.
V
Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR
50.12, this exemption as described in Section III. above is authorized
by law, 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 for Type C testing during each reactor refueling shutdown,
with an extension of the maximum interval from 24 months to 27 months
for Type C testing, as described in Section III. above.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that the
granting of this exemption will have no significant impact on the
environment (59 FR 27075).
Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 15th day of June 1994.
This exemption is effective upon issuance.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Elinor G. Adensam,
Acting Director, Division of Reactor Projects--III/IV, Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-15132 Filed 6-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
