[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27737]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 9, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-317 and 50-318]

 

Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, 
Unit Nos. 1 and 2; Exemption

I

    The Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BG&E/licensee) is the 
holder of Facility Operation License Nos. DPR-53 and DPR-69, which 
authorizes operation of the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 
Nos. 1 and 2 (the facilities), respectively. The license provides, 
among other things, that the facilities are subject to all rules, 
regulations and Orders of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the 
Commission) now or hereafter in effect.
    The facilities are pressurized water reactors 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 was to upgrade Unit 1 EDG No. 
11 during the previous Unit 1 refueling outage (RFO-11). The second 
part of the EDG upgrade project is to upgrade Unit 2 EDG No. 21 during 
the upcoming Unit 2 refueling outage (RFO-10). RFO-10 is scheduled to 
commence on March 17, 1995, and to be completed in late May 1995. To 
support this second 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 2 EDG No. 21. The effort 
will require temporary removal of a steel missile door which will 
expose portions of the support systems of EDG Nos. 11 and 12. These 
EDGs are required to be operable to support the operation of Unit No. 1 
and the shutdown or refueling of Unit No. 2. These EDGs 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-10. 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 65 day outage.
    The licensee is providing compensatory action to assure the safe 
operation of Unit No. 1 and refueling 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 17, 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 50 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) exist. 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 October 28, 1994, the NRC 
staff concludes that the likelihood of unacceptable damage to the 
exposed portions of the operable EDGs 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 Nos. 1 and 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. 11 and 12 
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 (October 27, 1994, 58 FR 54013).
    The subject Unit No. 2 EDG No. 21 upgrade GDC-2 exemption if 
effective from its date of issuance through May 31, 1994.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day of October, 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Steven A. Varga,
Director, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-27737 Filed 11-8-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M