CNL-19-029, Status Regarding the Improved Flood Mitigation System Project

Status Regarding the Improved Flood Mitigation System Project

ML19088A269
Person / Time
Site:	Watts Bar, Sequoyah
Issue date:	03/29/2019
From:	Henderson E Tennessee Valley Authority
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
CNL-19-029
Download: ML19088A269 (4)

Text

Tennessee Valley Authority, 1101 Market Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 CNL-19-029 March 29, 2019 10 CFR 50.4 ATTN: Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-77 and DPR-79 NRC Docket Nos. 50-327 and 50-328 Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-90 and NPF-96 NRC Docket Nos. 50-390 and 50-391

Subject:

Status Regarding the Improved Flood Mitigation System Project

References:

1. Letter from TVA to NRC, Notification of Change in Completion Schedule Regarding the Improved Flood Mitigation System Project, dated July 15, 2016 (ML16197A350)

2. Letter from TVA to NRC, Status Regarding the Improved Flood Mitigation System Project, dated September 28, 2018 (ML18274A055)

3. Letter from TVA to NRC, Request for Review and Approval of Topical Report TVA-NPG-AWA16, TVA Overall Basin Probable Maximum Precipitation and Local Intense Precipitation Analysis, Calculation CDQ0000002016000041, Revision 1, dated June 22, 2018 (ML18192A510)

4. Letter from NRC to TVA, Final Safety Evaluation for Tennessee Valley Authority Topical Report TVA Overall Basin Probable Maximum Precipitation and Local Intense Precipitation Analysis Calculation CDQ0000002016000041, Rev. 1 (EPID L-2016-TOP-0011), dated March 18, 2019 (ML19010A212)

By letter dated July 15, 2016, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) informed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of a change in the specified field implementation completion schedule to install improved flood mode mitigation systems (FMMS) at the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant (SQN), Units 1 and 2, and the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN), Units 1 and 2 (Reference 1). The change in the implementation schedule was based on the ongoing TVA project to upgrade precipitation models and rerun hydraulic models to determine new probable maximum flood levels for both design basis and beyond-design-basis purposes.

In a letter dated September 28, 2018 (Reference 2), TVA committed to provide a written update regarding the reevaluated SQN and WBN flood levels using updated precipitation data. The purpose of this letter is to provide that update.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission CNL-19-029 Page 2 March 29, 2019 TVA completed an updated precipitation calculation that includes updated data (storm and dew point), meteorological science, technology, weather radar, Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, and treatment of topography. The updated precipitation calculation was submitted to NRC for review by letter dated September 20, 2016 (ML16264A454).

Based on continuing technical discussions regarding some aspects of the precipitation calculation methodology, as well as input assumptions and data, a revision to the calculation was made to resolve several NRC areas of concern. The results reflected a potential precipitation volume/input decrease from the values reflected in the current licensing basis and reevaluated flood hazards for SQN and WBN . The revised updated precipitation calculation was submitted to NRC for review by letter dated June 22, 2018 (Reference 3) .

NRC recently completed the review of the revised updated precipitation calculation. The review and conclusions drawn from the review are documented in a Safety Evaluation that was provided by NRC by letter dated March 18, 2019 (Reference 4) .

The revised precipitation data is being used as input into TVA's hydraulic models to determine the resulting flood levels at the SQN and WBN sites. The preliminary results from the hydraulic models used to establish resulting changes in flood levels at the SQN and WBN sites reflect potential decreases in analyzed flood levels at both sites.

Consequently, as described in Reference 2, TVA concluded it was prudent to defer the field implementation of FMMS until completion of the revised hydraulic modeling. This will allow TVA to determine what appropriate margin , if any, should be designed into additional flood mitigating systems at SQN and WBN. TVA is using the updated precipitation data described above to rerun hydraulic models and determine flood levels. TVA will subsequently update its licensing basis for both SQN and WBN with the analyzed flood levels. In Reference 2, TVA revised the Commitment 1 due date (Enclosure 1 of Reference 1) to implement an FMMS at SQN, Units 1 and 2, and WBN , Units 1 and 2, to September 30, 2019.

TVA will provide a written update regarding the reevaluated SQN and WBN flood levels using the revised precipitation data by September 30, 2019.

The enclosure to this letter provides one new regulatory commitment contained in this letter.

If additional information is needed regarding this update, please contact Russell Thompson at (423) 751-2567.

Respectfully,

~rt/~

E. K. Henderson Director, Nuclear Regulatory Affairs Enclosure cc: See Page 3

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission CNL-19-029 Page 3 March 29, 2019 cc (Enclosure):

NRC Regional Administrator - Region II NRC Senior Resident Inspector - Sequoyah Nuclear Plant NRC Senior Resident Inspector - Watts Bar Nuclear Plant NRR Director - NRC Headquarters NRR Project Manager - Sequoyah Nuclear Plant NRR Project Manager - Watts Bar Nuclear Plant

ENCLOSURE COMMITMENT

1. TVA will provide a written update regarding the reevaluated SQN and WBN flood levels using the revised precipitation data by September 30, 2019.

E-1 CNL-19-029