BVY 04-054, Response to 10CFR2.206 Petition Information Request

Response to 10CFR2.206 Petition Information Request

ML041680388
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	06/08/2004
From:	Devincentis J Entergy Nuclear Operations, Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
2.206, BVY 04-054
Download: ML041680388 (3)

Text

Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LIC Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

E 1te Egy n YV185 tBrattleboro, Old Ferry Road Vr 05302-0500 June 8, 2004 BVY 04-054 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555

Subject:

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Powcr Station License No. DPR-28 (Docket No. 50-271)

Response to 10CFR2.206 Petition Information Rent'cst In a letter dated May 21, 2004, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requested Vermont Yankee (VY) respond to five issues related to a IOCFR2.206 petition filed by the New England Coalition. Our response to the issues is provided by this letter.

I) Document the verification of the inventory of all special nuclear material in tile spent fuel pool.

VY has recently completed an inventory of all Special Nuclear Material (SNM) in the Spent Fuel Pool (SFP). This effort consisted of the following:

a) A check of every spent fuel assembly serial number against the documented location in the SFP racks. No discrepancies in tile SNM records were noted.

b) A verification that the Local Power Range Monitor (LPRM) detectors stored in the SFP were in the pool as documented. No discrepancies were noted.

c) A verification that the remaining portions of the fuiel rods that were the source of the unaccounted for fuel rod pieces, were in their documented locations. No discrepancies were noted.

Thus, VY is confident that the location of SNM currently in the spent fiuel pool is properly documented.

2) Document all other actions )you are performing to locate the missing fuel.

VY is performing the following in order to locate the missing fuel rod pieces:

a) VY has assembled a highly qualified investigation team consisting of plant staff, Entergy shared resources and external consultants.

b) Project specific work instructions were developed to direct team activities.

c) The following areas were thoroughly and systematically inspected with a video camera system: the SFP floor, the top of the SFP storage racks and top of fuil bundles, empty rack locations, selected individual fuel assemblies to verify specific rod locations, the area between the SFP storage racks and all containers in the SFP. These inspections were performed and monitored by personnel

BVY 04-054 / page 2 experienced in SFP inspections. The inspections were videotaped and the tapes were independently reviewed by individuals experienced and knowledgeable in SFP activities. These inspections resulted in no indication that the fuel rod pieces are in the SFP.

d) All spent fuel assemblies stored in tile SFP have been verified to be in their correct rack locations (see item L.a).

e) A methodical review of pertinent documents is being performed to gather information that will be used to analyze potential exit scenarios from the plant and create timelines of significant events to recreate and attempt to follow the movement of the fuel rod pieces.

f) Interviews are being conducted of key personnel that wvere in a position to be involved with SNM control. Information obtained from the interviews is being input into scenarios under development for the root cause analysis. To date no firm, reliable record has been found to determine what actually occurred to the missing fuel rod pieces.

3) Document that the location of the remaining portions of the two spent fuel rod segments have been verified.

As discussed in item (I) above, VY has determined that the remaining portions of the fuel rods, that were the sources of the missing pieces, are in their documented SFP locations.

4) Provide results of your actions to locate the missing fuel walien the current efforts are completed.

A formal project report, including a root cause analysis will be prepared at the conclusion of this investigation. An initial Licensee Event Report (LER) is to be submitted to NRC documenting this event by June 18, 2004 and the investigation results will be provided in a supplement to this LER.

5) Provide a schedule for these actions by June 8, 2004.

VY currently anticipates our investigation to be complete by July 30, 2004 and an LER supplement is expected to be submitted by August 19, 2004.

If you have any questions concerning this transmittal, please contact me at (802) 258-4236.

Sincerely, James M. DeVincentis Manager, Licensing cc: USNRC Region I Administrator USNRC Resident Inspector - VYNPS USNRC Project Manager - VYNPS Vermont Department of Public Service

SUMMARY

OF VERMONT YANKEE COMMITMENTS OVY NO.: BVY 04-054, Response to IOCFR2.206 Petition Information Request The following table identifies commitments made in this document by Vermont Yankee. Any other actions discussed in the submittal represent intended or planned actions by Vermont Yankee. They are described to the NRC for the NRC's information and are not regulatory commitments. Please notify the Licensing Manager of any questions regarding this document or any associated commitments.

COMMITMENT COMMITTED DATE OR "OUTAGE" NoneIN/A