[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 43 (Friday, March 4, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4958]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 4, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-318]

 

Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power 
Plant, Unit No. 2

Exemption

I

    The Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BG&E/licensee) is the 
holder of Facility Operating License No. DPR-69, which authorizes 
operation of the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit No. 2 (the 
facility). The license provides, among other things, that the facility 
is subject to all rules, regulations and Orders of the U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission (the Commission) now or hereafter in effect.
    The facility is a pressurized water reactor located at the 
licensee's site in Calvert County, Maryland.
    The licensee is implementing upgrades to the existing safety-
related emergency diesel generators (EDGs) to increase their load 
capacity. The first part of this effort will be to upgrade Unit 1 EDG 
No. 11 during the upcoming Unit 1 refueling outage (RFO-11). This 
outage commenced on February 8, 1994, and is scheduled to be completed 
in early May 1994. To support this initial portion of the upgrades, the 
licensee has identified one temporary exemption required at this time. 
The exemption is specified below.

II

    The Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR part 50, appendix A, 
General Criterion-2 (GDC-2), requires that: Structures, systems and 
components important to safety shall be designed to withstand the 
effects of natural phenomena such as * * * tornadoes, * * * without 
loss of capability to perform their safety functions.
    The licensee has requested the temporary exemption from GDC-2 
because of the planned upgrade of the Unit 1 EDG No. 11. The effort 
will require temporary removal of a steel missile door which will 
expose portions of the support systems of EDG Nos. 12 and 21. These 
EDGs are required to be operable to support the operation of Unit No. 2 
and require protection from the potential effects of postulated 
missiles generated by natural phenomena. The licensee indicates that 
the steel missile door will be removed 4 times during RFO-11. The 
licensee estimates that each of the missile door removals will last for 
about 24 hours which will result in a total removal time of about 100 
hours during the scheduled 89 day outage.
    The licensee is providing compensatory action to assure the safe 
operation of Unit No. 2 for the short periods of time during which the 
steel missile door will be removed. To encompass all severe weather 
conditions as defined in the plant site Emergency Response Plan 
Implementing Procedures 3.0, Attachment 18, a concerted effort will be 
made to reinstall the missile door if a tornado or hurricane watch is 
issued or if sustained winds are predicted to be greater than 35 miles/
hour at the site. The only factor which would impede the reinstallation 
of the missile door would be to ensure the safety of the individuals 
performing the reinstallation.
    Considering the existing design features and compensatory measure 
proposed by the licensee, the likelihood of damage to the exposed EDG 
support systems from postulated missiles generated by natural phenomena 
is minimal for the short periods of time that the protective door will 
be removed. Also, based on the compensatory measure provided, 
reasonable assurance exists that the ability to reinstall the missile 
door will be maintained prior to any severe weather which could result 
in airborne missiles. Therefore, there is reasonable assurance that the 
proposed GDC-2 exemption will present no undue risk to public health 
and safety.

III

    The Commission has determined, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12(a), that 
special circumstances as set forth in 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(v) exists. The 
exemption would provide only temporary relief from the applicable 
regulation (GDC-2). The exemption is requested for a specific time 
period after which the facility would again be in conformance with all 
the requirements of GDC-2. The licensee has made good faith efforts in 
considering alternatives to the exemption request and has concluded 
that the EDG upgrades can only be conducted without the subject 
exemption during a period when both units are shut down.
    Based on the above and on review of the licensee's submittal, as 
summarized in the Safety Evaluation, dated February 23, 1994, the NRC 
staff concludes that the likelihood of unacceptable damage to the 
exposed portions of the Unit No. 2 EDG support systems due to weather-
induced missiles during the short duration exposures occurring in the 
exemption period is low.
    Based on the low probability of unacceptable events, coupled with 
the compensatory measure which the licensee has committed to, the NRC 
staff finds the proposed exemption from GDC-2 to be acceptable.

IV

    Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 
50.12, the subject exemption 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)(v), are 
present justifying the exemption; namely, that the exemption would 
provide only temporary relief from the applicable regulations and that 
the licensee has made good faith efforts to comply with the 
regulations.
    Therefore, the Commission hereby approves the following exemption: 
Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit No. 2, may operate without 
conforming to the requirements of GDC-2 as they apply to the exposed 
portions of the support systems for EDG Nos. 12 and 21 providing that 
the compensatory measure as described herein is in place for the period 
of the exemption.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that 
granting the above exemption will have no significant impact on the 
quality of the human environment (February 17, 1994, 59 FR 8033).
    The subject Unit No. 1 EDG No. 11 upgrade GDC-2 exemption if 
effective from its date of issuance through May 15, 1994.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of February 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Steven A. Varga,
Director, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-4958 Filed 3-3-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M