[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 103 (Friday, May 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 29461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14241]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-285]


Omaha Public Power District, Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1; 
Exemption

I

    Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) is the holder of Facility 
Operating License No. DPR-40 for the Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1 
(FCS) which authorizes operation of the Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No. 
1. The license provides, among other things, that the licensee is 
subject to all rules, regulations, and orders of the Commission now or 
hereafter in effect.
    The facility consists of one pressurized-water reactor at the 
licensee's site located in Washington County, Nebraska.

II

    By letter dated September 30, 1997, as supplemented by letters 
dated January 29, 1998, and April 23, 1998, the licensee requested an 
exemption from certain requirements from 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, 
Section III.O, for the Fort Calhoun Station. Section III.O of Appendix 
R to 10 CFR Part 50, requires that the reactor coolant pump (RCP) shall 
be equipped with an oil collection system if the containment is not 
inerted during normal operation. The oil collection system shall be so 
designed, engineered and installed that failure will not lead to fire 
during normal or design basis accident conditions and that there is 
reasonable assurance that the system will withstand the safe shutdown 
earthquake.

III

    Section 50.12(a) of 10 CFR, ``Specific exemptions,'' states that * 
* *

    The Commission may, upon application by any interested person, 
or upon its own initiative, grant exemptions from the requirements 
of the regulations of this part, which are (1) Authorized by law, 
will not present an undue risk to the public health and safety, and 
are consistent with the common defense and security. (2) The 
Commission will not consider granting an exemption unless special 
circumstances are present.

    Section 50.12(a)(2)(ii) of 10 CFR Part 50 states that special 
circumstances are present when ``Application of the regulation in the 
particular circumstances would not serve the underlying purpose of the 
rule or is not necessary to achieve the underlying purpose of the rule 
* * *.'' The underlying purpose of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Section 
III.O, is to ensure that leaking oil will not lead to a fire that could 
damage safety related equipment during normal or design basis accident 
conditions. As documented in a Safety Evaluation dated May 21, 1998, 
the NRC staff concluded that for RCP RC-3B an oil collection system is 
not needed to satisfy the underlying purpose of Section III.O of 
Appendix R for:
    (1) the unpressurized upper bearing cooling water penetrations 
located 3.15'' above the normal oil level,
    (2) the unpressurized lower bearing component cooling water 
penetrations located 1'' above the normal oil level,
    (3) the unpressurized vent line on the lower bearing resistance 
temperature detector (RTD) located 2.4'' above the normal oil level,
    (4) the unpressurized upper bearing RTD located 10'' above the 
normal oil level, and
    (5) the unpressurized lower bearing oil level transmitter line.
    Accordingly, the Commission has determined that special 
circumstances are present as defined in 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(ii).
    As further documented in the Safety Evaluation dated May 21, 1998, 
the staff also concluded that an exemption is not needed for:
    (1) the motor cooling air vents of RCP RC-3B,
    (2) the anti-rotation device air vents and the motor cooling air 
vents of the remaining RCPs, or
    (3) the lack of a flash arrester for the RCP oil collection system 
vent.

IV

    The Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, an 
exemption in connection with the five unpressurized sites above 
regarding RCP RC-3B is authorized by law, will not present an undue 
risk to public health and safety and is consistent with the common 
defense and security. Also, as stated above, the Commission has 
determined that special circumstances are present. Therefore, the 
Commission hereby grants Omaha Public Power District an exemption from 
the requirements of Section III.O of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 
regarding the unpressurized leakage sites in the RCP lube oil 
collection system discussed herein.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that the 
granting of this exemption will not have a significant effect on the 
quality of the human environment (63 FR 26653).
    This exemption is effective upon issuance.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day of May, 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Samuel J. Collins,
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-14241 Filed 5-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P