[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15132]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 22, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-397]

 

Washington Public Power Supply System Nuclear Project No. 2 (WNP-
2); Exemption

I

    Washington Public Power Supply System (the licensee) is the holder 
of Facility Operating License No. NPF-21 which authorizes operation of 
the WNP-2 Nuclear Plant at steady-state reactor power levels not in 
excess of 3323 megawatts thermal. The WNP-2 facility is a boiling water 
reactor located on Hanford Reservation in Benton County near Richland, 
Washington. The license provides, among other things, that it is 
subject to all rules, regulations, and Orders of the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission (the Commission) now or hereafter in effect.

II

    Paragraph III.D.3 of Appendix J to 10 CFR Part 50 requires, in 
part, that ``Type C tests shall be performed during each reactor 
shutdown for refueling but in no case at intervals greater than two 
years.'' By letter dated April 29, 1987, the staff issued an exemption 
from the requirement for Type C testing during each reactor refueling 
shutdown, and an extension of the maximum interval from 24 months to 27 
months for Type B and C testing. This exemption specifically excluded 
Containment Purge Supply and Exhaust Valves, which the staff required 
to continue to be tested at the existing 6-month interval.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12(a), the NRC may grant exemptions from the 
requirements of the regulations (1) which are authorized by law, will 
not present an undue risk to public health and safety, and are 
consistent with the common defense and security; and (2) where special 
circumstances at present.

III

    By letter dated March 25, 1994, the licensee requested an exemption 
from 10 CFR 50 Appendix J to allow Type C testing of Containment Purge 
Supply and Exhaust Valves with metal-to-metal seats at 27-month 
intervals. The licensee plans to replace approximately half of the 
valves during the 1994 refueling outage, and the remainder at a future 
date. No change to the 6-month test interval is requested for the 
remaining Containment Purge Supply and Exhaust Valves that have 
resilient seats. In a letter dated December 20, 1993, regarding an 
associated technical specification change request, the licensee stated 
that the new valves have been proven by industry experience and design 
to be capable of maintaining design requirements for leakage over an 
extended period of time. The licensee indicated that the replacement 
valves will be required to meet even tighter permissible leakage 
limits. Extending the maximum allowable interval between tests to 27 
months is requested to allow for variations in the weather-related 
length of the approximately annual operating cycle from year to year. 
Details concerning the justification for extending the Type C test 
interval from 24 to 27 months are contained in the staff's letter 
granting the exemption dated April 29, 1987.

IV

    Accordingly, the Commission concluded that the licensee's proposed 
test schedule for the metal-to-metal seated Containment Purge Supply 
and Exhaust Valves is acceptable, and can be tested at a 27-month 
maximum interval. The remaining valves with resilient seats will 
continue to be tested every 6 months.
    The special circumstances for granting this exemption pursuant to 
10 CFR 50.12 have also been identified. As stated in part 10 CFR 
50.12(a)(2)(ii), special circumstances are present when applicable of 
the regulation in the particular circumstance is not necessary to 
achieve the underlying purpose of the rule. Application of the 
resilient-seated valve leak test requirements to metallic-seated valves 
would increase surveillance and maintenance costs for no increased 
safety benefit. The vendor certifies that appropriate leakage criteria 
are met, as applicable. The licensee states that the valve design, 
specifications, and qualification documentation for these valves verify 
that Type C leakage testing intervals are appropriate. The special 
circumstance of 10 CFR 50.12(as)(2)(ii) for extending the Type C 
leakage test interval from 24 months to 27 months is as described in 
the staff's letter granting the exemption dated April 29, 1987. 
Consequently, the Commission concludes that the special circumstances 
of 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(ii) exist in that application of the regulation 
in these particular circumstances is not necessary to achieve the 
underlying purpose of the rule.

V

    Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 
50.12, this exemption as described in Section III. above 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)(ii) are present justifying the exemption.
    Therefore, the Commission hereby grants an exemption from the 
requirement for Type C testing during each reactor refueling shutdown, 
with an extension of the maximum interval from 24 months to 27 months 
for Type C testing, as described in Section III. above.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that the 
granting of this exemption will have no significant impact on the 
environment (59 FR 27075).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 15th day of June 1994.

    This exemption is effective upon issuance.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Elinor G. Adensam,
Acting Director, Division of Reactor Projects--III/IV, Office of 
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-15132 Filed 6-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M