[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55651-55652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27808]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-250 and 50-251]
In the Matter of Florida Power and Light Company; (Turkey Point
Units 3 and 4); Exemption
I
Florida Power and Light Company (the licensee) is the holder of
Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-31 and DPR-41, which authorize
operation of Turkey Point Units 3 and 4 (the facility) at a steady-
state reactor power level not in excess of 2300 megawatts thermal. The
facility is a pressurized-water reactor located at the licensee's site
in Dade County, Florida. The licenses require among other things that
the facility comply with all rules, regulations, and orders of the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission or NRC) now or hereafter
in effect.
[[Page 55652]]
II
In exemptions dated March 27, 1984, and August 12, 1987, concerning
the requirements of Section III.G, Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50, the
staff approved the use of 1-hour-rated fire barriers in lieu of 3-hour
barriers in certain outdoor areas at Turkey Point Units 3 and 4. In
addition, the staff found that, for certain outdoor areas not protected
by automatic fire detection and suppression systems, separation of
cables and equipment and associated non-safety-related circuits of
redundant trains by a horizontal distance of 20 feet free of
intervening combustibles provided an acceptable level of fire safety.
On the basis of the results of the industry's Thermo-Lag fire
endurance testing program, the licensee concluded that the outdoor
Thermo-Lag fire barrier designs cannot achieve a 1-hour fire-resistive
rating but can achieve a 30-minute fire-resistive rating when exposed
to a test fire that follows the American Society for Testing and
Materials E-119 standard time-temperature curve. Because of these test
results, the licensee in a letter dated June 15, 1994, requested an
exemption to use 30-minute fire barriers for outdoor applications in
lieu of the 1-hour fire barriers previously approved; however, the
exemption request was withdrawn by letter dated June 28, 1996.
In a letter dated December 12, 1996, as supplemented on July 31,
October 31, and December 17, 1997, the licensee requested an exemption
from the requirements pertaining to the 3-hour fire barriers required
by Section III.G.2.a, Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50, for the outdoor
areas, excluding the turbine building area. The licensee requested that
the NRC approve the use of 25-minute raceway fire barriers for these
outdoor applications in lieu of the 1-hour fire barriers that were
previously approved (refer to safety evaluations dated March 27, 1984,
and August 12, 1987). This request was based on the following: (1) the
fire loading and potential fire severities are low; (2) there are
minimal ignition sources; (3) transient ignition sources and
combustibles are controlled in these zones; and (4) manual fire
fighting equipment is readily accessible to these zones.
On February 24, 1998, the staff issued a partial exemption for fire
zones 47, 54, 113, 114, 115, 116, 118, 119, 120, and 143, and denied
the request for fire zone 106R. In addition, the licensee was informed
that the staff will be evaluating the remaining fire zones separately.
Specifically, the remaining fire zones are 79-partial, 81, 84-partial,
86, 88-partial, 89-partial, and 131. Subsequently, by letters dated
June 2 and August 4, 1998, the licensee submitted additional
information in support of the exemption request for the remaining fire
zones.
III
The underlying purpose of Section III.G.2.a, Appendix R to 10 CFR
Part 50, is to provide reasonable assurance that one safe shutdown
train and associated circuits used to achieve and maintain safe
shutdown are free of fire damage.
On the basis of the staff's supporting safety evaluation of the
licensee's submittals, the staff concludes that the exemption from the
requirements of Section III.G.2.a of Appendix R, for fire zones 79-
partial, 81, 84-partial, 86, 88-partial, and 89-partial, as requested
by the licensee, provides an adequate level of fire safety, and
presents no undue risk to public health and safety. In addition, the
staff concludes the underlying purpose of the rule is achieved. Fire
zone 131 will be addressed separately.
IV
Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR
50.12(a), the exemption is authorized by law, will not present an undue
risk to public health and safety, and is consistent with the common
defense and security. In addition, the Commission has determined that
special circumstances are present in that application of the Regulation
is not necessary to achieve the underlying purpose of the rule.
Therefore, the Commission hereby grants Florida Power and Light Company
an exemption from the requirements of Section III.G.2.a of Appendix R
to 10 CFR Part 50, as requested in its above-referenced submittals, for
fire zones 79-partial, 81, 84-partial, 86, 88-partial, and 89-partial.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that
granting this exemption for fire zones 79-partial, 81, 84-partial, 86,
88-partial, and 89-partial, will not have a significant effect on the
quality of the human environment (63 FR 52310).
This exemption is effective upon issuance.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day of October 1998.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Samuel J. Collins,
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-27808 Filed 10-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P