[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60223-60225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25917]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-364]
Southern Nuclear Operating Company; 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-8, issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company (the licensee), for
operation of the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Unit 2, located in
Houston County, Alabama.
The proposed amendment would eliminate the requirement to cycle the
Unit 2 pressurizer power-operated relief valve (PORV) block valves
during the remainder of operating cycle 14 and provides additional
compensatory action. Cycle 14 is presently scheduled to end on February
24, 2001. This change is needed because excessive packing leakage from
at least one of the Unit 2 PORV block valves occurs during valve
surveillance testing (stroking).
[[Page 60224]]
Cycling the valves with this packing leakage could result in additional
valve packing degradation potentially resulting in a forced unit
shutdown. Repairing the valve packing would require shutting down and
cooling down the unit to establish conditions for the repair. 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.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.91(a)(6) for amendments to be granted under
exigent circumstances, the NRC staff must determine 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; (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, which is presented below:
1. The proposed changes do not involve a significant increase in
the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated.
The proposed change to Surveillance Requirement (SR) 3.4.11.1
suspends the requirement to cycle test the Unit Two pressurizer
power operated relief valve (PORV) block valves for the remainder of
operating cycle 14. This change will eliminate two scheduled cycle
tests for the PORV block valves during the remainder of operating
cycle 14. SR 3.4.11.4 is added to provide compensatory measures for
verifying power available to the block valves at least every 24
hours. At the end of cycle 14, the proposed changes will no longer
be in effect. Suspension of the cycle tests for the PORV block
valves may result in a small decrease in assurance that the block
valves would cycle if required to isolate a stuck open PORV.
However, experience with these valves has shown them to be very
reliable and suspension of the remaining tests will not appreciably
reduce reliability of the valves. The proposed compensatory measure
of verifying block valve power available on a 24 hour basis adds
additional assurance that the block valves will close if demanded.
* * * * *
The proposed changes do not affect the consequences of a
previously analyzed accident since the magnitude and duration of
analyzed events are not impacted by this change. The dose
consequences of the proposed change are bounded by LOCA analyses.
Therefore, the consequences of a previously evaluated accident are
unchanged.
Therefore, the proposed TS changes do not involve a significant
increase in the probability or consequences of an accident
previously evaluated.
2. The proposed changes do not create the possibility of a new
or different kind of accident from any accident previously
evaluated.
The proposed changes involve no change to the physical plant.
They allow for suspension of the PORV block valve cycle tests for a
limited time and provide for compensatory action to verify power to
the PORV block valves. These valves provide an isolation function
for a postulated stuck open or leaking pressurizer PORV. This
condition is an analyzed event since it is bounded by the FNP LOCA
analyses. In addition to the isolation function, the block valves
are required to remain open to allow the PORVs to function
automatically to control reactor coolant system (RCS) pressure.
These changes do not impact the open function of the block valves
since the normal position is open.
Therefore, the proposed changes do not create the possibility of
a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously
evaluated.
3. The proposed changes do not involve a significant reduction
in a margin of safety.
The physical plant is unaffected by these changes. The proposed
changes do not impact accident offsite dose, containment pressure or
temperature, emergency core cooling system (ECCS) or reactor
protection system (RPS) settings or any other parameter that could
affect a margin of safety. The elimination of cycle testing of the
PORV block valves for the remainder of the Unit Two operating cycle
and the addition of the proposed compensatory action that enhances
assurance of valve operation are somewhat offsetting.
Therefore, the proposed changes do not involve a significant
reduction in a margin of safety.
The NRC staff has reviewed the licensee's analysis and, 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 14 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 14-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 14-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. The Commission expects that the need to
take this action will occur very infrequently.
Written comments may be submitted by mail to the Chief, Rules and
Directives Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office of
Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001, and should cite the publication date and page number of
this Federal Register notice. Written comments may also be delivered to
Room 6D59, Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville,
Maryland, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Federal workdays. Documents may
be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public Document
Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first
floor), Rockville, Maryland.
The filing of requests for hearing and petitions for leave to
intervene is discussed below.
By November 9, 2000, 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, located at One
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville,
Maryland, and accessible electronically through the ADAMS Public
Electronic Reading Room link at the NRC Web site (http://www.nrc.gov).
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.
[[Page 60225]]
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.
If the amendment is issued before the expiration of the 30-day
hearing period, the Commission will make a final determination on the
issue of no significant hazards consideration. If a hearing is
requested, 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 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemakings and
Adjudications Staff, or may be delivered to the Commission's Public
Document Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike
(first floor), Rockville, Maryland, by the above date. 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 M.
Stanford Blanton, Balch and Bingham, Post Office Box 306, 1710 Sixth
Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama, 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 8, 2000, as supplemented by
letter dated October 2, 2000, which are available for public inspection
at the Commission's Public Document Room, located at One White Flint
North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland, and
accessible electronically through the ADAMS Public Electronic Reading
Room link at the NRC Web site (http://www.nrc.gov).
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 4th day of October, 2000.
L. Mark Padovan,
Project Manager, Project Directorate II-1, Division of Licensing
Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 00-25917 Filed 10-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-U