Decay Heat Removal Capability (Generic Letter 80-53)

GL80053 

                               UNITED STATES 
                       NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 
                          WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 

                               June 11, 1980 

MEMORANDUM FOR:     Thomas M. Novak, Assistant Director for 
                      Operating Reactors 
                    Division of License, NRR 

                    Gus C. Lainas, Assistant Director for 
                      Safety Assessment 
                    Division of Licensing, NRR 

FROM:               Darrell G. Eisenhut, Director 
                      Division of Licensing, NRR 

SUBJECT:            GENERIC LETTER CONCERNING DECAY HEAT REMOVAL CAPABILITY 

Attached is a generic letter to all operating PWR's which requests licensees
to amend the Technical Specifications (TS) for their facilities concerning 
decay heat removal capability. Also attached are model TSs for each of the 
three PWR vendor types of plants. The letter, with the appropriate version 
of the model TSs should be sent to licensees by each Operating Reactor 
Branch within the next week. 

The estimated total manpower expenditure for review of submitted TSs is 0.1 
manyear per reactor site or about 5.0 manyears. The lead engineer assigned 
is Daniel Garner, (Room 334, ext. 27435). He will initiate TACS for all 
facilities and will forward sheets to Project Managers for completion. 


                                        Darrell G. Eisenhut, Director 
                                        Division of Licensing, NRR 

Attachments: As stated 
.

                              UNITED STATES 
                       NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 
                          WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 

TO ALL OPERATING PRESSURIZED WATER REACTORS (PWR'S) 

Gentlemen: 

This letter transmits the request that you amend the Technical 
Specifications (TSs) for your facility with respect to reactor decay heat 
removal capability. The basis for our request is founded in a number of 
events that have occurred at operating PwR facilities where decay heat 
removal capability has been seriously degraded due to inadequate 
administrative controls utilized when the plants were in shutdown modes of 
operation. One of these events occurred at the Davis-Besse, unit No. 1 plant 
on April 19, 1980, which was described in IE Information Notice 80-20 dated 
May 8, 1980. In IE Bulletin 80-12 dated may 9. 1980, you were requested to 
immediately implement administrative controls which would ensure that proper 
means are available to provide redundant methods of decay heat removal. 
While the function of the bulletin was to effect immediate action with 
regard to this problem, we consider it necessary that an amendment of your 
license be made to provide for permanent long terms assurance that 
redundancy in decay heat removal capability will be maintained. 

You are requested to propose TS changes for your facility that provide for 
redundancy in decay heat removal capability for your plant(s) in all modes 
of operation. To assist you in preparing your submittals we have enclosed a 
copy of Model TSs which would provide an acceptable resolution of our 
concern. Your proposal should use the enclosure as a guide and should 
include an appropriate Safety Analysis as a basis. 

It is requested that you submit your proposed TSs with the basis within 120 
days of receipt of this letter. If you have any questions about this matter,
please contact your Project Manager. 

                                        Sincerely, 


                                        Darrell G. Eisenhut, Director 
                                        Division of Licensing 

Enclosure: Model TSs
  concerning Decay Heat
  Removal Capability