In the Matter of Baltimore Gas & Electric Company (Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2); Exemption

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18058-18059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9170]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-317 and 50-318]


In the Matter of Baltimore Gas & Electric Company (Calvert Cliffs 
Nuclear Power Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2); Exemption

I.

    The Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE or the licensee) is the 
holder of Facility Operating Licenses Nos. DPR-53 and DPR-69, which 
authorize operation of the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 
Nos. 1 and 2 (the facilities), respectively. The licenses provide, 
among other things, that the facilities are subject to all rules, 
regulations, and orders of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC 
or the Commission) now or hereafter in effect.
    The facilities are pressurized-water reactors located at the 
licensee's site in Calvert County, Maryland.
    The licensee, in letters dated October 6, 1997, and July 22, 1998, 
requested an exemption from the technical requirements of 10 CFR Part 
50, Appendix R, Section III.J, Emergency lighting, as follows: (1) To 
be allowed to use security lighting required by 10 CFR 73.55, powered 
by the security emergency diesel generator, for exterior lighting in 
lieu of 8-hour battery powered emergency lighting units, (2) to be able 
to use portable lights powered by an 8-hour power supply, for actions 
in high radiation areas, in lieu of 8-hour battery powered emergency 
lighting units, and (3) to be able to use helmet lanterns inside of 
switchgear cabinets, again in lieu of 8-hour battery powered emergency 
lighting units.

II.

    Section III.J of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 applies to nuclear 
power plants that were operating prior to January 1, 1979. Unit 1 of 
Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant was licensed to operate July 31, 
1974, and Unit 2 was licensed to operate on November 30, 1976.
    Section III.J of Appendix R specifies that emergency lighting units 
with at least an 8-hour battery supply shall be provided in all areas 
needed for operation of safe shutdown equipment and in access and 
egress routes thereto. The licensee has not provided 8-hour battery 
supplied emergency lighting units in plant exterior areas, inside of 
electrical cabinets, or in high radiation areas that require such units 
under Section III.J.
    The licensee proposed to credit the security lighting system, 
required by 10

[[Page 18059]]

CFR 73.55, which is backed by a security emergency diesel generator, 
for exterior lighting in lieu of 8-hour battery powered emergency 
lighting units. The licensee stated that the security lighting system 
is powered by an independent, uninterruptible power supply. According 
to the licensee, the generator backing the security lighting system is 
located in a separate structure from other plant area buildings and 
would not be affected by a fire requiring safe shutdown. The licensee 
stated that the generator is maintained with a fuel supply greater than 
8 hours. The licensee also stated that the security lighting system, 
which meets the illumination requirements of 10 CFR 73.55, provides 
more than adequate illumination for exterior access and egress routes 
inside of the security protected area.
    The licensee also proposed to be able to use portable lights in 
high radiation areas in lieu of fixed emergency lighting units with at 
least an 8-hour battery power supply. The exemption to permit this was 
requested to reduce radiation exposure to levels as low as reasonably 
achievable (ALARA) by eliminating emergency lighting testing and 
maintenance in high radiation areas. According to the licensee, the 
licensee's battery-powered portable lights have a wide base and are 
designed to be placed on the floor adjacent to the proposed work 
activity. The position of the lamp head can be adjusted to provide 
illumination necessary to perform the required work at the activity 
site. The lights are stored in a controlled cabinet near the activity 
sites, are dedicated for Appendix R safe shutdown activities, and are 
periodically tested. The lights have an 8-hour capacity. The licensee 
stated that fixed emergency lighting units are provided on the access 
and egress routes to the cabinet which contains the portable lights and 
to the entrance to the high radiation areas. According to the licensee, 
activities requiring the use of the portable lights are cold shutdown 
activities and are not time critical. In addition, the reduction of 
personnel radiation exposure from maintenance is in accordance with 
other NRC requirements. The portable lights, according to the licensee, 
would enable the performance in locked high radiation areas of limited 
non-time critical safe shutdown activities.
    Finally, the licensee proposed to be able to use helmet mounted 
lights inside switchgear cabinets in lieu of fixed emergency lighting 
units specified by Section III.J of Appendix R. The licensee stated 
that due to space limitations and seismic qualification requirements, 
installation of fixed emergency lighting units is not feasible. 
Emergency lighting units installed outside of the cabinets may not 
provide adequate lighting for the activity inside of the cabinet due to 
shadows cast by the operator. Activities performed inside of the 
cabinets requiring the use of helmet lights are limited to pulling 
fuses to isolate the cabinet from fire effects, according to the 
licensee. The helmet lights are stored inside of the Appendix R safe 
shutdown locker for each unit. This locker also contains the safe 
shutdown procedures and the locker is the first stop for the operators 
upon control room evacuation. The helmet mounted lights consist of a 
light head attached to a wide rubber band that is placed around a 
hardhat. A belt with two attached battery packs (each weighing about 
one pound) and a connector to attach the lamps to the battery completes 
the assembly. The helmet lights for pulling fuses inside of electrical 
switchgear, according to the licensee, will provide an adequate method 
of providing the necessary illumination to accomplish the limited 
activities.

III.

    The underlying purpose of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Section 
III.J, is to provide adequate illumination to assure the capability of 
performing all necessary safe shutdown functions, as well as to assure 
personnel movement to and from the equipment and components that must 
be manually operated by plant personnel to effect safe shutdown during 
emergencies. In addition, the illumination must have a capability to 
allow sufficient time for normal lighting to be restored. The staff has 
determined that the security lighting, portable lights, and helmet 
lights, as described by the licensee and discussed above, satisfy the 
underlying purpose of 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix R, Section III.J.

IV.

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Commission has determined 
that pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, the exemption requested is authorized by 
law, will not present an undue risk to public health and safety, and is 
consistent with the common defense and security. The Commission further 
has determined that special circumstances, as provided in 10 CFR 
50.12(a)(2)(ii), are present in that application of the regulation in 
the particular circumstances is not necessary to achieve the underlying 
purpose of the rule.
    Therefore, the licensee's request for an exemption from the 
requirements of Section III.J of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50, to the 
extent applicable to the areas and locations described by the licensee 
in its application, is granted, provided the licensee's proposed 
alternative lighting arrangements are implemented.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that 
granting the above exemption will have no significant impact on the 
quality of the human environment (64 FR 14275).
    The subject exemption is effective from the date of issuance.

    Dated this 7th day of April 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John A. Zwolinski,
Director, Division of Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-9170 Filed 4-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P