Notice of Availability of Model License Amendment Request and Safety Evaluation on Technical Specification Improvement Regarding Revision to the Completion Time in STS 3.6.6A, “Containment Spray and Cooling Systems” for Combustion Engineering Pressurized Water Reactors Using the Consolidated Line Item Improvement Process, 65148-65160 [06-9094]
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65148
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 215 / Tuesday, November 7, 2006 / Notices
South Carolina Electric & Gas Company,
South Carolina Public Service
Authority, Docket No. 50–395, Virgil C.
Summer Nuclear Station, Unit No. 1,
Fairfield County, South Carolina
Date of application for amendment:
November 15, 2005, as supplemented
May 31, August 31, and September 29,
2006.
Brief description of amendment: The
amendment revises the Virgil C.
Summer Nuclear Station Technical
Specifications (TS) 3/4.3 for the reactor
trip instrumentation and the engineered
safety feature actuation system
instrumentation to implement the
allowed outage time and bypass test
time changes approved in WCAP–
14333–P–A, Revision 1, ‘‘Probabilistic
Risk Analysis of the RPS and ESFAS
Test Times and Completion Times,’’ and
makes several additional changes to TS
outside of the scope of WCAP–14333.
Date of issuance: October 24, 2006.
Effective date: As of the date of
issuance and shall be implemented
within 60 days.
Amendment No. 177.
Renewed Facility Operating License
No. NPF–12: Amendment revises the
Technical Specifications.
Date of initial notice in Federal
Register: December 20, 2005 (70 FR
75496).
The supplemental letters provided
clarifying information that was within
the scope of the initial notice and did
not change the initial proposed no
significant hazards consideration. The
Commission’s related evaluation of the
amendment is contained in a Safety
Evaluation dated October 24, 2006.
No significant hazards consideration
comments received: No.
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Tennessee Valley Authority, Docket No.
50–259 Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant,
Unit 1, Limestone County, Alabama
Date of application for amendment:
November 10, 2003 (TS–430), as
supplemented by letter dated November
8, 2004.
Brief description of amendment: The
amendment incorporates the necessary
Technical Specification (TS) changes for
the planned replacement of the power
range monitoring portion of the existing
Neutron Monitoring System with a
digital upgrade. These changes expand
the current allowable operating domain
to the Maximum Extended Load Line
Limit region of the power/flow chart.
Date of issuance: September 27, 2006.
Effective date: Date of issuance, to be
implemented within 30 days.
Amendment No.: 262.
Facility Operating License No. DPR–
33: Amendment revised the TSs.
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Date of initial notice in Federal
Register: February 3, 2004 (69 FR
5208). The November 8, 2004,
supplement, contained clarifying
information and did not change the NRC
staff’s initial proposed finding of no
significant hazards consideration
determination.
The Commission’s related evaluation
of the amendment is contained in a
Safety Evaluation dated September 27,
2006.
No significant hazards consideration
comments received: No.
Tennessee Valley Authority, Docket
Nos. 50–327 and 50–328, Sequoyah
Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, Hamilton
County, Tennessee
Date of application for amendments:
February 6, 2006.
Brief description of amendments: The
amendments modify Technical
Specification (TS) requirements for
inoperable snubbers by adding Limiting
Condition for Operation 3.0.7. This
operating license improvement was
made available by the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC) on May
4, 2005 (70 FR 23252) as part of the
consolidated line item improvement
process and is consistent with NRC
approved Technical Specification Task
Force (TSTF) standard TS change
TSTF–372, Revision 4.
Date of issuance: October 4, 2006.
Effective date: As of the date of
issuance and shall be implemented
within 45 days.
Amendment Nos. 312/301.
Facility Operating License Nos. DPR–
77 and DPR–79: Amendments revised
the technical specifications.
Date of initial notice in Federal
Register: March 28, 2006 (71 FR
15487).
The Commission’s related evaluation
of the amendments is contained in a
Safety Evaluation dated October 4, 2006.
No significant hazards consideration
comments received: No.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day
of October 2006.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Catherine Haney,
Director, Division of Operating Reactor
Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation.
[FR Doc. E6–18595 Filed 11–6–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
Notice of Availability of Model License
Amendment Request and Safety
Evaluation on Technical Specification
Improvement Regarding Revision to
the Completion Time in STS 3.6.6A,
‘‘Containment Spray and Cooling
Systems’’ for Combustion Engineering
Pressurized Water Reactors Using the
Consolidated Line Item Improvement
Process
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
the staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) has prepared a
model license amendment request
(LAR), model safety evaluation (SE), and
model proposed no significant hazards
consideration (NSHC) determination
related to changes to the completion
times (CT) in Standard Technical
Specification (STS) 3.6.6A,
‘‘Containment Spray and Cooling
Systems,’’ contained in NUREG–1432
(Standard Technical Specifications for
Combustion Engineering Plants, Rev.
3.0). The proposed changes would
revise STS 3.6.6A by extending the CT
for one containment spray system (CSS)
train inoperable from 72 hours to seven
days, and add a Condition, Required
Actions and associated CT when one
CSS train and one containment cooling
system (CCS) train are inoperable. These
changes are based on analyses provided
in a joint applications report submitted
by the Combustion Engineering Owner’s
Group (CEOG). The CEOG participants
in the Technical Specifications Task
Force (TSTF) proposed these changes to
the STS in Change Traveler No. TSTF–
409, Revision 2.
The purpose of these models is to
permit the NRC to efficiently process
amendments to incorporate these
changes into plant-specific STS for
Combustion Engineering pressurized
water reactors (PWRs). Since TSTF–409
involves a risk-informed approach to
extending the CT for one CSS
inoperable, the NRC staff must verify
that licensees who apply for this TS
change have a valid, up-to-date
probabilistic risk assessment (PRA)
model that employs PRA principles to
ensure that public health and safety are
maintained when the CSS CT of 7 days
is implemented. Therefore, the model
LAR contains several conditions
requiring licensees to make specific
validations of their plant PRA quality
and methods. The intent of using the
CLIIP to adopt TSTF–409 is to eliminate
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the need for additional technical review
and requests for additional information
(RAIs) on plant-specific amendments.
Licensees of nuclear power reactors to
which the models apply can request
amendments conforming to the models.
In such a request, a licensee should
confirm the applicability of the model
SE and NSHC determination to its plant,
and provide the expected supplemental
information requested in the model
LAR.
DATES: The NRC staff issued a Federal
Register Notice (71 FR 18380, April 11,
2006) which provided for public
comment a model SE, model LAR, and
NSHC determination related to changes
to the CT for one CSS train inoperable
in STS 3.6.6A. The NRC staff herein
provides a revised model SE, revised
model LAR, and NSHC determination.
The NRC staff can most efficiently
consider applications based upon the
model LAR, which references the Model
SE, if the application is submitted
within one year of this Federal Register
Notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim
Kobetz, Mail Stop: O–12H2, Division of
Inspection Program Management, Office
of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Washington, DC 20555–0001, telephone
301–415–1932.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Regulatory Issue Summary 2000–06,
‘‘Consolidated Line Item Improvement
Process [CLIIP] for Adopting Standard
Technical Specifications Changes for
Power Reactors,’’ was issued on March
20, 2000. The CLIIP is intended to
improve the efficiency and transparency
of NRC licensing processes. This is
accomplished by processing proposed
changes to the STS in a manner that
supports subsequent license amendment
applications. The CLIIP includes an
opportunity for the public to comment
on proposed changes to the STS
following a preliminary assessment by
the NRC staff and finding that the
change will likely be offered for
adoption by licensees. The CLIIP
includes NRC staff evaluation of any
comments received for a proposed
change to the STS. In several instances,
the staff’s evaluation did result in
changes to the model LAR and/or model
SE. Those licensees opting to apply for
the subject changes to TSs are
responsible for reviewing the staff’s
evaluation, referencing the applicable
technical justifications, and providing
any necessary plant-specific
information. The model LAR shows
licensees the expected level of detail
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that needs to be included in order to
adopt TSTF–409, Rev. 2, as well as
guidelines for staff review. The NRC has
established an internal review plan that
designates the appropriate staff and
approximate timelines to review plantspecific LARs that reference TSTF–409,
Rev. 2. Each amendment application
made in response to the notice of
availability will be processed and
noticed in accordance with applicable
NRC rules and procedures.
This notice involves an increase in
the allowed CT to restore an inoperable
CSS train on Combustion Engineering
PWRs. By letter dated November 10,
2003, the CEOG proposed this change
for incorporation into the STS as TSTF–
409, Revision 2. This change is based on
the NRC staff-approved analyses
contained in CE NPSD–1045–A, ‘‘Joint
Applications Report: Modification to the
Containment Spray System, and Low
Pressure Safety Injection System
Technical Specifications,’’ dated March
2000, as approved by the NRC in a SE
dated December 21, 1999, accessible
electronically from the Agencywide
Documents Access and Management
System’s (ADAMS) Public Electronic
Reading Room on the Internet (ADAMS
Accession No. ML993620241) at the
NRC Web site https://www.nrc.gov/
reading-rm/adams.html. Persons who
do not have access to ADAMS or who
encounter problems in accessing the
documents located in ADAMS, should
contact the NRC Public Document Room
Reference staff by telephone at 1–800–
397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by e-mail
to pdr@nrc.gov.
This notice, along with TSTF–409,
Rev. 2, will be posted on the NRC Web
site at https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/
operating/licensing/techspecs/changesissued-for-adoption.html.
Applicability
This proposed change to revise the
Technical Specification (TS) CT for one
inoperable CSS train is applicable to
Combustion engineering PWRs.
To efficiently process the incoming
license amendment applications, the
NRC staff requests that each licensee
applying for the changes addressed by
TSTF–409, Revision 2, use the CLIIP to
submit a LAR that adheres to the
following model. Any deviations from
the model LAR should be explained in
the licensee’s submittal. When applying,
licensees should ensure they address
the eight conditions and one regulatory
commitment listed in the model LAR
and model SE.
The CLIIP does not prevent licensees
from requesting an alternative approach,
proposing changes without providing
the information described in the eight
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65149
model LAR conditions, or making the
requested commitment. Variations from
the approach recommended in this
notice may, however, require additional
review by the NRC staff and may
increase the time and resources needed
for the review. Significant variations
from the approach, or inclusion of
additional changes in the LAR, will
result in staff rejection of the submittal
under the CLIIP. Instead, licensees
desiring significant variations and/or
additional changes should either submit
a LAR that does not claim to adopt
TSTF–409, or specifically state in their
LAR that they are adopting TSTF–409
without using the CLIIP.
Public Notices
In a notice in the Federal Register
dated April 11, 2006 (71 FR 18380), the
staff requested comment on the use of
the CLIIP to process requests to revise
the CE PWR TS regarding Containment
Spray System completion time
extensions as discussed in TSTF–409. In
response to this notice, the staff
received one set of comments
(developed by the PWR Owners Group,
and submitted by the Nuclear Energy
Institute in a letter dating May 10, 2006
(ADAMs Accession No. ML061570029)).
Specific comments on the model LAR
and model SE were offered. These
comments, along with the NRC staff’s
responses, are summarized and
discussed below.
1. Comment: Based on discussions
with the author regarding the intent of
the ‘‘Model SE,’’ [i.e., to allow
acceptance review without RAIs while
satisfying the CLIIP] it is recommended
that additional explanatory information
be included. * * * At the very
minimum, a clear preamble to the FRN
should be provided that places the
scope of the FRN in perspective.
Response: The following preamble
has been inserted after the first sentence
of the second paragraph of the FRN.
‘‘Since TSTF–409 involves a risk-informed
approach to extending the CT for one CSS
inoperable, the NRC staff must verify that
licensees who apply for this TS change have
a valid, up to date probabilistic risk
assessment (PRA) model that employs PRA
principles to ensure that public health and
safety are maintained when the CSS CT of 7
days is implemented. Therefore, the model
LAR contains several conditions requiring
licensees to make specific validations of their
plant PRA quality and methods. The intent
of using the CLIIP to adopt TSTF–409 is to
eliminate the need for additional technical
review and requests for additional
information (RAIs) on plant-specific
amendments.’’
2. Comment: [The FRN] should
equally note that existing strategies for
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approval are valid and may also be
used.
Response: The second to last
paragraph of the FRN discusses how a
licensee should proceed if it desires to
deviate from the approach outlined in
the CLIIP. The NRC’s position is that, if
a licensee is going to submit a LAR that
adopts TSTF–409 using the CLIIP, then
the plant-specific LAR should provide
all the information requested in the
model LAR. Any variations/deviations
should be explained, and may require
additional review by the staff (including
issuance of RAIs). Significant variations
from the CLIIP methodology should be
submitted as normal license amendment
requests. The staff has changed the last
sentence of second to last paragraph of
the FRN to read:
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‘‘Instead, licensees desiring significant
variations and/or additional changes should
either submit a LAR that does not claim to
adopt TSTF–409, or specifically state in their
LAR that they are adopting TSTF–409
without using the CLIIP.’’
This will correctly define the scope of
the review for the staff when processing
an incoming LAR that does not conform
to the CLIIP.
3. Comment: The essence of the
proposed CSS TS change focuses on a
single CSS train. Thus, the mention of
ACTION G (regarding two CSS trains
out-of-service) seems unnecessary.
Response: The staff agrees with this
comment. Mention of ACTION G has
been removed from Section 4.1 of the
model LAR, and Section 3.1 of the
model SE.
4. Comment: The last paragraph of
section 4.2.1 item 1 notes that ‘‘If a zero
maintenance PRA model is used * * *
in performing these calculations, then
the licensee must commit to performing
no other maintenance during the
extended CSS CT * * *’’. This
restriction has no technical merit. The
risk of maintenance is generated as
incremental risks from the baseline. The
initial submittal noted that for plants
with emergency grade fan coolers (most
of the applicants), the actual risk
increases as a result of removing a CSS
out of service is very low. Furthermore,
CSS have very little (if any) overlap
with other systems. Because the risk
important function of CSSs is to
maintain the containment pressure
within acceptable limits (and control
sump temperature to ensure adequate
NPSH for ECCS equipment—a function
left out of FRN Section 3), those
functions can be accommodated by the
redundant CS train or the fan coolers.
Furthermore, by using RG 1.177 to
support low risk, the risk impact of
removal of the CSS for the duration of
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Jkt 211001
the 7 day AOT is small. Because plants
perform maintenance on a frequent
basis, not allowing repair or
maintenance on another system (which
is likely to be of greater risk importance
than the CSS) is unnecessary and likely
to have worse risk.
Another unusual aspect of the
restriction implies that the incremental
risk calculated using zero maintenance
conditions is significantly different from
that calculated using annualized plantwide system out-of-service values.
While the baseline PRA for zero
maintenance is less than the baseline
PRA value for nominal maintenance, its
impact on incremental risk will be
small.
Response: The staff accepts NEI’s
comment in that it creates a regulatory
condition that is overly restrictive to
plants using a zero maintenance PRA
model. The staff has inserted alternate
wording (from RG 1.177 Section 2.3.4.
#2) to the last sentence of condition 1
in Section 4.2.1 of the model LAR as
follows:
If the licensee utilizes a ‘‘zero
maintenance’’ PRA model for the assessment,
they should state they are using a ‘‘zero
maintenance’’ model in the evaluation, and
provide a discussion as to the ability of that
model to produce comparable results to the
‘‘average maintenance’’ assessment.
5. Comment: It is understood that
documented quantitative external event
information for the plants may be
limited. However, reference to plant
individual plant examination (IPE) and
individual plant examination for
external events (IPEEE) and the
requirements to explain the evolution of
the PRA since 1988 as identified in
Section in item 4.2.1 part 2.b is
unnecessary. Item 2.c requires that the
peer review results be discussed along
with the overall disposition of relevant
facts and observations (F&Os) and item
e (which includes an overall
determination of the adequacy of the
plant specific PRA with respect to this
application). These assessment[s] are
current and of more importance to the
application. Where external events rely
on IPEEE vintage information, a
discussion/statement of the risk
significance of the spray system in
mitigating external events should be
performed.
Response: The staff agrees that peer
reviews of plant-specific PRA are
important. However, it is equally
important to have an understanding of
PRA updates and upgrades since the
IPE, IPEEE, and peer reviews were
conducted, especially if plant
improvements and/or commitments are
cited and credited in the analyses as
being implemented. Licensees who have
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given this information in prior
submittals may incorporate the
information by reference.
6. Comment: Section 4.2.1 item 3
requirements on consideration of fire
and external events and the associated
EXPECTATIONS are too restrictive and
do not correspond to safety benefits.
The CSS has limited risk overlap with
fires or external initiating events.
Challenges to power induced by
tornadoes, high winds or seismic events
have limited importance to the spray
system and [are] more appropriate with
AOTs associated with AC-power related
components. It was our understanding
that the intent of this restriction was to
assure the regulator that the overall
combined plant risk remains below a
CDF of 10 ¥4 per year (per requirements
of RG 1.174). The intent of this section
should be clarified. This requirement
should be reduced to providing
information regarding the reasons
underlying low risk associated with this
system.
Response: The staff acknowledges
that, for many plants, the impact of the
CT extension on external event risk will
be minimal. If this is the case, the
licensee needs to confirm this in its
submittal and explain why there is
limited overlap.
7. Comment: Section 4.2.1 item 3
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA requires
‘‘combining internal events, internal
flooding, external events and shutdown
PRA results.’’ The requirements for the
combination of events should be
modified to have the utility provide a
technical basis for demonstrating the
plant CDF to be less than 10 ¥4 per year
or has no plant specific vulnerabilities
(per SECY–88–20). Requirements for a
fully quantified external events
(including fire) PRA and shutdown PRA
[are] beyond the state of the art. Few
plants have all the above. The Fire PRA
standard is just undergoing peer review
and no shutdown PRA standard has
been written. Methods for combining
these PRA results [are] also not defined
(particularly merging shutdown and ‘‘at
power’’ PRA results). Instead, it should
be noted that the utility may use
existing external event evaluations
including IPEEE results and qualitative
external event assessments, where
appropriate, to provide confidence that
the overall plant CDF is not within RG
1.174 risk region 1.
Response: The staff is requesting that
licensees provide DCDF and DLERF
calculations for those external events for
which the licensee has a PRA. For
external events for which the licensee
does not have a PRA, the licensee will
need to confirm there are no
vulnerabilities that would indicate that
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the total CDF is >10¥4 or the total LERF
is >10¥5 yr. this stipulation allows the
staff to ensure that plans whose DCDF
or DLERF calculation puts them in
Region II of either Figure 3 or Figure 4
of RG 1.174 are still within the RG 1.174
Section 2.2.4 acceptance guidelines for
total plant risk (CDF and LERF).
With regard to NEI’s comments on a
fully-quantified external events
(including fire) PRA and shutdown PRA
being beyond state-of-the-art, the staff
believes the wording in the
EXPECTATIONS for Section 4.2.1
condition 3 was misinterpreted. The
wording has been revised to read
‘‘(quantitatively and/or qualitatively, as
appropriate).’’ However, the staff notes
that while fire and shutdown PRA
standards have not yet been endorsed,
there are available methods to quantify
fire and shutdown PRA. Therefore, the
staff does not believe such evaluations
are beyond the state of the art. Rather,
they are areas where some evaluation is
still ongoing.
8. Comment: EXPECTATIONS
supporting 4.2.1 item 4. The TS is
structured to have a revised CT. Once
the new CT is adopted the old CT will
disappear as a regulatory item. Thus,
there is no entry into an extended CSS
CT. It is simply an entry into the CT.
There are no significant external event
interactions and the outage is limited to
a single spray train. Therefore, The Tier
2 requirement should be limited to one
CSS out of service, which is already
governed in the TS with a cautionary
note that Maintenance rule or tier 3
guidance to not simultaneously disable
both the emergency grade fan coolers
and the sprays.
Response: The staff agrees that
‘‘extended CT’’ should not be used in
the model LAR. Appropriate changes
will be made here and in other sections
of the FRN where appropriate.
The staff believes that a tier 2
justification by the licensee is warranted
with regard to removing one CSS train
from service due to scheduled
‘‘preventive’’ maintenance for the 7-day
period. If there are no risk-significant
configurations or risk-significant
external event conditions identified in
the tier 2 evaluation, then the licensee
should include a statement that there
are no risk-significant configurations or
external event conditions that would
preclude them from using the 7-day CT.
9. Comment: End of [Section 4.2.1
item 7]. Note that the RGs provide
guidelines. Risk values are not rigid
thresholds. Thus small deviations to the
guidance can be and are somewhat
fuzzy to allow for the mathematical
uncertainties inherent in these studies.
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65151
(CCS) train to be inoperable for a period
of 72 hours.
The changes are consistent with NRCapproved Industry Technical
Specification Task Force (TSTF)
Standard Technical Specification
Change Traveler, TSTF–409, Revision 2,
‘‘Containment Spray System
Completion Time Extension (CE NPSD–
Dated at Rockville, Maryland; this 19th day 1045–A).’’
Enclosure 1 provides a description
of October 2006.
and assessment of the proposed changes
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
and confirmation of applicability.
Timothy J. Kobetz,
Enclosure 2 provides the existing TS
Branch Chief, Technical Specifications
pages marked-up to show the proposed
Branch, Division of Inspection and Regional
changes. Enclosure 3 provides the
Support, Office of Nuclear Reactor
existing TS Bases marked-up to reflect
Regulation.
the proposed changes (for information
FOR INCLUSION ON THE
only). Final TS Bases will be provided
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION WEB
in a future update to the Updated Final
PAGE THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLE OF Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) in
A LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST
accordance with the Bases Control
(LAR) WAS PREPARED BY THE NRC
Program. Attachments 1 through 8
STAFF TO FACILITATE THE
provide the discussions of
ADOPTION OF TECHNICAL
[LICENSEE’S] evaluations and
SPECIFICATIONS TASK FORCE (TSTF) supporting information with regard to
TRAVELER TSTF–409, REVISION 2
the conditions stipulated in Section
‘‘CONTAINMENT SPRAY SYSTEM
4.2.1 of Enclosure 1.
COMPLETION TIME EXTENSION (CE
[LICENSEE] requests approval of the
NPSD–1045–A).’’ THE MODEL
proposed license amendment by
PROVIDES THE EXPECTED LEVEL OF
[DATE], with the amendment being
DETAIL AND CONTENT FOR A LAR
implemented [BY DATE OR WITHIN X
TO ADOPT TSTF–409, REVISION 2.
DAYS]. in accordance with 10 CFR
LICENSEES REMAIN RESPONSIBLE
50.91, a copy of this application, with
FOR ENSURING THAT THEIR PLANTenclosures, is being provided to the
SPECIFIC LAR FULFILLS THEIR
designated [STATE] Official.
ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
I declare under penalty of perjury
AS WELL AS NRC REGULATIONS.
under the laws of the United States of
llllllllllllllllll
l America that I am authorized by
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
[LICENSEE] to make this request and
Document Control Desk
that the foregoing is true and correct.
[Note that request may be notarized in
Washington, DC 20555
lieu of using this oath or affirmation
SUBJECT: [PLANT NAME]
statement]. If you should have any
APPLICATION FOR TECHNICAL
questions regarding this submittal,
SPECIFICATION IMPROVEMENT
please contact [ ].
TO EXTEND THE COMPLETION
Sincerely,
TIME FOR CONTAINMENT SPRAY
SYSTEM INOPERABILITY IN
Name, Title
ACCORDANCE WITH TSTF–409,
Enclosures:
REVISION 2
1. Description and Assessment of
Dear Sir or Madam:
Proposed Changes
2. Proposed Technical Specification
In accordance with the provisions of
Changes
Section 50.90 of Title 10 of the Code of
3. Proposed Technical Specification
Federal Regulations (10 CFR 50.90),
Bases Changes (if applicable)
[LICENSEE] is submitting a request for
an amendment to the technical
Attachments:
specifications (TS) for [PLANT NAME,
1. Licensee’s supporting information
UNIT NOS.].
for condition 1
2. Licensee’s supporting information
The proposed changes would revise
for condition 2
TS 3.6.6A, ‘‘Containment Spray and
3. Licensee’s supporting information
Cooling Systems,’’ by extending from 72
for condition 3
hours to seven days the completion time
4. Licensee’s supporting information
(CT) to restore an inoperable
for condition 4
containment spray system (CSS) train.
5. Licensee’s supporting information
In addition, a Condition would be
for condition 5
added to the TS to allow one CSS train
6. Licensee’s supporting information
and one containment cooling system
Response: The staff agrees that RG
1.174 and 1.177 guidelines are not rigid
standards, and has revised condition 7
to delete the second paragraph of the
EXPECTATIONS section. Note that
Condition 5 of the model LAR requires
licensees to confirm that their CRMP or
associated (a)(4) program meets all
aspects of Section 2.3.7.2 or RG 1.177.
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for condition 6
7. Licensee’s supporting information
for condition 7
8. Licensee’s supporting information
for condition 8
cc:
NRR Project Manager
Regional Office
Resident Inspector
State Contact
ITSB Branch Chief
1.0
Description
The letter is a request to amend
Operating License(s) [LICENSE
NUMBER(S)] for [PLANT/UNIT
NAME(S)].
The proposed changes would revise
Technical Specification (TS) 3.6.6A,
‘‘Containment Spray and Cooling
Systems,’’ by extending from 72 hours
to seven days the completion time (CT)
to restore an inoperable containment
spray system (CSS) train to operable
status, and would add a Condition
describing the required action and CT
when one CSS train and one
containment cooling system (CCS) train
are inoperable.
The changes are consistent with NRC
approved Industry Owner’s Group
Technical Specification Task Force
(TSTF) Standard Technical
Specification Change Traveler TSTF–
409, Revision 2 (Rev. 2), ‘‘Containment
Spray System Completion Time
Extension (CE NPSD–1045–A).’’ TSTF–
409, Rev. 2 was approved by the NRC
on [DATE].
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2.0
Proposed Change
Specifically, the proposed revision
extends the CT (or allowed outage time)
that one CSS train is permitted to
remain inoperable from 72 hours to
seven days based on Reference 1, as
accepted by, and subject to the
limitations specified in, Reference 2.
TSTF–409, Rev. 2 states that the longer
CT will enhance overall plant safety by
avoiding potential unscheduled plant
shutdowns and allowing greater
availability of safety significant
components during shutdown. In
addition, TSTF–409, Rev. 2 states that
this extension provides for increased
flexibility in scheduling and performing
maintenance and surveillance activities
in order to enhance plant safety and
operational flexibility during lower
modes of operation.
The revision also adds a Condition to
allow one CSS train and one CCS train
to be inoperable for up to 72 hours.
Since Reference 1 did not evaluate the
concurrent inoperabilities of one CSS
train and one CCS train, the CT for this
Condition was limited to 72 hours.
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[LICENSEE] also proposes to make
changes to the supporting TS Bases in
accordance with TSTF–409, Rev. 2.
Changes to the Bases include supporting
information justifying the addition of
the Condition for one CSS train and one
CCS train inoperable. The Bases changes
also include a reviewer’s note that
requires [LICENSEE] to adopt Reference
1 and meet the requirements of
References 1 and 2 prior to utilizing the
7-day CT for one inoperable CSS.
Finally, a reference to Reference 1 is
added to the Bases. Markups of the TS
Bases are provided in enclosure 3.
Changes to the Bases will be
implemented in accordance with
[LICENSEE’s] bases control program.
In summary, [LICENSEE] proposes to
extend the CT for one inoperable CSS
train from 72 hours to 7 days based on
Reference 1, and add a Condition to
allow one CSS train and one CCS train
to be inoperable for up to 72 hours.
3.0 Background
The function of the containment heat
removal systems under accident
conditions is to remove heat from the
containment atmosphere, thus
maintaining the containment pressure
and temperature at acceptably low
levels. The systems also serve to limit
offsite radiation levels by reducing the
pressure differential between the
containment atmosphere and the
external environment, thereby
decreasing the driving force for fission
product leakage across the containment.
The two containment heat removal
systems are the CCS and the CSS. The
CCS fan coolers are designed to operate
during both normal plant operations
and under loss-of-coolant accident
[LOCA] or main steam line break
(MSLB) conditions. The CSS is designed
to operate during accident conditions
only.
The heat removal capacity of the CCS
and CSS is sufficient to keep the
containment temperature and pressure
below design conditions for any size
break, up to and including a doubleended break of the largest reactor
coolant pipe. The systems are also
designed to mitigate the consequences
of any size break, up to and including
a double-ended break of a main stream
line. The CCS and CSS continue to
reduce containment pressure and
temperature and maintain them at
acceptable levels post-accident.
The CCS and CSS at [PLANT NAME]
each consist of [Substitute plant-specific
configuration if it differs from the
following description] two redundant
loops and are designed such that a
single failure does not degrade their
ability to provide the required heat
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removal capability. Two of four
containment fan coolers and one CSS
loop are powered from one safetyrelated bus. The other two containment
fan coolers and CSS loop are powered
from another independent safety-related
bus. The loss of one bus does not affect
the ability of the containment heat
removal systems to maintain
containment temperature and pressure
below the design values in a postaccident mode.
The [PLANT NAME] CSS consists of
[Substitute plant-specific configuration
if it differs from the following
description] two independent and
redundant loops each containing a spray
pump, shutdown heat exchanger,
piping, valves, spray headers, and spray
nozzles. It has two modes of operation,
which are:
1. The injection mode, during which
the system sprays borated water from
the refueling water tank (RWT) into the
containment, and
2. The recirculation mode, which is
automatically initiated by the
recirculation actuation signal (RAS)
after low level is reached in the RWT.
During this mode of operation, the
safety injection system (SIS) sump
provides suction for the spray pumps.
Containment spray is automatically
initiated by the containment spray
actuation signal coincident with the
safety injection actuation signal and
high containment pressure signal. If
required, the operator can manually
activate the system from the main
control room.
Each CSS pump, together with a CCS
loop, provides the flow necessary to
remove the heat generated inside the
containment following a LOCA or
MSLB. Upon system activation, the
pumps are started and the borated water
flows into the containment spray
headers. When low level is reached in
the RWT, sufficient water has been
transferred to the containment to allow
for the recirculation mode of operation.
Spray pump suction is automatically
realigned to the SIS sump upon a RAS.
During the recirculation mode, the
spray water is cooled by the shutdown
heat exchangers prior to discharge into
the containment. The shutdown heat
exchangers are cooled by the component
cooling water system. Post-LOCA pH
control is provided by [Substitute plantspecific configuration if it differs from
the following description] trisodium
phosphate dodecahydrate, which is
stored in stainless steel baskets located
in the containment near the SIS sump
intake.
The longer CT for an inoperable CSS
train will enhance overall plant safety
by avoiding potential unscheduled plant
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shutdowns and allowing greater
availability of safety significant
components during shutdown. In
addition, this extension provides for
increased flexibility in scheduling and
performing maintenance and
surveillance activities in order to
enhance plant safety and operational
flexibility during lower modes of
operation.
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4.0 Technical analysis
[LICENSEE] has reviewed References
1 and 2, as well as TSTF–409, Rev. 2,
and the model SE published on [DATE]
([] FR []) as part of the CLIIP Notice of
Availability. [LICENSEE] has applied
the methodology in Reference 1 to
develop the proposed TS changes.
[LICENSEE] has also concluded that the
justifications presented in TSTF–409,
Rev. 2 and the model SE prepared by
the NRC staff are applicable to [PLANT
NAME], and justify this amendment for
the incorporation of changes to the
[PLANT NAME] TS.
In determining the suitability and
safety impact of its adoption of TSTF–
409, Rev. 2, [LICENSEE] analyzed the
effect of increasing the CT for one CSS
train to remain out of service using both
traditional engineering considerations
and probabilistic risk assessment (PRA)
methods.
4.1 Traditional (Deterministic)
Engineering Analysis
The functions and operation of the
CSS and CCS were described in Section
3.0 of this application. Based on a
review of the design-basis requirements
for the CSS, [LICENSEE] concluded that
the loss of one CSS train is well within
the design-basis analyses. This
conclusion is based on the fact that each
CSS pump, together with a CCS loop,
provides the flow necessary to remove
the heat generated inside the
containment following a LOCA or
MSLB. Therefore, the combination of
one CSS pump and one CCS loop can
carry out the design functions of
maintaining the containment pressure
and temperature at acceptably low
levels following a design-basis accident
(DBA), and limiting offsite radiation
levels by reducing the pressure
differential between the containment
atmosphere and the external
environment, thereby decreasing the
driving force for fission product leakage
across the containment.
The plant status with one CSS train
and one CCS train inoperable is covered
by TS 3.6.6A, ACTION [D], which
states:
‘‘[With] one containment spray and one
containment cooling train inoperable, restore
containment spray train to OPERABLE status
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within 72 hours, or restore containment
cooling train to OPERABLE status within 72
hours.’’
ACTION [D] ensures that the iodine
removal capabilities of the CSS are
available, along with 100 percent of the
heat removal needs after an accident.
The supporting analyses performed in
Reference 1 did not evaluate the
concurrent inoperabilities of one CSS
train and one CCS train, therefore, the
current CT of 72 hours is retained in
Condition [D]. The 72 hour Completion
Time was developed taking into account
the redundant heat removal capabilities
afforded by combinations of the CSS
and CCS, the iodine removal function of
the CSS, and the low probability of a
DBA occurring during this period.
4.2 Probabilistic Risk Assessment
Evaluation
[LICENSEE] evaluated the proposed
CT extension for the CSS using
Reference 3 and Reference 4. This is the
same methodology that the NRC staff
used in Reference 2. The Key Principles
of A Risk-Informed Integrated
Decisionmaking Process listed in
Reference 3 are as follows:
Principle I: The proposed change meets
the current regulations.
Principle II: The proposed change is
consistent with the defense-indepth philosophy.
Principle III: The proposed change
maintains sufficient safety margin.
Principle IV: When the proposed change
results in an increase in core
damage frequency or risk, the
increase should be small and
consistent with the Commission’s
Safety Goal Policy Statement.
Principle V: The impact of the proposed
change should be monitored using
performance measurement
strategies.
In Reference 2, the NRC staff found,
and [LICENSEE] agrees, that in riskinformed TS CT applications, Principle
I is met, since regulations do not require
specific CTs, but, rather, require
‘‘remedial actions’’ when an LCO cannot
be met. Additionally, in its analysis of
Principle III, the NRC staff found, and
[LICENSEE] agrees, that the proposed
CT extension maintains sufficient safety
margins, For [PLANT NAME], the loss
of one CSS train is well within the
plant’s design basis.
In Reference 2, the NRC staff
determined that the intent of Principles
II, IV, and V would be met by a threetiered approach to evaluate the plantspecific risk impact associated with the
proposed TS changes, consistent with
the requirements of Reference 4. The
first tier evaluates the plant-specific
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65153
PRA model and the impact of the
proposed CT extension on plant
operational risk. The second tier
addresses the need to preclude
potentially high risk configurations by
identifying the need for any additional
constraints or compensatory actions
that, if implemented, would avoid or
reduce the probability of a risksignificant configuration during the time
when one CSS train is out of service.
The third tier evaluates [LICENSEE’S]
proposed Configuration Risk
Management Program (CRMP) to ensure
that the applicable plant configuration
will be appropriately assessed from a
risk perspective before entering into or
during the proposed CT.
In addition, the NRC staff determined
in Reference 2, that the risk analysis
methodology and approach used by the
CEOG to estimate the risk impact of
increasing the CT were reasonable. For
most plants that participated in the joint
application report, the NRC staff found
that the risk impact was shown to be
consistent with the acceptance
guidelines for change in core damage
frequency (DCDF), change in large early
release frequency (DLERF), incremental
conditional core damage probability
(ICCDP), and incremental conditional
large early release probability (ICLERP)
specified in References 3 and 4 and
Chapters 19.0 and 16.1 of Reference 5.
However, not all Combustion
Engineering (CE) plants participated in
the joint application report, and the
estimated risk impacts for some plans
exceeded the Reference 3 and/or
Reference 4 acceptance guidelines,
which would require additional
justifications and/or compensatory
measures to be provided for these plants
to be determined to have acceptable risk
impacts.
In addition, the NRC staff found that
the Tier 2 and Tier 3 evaluations, as
described in Reference 4, could not be
approved generically since they were
not complete, which would require that
each individual plant-specific license
amendment seeking adoption of TSTF–
409, Rev. 2 would need to include an
assessment with respect to the Tier 2
and Tier 3 principles of Reference 4.
4.2.1 Conditions and Supporting
Information
The following conditions are
provided to support adoption of TSTF–
409, Rev. 2 by [PLANT NAME].
Responses to the conditions are
contained in Attachments 1 through 8 to
this application: [NOTE: Licensees who
cannot meet the Expectation and
Acceptance Criteria listed in these
conditions, or choose not to submit the
associated information, should not
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submit an application to adopt TSTF–
409, Rev. 2 under the CLIIP.]
1. As shown in Attachment 1, the
plant-specific Tier 1 information
associated with extending the CSS CT
meets the acceptance guidelines of
References 3 and 4 associated with
DCDF, DLERF, ICCDP, and ICLERP.
[EXPECTATIONS/ACCEPTANCE
CRITERIA: the licensee’s submittal
must provide the DCDF, DLERF, ICCDP,
and ICLERP values related to the CSS 7day CT and confirm that these values
meet the associated acceptance
guidelines of References 3 and 4 as no
more than a small risk increase (i.e., are
in Region II or III of the acceptance
guidelines figures). The licensee should
utilize an ‘‘average maintenance’’ PRA
model for this assessment. If the
licensee utilizes a ‘‘zero maintenance’’
PRA model for the assessment, they
should state they are using a ‘‘zero
maintenance’’ model in the evaluation,
and provide a discussion as to the
ability of that model to produce
comparable results to the ‘‘average
maintenance’’ assessment.]
2. As shown in Attachment 2, the
technical adequacy (quality) of [PLANT
NAME’S] plant-specific PRA is
acceptable for this application in
accordance with the guidance provided
in Reference 3. Specifically, the
supporting information addresses the
following areas:
a. Justification that the plant-specific
PRA reflects the as-built, as-operated
plant.
b. Discussion of plant-specific PRA
updates and upgrades since the
individual plant examination (IPE),
individual plant examination of external
events (IPEEE), and subsequent peer
reviews and self-assessment. Reference
to past submittals discussing this
information is acceptable.
c. Discussion of plant-specific PRA
peer reviews and/or self-assessments
performed, their overall conclusions,
any facts and observations (F&Os)
applicable to this application, and the
licensee evaluation and resolution (e.g.,
by implementing model changes and/or
sensitivity studies) of these F&Os to
demonstrate the conclusions of the
plant-specific analyses for this
application are not adversely impacted
(i.e., continued acceptability of the
proposed extension of the CSS CT).
d. Description of the licensee’s plantspecific PRA configuration control
(quality assurance) program and
associated procedures.
e. Overall determination of the
adequacy of the plant-specific PRA with
respect to this application.
[EXPECTATION: The licensee’s
submittal must describe the scope of the
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plant-specific PRA and must justify its
technical adequacy (quality) for this
application in accordance with the
guidance provided in Reference 3.
Specifically, the supporting information
must address each area in sufficient
detail as shown in the following
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA:
a. The licensee must provide a
justification that confirms that the plantspecific PRA reflects the as-built, asoperated plant. This should include a
description of the licensee’s data and
model update process, and the
frequency of these activities. The
licensee should also describe how the
plant/corporate PRA staff are involved
in (and/or made aware of) plant and
operational/procedural modifications.
b. The licensee must provide a
summary description of the plantspecific PRA updates and upgrades
since the IPE and peer review of their
plant and confirm that the changes
identified during the IPEEE have been
implemented or otherwise
dispositioned.
c. The licensee must discuss their
plant-specific PRA peer reviews and/or
any self-assessments performed
(especially noting those conducted per
the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)
industry peer review guidelines and
American Society of Mechanical
Engineers (ASME) PRA Standard), their
overall conclusions, any A&B level
F&Os applicable to this application, and
the licensee’s evaluation and resolution
(e.g., by implementing model changes
and/or sensitivity studies) of these A&B
level F&Os to demonstrate the
conclusions of the plant-specific
analyses for this application are not
adversely impacted (i.e., continued
acceptability of the proposed extension
of the CSS CT).
d. The licensee must describe their
plant-specific PRA configuration control
(quality assurance) program and
associated procedures.
e. The licensee must make an overall
determination of the adequacy of their
plant-specific PRA, confirming it is
adequate with respect to this
application.]
3. Attachment 3 provides supporting
information verifying that the plant risk
impact associated with external events
(e.g., fires, seismic, tornados, high
winds, etc.) does not adversely impact
or has no impact on the conclusions of
the plant-specific analyses for this
application and that the overall
combined plant CDF and LERF are
expected to be within the acceptance
guidelines as identified in References 3
and Reference 4 (i.e., total CDF <1E–4/
year and total LERF <1E–5/year)
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[EXPECTATIONS: The licensee’s
submittal must discuss the plant risks
associated with external events and
specifically identify (quantitatively and/
or qualitatively, as appropriate) that the
impact of CSS train CT extension on the
risks associated with external events is
small. The NRC staff acknowledges that
any increase in the external event risk
associated with the CSS train CT
extension should be minimal. The
licensee must address this impact and
discuss why the risk overlap with
external events (including internal fires)
is negligible. Key insights from the
IPEEE screening or quantitative
approaches may be used to support
qualitative arguments.
If the licensee has performed updated
analyses of an external event since the
staff review and acceptance of their
IPEEE, and a quantitative PRA
demonstration is used to support the
submittal, the licensee must describe
the significant changes involved in their
updated analyses and the impact of
these changes on plant risk associated
with this external event and with
respect to this application.
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: For the
NRC staff to conclude the quantified
risk associated with the extension
request is acceptable, the total CDF and
LERF values must meet Reference 3 and
Reference 4 acceptance guidelines. For
external events for which the licensee
has a PRA, and the licensee provides
those risk values (i.e., CDF and LERF)
and risk metrics (i.e., DCDF, DLERF,
ICCDP, and ICLERP) associated with the
specifically analyzed external events,
the licensee must also provide the total
‘‘at-power’’ plant risk and total ‘‘atpower’’ change in risk due to all PRAanalyzed contributors (combining
internal events, internal flooding,
internal fires, and external events.
Results may be provided as a
summation of values from separate PRA
analyses or as a result of an integrated
analysis (using a common PRA model
for all contributors) or a combination of
the above.
For external events for which the
licensee does not have a PRA (and it is
not screened out as above), but rather
relies on a non-PRA method (e.g.,
seismic margins analysis (SMA) or fireinduced vulnerability evaluation
(FIVE)), to determine if the plant risk is
acceptable, the licensee must confirm
for this application that there were and
still are either no vulnerabilities or
outliers associated with these external
events, or confirm that any
vulnerabilities or outliers that were
identified in their documented analyses
(most likely in their IPEEE) have been
resolved and, as needed, the appropriate
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plant/procedural modifications have
been implemented as described in their
documented analyses.]
4. Supporting information is provided
in Attachment 4, consistent with the
evaluation summary and conclusions
(Sections 7 and 8) provided in Reference
2, in which licensees discuss
implementation of procedures that
prohibited entry into a 7-day CSS CT for
scheduled maintenance purposes if
external event conditions or warnings
(e.g., severe weather warnings for ice,
tornados, high winds, etc.) are in effect
or confirm that these external events do
not impact the submittal. [LICENSEE’S]
discussion confirms that [PLANT
NAME’S] procedures include
compensatory measures and normal
plant practices that help avoid
potentially high risk configurations
during the proposed extension of the
CSS CT. This supporting information
must also address the Tier 2 aspects of
Reference 4.
[EXPECTATIONS: The licensee’s
submittal must discuss (including
licensee commitments related to)
implementation of procedures that
prohibit entry into a 7-day CSS CT for
scheduled maintenance purposes if
external event conditions or warnings
are in effect. If the licensee does not
want to implement this prohibition for
specific severe weather conditions or
warnings, the licensee must explicitly
identify these event conditions/
warnings and provide a justification for
not including them. If there are no risk
significant configurations or risk
significant external event conditions
identified in the Tier 2 evaluation, then
the licensee should include a statement
that there are no risk significant
configurations that would preclude
them from using a 7-day CT.
The licensee must also confirm that
its procedures include compensatory
measures and normal plant practices
that help avoid potentially high risk
configurations during the proposed
extension of the CSS train CT. This
supporting information must also
address the Tier 2 aspects of Reference
4. The Tier 2 evaluation is meant to be
an early evaluation (at the license
submittal stage) to identify and preclude
potentially high-risk plan configurations
that could result if equipment, in
addition to that associated with the
proposed license amendment, is taken
out of service simultaneously, or if other
risk-significant operational factors, such
as concurrent system or equipment
testing, are also involved.
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: The Tier 2
evaluation needs to identify, as part of
the licensee’s submittal, potentially
high-risk plant configurations associated
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with the CSS train CT extension that
need to be precluded, if any, and
identify how this is implemented (i.e.,
typically these aspects result in
licensees establishing compensatory
measures/commitments to ensure these
configurations are precluded). If, in
conducting the evaluation, the licensee
identifies no high-risk plant
configurations, then the licensee needs
to explicitly state this fact.]
5. Attachment 5 provides supporting
information, consistent with the
evaluation summary and conclusions
(Sections 7 and 8) provided in Reference
2, that describes the plant-specific riskinformed CRMP to assess the risk
associated with the removal of
equipment from service during the 7day CSS CT. If the licensee utilizes the
Maintenance Rule (a)(4) program to
evaluate the risk significance of
configurations, it should state so in its
submittal. In this description,
[LICENSEE] confirms that the program
provides the necessary assurances that
appropriate assessments of plant risk
configurations are sufficient to support
the proposed CSS CT extension request.
This supporting information also
addresses the Tier 3 aspects of
Reference 4.
[EXPECTATIONS/ACCEPTANCE
CRITERIA: The licensee’s submittal
must describe its CRMP or associated
(a)(4) program (as appropriate),
including how it reflects the current
plant PRA model (specifically
identifying any deviations and
simplifications in the CRMP model from
the plant-specific PRA model) and how
the CRMP is updated to remain
consistent with the plant-specific PRA.
The licensee’s submittal must also
describe how the CRMP or associated
(a)(4) program provides the necessary
assurances that appropriate assessments
of plant risk configurations are
sufficient to support the proposed CT
extension request for the CSS.
Finally, the licensee’s submittal must
address the Tier 3 aspects of Reference
4, including he description of the
CRMP, and must confirm that its CRMP
or associated (a)(4) program meets all
aspects of Section 2.3.7.2 of Reference 4,
specifically describing how its program
meets each of the four Key Components
identified in this Section. The Tier 3
evaluation ensures that the CRMP or
associated (a)(4) program is adequate
when maintenance is about to
commence, as opposed to the early
(submittal stage) evaluation performed
for Tier 2.]
6. Attachment 6 provides supporting
information, consistent with the
evaluation summary (Section 7)
provided in Reference 2, describing the
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65155
relationship between components of the
CSS and the shutdown cooling system
(SDCS). For plants where components of
the two systems may be used as backup
to the other, the licensee must either
confirm that Tier 2 conditions exist in
the licensee’s CRMP or associated (a)(4)
program that will not allow ‘‘at power’’
maintenance of the CSS and SDCS at the
same time or that the risk significance
of such maintenance configurations is
low. If the CSS and SDCS have backup
components, the plant should also
describe how this backup capability is
considered as part of the plant’s
shutdown operations program (SOP). If
this backup feature is not considered
when one train of the SDCS is in
maintenance or otherwise unavailable,
it should be stated in the licensee’s
application.
[EXPECTATION: The licensee’s
submittal must describe the
relationship/interfaces between the CSS
and SDCS.
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: If the
SDCS can be used as a backup to the
CSS, then the licensee must confirm
that ‘‘at power’’ maintenance of the CSS
and SDCS will not be allowed at the
same time and describe how this is
controlled (e.g., specifically identified
in the CRMP as a configuration that is
not allowed) or provide justification that
the risks associated with a simultaneous
‘‘at-power’’ outage of one SDCS train
and one CSS train is small. If the SDCS
cannot be used (and is not credited) as
a backup to CSS, then the licensee
needs to explicitly state this fact.
If CSS pumps can be used as a backup
to the SDCS pumps, then the licensee
must confirm that at least one CSS
pump is required to be operable when
maintenance of the CSS is performed in
lower modes of operation (consistent
with the plant’s Technical
Specifications) and must describe how
this is controlled or demonstrate that
the SOP provides adequate risk
management for that configuration. If
CSS pumps cannot be used (and are not
credited) as a backup to SDCS pumps in
lower modes of operation, then the
licensee needs to explicitly state this
fact.]
7. Attachment 7 provides supporting
information confirming that the
licensee’s Maintenance Rule program
includes the ability to compute ICDP
(incremental core damage probability),
and ILERP (incremental large early
release probability).
[EXPECTATIONS/ACCEPTANCE
CRITERIA: The licensee must confirm
that their CRMP quantitative model
(e.g., model used to provide quantitative
assessments in support of 10 CFR 50.65
(a)(4)) calculates ICDP and ILERP, and
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that their CRMP quantitative model
(e.g., model used to provide quantitative
assessment in support of 10 CFR 50.65
(a)(4)) explicitly models the CSS or has
been modified to include the CSS,
which will be used whenever CSS
components are made unavailable.
8. Attachment 8 provides information
addressing how plant-specific systems,
structures and components (SSC) are
monitored and assessed at the plant
under the Maintenance Rule (i.e. 10 CFR
50.65). Maintenance Rule unavailability
and unreliability targets for CSS are also
provided. These targets will be
monitored in accordance with
provisions of the Maintenance Rule.
[EXPECTATIONS/ACCEPTANCE
CRITERIA: The licensee must describe
how plant-specific SSC reliability and
availability are monitored and assessed
at the plant under the Maintenance Rule
(i.e., 10 CFR 50.65) to confirm that
performance continues to be consistent
with the analyses used to justify the 7day CT. In providing this description,
the licensee should also indicate how it
periodically assesses previous riskinformed licensing action decisions to
ensure that these decisions remain valid
(i.e., continue to meet the Reference 3
and Reference 4 acceptance guidelines)
for the current plant operations and
plant-specific PRA and what actions it
takes if a previously-approved riskinformed licensing action decision is
determined to no longer meet these
acceptance guidelines.]
4.2.2
Regulatory Commitment
The Reference 4 Tier 3 program
ensures that, while the plant is
following the TS ACTIONS associated
with a 7-day CT for restoring an
inoperable CSS to operable status,
additional activities will not be
performed that could further degrade
the capabilities of the plant to respond
to a condition that the inoperable CSS
is designed to mitigate and, as a result,
increase plant risk beyond that
determined by the Reference 1 analyses.
[LICENSEE’s] implementation of
Reference 4 Tier 3 guidelines generally
implies the assessment of risk with
respect to CDF. However, the proposed
CSS 7-day CT impacts accident
sequences that can be mitigated
following core damage and,
consequently, impacts LERF as well as
CDF. Therefore, [LICENSEE] has
enhanced its CRMP, [OPTIONAL: as
implemented under 10 CFR 50.65(a)(4),
the Maintenance Rule,] to include a
LERF assessment to support this
application.
5.0
Regulatory Analysis
5.1 No Significant Hazards
Consideration
[LICENSEE] has reviewed the
proposed no significant hazards
consideration determination published
in the Federal Register on [DATE] ([ ]
FR [ ]) as part of the CLIP. [LICENSEE]
has concluded that the proposed
determination presented in the notice is
applicable to [PLANT NAME] and the
determination is hereby incorporated by
reference to satisfy the requirements of
10 CFR 50.91(a).
5.2 Applicable Regulatory
Requirements/Criteria
Based on its answers to the Section
4.2.1 questions provided in Attachments
1 through 8 to this application
[LICENSEE] determines is based on the
following:
1. The traditional engineering
evaluation reveals that the loss of one
CSS train is well within [PLANT
NAME’s] design basis analyses. Key
principles 1,2,3, and 5 in Section 2 of
Reference 3 are met.
2. By meeting the conditions
identified in Section 4.2.1, [LICENSEE]
believes that its PRA model is
acceptable for this application and also
concludes that there is minimal impact
of the CT extensions for the CSS system
on plant operational risk (Tier 1
evaluation).
3. By meeting the conditions
identified in Section 4.2.1, [LICENSEE]
will ensure that its implementation will
identify potentially high risk
configurations and the need for any
additional constraints or compensatory
actions that, if implemented, would
avoid or reduce the probability of a risksignificant configuration (Tier 2
evaluation), or state that no Tier 2
limitations have been identified.
4. By meeting the conditions
identified in Section 4.2.1, [PLANT
NAME] will ensure that its riskinformed CRMP will satisfactorily
assess the risk associated with the
removal of equipment from service
during the proposed CSS CT (Tier 3
evaluation) and the CRMP and plant
risk will be managed by plant
procedures, including implementation
and monitoring of SSCs (CSS).
In conclusion, based on the
consideration discussed above, (1) there
is reasonable assurance that the health
and safety of the public will not be
endangered by operation in the
proposed manner, (2) such activities
will be conducted in compliance with
the Commission’s regulations, and (3)
the issuance of the amendment will not
be inimical to the common defense and
security or to the health and safety of
the public.
6.0
Environmental Consideration
[LICENSEE] has reviewed the
environmental evaluation included in
the model safety evaluation as pat of the
CLIIP. [LICENSEE] concluded that the
staff’s findings presented in that the
evaluation are applicable to [PLANT
NAME] and the evaluation is hereby
incorporated by reference for this
application.
7.0
References
[Licensee should include an
applicable list of references, including
but not limited to]
1. Joint Applications Report:
Modification to the Containment Spray
System, and Low Pressure Safety
Injection System Technical, CE Owners
Group, CE NPSD–1045, March 2000.
2. Safety Evaluation by the Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation Related to
CE Owners Group CE–NPSD–1045,
‘‘Joint Application Report, Modification
to the Containment Spray System, and
the Low Pressure Safety Injection
System Technical Specifications,
December 21, 1999.’’
3. USNRC Regulatory Guide 1.174,
‘‘An Approach for Using Probabilistic
Risk Assessment in Risk-Informed
Decisions on Plant-Specific Changes to
the Licensing Basis,’’ Revision 1,
November 2002.
4. USNRC Regulatory Guide 1.177,
‘‘An Approach for Plant-Specific, RiskInformed Decisionmaking: Technical
Specifications,’’ August 1998.
5. NUREG–0800, ‘‘Standard Review
Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis
Reports for Nuclear Power Plants,’’ June
1996.
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PROPOSED TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION CHANGES (MARK-UP)
Enclosure 2
CHANGES TO TS BASES
Enclosure 3
CONDITION (1)
[LICENSEE’S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
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65157
Attachemnt 1
CONDITION (2)
[LICENSEE’S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Attachemnt 2
CONDITION (3)
[LICENSEE’S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Attachemnt 3
CONDITION (4)
[LICENSEE’S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Attachemnt 4
CONDITION (5)
[LICENSEE’S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Attachemnt 5
CONDITION (6)
[LICENSEE’S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Attachemnt 6
CONDITION (7)
[LICENSEE’S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Attachemnt 7
CONDITION (8)
[LICENSEE’S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Attachemnt 8
MODEL SAFETY EVALUATION
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Consolidated Line Item Improvement
Technical Specification Task Force
TSTF–409, Revision 2
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‘‘Containment Spray System
Completion Time Extension’’
1.0 Introduction
By letter to the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC, Commission) dated
[DATE] (Agencywide Documents Access
and Management System (ADAMS)
Accession Number MLXXXXXXXXX),
[LICENSEE] (the licensee) requested
changes to the Technical Specifications
(TSs) for [PLANT NAME]. The proposed
changes would revise TS 3.6.6A,
‘‘Containment Spray and Cooling
Systems,’’ by extending from 72 hours
to seven days the completion time (CT)
to restore an inoperable containment
spray system (CSS) train to operable
status, and would add a Condition
describing the required action and CT
when one CSS train and one
containment cooling system (CCS) train
are inoperable.
The changes are based on Technical
Specification Task Force (TSTF) Change
Traveler, TSTF–409, Revision 2 (Rev.),
‘‘Containment Spray System
Completion Time Extension (CE NPSD–
2045–A)’’ and associated TS Bases.
TSTF–409, Rev. 2, submitted to the NRC
by the TSTF in a letter dated November
10, 2003 (ADMS Accession Number
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14:44 Nov 06, 2006
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MLO33280006), was approved by the
NRC on [DATE].
TSTF–409, Rev. 2 is based on
Combustion Engineering Owner’s Group
(CEOG) Joint Application Report CE
NPSD–1045–A, ‘‘Joint Applications
Report for Modifications to the
Containment Spray System Technical
Specifications,’’ dated March 2000
(Reference 1), as accepted by, and
subject to the limitations specified in,
the associated NRC safety evaluation
(SE), dated December 212, 1999 (ADMS
Accession Number ML993620241)
(Reference 2).
In TSTF–409, Rev. 2, the CEOG states
that the longer CT for restoring an
inoperable CSS train to operable status
will enhance overall plant safety by
avoiding potential unscheduled plant
shutdowns and allowing greater
availability of safety significant
components during shutdown. In
addition the CEOG states that this
extension provides for increased
flixibility in scheduling and performing
maintenance and surveillance activities
in order to enhance plant safety and
operational flexibility during lower
modes of operation.
2.0 Regulatory Evaluation
Since the mid-1980’s, the NRC has
been reviewing and granting
improvements to TS that are based, at
least in part, on probabilistic risk
assessment (PRA) insights. In its final
policy statement on TX improvements
dated July 22, 1993 (58 FR 39132), the
NRC stated that it:
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* * * expects that licensees, in preparing
their Technical Specification related
submittals, will utilize any plant-specific
PSA [probabilistic safety assessment] 1 or risk
survey and any available literature on risk
insights and PSAs * * * Similarly, the NRC
staff will also employ risk insights an PSAs
in evaluating Technical Specifications
related submittals. Further, as a part of the
Commission’s ongoing program of improving
Technical Specifications, it will continue to
consider methods to make better use of risk
and reliability information for defining future
generic Technical Specification
requirements.
The NRC reiterated this point when it
issued the revision to 10 CFR 50.36,
‘‘Technical Specifications,’’ in July
1995. In August 1995, the NRC adopted
a final policy statement on the use of
PRA methods in nuclear regulatory
activities that encouraged greater use of
PRA to improve safety decision-making
and regulatory efficiency. The PRA
policy statement included the following
points:
1. The use of PRA technology should
be increased in all regulatory matters to
the extent supported by the state-of-theart in PRA methods and data, and in a
manner that complements the NRC’s
deterministic approach and supports the
NRC’s traditional defense-in-depth
philosophy.
2. PRA and associated analyses (e.g.,
sensitivity studies, uncertainty analyses,
and importance measures) should be
used in regulatory matters; where
practical within the bounds of the state1 PSA
E:\FR\FM\07NON1.SGM
and PRA are used interchangeably herein.
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of-the-art, to reduce unnecessary
conservatism associated with current
regulatory requirements.
3. PRA evaluations in support of
regulatory decisions should be as
realistic as practicable and appropriate
supporting data should be publicly
available for review.
In March 1998, the CEOG submitted
a joint applications report for the NRC
staff’s review entitled, ‘‘Joint
Applications Report for Modifications to
the Containment Spray System and Low
Pressure Safety System Technical
Specifications.’’ The NRC review
accepting this joint applications report
for referencing in license applications
for Combustion Engineering (CE) plants,
including appropriate exclusions,
conditions, and limitations, is
documented in Reference 2. The final,
NRC-approved joint applications report,
(Reference 1) is dated March 2000.
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES
3.0 Technical Evaluation
The NRC staff evaluated the licensee’s
proposed amendment to extend the TS
CT for one CSS train out of service from
72 hours to seven days using insights
derived from traditional engineering
considerations and the use of PRA
methods to determine the safety impact
of extending the CT.
3.1 Traditional Engineering Evaluation
The function of the containment heat
removal systems under accident
conditions is to remove heat from the
containment atmosphere, thus
maintaining the containment pressure
and temperature at acceptably low
levels. The systems also serve to limit
offsite radiation levels by reducing the
pressure differential between the
containment atmosphere and the
external environment, thereby
decreasing the driving force for fission
product leakage across the containment.
The two containment heat removal
systems are the CCS and CSS. The CCS
fan coolers are designed to operate
during both normal plant operations
and under loss-of-coolant accident
(LOCA) or main stream line break
(MSLB) conditions. The CSS is designed
to operate during accident conditions
only.
The heat removal capacity of the CCS
and CSS is sufficient to keep the
containment temperature and pressure
below design conditions for any size
break, up to and including a doubleended break of the largest reactor
coolant pipe. The systems are also
designed to mitigate the consequences
of any size break, up to and including
a double-ended break of a main stream
line. The CCS and CSS continue to
reduce containment pressure and
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temperature and maintain them at
acceptable levels post-accident.
The CCS and CSS at [PLANT NAME]
each consist of [Substitute plant-specific
configuration if it differs from the
following description] two redundant
loops and are designed such that a
single failure does not degrade their
ability to provide the required heat
removal capability. Two of four
containment fan coolers and one CSS
loop are powered from one safetyrelated bus. The other two containment
fan coolers and one CSS loop are
powered from another independent
safety related bus. The loss of one bus
does not affect the ability of the
containment heat removal systems to
maintain containment temperature and
pressure below the design values in a
post-accident mode.
The [PLANT NAME] CSS consists of
[Substitute plant-specific configuration
if it differs from the following
description] two independent and
redundant loops each containing a spray
pump, shutdown heat exchanger,
piping, valves, spray headers, and spray
nozzles. It has two modes of operation,
which are:
1. The injection mode, during which
the system sprays borated water from
the refueling water tank (RWT) into the
containment, and
2. The recirculation mode, which is
automatically initiated by the
recirculation actuation signal (RAS)
after low level is reached in the RWT.
During this mode of operation, the
safety injection system (SIS) sump
provides suction for the spray pumps.
Containment spray is automatically
initiated by the containment spray
actuation signal coincident with the
safety injection actuation signal and
high containment pressure signal. If
required, the operator can manually
activate the system from the main
control room.
Each CSS pump, together with a CCS
loop, provides the flow necessary to
remove the heat generated inside the
containment following a LOCA or
MSLB. Upon system activation, the
pumps are started, and borated water
flows into the containment spray
headers. When low level is reached in
the RWT, sufficient water has been
transferred to the containment to allow
for the recirculation mode of operation.
Spray pump suction is automatically
realigned to the SIS sump upon a RAS.
During a recirculation mode, the
spray water is cooled by the shutdown
heat exchangers prior to discharge into
the containment. The shutdown heat
exchangers are cooled by the component
cooling water system. Post-LOCA pH
control is provided by [Substitute plant-
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specific configuration if it differs from
the following description] trisodium
phosphate dodecahydrate, which is
stored in stainless steel baskets located
in the containment near the SIS sump
intake.
Based on a review of the design-basis
requirements for the CSS, the NRC staff
concluded that the loss of one CSS train
is well within the design-basis analyses.
The plant status with one CSS train and
one CCS train inoperable is covered by
TS3.6.6A, ACTION D, which states:
‘‘[With] one containment spray and one
containment cooling train inoperable, restore
containment spray train to OPERABLE status
within 72 hours, or restore containment
cooling train to OPERABLE status within 72
hours.’’
ACTION D ensures that the iodine
removal capabilities of the CSS are
available, along with 100 percent of the
heat removal needs after an accident.
The supporting analyses performed in
Reference 1 did not evaluate the
concurrent inoperabilities of one CSS
train and one CCS train. Therefore, the
current CT of 72 hours is retained in
Condition D. The 72-hour CT was
development taking into account the
redundant heat removal capabilities
afforded by combinations of the CSS
and CCS, the iodine removal function of
the CSS, and the low probabilities of a
DBA occurring during this period.
3.2 Probabilistic Risk Assessment
Evaluation
The proposed extension of the CSS
CT for one inoperable train from 72
hours to seven days affects plant risk by
impacting:
1. Accident sequences that can be
prevented from leading to core damage.
2. Accident sequences that can be
mitigated following core damage.
The CSS therefore affects both core
damage frequency (CDF) and large early
release frequency (LERF). This is
because the CSS performs the critical
function of controlling containment
temperature and pressure to cool the
reactor coolant system (RCS) inventory
that is spilled in the sump as a result of
a LOCA (core damage prevention role)
and preventing the release of
radionuclides subsequent to a core
damage event (core damage and
radionuclide release mitigation role).
[The following paragraph will contain
plant-specific information based on the
plant’s ability to use the shutdown
cooling system (SDCS) as a backup to
the CSS. The licensee should provide a
plant-specific system configuration
description based on whether its SDCS
can be used a backup to the CSS pump.]
The proposed CT extension also
impacts the long-term cooling function
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that can be provided by the SDCS
following a small-break LOCA, steam
generator tube rupture (SGTR), or
MSLB. If entry into the 7-day CT is
caused by a CSS pump outage, the
plants with the ability to use the SDCS
as a backup to the CSS pump can still
preserve the spray function of the
affected train. If, however, a SDCS heat
exchanger is removed from service, then
both the CSS and SDCS capability of the
affected train would be lost unless
cross-connect capability with another
unaffected system (e.g., service water) is
possible. However, this cross-connect
capability should not be credited unless
it is proceduralized.
The NRC staff used a three-tiered
approach to evaluate the plant-specific
risk impact associated with the
proposed TS changes. The first tier
evaluates the plant-specific PRA model
and the impact of the proposed CT
extension on plant operational risk. The
second tier addresses the need to
preclude potentially high risk
configurations by identifying the need
for any additional constraints or
compensatory actions that, if
implemented, would avoid or reduce
the probability of a risk-significant
configuration during the time when on
CSS train is out of service. The third tier
evaluates the licensee’s proposed
Configuration Risk Management
Program (CRMP) to ensure that the
applicable plant configuration will be
appropriately assessed from a risk
perspective before entering into, or
during, the proposed CT.
In Reference 2, the NRC staff found
that the risk analysis methodology and
approach used by the CEOG to estimate
the risk impact were reasonable. In its
SE, the NRC staff also stated that, for
most plants that participated in the joint
application report, the risk impact can
be shown to be consistent with the
acceptance guidelines for change in CDF
(DCDF), change in LERF (DLERF),
incremental conditional core damage
probability (ICCDP), and incremental
large early release frequency (ICLERP)
specified in Regulatory Guide (RG)
1.174 (Reference 3) and RG 1.177
(Reference 4) and the associated
Standard Review Plan (SRP) Chapters
19.0 and 16.1 of NUREG–0800
(Reference 5). However, not all CE
plants participated in the joint
application report, and the estimated
risk impacts for some plants exceeded
the Reference 3 and/or Reference 4
acceptance guidelines, which would
require additional justifications and/or
compensatory measures to be provided
for these plants to be determined to
have acceptable risk impacts.
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In Reference 2, the NRC staff also
found that the Tier 2 and Tier 3
evaluations, as described in Reference 4,
could not be approved generically since
they were not complete from the
perspective of addressing plant-specific
Tier 2 and Tier 3 issues which would
require that each individual plantspecific license amendment seeking
approval through TSTF–409, Rev. 2
would need to include an assessment
with respect to the Tier 2 and Tier 3
principles of Reference 4.
Based on the above discussion, the
NRC staff identified conditions that
must be addressed in the licensee’s
plant-specific application requesting
adoption of TSTF–409, Revision 2. In its
application dated [DATE], the licensee
provided supporting information for
each of the conditions which met the
NRC staff’s expectations and acceptance
criteria [with the following exceptions:
list any exceptions to the conditions
stated in the model LAR].
[Provide a discussion of any
significant plant-specific exceptions to
or modifications of the conditions
described in the model LAR].
3.2.1 Commitment
The Reference 4 Tier 3 program
ensures that, while the plant is
following the TS ACTIONS associated
with a 7-day CT for restoring an
inoperable CSS to operable status,
additional activities will not be
performed that could further degrade
the capabilities of the plant to respond
to a condition that the inoperable CSS
is designed to mitigate and, as a result,
increase plant risk beyond that
determined by the Reference 1 analyses.
A licensee’s implementation of
Reference 4 Tier 3 guidelines indicates
that it has assessed risk with respect to
CDF. However, the proposed CSS 7-day
CT impacts accident sequences that can
be mitigated following core damage and,
consequently, LERF as well as CDF.
Therefore, the licensee enhnaced its
CRMP [optional: as implemented under
10 CFR 50.65(a)(4), the Maintenance
Rule,] to include a LERF assessment.
[The licensee should confirm that
performance of LERF assessments is
included in the plant’s Maintenance
Rule program.]
3.3 Summary
On [DATE], ([ ] FR [ ]), the NRC
announced the availability of TSTF–
409, Rev. 2 for adoption by licensees
using the consolidated line item
improvement program (CLIIP). In its
model license amendment request
(LAR), the NRC staff asked each licensee
to verify several aspects of its plantspecific PRA program including: 1)
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65159
verification of PRA quality, 2) plantspecific analyses of the impact of this
TS change on overall risk, 3)
Maintenance Rule and CRMP
considerations associated with the
proposed changes, and, 4) system
interdependencies. In its [DATE]
submittal, the licensee provided
satisfactory information related to the
eight conditions and one licensee
commitments set forth in the model
LAR.
Having met the conditions identified
in the model LAR, the NRC staff finds
that the licensee’s plant-specific LAR is
consistent with the previous NRC staff
approval of Reference 1, as documented
in Reference 2 and TSTF–409, Rev. 2,
and thus is acceptable. This
determination is based on the following:
1. The traditional engineering
evaluation reveals that the loss of one
CSS train is well within the design-basis
analyses.
2. Since the licensee meets the
conditions identified in the model LAR,
the NRC staff finds that there is minimal
impact of the CT extensions for the CSS
system on plant operational risk (Tier 1
evaluation).
3. Meeting the conditions identified
in the model LAR will ensure that the
licensee’s implementation will identify
potentially high risk configurations and
the need for any additional constraints
or compensatory actions that, if
implemented, would avoid or reduce
the probability of a risk-significant
configuration (Tier 2 evaluation).
4. Meeting the conditions identified
in the model LAR will ensure that the
risk-informed CRMP proposed by the
licensee will satisfactorily assess the
risk associated with the removal of
equipment from service during the
proposed CSS CT (Tier 3 evaluation)
and the CRMP and plant risk will be
managed by plant procedures.
4.0 Regulatory Commitment
The licensee’s letter dated [DATE],
contained the following regulatory
commitment: [STATE THE LICENSEE’S
COMMITMENT AND ENSURE THAT IT
SATISFIES THE COMMITMENT IN
SECTION 3.2.1 OF THIS SE].
The NRC staff finds that reasonable
controls for the implementation and for
subsequent evaluation of proposed
changes pertaining to the above
regulatory commitment are best
provided by the licensee’s
administrative controls process,
including its commitment management
program. The above regulatory
commitment does not warrant the
creation of a license condition (item
requiring prior NRC approval of
subsequent changes).
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5.0 State Consultation
In accordance with the Commission’s
regulations, the [STATE] State official
was notified of the proposed issuance of
the amendment[s]. The State official had
[CHOOSE ONE: (1) No comments, OR
(2) the following comments—with
subsequent disposition by the staff].
6.0 Environmental Consideration
The amendment changes a
requirement with respect to the
installation or use of a facility
component located within the restricted
area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. The
NRC staff has determined that the
amendment involves no significant
increase in the amounts, and no
significant change in the types, of any
effluents that may be released offsite,
and that there is no significant increase
in individual or cumulative
occupational radiation exposure. The
Commission has previously issued a
proposed finding that the amendment
involves no significant hazards
consideration, and there has been no
public comment on such finding [(XX
FR XXXXX, dated Monthly DD, YYYY)].
Accordingly, the amendment meets the
eligibility criteria for categorical
exclusion set forth in 10 CFR
51.22(c)(9). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b),
no environmental impact statement or
environmental assessment need be
prepared in connection with the
issuance of the amendment.
7.0 Conclusion
The Commission has concluded,
based on the considerations discussed
above, that (1) there is reasonable
assurance that the health and safety of
the public will not be endangered by
operation in the proposed manner, (2)
such activities will be conducted in
compliance with the Commission’s
regulations, and (3) the issuance of the
amendment will not be inimical to the
common defense and security or to the
health and safety of the public.
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8.0
References
1. Joint Applications Report: Modification to
the Containment Spray System, and Low
Pressure Safety Injection System
Technical, CE Owners Group, CE NPSD–
1045, March 2000.
2. SE by the Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation Related to CE Owners Group
CE–NPSD–1045, ‘‘Joint Application Report,
Modification to the Containment Spray
System, and the Low Pressure Safety
Injection System Technical
Specifications,’’ December 21, 1999.
3. U.S. NRC RG 1.174, ‘‘An Approach for
Using Probabilistic Risk Assessment in
Risk-Informed Decisions on Plant-Specific
Changes to the Licensing Basis,’’ Revision
1, November 2002.
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4. U.S. NRC RG 1.177, ‘‘An Approach for
Plant-Specific, Risk-Informed
Decisionmaking: Technical
Specifications,’’ August 1998.
5. NUREG–0800, ‘‘Standard Review Plan for
the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for
Nuclear Power Plants,’’ June 1996.
Model No Significant Hazards
Consideration
Description of Amendment Request:
The proposed amendment would revise
the technical specifications to extend
the completion time (CT) from 72 hours
to seven days to restore an inoperable
containment spray system (CSS) train to
operable status, and add a Condition
describing the required Actions and CT
when one CSS and one containment
cooling system (CCS) are inoperable.
Basis for proposed no significant
hazards consideration determination:
As required by 10 CFR 50.91(a), an
analysis of the issue of no significant
hazards consideration is presented
below:
1. Does the proposed change involve
a significant increase in the probability
or consequences of an accident
previously evaluated?
Response: No.
The proposed change extends from 72
hours to 7 days the CT for restoring an
inoperable CSS train to operable status.
Being in an ACTION is not an initiator
of any accident previously evaluated.
Consequently, the probability of an
accident previously evaluated is not
significantly increased. The
consequences of an accident while
relying on ACTIONS during the 7-day
CT are no different than the
consequences of an accident while
relying on the ACTION during the
existing 72-hour CT. Therefore, the
consequences of an accident previously
evaluated are not significantly increased
by this change. Therefore, this change
does not involve a significant increase
in the probability or consequences of an
accident previously evaluated.
2. Does the change create the
possibility of a new or different kind of
accident from any accident previously
evaluated?
Response: No.
The proposed change extends from 72
hours to 7 days the CT for restoring an
inoperable CSS train to operable status.
The proposed change does not involve
a physical alteration of the plant (no
new or different type of equipment will
be installed) or a change in the methods
governing normal plant operation. Thus,
this change does not create the
possibility of a new or different kind of
accident from any accident previously
evaluated.
PO 00000
Frm 00094
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
3. Does the proposed change involve
a significant reduction in a margin of
safety?
Response: No.
The proposed change extends from 72
hours to 7 days the CT for restoring an
inoperable CSS train to operable status.
The licensee performed risk-based
evaluations using its plant-specific
probabilistic risk assessment (PRA)
model in order to determine the effect
of this change on plant risk. The PRA
evaluations were based on the
conditions stipulated in NRC staff safety
evaluations approving both Joint
Applications Report CE NPSD–1045–A,
‘‘Joint Applications Report,
Modifications to the Containment Spray
System and The Low Pressure Safety
Injection System Technical
Specifications,’’ and Technical
Specification Task Force Change
Traveler, TSTF–409, Revision 2,
‘‘Containment Spray System
Completion Time Extension (CE NPSD–
1045–A).’’ The results of these plantspecific evaluations determined that the
effect of the proposed change on plant
risk is very small. Therefore, this change
does not involve a significant reduction
in a margin of safety.
Based on the above, the proposed
change involves no significant hazards
consideration under the standards set
forth in 10 CFR 50.92(c), and
accordingly, a finding of no significant
hazards consideration is justified.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this XX day
of XXXXXXXX, 2006.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
Project Manager
Plant Licensing Branch [ ]
Division of Operating Reactor Licensing
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
[FR Doc. 06–9094 Filed 11–6–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–M
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Proposed Collections; Comment
Request
Upon Written Request; Copies Available
From: Securities and Exchange
Commission, Office of Filings and
Information Services, Washington, DC
20549.
Extensions:
Rule 14f–1, OMB Control No. 3235–0108,
SEC File No. 270–127.
Rule 12g3–2, OMB Control No. 3235–0119,
SEC File No. 270–104.
Rule 13e–1, OMB Control No. 3235–0305,
SEC File No. 270–255.
Notice is hereby given that pursuant
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
E:\FR\FM\07NON1.SGM
07NON1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 215 (Tuesday, November 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65148-65160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9094]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Notice of Availability of Model License Amendment Request and
Safety Evaluation on Technical Specification Improvement Regarding
Revision to the Completion Time in STS 3.6.6A, ``Containment Spray and
Cooling Systems'' for Combustion Engineering Pressurized Water Reactors
Using the Consolidated Line Item Improvement Process
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the staff of the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC) has prepared a model license amendment
request (LAR), model safety evaluation (SE), and model proposed no
significant hazards consideration (NSHC) determination related to
changes to the completion times (CT) in Standard Technical
Specification (STS) 3.6.6A, ``Containment Spray and Cooling Systems,''
contained in NUREG-1432 (Standard Technical Specifications for
Combustion Engineering Plants, Rev. 3.0). The proposed changes would
revise STS 3.6.6A by extending the CT for one containment spray system
(CSS) train inoperable from 72 hours to seven days, and add a
Condition, Required Actions and associated CT when one CSS train and
one containment cooling system (CCS) train are inoperable. These
changes are based on analyses provided in a joint applications report
submitted by the Combustion Engineering Owner's Group (CEOG). The CEOG
participants in the Technical Specifications Task Force (TSTF) proposed
these changes to the STS in Change Traveler No. TSTF-409, Revision 2.
The purpose of these models is to permit the NRC to efficiently
process amendments to incorporate these changes into plant-specific STS
for Combustion Engineering pressurized water reactors (PWRs). Since
TSTF-409 involves a risk-informed approach to extending the CT for one
CSS inoperable, the NRC staff must verify that licensees who apply for
this TS change have a valid, up-to-date probabilistic risk assessment
(PRA) model that employs PRA principles to ensure that public health
and safety are maintained when the CSS CT of 7 days is implemented.
Therefore, the model LAR contains several conditions requiring
licensees to make specific validations of their plant PRA quality and
methods. The intent of using the CLIIP to adopt TSTF-409 is to
eliminate
[[Page 65149]]
the need for additional technical review and requests for additional
information (RAIs) on plant-specific amendments. Licensees of nuclear
power reactors to which the models apply can request amendments
conforming to the models. In such a request, a licensee should confirm
the applicability of the model SE and NSHC determination to its plant,
and provide the expected supplemental information requested in the
model LAR.
DATES: The NRC staff issued a Federal Register Notice (71 FR 18380,
April 11, 2006) which provided for public comment a model SE, model
LAR, and NSHC determination related to changes to the CT for one CSS
train inoperable in STS 3.6.6A. The NRC staff herein provides a revised
model SE, revised model LAR, and NSHC determination. The NRC staff can
most efficiently consider applications based upon the model LAR, which
references the Model SE, if the application is submitted within one
year of this Federal Register Notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Kobetz, Mail Stop: O-12H2,
Division of Inspection Program Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-
0001, telephone 301-415-1932.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Regulatory Issue Summary 2000-06, ``Consolidated Line Item
Improvement Process [CLIIP] for Adopting Standard Technical
Specifications Changes for Power Reactors,'' was issued on March 20,
2000. The CLIIP is intended to improve the efficiency and transparency
of NRC licensing processes. This is accomplished by processing proposed
changes to the STS in a manner that supports subsequent license
amendment applications. The CLIIP includes an opportunity for the
public to comment on proposed changes to the STS following a
preliminary assessment by the NRC staff and finding that the change
will likely be offered for adoption by licensees. The CLIIP includes
NRC staff evaluation of any comments received for a proposed change to
the STS. In several instances, the staff's evaluation did result in
changes to the model LAR and/or model SE. Those licensees opting to
apply for the subject changes to TSs are responsible for reviewing the
staff's evaluation, referencing the applicable technical
justifications, and providing any necessary plant-specific information.
The model LAR shows licensees the expected level of detail that needs
to be included in order to adopt TSTF-409, Rev. 2, as well as
guidelines for staff review. The NRC has established an internal review
plan that designates the appropriate staff and approximate timelines to
review plant-specific LARs that reference TSTF-409, Rev. 2. Each
amendment application made in response to the notice of availability
will be processed and noticed in accordance with applicable NRC rules
and procedures.
This notice involves an increase in the allowed CT to restore an
inoperable CSS train on Combustion Engineering PWRs. By letter dated
November 10, 2003, the CEOG proposed this change for incorporation into
the STS as TSTF-409, Revision 2. This change is based on the NRC staff-
approved analyses contained in CE NPSD-1045-A, ``Joint Applications
Report: Modification to the Containment Spray System, and Low Pressure
Safety Injection System Technical Specifications,'' dated March 2000,
as approved by the NRC in a SE dated December 21, 1999, accessible
electronically from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management
System's (ADAMS) Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet (ADAMS
Accession No. ML993620241) at the NRC Web site https://www.nrc.gov/
reading-rm/adams.html. Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who
encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, should
contact the NRC Public Document Room Reference staff by telephone at 1-
800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov.
This notice, along with TSTF-409, Rev. 2, will be posted on the NRC
Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/techspecs/
changes-issued-for-adoption.html.
Applicability
This proposed change to revise the Technical Specification (TS) CT
for one inoperable CSS train is applicable to Combustion engineering
PWRs.
To efficiently process the incoming license amendment applications,
the NRC staff requests that each licensee applying for the changes
addressed by TSTF-409, Revision 2, use the CLIIP to submit a LAR that
adheres to the following model. Any deviations from the model LAR
should be explained in the licensee's submittal. When applying,
licensees should ensure they address the eight conditions and one
regulatory commitment listed in the model LAR and model SE.
The CLIIP does not prevent licensees from requesting an alternative
approach, proposing changes without providing the information described
in the eight model LAR conditions, or making the requested commitment.
Variations from the approach recommended in this notice may, however,
require additional review by the NRC staff and may increase the time
and resources needed for the review. Significant variations from the
approach, or inclusion of additional changes in the LAR, will result in
staff rejection of the submittal under the CLIIP. Instead, licensees
desiring significant variations and/or additional changes should either
submit a LAR that does not claim to adopt TSTF-409, or specifically
state in their LAR that they are adopting TSTF-409 without using the
CLIIP.
Public Notices
In a notice in the Federal Register dated April 11, 2006 (71 FR
18380), the staff requested comment on the use of the CLIIP to process
requests to revise the CE PWR TS regarding Containment Spray System
completion time extensions as discussed in TSTF-409. In response to
this notice, the staff received one set of comments (developed by the
PWR Owners Group, and submitted by the Nuclear Energy Institute in a
letter dating May 10, 2006 (ADAMs Accession No. ML061570029)). Specific
comments on the model LAR and model SE were offered. These comments,
along with the NRC staff's responses, are summarized and discussed
below.
1. Comment: Based on discussions with the author regarding the
intent of the ``Model SE,'' [i.e., to allow acceptance review without
RAIs while satisfying the CLIIP] it is recommended that additional
explanatory information be included. * * * At the very minimum, a clear
preamble to the FRN should be provided that places the scope of the FRN
in perspective.
Response: The following preamble has been inserted after the first
sentence of the second paragraph of the FRN.
``Since TSTF-409 involves a risk-informed approach to extending
the CT for one CSS inoperable, the NRC staff must verify that
licensees who apply for this TS change have a valid, up to date
probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) model that employs PRA
principles to ensure that public health and safety are maintained
when the CSS CT of 7 days is implemented. Therefore, the model LAR
contains several conditions requiring licensees to make specific
validations of their plant PRA quality and methods. The intent of
using the CLIIP to adopt TSTF-409 is to eliminate the need for
additional technical review and requests for additional information
(RAIs) on plant-specific amendments.''
2. Comment: [The FRN] should equally note that existing strategies
for
[[Page 65150]]
approval are valid and may also be used.
Response: The second to last paragraph of the FRN discusses how a
licensee should proceed if it desires to deviate from the approach
outlined in the CLIIP. The NRC's position is that, if a licensee is
going to submit a LAR that adopts TSTF-409 using the CLIIP, then the
plant-specific LAR should provide all the information requested in the
model LAR. Any variations/deviations should be explained, and may
require additional review by the staff (including issuance of RAIs).
Significant variations from the CLIIP methodology should be submitted
as normal license amendment requests. The staff has changed the last
sentence of second to last paragraph of the FRN to read:
``Instead, licensees desiring significant variations and/or
additional changes should either submit a LAR that does not claim to
adopt TSTF-409, or specifically state in their LAR that they are
adopting TSTF-409 without using the CLIIP.''
This will correctly define the scope of the review for the staff
when processing an incoming LAR that does not conform to the CLIIP.
3. Comment: The essence of the proposed CSS TS change focuses on a
single CSS train. Thus, the mention of ACTION G (regarding two CSS
trains out-of-service) seems unnecessary.
Response: The staff agrees with this comment. Mention of ACTION G
has been removed from Section 4.1 of the model LAR, and Section 3.1 of
the model SE.
4. Comment: The last paragraph of section 4.2.1 item 1 notes that
``If a zero maintenance PRA model is used * * * in performing these
calculations, then the licensee must commit to performing no other
maintenance during the extended CSS CT * * *''. This restriction has no
technical merit. The risk of maintenance is generated as incremental
risks from the baseline. The initial submittal noted that for plants
with emergency grade fan coolers (most of the applicants), the actual
risk increases as a result of removing a CSS out of service is very
low. Furthermore, CSS have very little (if any) overlap with other
systems. Because the risk important function of CSSs is to maintain the
containment pressure within acceptable limits (and control sump
temperature to ensure adequate NPSH for ECCS equipment--a function left
out of FRN Section 3), those functions can be accommodated by the
redundant CS train or the fan coolers. Furthermore, by using RG 1.177
to support low risk, the risk impact of removal of the CSS for the
duration of the 7 day AOT is small. Because plants perform maintenance
on a frequent basis, not allowing repair or maintenance on another
system (which is likely to be of greater risk importance than the CSS)
is unnecessary and likely to have worse risk.
Another unusual aspect of the restriction implies that the
incremental risk calculated using zero maintenance conditions is
significantly different from that calculated using annualized plant-
wide system out-of-service values. While the baseline PRA for zero
maintenance is less than the baseline PRA value for nominal
maintenance, its impact on incremental risk will be small.
Response: The staff accepts NEI's comment in that it creates a
regulatory condition that is overly restrictive to plants using a zero
maintenance PRA model. The staff has inserted alternate wording (from
RG 1.177 Section 2.3.4. 2) to the last sentence of condition 1
in Section 4.2.1 of the model LAR as follows:
If the licensee utilizes a ``zero maintenance'' PRA model for
the assessment, they should state they are using a ``zero
maintenance'' model in the evaluation, and provide a discussion as
to the ability of that model to produce comparable results to the
``average maintenance'' assessment.
5. Comment: It is understood that documented quantitative external
event information for the plants may be limited. However, reference to
plant individual plant examination (IPE) and individual plant
examination for external events (IPEEE) and the requirements to explain
the evolution of the PRA since 1988 as identified in Section in item
4.2.1 part 2.b is unnecessary. Item 2.c requires that the peer review
results be discussed along with the overall disposition of relevant
facts and observations (F&Os) and item e (which includes an overall
determination of the adequacy of the plant specific PRA with respect to
this application). These assessment[s] are current and of more
importance to the application. Where external events rely on IPEEE
vintage information, a discussion/statement of the risk significance of
the spray system in mitigating external events should be performed.
Response: The staff agrees that peer reviews of plant-specific PRA
are important. However, it is equally important to have an
understanding of PRA updates and upgrades since the IPE, IPEEE, and
peer reviews were conducted, especially if plant improvements and/or
commitments are cited and credited in the analyses as being
implemented. Licensees who have given this information in prior
submittals may incorporate the information by reference.
6. Comment: Section 4.2.1 item 3 requirements on consideration of
fire and external events and the associated EXPECTATIONS are too
restrictive and do not correspond to safety benefits. The CSS has
limited risk overlap with fires or external initiating events.
Challenges to power induced by tornadoes, high winds or seismic events
have limited importance to the spray system and [are] more appropriate
with AOTs associated with AC-power related components. It was our
understanding that the intent of this restriction was to assure the
regulator that the overall combined plant risk remains below a CDF of
10 -4 per year (per requirements of RG 1.174). The intent of
this section should be clarified. This requirement should be reduced to
providing information regarding the reasons underlying low risk
associated with this system.
Response: The staff acknowledges that, for many plants, the impact
of the CT extension on external event risk will be minimal. If this is
the case, the licensee needs to confirm this in its submittal and
explain why there is limited overlap.
7. Comment: Section 4.2.1 item 3 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA requires
``combining internal events, internal flooding, external events and
shutdown PRA results.'' The requirements for the combination of events
should be modified to have the utility provide a technical basis for
demonstrating the plant CDF to be less than 10 -4 per year
or has no plant specific vulnerabilities (per SECY-88-20). Requirements
for a fully quantified external events (including fire) PRA and
shutdown PRA [are] beyond the state of the art. Few plants have all the
above. The Fire PRA standard is just undergoing peer review and no
shutdown PRA standard has been written. Methods for combining these PRA
results [are] also not defined (particularly merging shutdown and ``at
power'' PRA results). Instead, it should be noted that the utility may
use existing external event evaluations including IPEEE results and
qualitative external event assessments, where appropriate, to provide
confidence that the overall plant CDF is not within RG 1.174 risk
region 1.
Response: The staff is requesting that licensees provide [Delta]CDF
and [Delta]LERF calculations for those external events for which the
licensee has a PRA. For external events for which the licensee does not
have a PRA, the licensee will need to confirm there are no
vulnerabilities that would indicate that
[[Page 65151]]
the total CDF is >10-4 or the total LERF is
>10-\5\ yr. this stipulation allows the staff to ensure that
plans whose [Delta]CDF or [Delta]LERF calculation puts them in Region
II of either Figure 3 or Figure 4 of RG 1.174 are still within the RG
1.174 Section 2.2.4 acceptance guidelines for total plant risk (CDF and
LERF).
With regard to NEI's comments on a fully-quantified external events
(including fire) PRA and shutdown PRA being beyond state-of-the-art,
the staff believes the wording in the EXPECTATIONS for Section 4.2.1
condition 3 was misinterpreted. The wording has been revised to read
``(quantitatively and/or qualitatively, as appropriate).'' However, the
staff notes that while fire and shutdown PRA standards have not yet
been endorsed, there are available methods to quantify fire and
shutdown PRA. Therefore, the staff does not believe such evaluations
are beyond the state of the art. Rather, they are areas where some
evaluation is still ongoing.
8. Comment: EXPECTATIONS supporting 4.2.1 item 4. The TS is
structured to have a revised CT. Once the new CT is adopted the old CT
will disappear as a regulatory item. Thus, there is no entry into an
extended CSS CT. It is simply an entry into the CT. There are no
significant external event interactions and the outage is limited to a
single spray train. Therefore, The Tier 2 requirement should be limited
to one CSS out of service, which is already governed in the TS with a
cautionary note that Maintenance rule or tier 3 guidance to not
simultaneously disable both the emergency grade fan coolers and the
sprays.
Response: The staff agrees that ``extended CT'' should not be used
in the model LAR. Appropriate changes will be made here and in other
sections of the FRN where appropriate.
The staff believes that a tier 2 justification by the licensee is
warranted with regard to removing one CSS train from service due to
scheduled ``preventive'' maintenance for the 7-day period. If there are
no risk-significant configurations or risk-significant external event
conditions identified in the tier 2 evaluation, then the licensee
should include a statement that there are no risk-significant
configurations or external event conditions that would preclude them
from using the 7-day CT.
9. Comment: End of [Section 4.2.1 item 7]. Note that the RGs
provide guidelines. Risk values are not rigid thresholds. Thus small
deviations to the guidance can be and are somewhat fuzzy to allow for
the mathematical uncertainties inherent in these studies.
Response: The staff agrees that RG 1.174 and 1.177 guidelines are
not rigid standards, and has revised condition 7 to delete the second
paragraph of the EXPECTATIONS section. Note that Condition 5 of the
model LAR requires licensees to confirm that their CRMP or associated
(a)(4) program meets all aspects of Section 2.3.7.2 or RG 1.177.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland; this 19th day of October 2006.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Timothy J. Kobetz,
Branch Chief, Technical Specifications Branch, Division of Inspection
and Regional Support, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
FOR INCLUSION ON THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION WEB PAGE THE FOLLOWING
EXAMPLE OF A LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST (LAR) WAS PREPARED BY THE NRC
STAFF TO FACILITATE THE ADOPTION OF TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS TASK FORCE
(TSTF) TRAVELER TSTF-409, REVISION 2 ``CONTAINMENT SPRAY SYSTEM
COMPLETION TIME EXTENSION (CE NPSD-1045-A).'' THE MODEL PROVIDES THE
EXPECTED LEVEL OF DETAIL AND CONTENT FOR A LAR TO ADOPT TSTF-409,
REVISION 2. LICENSEES REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THEIR PLANT-
SPECIFIC LAR FULFILLS THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS NRC
REGULATIONS.
----------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Document Control Desk
Washington, DC 20555
SUBJECT: [PLANT NAME] APPLICATION FOR TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
IMPROVEMENT TO EXTEND THE COMPLETION TIME FOR CONTAINMENT SPRAY SYSTEM
INOPERABILITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH TSTF-409, REVISION 2
Dear Sir or Madam:
In accordance with the provisions of Section 50.90 of Title 10 of
the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 50.90), [LICENSEE] is
submitting a request for an amendment to the technical specifications
(TS) for [PLANT NAME, UNIT NOS.].
The proposed changes would revise TS 3.6.6A, ``Containment Spray
and Cooling Systems,'' by extending from 72 hours to seven days the
completion time (CT) to restore an inoperable containment spray system
(CSS) train. In addition, a Condition would be added to the TS to allow
one CSS train and one containment cooling system (CCS) train to be
inoperable for a period of 72 hours.
The changes are consistent with NRC-approved Industry Technical
Specification Task Force (TSTF) Standard Technical Specification Change
Traveler, TSTF-409, Revision 2, ``Containment Spray System Completion
Time Extension (CE NPSD-1045-A).''
Enclosure 1 provides a description and assessment of the proposed
changes and confirmation of applicability. Enclosure 2 provides the
existing TS pages marked-up to show the proposed changes. Enclosure 3
provides the existing TS Bases marked-up to reflect the proposed
changes (for information only). Final TS Bases will be provided in a
future update to the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) in
accordance with the Bases Control Program. Attachments 1 through 8
provide the discussions of [LICENSEE'S] evaluations and supporting
information with regard to the conditions stipulated in Section 4.2.1
of Enclosure 1.
[LICENSEE] requests approval of the proposed license amendment by
[DATE], with the amendment being implemented [BY DATE OR WITHIN X
DAYS]. in accordance with 10 CFR 50.91, a copy of this application,
with enclosures, is being provided to the designated [STATE] Official.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United
States of America that I am authorized by [LICENSEE] to make this
request and that the foregoing is true and correct. [Note that request
may be notarized in lieu of using this oath or affirmation statement].
If you should have any questions regarding this submittal, please
contact [ ].
Sincerely,
Name, Title
Enclosures:
1. Description and Assessment of Proposed Changes
2. Proposed Technical Specification Changes
3. Proposed Technical Specification Bases Changes (if applicable)
Attachments:
1. Licensee's supporting information for condition 1
2. Licensee's supporting information for condition 2
3. Licensee's supporting information for condition 3
4. Licensee's supporting information for condition 4
5. Licensee's supporting information for condition 5
6. Licensee's supporting information
[[Page 65152]]
for condition 6
7. Licensee's supporting information for condition 7
8. Licensee's supporting information for condition 8
cc:
NRR Project Manager
Regional Office
Resident Inspector
State Contact
ITSB Branch Chief
1.0 Description
The letter is a request to amend Operating License(s) [LICENSE
NUMBER(S)] for [PLANT/UNIT NAME(S)].
The proposed changes would revise Technical Specification (TS)
3.6.6A, ``Containment Spray and Cooling Systems,'' by extending from 72
hours to seven days the completion time (CT) to restore an inoperable
containment spray system (CSS) train to operable status, and would add
a Condition describing the required action and CT when one CSS train
and one containment cooling system (CCS) train are inoperable.
The changes are consistent with NRC approved Industry Owner's Group
Technical Specification Task Force (TSTF) Standard Technical
Specification Change Traveler TSTF-409, Revision 2 (Rev. 2),
``Containment Spray System Completion Time Extension (CE NPSD-1045-
A).'' TSTF-409, Rev. 2 was approved by the NRC on [DATE].
2.0 Proposed Change
Specifically, the proposed revision extends the CT (or allowed
outage time) that one CSS train is permitted to remain inoperable from
72 hours to seven days based on Reference 1, as accepted by, and
subject to the limitations specified in, Reference 2. TSTF-409, Rev. 2
states that the longer CT will enhance overall plant safety by avoiding
potential unscheduled plant shutdowns and allowing greater availability
of safety significant components during shutdown. In addition, TSTF-
409, Rev. 2 states that this extension provides for increased
flexibility in scheduling and performing maintenance and surveillance
activities in order to enhance plant safety and operational flexibility
during lower modes of operation.
The revision also adds a Condition to allow one CSS train and one
CCS train to be inoperable for up to 72 hours. Since Reference 1 did
not evaluate the concurrent inoperabilities of one CSS train and one
CCS train, the CT for this Condition was limited to 72 hours.
[LICENSEE] also proposes to make changes to the supporting TS Bases
in accordance with TSTF-409, Rev. 2. Changes to the Bases include
supporting information justifying the addition of the Condition for one
CSS train and one CCS train inoperable. The Bases changes also include
a reviewer's note that requires [LICENSEE] to adopt Reference 1 and
meet the requirements of References 1 and 2 prior to utilizing the 7-
day CT for one inoperable CSS. Finally, a reference to Reference 1 is
added to the Bases. Markups of the TS Bases are provided in enclosure
3. Changes to the Bases will be implemented in accordance with
[LICENSEE's] bases control program.
In summary, [LICENSEE] proposes to extend the CT for one inoperable
CSS train from 72 hours to 7 days based on Reference 1, and add a
Condition to allow one CSS train and one CCS train to be inoperable for
up to 72 hours.
3.0 Background
The function of the containment heat removal systems under accident
conditions is to remove heat from the containment atmosphere, thus
maintaining the containment pressure and temperature at acceptably low
levels. The systems also serve to limit offsite radiation levels by
reducing the pressure differential between the containment atmosphere
and the external environment, thereby decreasing the driving force for
fission product leakage across the containment. The two containment
heat removal systems are the CCS and the CSS. The CCS fan coolers are
designed to operate during both normal plant operations and under loss-
of-coolant accident [LOCA] or main steam line break (MSLB) conditions.
The CSS is designed to operate during accident conditions only.
The heat removal capacity of the CCS and CSS is sufficient to keep
the containment temperature and pressure below design conditions for
any size break, up to and including a double-ended break of the largest
reactor coolant pipe. The systems are also designed to mitigate the
consequences of any size break, up to and including a double-ended
break of a main stream line. The CCS and CSS continue to reduce
containment pressure and temperature and maintain them at acceptable
levels post-accident.
The CCS and CSS at [PLANT NAME] each consist of [Substitute plant-
specific configuration if it differs from the following description]
two redundant loops and are designed such that a single failure does
not degrade their ability to provide the required heat removal
capability. Two of four containment fan coolers and one CSS loop are
powered from one safety-related bus. The other two containment fan
coolers and CSS loop are powered from another independent safety-
related bus. The loss of one bus does not affect the ability of the
containment heat removal systems to maintain containment temperature
and pressure below the design values in a post-accident mode.
The [PLANT NAME] CSS consists of [Substitute plant-specific
configuration if it differs from the following description] two
independent and redundant loops each containing a spray pump, shutdown
heat exchanger, piping, valves, spray headers, and spray nozzles. It
has two modes of operation, which are:
1. The injection mode, during which the system sprays borated water
from the refueling water tank (RWT) into the containment, and
2. The recirculation mode, which is automatically initiated by the
recirculation actuation signal (RAS) after low level is reached in the
RWT. During this mode of operation, the safety injection system (SIS)
sump provides suction for the spray pumps.
Containment spray is automatically initiated by the containment
spray actuation signal coincident with the safety injection actuation
signal and high containment pressure signal. If required, the operator
can manually activate the system from the main control room.
Each CSS pump, together with a CCS loop, provides the flow
necessary to remove the heat generated inside the containment following
a LOCA or MSLB. Upon system activation, the pumps are started and the
borated water flows into the containment spray headers. When low level
is reached in the RWT, sufficient water has been transferred to the
containment to allow for the recirculation mode of operation. Spray
pump suction is automatically realigned to the SIS sump upon a RAS.
During the recirculation mode, the spray water is cooled by the
shutdown heat exchangers prior to discharge into the containment. The
shutdown heat exchangers are cooled by the component cooling water
system. Post-LOCA pH control is provided by [Substitute plant-specific
configuration if it differs from the following description] trisodium
phosphate dodecahydrate, which is stored in stainless steel baskets
located in the containment near the SIS sump intake.
The longer CT for an inoperable CSS train will enhance overall
plant safety by avoiding potential unscheduled plant
[[Page 65153]]
shutdowns and allowing greater availability of safety significant
components during shutdown. In addition, this extension provides for
increased flexibility in scheduling and performing maintenance and
surveillance activities in order to enhance plant safety and
operational flexibility during lower modes of operation.
4.0 Technical analysis
[LICENSEE] has reviewed References 1 and 2, as well as TSTF-409,
Rev. 2, and the model SE published on [DATE] ([] FR []) as part of the
CLIIP Notice of Availability. [LICENSEE] has applied the methodology in
Reference 1 to develop the proposed TS changes. [LICENSEE] has also
concluded that the justifications presented in TSTF-409, Rev. 2 and the
model SE prepared by the NRC staff are applicable to [PLANT NAME], and
justify this amendment for the incorporation of changes to the [PLANT
NAME] TS.
In determining the suitability and safety impact of its adoption of
TSTF-409, Rev. 2, [LICENSEE] analyzed the effect of increasing the CT
for one CSS train to remain out of service using both traditional
engineering considerations and probabilistic risk assessment (PRA)
methods.
4.1 Traditional (Deterministic) Engineering Analysis
The functions and operation of the CSS and CCS were described in
Section 3.0 of this application. Based on a review of the design-basis
requirements for the CSS, [LICENSEE] concluded that the loss of one CSS
train is well within the design-basis analyses. This conclusion is
based on the fact that each CSS pump, together with a CCS loop,
provides the flow necessary to remove the heat generated inside the
containment following a LOCA or MSLB. Therefore, the combination of one
CSS pump and one CCS loop can carry out the design functions of
maintaining the containment pressure and temperature at acceptably low
levels following a design-basis accident (DBA), and limiting offsite
radiation levels by reducing the pressure differential between the
containment atmosphere and the external environment, thereby decreasing
the driving force for fission product leakage across the containment.
The plant status with one CSS train and one CCS train inoperable is
covered by TS 3.6.6A, ACTION [D], which states:
``[With] one containment spray and one containment cooling train
inoperable, restore containment spray train to OPERABLE status
within 72 hours, or restore containment cooling train to OPERABLE
status within 72 hours.''
ACTION [D] ensures that the iodine removal capabilities of the CSS
are available, along with 100 percent of the heat removal needs after
an accident. The supporting analyses performed in Reference 1 did not
evaluate the concurrent inoperabilities of one CSS train and one CCS
train, therefore, the current CT of 72 hours is retained in Condition
[D]. The 72 hour Completion Time was developed taking into account the
redundant heat removal capabilities afforded by combinations of the CSS
and CCS, the iodine removal function of the CSS, and the low
probability of a DBA occurring during this period.
4.2 Probabilistic Risk Assessment Evaluation
[LICENSEE] evaluated the proposed CT extension for the CSS using
Reference 3 and Reference 4. This is the same methodology that the NRC
staff used in Reference 2. The Key Principles of A Risk-Informed
Integrated Decisionmaking Process listed in Reference 3 are as follows:
Principle I: The proposed change meets the current regulations.
Principle II: The proposed change is consistent with the defense-in-
depth philosophy.
Principle III: The proposed change maintains sufficient safety margin.
Principle IV: When the proposed change results in an increase in core
damage frequency or risk, the increase should be small and consistent
with the Commission's Safety Goal Policy Statement.
Principle V: The impact of the proposed change should be monitored
using performance measurement strategies.
In Reference 2, the NRC staff found, and [LICENSEE] agrees, that in
risk-informed TS CT applications, Principle I is met, since regulations
do not require specific CTs, but, rather, require ``remedial actions''
when an LCO cannot be met. Additionally, in its analysis of Principle
III, the NRC staff found, and [LICENSEE] agrees, that the proposed CT
extension maintains sufficient safety margins, For [PLANT NAME], the
loss of one CSS train is well within the plant's design basis.
In Reference 2, the NRC staff determined that the intent of
Principles II, IV, and V would be met by a three-tiered approach to
evaluate the plant-specific risk impact associated with the proposed TS
changes, consistent with the requirements of Reference 4. The first
tier evaluates the plant-specific PRA model and the impact of the
proposed CT extension on plant operational risk. The second tier
addresses the need to preclude potentially high risk configurations by
identifying the need for any additional constraints or compensatory
actions that, if implemented, would avoid or reduce the probability of
a risk-significant configuration during the time when one CSS train is
out of service. The third tier evaluates [LICENSEE'S] proposed
Configuration Risk Management Program (CRMP) to ensure that the
applicable plant configuration will be appropriately assessed from a
risk perspective before entering into or during the proposed CT.
In addition, the NRC staff determined in Reference 2, that the risk
analysis methodology and approach used by the CEOG to estimate the risk
impact of increasing the CT were reasonable. For most plants that
participated in the joint application report, the NRC staff found that
the risk impact was shown to be consistent with the acceptance
guidelines for change in core damage frequency ([Delta]CDF), change in
large early release frequency ([Delta]LERF), incremental conditional
core damage probability (ICCDP), and incremental conditional large
early release probability (ICLERP) specified in References 3 and 4 and
Chapters 19.0 and 16.1 of Reference 5. However, not all Combustion
Engineering (CE) plants participated in the joint application report,
and the estimated risk impacts for some plans exceeded the Reference 3
and/or Reference 4 acceptance guidelines, which would require
additional justifications and/or compensatory measures to be provided
for these plants to be determined to have acceptable risk impacts.
In addition, the NRC staff found that the Tier 2 and Tier 3
evaluations, as described in Reference 4, could not be approved
generically since they were not complete, which would require that each
individual plant-specific license amendment seeking adoption of TSTF-
409, Rev. 2 would need to include an assessment with respect to the
Tier 2 and Tier 3 principles of Reference 4.
4.2.1 Conditions and Supporting Information
The following conditions are provided to support adoption of TSTF-
409, Rev. 2 by [PLANT NAME]. Responses to the conditions are contained
in Attachments 1 through 8 to this application: [NOTE: Licensees who
cannot meet the Expectation and Acceptance Criteria listed in these
conditions, or choose not to submit the associated information, should
not
[[Page 65154]]
submit an application to adopt TSTF-409, Rev. 2 under the CLIIP.]
1. As shown in Attachment 1, the plant-specific Tier 1 information
associated with extending the CSS CT meets the acceptance guidelines of
References 3 and 4 associated with [Delta]CDF, [Delta]LERF, ICCDP, and
ICLERP.
[EXPECTATIONS/ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: the licensee's submittal must
provide the [Delta]CDF, [Delta]LERF, ICCDP, and ICLERP values related
to the CSS 7-day CT and confirm that these values meet the associated
acceptance guidelines of References 3 and 4 as no more than a small
risk increase (i.e., are in Region II or III of the acceptance
guidelines figures). The licensee should utilize an ``average
maintenance'' PRA model for this assessment. If the licensee utilizes a
``zero maintenance'' PRA model for the assessment, they should state
they are using a ``zero maintenance'' model in the evaluation, and
provide a discussion as to the ability of that model to produce
comparable results to the ``average maintenance'' assessment.]
2. As shown in Attachment 2, the technical adequacy (quality) of
[PLANT NAME'S] plant-specific PRA is acceptable for this application in
accordance with the guidance provided in Reference 3. Specifically, the
supporting information addresses the following areas:
a. Justification that the plant-specific PRA reflects the as-built,
as-operated plant.
b. Discussion of plant-specific PRA updates and upgrades since the
individual plant examination (IPE), individual plant examination of
external events (IPEEE), and subsequent peer reviews and self-
assessment. Reference to past submittals discussing this information is
acceptable.
c. Discussion of plant-specific PRA peer reviews and/or self-
assessments performed, their overall conclusions, any facts and
observations (F&Os) applicable to this application, and the licensee
evaluation and resolution (e.g., by implementing model changes and/or
sensitivity studies) of these F&Os to demonstrate the conclusions of
the plant-specific analyses for this application are not adversely
impacted (i.e., continued acceptability of the proposed extension of
the CSS CT).
d. Description of the licensee's plant-specific PRA configuration
control (quality assurance) program and associated procedures.
e. Overall determination of the adequacy of the plant-specific PRA
with respect to this application.
[EXPECTATION: The licensee's submittal must describe the scope of
the plant-specific PRA and must justify its technical adequacy
(quality) for this application in accordance with the guidance provided
in Reference 3. Specifically, the supporting information must address
each area in sufficient detail as shown in the following ACCEPTANCE
CRITERIA:
a. The licensee must provide a justification that confirms that the
plant-specific PRA reflects the as-built, as-operated plant. This
should include a description of the licensee's data and model update
process, and the frequency of these activities. The licensee should
also describe how the plant/corporate PRA staff are involved in (and/or
made aware of) plant and operational/procedural modifications.
b. The licensee must provide a summary description of the plant-
specific PRA updates and upgrades since the IPE and peer review of
their plant and confirm that the changes identified during the IPEEE
have been implemented or otherwise dispositioned.
c. The licensee must discuss their plant-specific PRA peer reviews
and/or any self-assessments performed (especially noting those
conducted per the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) industry peer review
guidelines and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) PRA
Standard), their overall conclusions, any A&B level F&Os applicable to
this application, and the licensee's evaluation and resolution (e.g.,
by implementing model changes and/or sensitivity studies) of these A&B
level F&Os to demonstrate the conclusions of the plant-specific
analyses for this application are not adversely impacted (i.e.,
continued acceptability of the proposed extension of the CSS CT).
d. The licensee must describe their plant-specific PRA
configuration control (quality assurance) program and associated
procedures.
e. The licensee must make an overall determination of the adequacy
of their plant-specific PRA, confirming it is adequate with respect to
this application.]
3. Attachment 3 provides supporting information verifying that the
plant risk impact associated with external events (e.g., fires,
seismic, tornados, high winds, etc.) does not adversely impact or has
no impact on the conclusions of the plant-specific analyses for this
application and that the overall combined plant CDF and LERF are
expected to be within the acceptance guidelines as identified in
References 3 and Reference 4 (i.e., total CDF <1E-4/year and total LERF
<1E-5/year)
[EXPECTATIONS: The licensee's submittal must discuss the plant
risks associated with external events and specifically identify
(quantitatively and/or qualitatively, as appropriate) that the impact
of CSS train CT extension on the risks associated with external events
is small. The NRC staff acknowledges that any increase in the external
event risk associated with the CSS train CT extension should be
minimal. The licensee must address this impact and discuss why the risk
overlap with external events (including internal fires) is negligible.
Key insights from the IPEEE screening or quantitative approaches may be
used to support qualitative arguments.
If the licensee has performed updated analyses of an external event
since the staff review and acceptance of their IPEEE, and a
quantitative PRA demonstration is used to support the submittal, the
licensee must describe the significant changes involved in their
updated analyses and the impact of these changes on plant risk
associated with this external event and with respect to this
application.
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: For the NRC staff to conclude the quantified
risk associated with the extension request is acceptable, the total CDF
and LERF values must meet Reference 3 and Reference 4 acceptance
guidelines. For external events for which the licensee has a PRA, and
the licensee provides those risk values (i.e., CDF and LERF) and risk
metrics (i.e., [Delta]CDF, [Delta]LERF, ICCDP, and ICLERP) associated
with the specifically analyzed external events, the licensee must also
provide the total ``at-power'' plant risk and total ``at-power'' change
in risk due to all PRA-analyzed contributors (combining internal
events, internal flooding, internal fires, and external events. Results
may be provided as a summation of values from separate PRA analyses or
as a result of an integrated analysis (using a common PRA model for all
contributors) or a combination of the above.
For external events for which the licensee does not have a PRA (and
it is not screened out as above), but rather relies on a non-PRA method
(e.g., seismic margins analysis (SMA) or fire-induced vulnerability
evaluation (FIVE)), to determine if the plant risk is acceptable, the
licensee must confirm for this application that there were and still
are either no vulnerabilities or outliers associated with these
external events, or confirm that any vulnerabilities or outliers that
were identified in their documented analyses (most likely in their
IPEEE) have been resolved and, as needed, the appropriate
[[Page 65155]]
plant/procedural modifications have been implemented as described in
their documented analyses.]
4. Supporting information is provided in Attachment 4, consistent
with the evaluation summary and conclusions (Sections 7 and 8) provided
in Reference 2, in which licensees discuss implementation of procedures
that prohibited entry into a 7-day CSS CT for scheduled maintenance
purposes if external event conditions or warnings (e.g., severe weather
warnings for ice, tornados, high winds, etc.) are in effect or confirm
that these external events do not impact the submittal. [LICENSEE'S]
discussion confirms that [PLANT NAME'S] procedures include compensatory
measures and normal plant practices that help avoid potentially high
risk configurations during the proposed extension of the CSS CT. This
supporting information must also address the Tier 2 aspects of
Reference 4.
[EXPECTATIONS: The licensee's submittal must discuss (including
licensee commitments related to) implementation of procedures that
prohibit entry into a 7-day CSS CT for scheduled maintenance purposes
if external event conditions or warnings are in effect. If the licensee
does not want to implement this prohibition for specific severe weather
conditions or warnings, the licensee must explicitly identify these
event conditions/warnings and provide a justification for not including
them. If there are no risk significant configurations or risk
significant external event conditions identified in the Tier 2
evaluation, then the licensee should include a statement that there are
no risk significant configurations that would preclude them from using
a 7-day CT.
The licensee must also confirm that its procedures include
compensatory measures and normal plant practices that help avoid
potentially high risk configurations during the proposed extension of
the CSS train CT. This supporting information must also address the
Tier 2 aspects of Reference 4. The Tier 2 evaluation is meant to be an
early evaluation (at the license submittal stage) to identify and
preclude potentially high-risk plan configurations that could result if
equipment, in addition to that associated with the proposed license
amendment, is taken out of service simultaneously, or if other risk-
significant operational factors, such as concurrent system or equipment
testing, are also involved.
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: The Tier 2 evaluation needs to identify, as
part of the licensee's submittal, potentially high-risk plant
configurations associated with the CSS train CT extension that need to
be precluded, if any, and identify how this is implemented (i.e.,
typically these aspects result in licensees establishing compensatory
measures/commitments to ensure these configurations are precluded). If,
in conducting the evaluation, the licensee identifies no high-risk
plant configurations, then the licensee needs to explicitly state this
fact.]
5. Attachment 5 provides supporting information, consistent with
the evaluation summary and conclusions (Sections 7 and 8) provided in
Reference 2, that describes the plant-specific risk-informed CRMP to
assess the risk associated with the removal of equipment from service
during the 7-day CSS CT. If the licensee utilizes the Maintenance Rule
(a)(4) program to evaluate the risk significance of configurations, it
should state so in its submittal. In this description, [LICENSEE]
confirms that the program provides the necessary assurances that
appropriate assessments of plant risk configurations are sufficient to
support the proposed CSS CT extension request. This supporting
information also addresses the Tier 3 aspects of Reference 4.
[EXPECTATIONS/ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: The licensee's submittal must
describe its CRMP or associated (a)(4) program (as appropriate),
including how it reflects the current plant PRA model (specifically
identifying any deviations and simplifications in the CRMP model from
the plant-specific PRA model) and how the CRMP is updated to remain
consistent with the plant-specific PRA.
The licensee's submittal must also describe how the CRMP or
associated (a)(4) program provides the necessary assurances that
appropriate assessments of plant risk configurations are sufficient to
support the proposed CT extension request for the CSS.
Finally, the licensee's submittal must address the Tier 3 aspects
of Reference 4, including he description of the CRMP, and must confirm
that its CRMP or associated (a)(4) program meets all aspects of Section
2.3.7.2 of Reference 4, specifically describing how its program meets
each of the four Key Components identified in this Section. The Tier 3
evaluation ensures that the CRMP or associated (a)(4) program is
adequate when maintenance is about to commence, as opposed to the early
(submittal stage) evaluation performed for Tier 2.]
6. Attachment 6 provides supporting information, consistent with
the evaluation summary (Section 7) provided in Reference 2, describing
the relationship between components of the CSS and the shutdown cooling
system (SDCS). For plants where components of the two systems may be
used as backup to the other, the licensee must either confirm that Tier
2 conditions exist in the licensee's CRMP or associated (a)(4) program
that will not allow ``at power'' maintenance of the CSS and SDCS at the
same time or that the risk significance of such maintenance
configurations is low. If the CSS and SDCS have backup components, the
plant should also describe how this backup capability is considered as
part of the plant's shutdown operations program (SOP). If this backup
feature is not considered when one train of the SDCS is in maintenance
or otherwise unavailable, it should be stated in the licensee's
application.
[EXPECTATION: The licensee's submittal must describe the
relationship/interfaces between the CSS and SDCS.
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: If the SDCS can be used as a backup to the
CSS, then the licensee must confirm that ``at power'' maintenance of
the CSS and SDCS will not be allowed at the same time and describe how
this is controlled (e.g., specifically identified in the CRMP as a
configuration that is not allowed) or provide justification that the
risks associated with a simultaneous ``at-power'' outage of one SDCS
train and one CSS train is small. If the SDCS cannot be used (and is
not credited) as a backup to CSS, then the licensee needs to explicitly
state this fact.
If CSS pumps can be used as a backup to the SDCS pumps, then the
licensee must confirm that at least one CSS pump is required to be
operable when maintenance of the CSS is performed in lower modes of
operation (consistent with the plant's Technical Specifications) and
must describe how this is controlled or demonstrate that the SOP
provides adequate risk management for that configuration. If CSS pumps
cannot be used (and are not credited) as a backup to SDCS pumps in
lower modes of operation, then the licensee needs to explicitly state
this fact.]
7. Attachment 7 provides supporting information confirming that the
licensee's Maintenance Rule program includes the ability to compute
ICDP (incremental core damage probability), and ILERP (incremental
large early release probability).
[EXPECTATIONS/ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: The licensee must confirm that
their CRMP quantitative model (e.g., model used to provide quantitative
assessments in support of 10 CFR 50.65 (a)(4)) calculates ICDP and
ILERP, and
[[Page 65156]]
that their CRMP quantitative model (e.g., model used to provide
quantitative assessment in support of 10 CFR 50.65 (a)(4)) explicitly
models the CSS or has been modified to include the CSS, which will be
used whenever CSS components are made unavailable.
8. Attachment 8 provides information addressing how plant-specific
systems, structures and components (SSC) are monitored and assessed at
the plant under the Maintenance Rule (i.e. 10 CFR 50.65). Maintenance
Rule unavailability and unreliability targets for CSS are also
provided. These targets will be monitored in accordance with provisions
of the Maintenance Rule.
[EXPECTATIONS/ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: The licensee must describe how
plant-specific SSC reliability and availability are monitored and
assessed at the plant under the Maintenance Rule (i.e., 10 CFR 50.65)
to confirm that performance continues to be consistent with the
analyses used to justify the 7-day CT. In providing this description,
the licensee should also indicate how it periodically assesses previous
risk-informed licensing action decisions to ensure that these decisions
remain valid (i.e., continue to meet the Reference 3 and Reference 4
acceptance guidelines) for the current plant operations and plant-
specific PRA and what actions it takes if a previously-approved risk-
informed licensing action decision is determined to no longer meet
these acceptance guidelines.]
4.2.2 Regulatory Commitment
The Reference 4 Tier 3 program ensures that, while the plant is
following the TS ACTIONS associated with a 7-day CT for restoring an
inoperable CSS to operable status, additional activities will not be
performed that could further degrade the capabilities of the plant to
respond to a condition that the inoperable CSS is designed to mitigate
and, as a result, increase plant risk beyond that determined by the
Reference 1 analyses. [LICENSEE's] implementation of Reference 4 Tier 3
guidelines generally implies the assessment of risk with respect to
CDF. However, the proposed CSS 7-day CT impacts accident sequences that
can be mitigated following core damage and, consequently, impacts LERF
as well as CDF. Therefore, [LICENSEE] has enhanced its CRMP, [OPTIONAL:
as implemented under 10 CFR 50.65(a)(4), the Maintenance Rule,] to
include a LERF assessment to support this application.
5.0 Regulatory Analysis
5.1 No Significant Hazards Consideration
[LICENSEE] has reviewed the proposed no significant hazards
consideration determination published in the Federal Register on [DATE]
([ ] FR [ ]) as part of the CLIP. [LICENSEE] has concluded that the
proposed determination presented in the notice is applicable to [PLANT
NAME] and the determination is hereby incorporated by reference to
satisfy the requirements of 10 CFR 50.91(a).
5.2 Applicable Regulatory Requirements/Criteria
Based on its answers to the Section 4.2.1 questions provided in
Attachments 1 through 8 to this application [LICENSEE] determines is
based on the following:
1. The traditional engineering evaluation reveals that the loss of
one CSS train is well within [PLANT NAME's] design basis analyses. Key
principles 1,2,3, and 5 in Section 2 of Reference 3 are met.
2. By meeting the conditions identified in Section 4.2.1,
[LICENSEE] believes that its PRA model is acceptable for this
application and also concludes that there is minimal impact of the CT
extensions for the CSS system on plant operational risk (Tier 1
evaluation).
3. By meeting the conditions identified in Section 4.2.1,
[LICENSEE] will ensure that its implementation will identify
potentially high risk configurations and the need for any additional
constraints or compensatory actions that, if implemented, would avoid
or reduce the probability of a risk-significant configuration (Tier 2
evaluation), or state that no Tier 2 limitations have been identified.
4. By meeting the conditions identified in Section 4.2.1, [PLANT
NAME] will ensure that its risk-informed CRMP will satisfactorily
assess the risk associated with the removal of equipment from service
during the proposed CSS CT (Tier 3 evaluation) and the CRMP and plant
risk will be managed by plant procedures, including implementation and
monitoring of SSCs (CSS).
In conclusion, based on the consideration discussed above, (1)
there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public
will not be endangered by operation in the proposed manner, (2) such
activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's
regulations, and (3) the issuance of the amendment will not be inimical
to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the
public.
6.0 Environmental Consideration
[LICENSEE] has reviewed the environmental evaluation included in
the model safety evaluation as pat of the CLIIP. [LICENSEE] concluded
that the staff's findings presented in that the evaluation are
applicable to [PLANT NAME] and the evaluation is hereby incorporated by
reference for this application.
7.0 References
[Licensee should include an applicable list of references,
including but not limited to]
1. Joint Applications Report: Modification to the Containment Spray
System, and Low Pressure Safety Injection System Technical, CE Owners
Group, CE NPSD-1045, March 2000.
2. Safety Evaluation by the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Related to CE Owners Group CE-NPSD-1045, ``Joint Application Report,
Modification to the Containment Spray System, and the Low Pressure
Safety Injection System Technical Specifications, December 21, 1999.''
3. USNRC Regulatory Guide 1.174, ``An Approach for Using
Probabilistic Risk Assessment in Risk-Informed Decisions on Plant-
Specific Changes to the Licensing Basis,'' Revision 1, November 2002.
4. USNRC Regulatory Guide 1.177, ``An Approach for Plant-Specific,
Risk-Informed Decisionmaking: Technical Specifications,'' August 1998.
5. NUREG-0800, ``Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety
Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants,'' June 1996.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSED TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION CHANGES (MARK-UP)
Enclosure 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES TO TS BASES
Enclosure 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONDITION (1)
[LICENSEE'S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
[[Page 65157]]
Attachemnt 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONDITION (2)
[LICENSEE'S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Attachemnt 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONDITION (3)
[LICENSEE'S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Attachemnt 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONDITION (4)
[LICENSEE'S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Attachemnt 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONDITION (5)
[LICENSEE'S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Attachemnt 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONDITION (6)
[LICENSEE'S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Attachemnt 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONDITION (7)
[LICENSEE'S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Attachemnt 7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONDITION (8)
[LICENSEE'S] EVALUATION AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Attachemnt 8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MODEL SAFETY EVALUATION
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Consolidated Line Item Improvement
Technical Specification Task Force TSTF-409, Revision 2
``Containment Spray System Completion Time Extension''
1.0 Introduction
By letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, Commission)
dated [DATE] (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)
Accession Number MLXXXXXXXXX), [LICENSEE] (the licensee) requested
changes to the Technical Specifications (TSs) for [PLANT NAME]. The
proposed changes would revise TS 3.6.6A, ``Containment Spray and
Cooling Systems,'' by extending from 72 hours to seven days the
completion time (CT) to restore an inoperable containment spray system
(CSS) train to operable status, and would add a Condition describing
the required action and CT when one CSS train and one containment
cooling system (CCS) train are inoperable.
The changes are based on Technical Specification Task Force (TSTF)
Change Traveler, TSTF-409, Revision 2 (Rev.), ``Containment Spray
System Completion Time Extension (CE NPSD-2045-A)'' and associated TS
Bases. TSTF-409, Rev. 2, submitted to the NRC by the TSTF in a letter
dated November 10, 2003 (ADMS Accession Number MLO33280006), was
approved by the NRC on [DATE].
TSTF-409, Rev. 2 is based on Combustion Engineering Owner's Group
(CEOG) Joint Application Report CE NPSD-1045-A, ``Joint Applications
Report for Modifications to the Containment Spray System Technical
Specifications,'' dated March 2000 (Reference 1), as accepted by, and
subject to the limitations specified in, the associated NRC safety
evaluation (SE), dated December 212, 1999 (ADMS Accession Number
ML993620241) (Reference 2).
In TSTF-409, Rev. 2, the CEOG states that the longer CT for
restoring an inoperable CSS train to operable status will enhance
ov