ML18065B172
| ML18065B172 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 03/06/1998 |
| From: | Carpenter C NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | Bordine T CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18065B173 | List: |
| References | |
| TAC-M98923, TAC-M98924, TAC-M99344, TAC-M99650, NUDOCS 9803190001 | |
| Download: ML18065B172 (3) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
<o -25'.5' WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555--0001 Mr. Thomas C. Berdine Licensing Manager 27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway.
Covert, MI 49043 March 6,.1998
SUBJECT:
STAFF REVIEW OF REQUESTS FOR RELIEF FROM CERTAIN PUMP AND VALVE INSERVICE TESTING REQUIREMENTS AT THE PALISADES PLANT (TAC NOS. M98923, M98924, M99344, AND M99650)
Dear Mr. Berdine:
We have completed our review of a number of relief requests proposed by Consumers Energy for the Palisades Plant third 10-year interval program for inservice testing of pumps and valves.*
The relief requests, and supplemental information addressing questions raised by the staff during its review, were submitted by your letters dated June 3 (two letters), July 24, August 29, and September 29, 1997. In your submittals, the subject relief requests are identified *as Valve Relief Request (VRR) Nos. 7, 12, 23, 28, 29, 30 31, 32, and Pump Relief Request (PRR)
No. 7. The results of the NRC staffs review are detailed in the enclosed safety evaluation and are summarized in the following paragraphs.
The NRC staff reviewed these relief requests and supplemental information against the requirements of Section XI of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code pursuant to Section 50.55a of Part 50 to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Based upon this review, the staff concludes that the proposed alternatives in VRR Nos. 7, 12, 28, 30, and 31 are authorized pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(a)(3)(ii), based on the hardship or unusual difficulty without a compensating i9crease in the level of quality and safety that would result if the Code requirements were imposed. The proposed alternative in Relief Request VRR-23 is authorized pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(a)(3)(i) based on the acceptable level of quality and safety provided by the alternative. Relief requests VRR-32 and PRR-7 are granted pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(f)(6)(i) based on the impracticality of performing inservice testing on the individual components.
For relief request VRR-29, interim relief is authorized for a period of 120 days from the date of this safety evaluation pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(a)(3)(ii) based upon the determination that immediate compliance with the specified requirements results in a hardship without a compensating increase in the level of quality and safety. This interim relief is to allow Consumers Energy time to (1) provide the basis for deferral of testing to cold shutdowns for the main steam atmospheric dump valves, (2) address non-intrusive techniques, and (3) address assigning reasonable, objective acceptance criteria to an observable parameter, such as valve stem movement. flowrate. or differential pressure, to measure stroke time and assess 0/: 0 I degradation.
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I 9803190001 980306 PDR ADOCK 05000255 P
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T. March 6, 1998 The relief granted is authorized by law and will not endanger life or property or the common defense and security and is otherwise in the public interest giving due consideration to the burden upon Consumers Energy that could result if the requirements were imposed on the facility, and the adequacy of alternative testing for assessing the operational readiness of the components..
If you have any questions regarding this letter or the enclosed safety evaluation, please contact Kevin Connaughton at (301) 415-3018.
Docket No. 50-255
Enclosure:
Safety Evaluation cc w/encl:
See next page DISTRIBUTION:
Docket File (50-255)
PUBLIC PDlll-1 Reading E. Adensam (EGA 1)
R. Schaaf OGC W. Beckner R. Wessman K. Dempsey ACRS B. Burgess, Riii SEDB (TLH3)
Sincerely, Kevin A. Connaughton for
- Cynthia A. Carpenter, Director Project Directorate 111-1 Division of Reactor Projects - 111/IV Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation G. Hill (2)
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Mr. Thomas C. Berdine
- , Cons*)Jmers Energy Company cc:
Mr. Thomas J. Palmisano Site Vice President Palisades Plant 27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway Covert, Michigan 49043 Mr. Robert A. Fenech, Sr Vice Pres Nuclear, Fossil, and Hydro Operations Consumers Energy Company 212 West Michigan Avenue Jackson, Michigan 49201 M. I. Miller, Esquire Sidley & Austin 54th Floor One First National Plaza Chicago, Illinois 60603 Mr. Thomas A. McNish Vice President & Secretary Consumers Energy Company 212 West Michigan Avenue Jackson, Michigan 49201 Judd L. Bacon, Esquire Consumers Energy Company 212 West Michigan Avenue Jackson, Michigan 49201 Regional Administrator, Region Ill U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 801 Warrenville Road Lisle, Illinois 60532-4351 Jerry Sarno Township Supervisor Covert Township 36197 M-140 Highway Covert, Michigan 49043 Office of the Governor Room 1 - Capitol Building Lansing, Michigan 48913 Palisades Plant U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Resident Inspector's Office Palisades Plant 27782 Blue Star Memorial Highway Covert, Michigan 49043 Drinking Water and Radiological Protection Division Michigan Department of Environmental Quality 3423 N. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd P. 0. Box 30630 CPH Mailroom Lansing, Michigan 48909-8130 Gerald Charnoff, Esquire Shaw, Pittman, Potts and Trowbridge 2300 N Street, N. W.
Washington DC 20037 Michigan Department of Attorney General Special Litigation Division 630 Law Building P.O. Box 30212 Lansing, Michigan 48909 July 1997