[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55651-55652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27808]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-250 and 50-251]


In the Matter of Florida Power and Light Company; (Turkey Point 
Units 3 and 4); Exemption

I

    Florida Power and Light Company (the licensee) is the holder of 
Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-31 and DPR-41, which authorize 
operation of Turkey Point Units 3 and 4 (the facility) at a steady-
state reactor power level not in excess of 2300 megawatts thermal. The 
facility is a pressurized-water reactor located at the licensee's site 
in Dade County, Florida. The licenses require among other things that 
the facility comply with all rules, regulations, and orders of the U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission or NRC) now or hereafter 
in effect.

[[Page 55652]]

II

    In exemptions dated March 27, 1984, and August 12, 1987, concerning 
the requirements of Section III.G, Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50, the 
staff approved the use of 1-hour-rated fire barriers in lieu of 3-hour 
barriers in certain outdoor areas at Turkey Point Units 3 and 4. In 
addition, the staff found that, for certain outdoor areas not protected 
by automatic fire detection and suppression systems, separation of 
cables and equipment and associated non-safety-related circuits of 
redundant trains by a horizontal distance of 20 feet free of 
intervening combustibles provided an acceptable level of fire safety.
    On the basis of the results of the industry's Thermo-Lag fire 
endurance testing program, the licensee concluded that the outdoor 
Thermo-Lag fire barrier designs cannot achieve a 1-hour fire-resistive 
rating but can achieve a 30-minute fire-resistive rating when exposed 
to a test fire that follows the American Society for Testing and 
Materials E-119 standard time-temperature curve. Because of these test 
results, the licensee in a letter dated June 15, 1994, requested an 
exemption to use 30-minute fire barriers for outdoor applications in 
lieu of the 1-hour fire barriers previously approved; however, the 
exemption request was withdrawn by letter dated June 28, 1996.
    In a letter dated December 12, 1996, as supplemented on July 31, 
October 31, and December 17, 1997, the licensee requested an exemption 
from the requirements pertaining to the 3-hour fire barriers required 
by Section III.G.2.a, Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50, for the outdoor 
areas, excluding the turbine building area. The licensee requested that 
the NRC approve the use of 25-minute raceway fire barriers for these 
outdoor applications in lieu of the 1-hour fire barriers that were 
previously approved (refer to safety evaluations dated March 27, 1984, 
and August 12, 1987). This request was based on the following: (1) the 
fire loading and potential fire severities are low; (2) there are 
minimal ignition sources; (3) transient ignition sources and 
combustibles are controlled in these zones; and (4) manual fire 
fighting equipment is readily accessible to these zones.
    On February 24, 1998, the staff issued a partial exemption for fire 
zones 47, 54, 113, 114, 115, 116, 118, 119, 120, and 143, and denied 
the request for fire zone 106R. In addition, the licensee was informed 
that the staff will be evaluating the remaining fire zones separately. 
Specifically, the remaining fire zones are 79-partial, 81, 84-partial, 
86, 88-partial, 89-partial, and 131. Subsequently, by letters dated 
June 2 and August 4, 1998, the licensee submitted additional 
information in support of the exemption request for the remaining fire 
zones.

III

    The underlying purpose of Section III.G.2.a, Appendix R to 10 CFR 
Part 50, is to provide reasonable assurance that one safe shutdown 
train and associated circuits used to achieve and maintain safe 
shutdown are free of fire damage.
    On the basis of the staff's supporting safety evaluation of the 
licensee's submittals, the staff concludes that the exemption from the 
requirements of Section III.G.2.a of Appendix R, for fire zones 79-
partial, 81, 84-partial, 86, 88-partial, and 89-partial, as requested 
by the licensee, provides an adequate level of fire safety, and 
presents no undue risk to public health and safety. In addition, the 
staff concludes the underlying purpose of the rule is achieved. Fire 
zone 131 will be addressed separately.

IV

    Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 
50.12(a), the exemption is authorized by law, will not present an undue 
risk to public health and safety, and is consistent with the common 
defense and security. In addition, the Commission has determined that 
special circumstances are present in that application of the Regulation 
is not necessary to achieve the underlying purpose of the rule. 
Therefore, the Commission hereby grants Florida Power and Light Company 
an exemption from the requirements of Section III.G.2.a of Appendix R 
to 10 CFR Part 50, as requested in its above-referenced submittals, for 
fire zones 79-partial, 81, 84-partial, 86, 88-partial, and 89-partial.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that 
granting this exemption for fire zones 79-partial, 81, 84-partial, 86, 
88-partial, and 89-partial, will not have a significant effect on the 
quality of the human environment (63 FR 52310).
    This exemption is effective upon issuance.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day of October 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Samuel J. Collins,
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-27808 Filed 10-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P