[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 1994)]
[Notices]
[Pages 788-789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-252]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 6, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-498 and 50-499]

 

Houston Lighting & Power Co. (South Texas Project, Units 1 and 
2); Exemption

I

    On March 22, 1988, and March 28, 1989, the Commission issued 
Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-76 and NPF-80 to Houston Lighting & 
Power Company, et al. (the licensee) for South Texas Project, Unit Nos. 
1 and 2, respectively. These licenses provided, among other things, 
that the facilities are subject to all rules, regulations, and orders 
of the Commission.

II

    Appendix A of part 20 of title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, ``Protection Factors for Respirators,'' establishes 
protection factors of air-purifying respirators for protection against 
particulates only. Furthermore, footnoted d-2(c) states, ``No allowance 
is to be made for the use of sorbents against radioactive material in 
the form of gases or vapors.'' This restriction was needed since an 
inadequate data base has existed for evaluating the complex interaction 
of many factors affecting the service life and removal efficiency of 
radioactive gases and vapors by sorbent canisters. Also, due to the 
lack of a data base, a National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health/Mine Safety and Health Administration (NIOSH/MSHA) certification 
schedule has not been established to ensure that the canisters meet 
acceptable performance criteria.
    Section 20.103(e) of 10 CFR part 20 allows the Commission to 
authorize the use of respiratory equipment in lieu of an NIOSH/MSHA 
certification when such an action is justified based on adequate 
testing of material and performance characteristics.
    By letter dated December 19, 1991, as supplemented by letters dated 
July 1, 1993, and November 3, 1993, HL&P requested an exemption based 
on 10 CFR 20.501 to allow the use of radioiodine Mine Safety Appliance 
Company (MSA) GMR-1 canisters with a protection factor of 50 for 
personnel respiratory protection. In support of the exemption request, 
HL&P cited test results and a quality assurance plan that satisfies the 
recommended qualification process of NUREG/CR-3403, ``Criteria and Test 
Methods for Certifying Air-Purifying Respirator Cartridges and 
Canisters Against Radioiodine.''

III

    The NRC staff evaluated the information provided by HL&P. The 
licensee provided reliable test information verifying that the MSA GMR-
1 canister is capable of providing a protection factor of 50 over a 
period of 8 hours of continuous use, provided that the total challenge 
of radioactive and non-radioactive iodine and other halogenated 
compounds does not exceed 1 ppm, and temperature does not exceed 
110 deg.F provided the dewpoint does not exceed 107 deg. F. The data 
showed the breakthrough point to be well beyond 8 hours.
    Testing has been conducted under acceptable conditions of cyclic 
flow and under worst-case conditions for those environmental factors 
affecting service life (i.e., temperature, relative humidity, and 
challenge concentration of CH3I (methyliodide/methyl radioiodide), 
the most penetrating of the challenge forms). The data showed that the 
MSA GMR-I canisters performed adequately under acceptable test 
conditions. These conditions, including criteria and test methods, are 
consistent with those derived by the NRC staff from NUREG/CR-3403, 
``Criteria and Test Methods for Certifying Air-Purifying Respirator 
Cartridges and Canisters Against Radioiodine.''
    HL&P, through acceptance of MSA QA controls, has provided 
commitments that the MSA GMR-1 canisters will meet standards for 
quality assurance and quality control that are recognized by NIOSH and 
are compatible with NRC staff positions. This includes a commitment to 
establish a 1 percent AQL (acceptable quality limit) in a 5 to 10 ppm 
challenge concentration of CH3I, 90 percent relative humidity, 
110 deg.F, 64 liters per minute cyclic flow, for a service life of 8 
hours or more at a penetration equal to 1 percent of the challenge 
concentration. Test data referenced by HL&P demonstrate that 
performance (i.e., service life) of canisters at 100 percent relative 
humidity is acceptable.

IV

    Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 
20.501, this exemption is authorized by law and will not result in 
undue hazard to life or property.
    Accordingly, the Commission hereby grants an exemption as described 
in Section III above from 10 CFR part 20, appendix A, footnote d-2(c) 
to authorize the use of the MSA GMR-1 canister at South Texas Project, 
Units 1 and 2. For additional details regarding the basis of this 
exemption, including usage limitations and restrictions, see the 
staff's safety evaluation dated December 30, 1993 available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC and at the Wharton County 
Junior College, J.M. Hodges Learning Center, 911 Boling Highway, 
Wharton, Texas 77488.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that the 
granting of the Exemption will have no significant impact on the 
environment (58 FR 42112).
    This Exemption is effective upon issuance.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 30th day of December 1993.

    For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Elinor G. Adensam,
Acting Director, Division of Reactor Projects III/IV/V, Office of 
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-252 Filed 1-5-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M