LR-N12-0091, PSEG Nuclear Llc'S Response to March 12,2012 Commission Order Modifying License with Regard to Reliable Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation (Order Number EA-12-051)

PSEG Nuclear Llc'S Response to March 12,2012 Commission Order Modifying License with Regard to Reliable Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation (Order Number EA-12-051)

ML12089A447
Person / Time
Site:	Salem, Hope Creek
Issue date:	03/29/2012
From:	Braun R Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Document Control Desk
References
EA-12-051, LR-N12-0091
Download: ML12089A447 (2)

Text

PSEG Nuclear LLC P.O. Box 236, Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038-0236 CPSEG NuclearLLC Order EA-12-051 LR-N12-0091 March 29, 2012 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001 Salem Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-70 and DPR-75 NRC Docket Nos. 50-272 and 50-311 Hope Creek Generating Station Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-57 NRC Docket No. 50':'354

Subject:

PSEG Nuclear LLC's Response to March 12,2012 Commission Order Modifying License with Regard to Reliable Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation (Order Number EA-12-051)

On March 12,2012, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC" or "Commission") issued an immediately effective order in the captioned matter entitled Order Modifying License with Regard to Reliable Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation (Effective Immediately) ("Order") to, inter alia, PSEG Nuclear LLC (PSEG). The Order states that, as a result of the NRC's evaluation of the lessons learned from the accident at Fukushima Dai-ichi in March 2011, the NRC has decided to direct nuclear power plant licensees and construction permit holders to take certain actions. Specifically, the NRC is requiring additional defense-in-depth measures to address uncertainties associated with protection from beyond-design-basis events. Licensees are directed to provide a reliable means of remotely monitoring "wide-range spent fuel pool levels" to support effective prioritization of event mitigation and recovery actions in the event of a beyond-design-basis external event. Specific requirements are outlined in Attachment 2 to the Order.

The Order requires submission of an overall integrated plan, including a description of how compliance with the requirements described in Attachment 2 will be achieved, to the NRC for review by February 28, 2013. In addition, the Order requires submission of an initial status report 60 days following issuance of the final interim staff guidance and at six month intervals following submittal of the overall integrated plan on February 28,2013. The Order states that the NRC intends to issue the interim staff guidance containing specific details on implementation of the requirements of this order in August 2012. Finally, the order requires full implementation of its requirements no later than two refueling cycles after submittal of the overall integrated plan, or December 31,2016, whichever comes first.

LR-N12-0091 Order EA-12-051 Page 2 Pursuant to 10 C.F.R. § 2.202 and the terms specified in the Order, PSEG hereby submits its answer to the Order. PSEG consents to the Order and does not request a hearing. Based on information currently available, PSEG has not identified any circumstances of the type described in Sections IV.B.1 and IV.B.2 of the Order requiring relief at this time. In addition, PSEG has not identified any impediments to compliance with the Order within two refueling cycles after submittal of the integrated plan, or December 31, 2016, whichever is earlier. PSEG will provide further responses as required by Section IV.C. in accordance with the specified deadlines.

Uncertainties are associated with the ultimate scope of required work because the implementing guidance is not expected to be available until August 2012. This may have an impact on the ability of PSEG to comply with the specific compliance deadline dates. Therefore, PSEG's future responses may include requests for schedule relief as warranted by subsequent NRC requirements, implementing guidance, or the results of engineering analyses not yet performed.

Any such request would be submitted in accordance with the relaxation provision in Section IV of the Order.

There are no regulatory commitments contained in this letter.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Ms.

Emily Maguire at 856-339-1023.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on __"!I..::..0_z_~..;..0_,_%_ _ _ __

(Date)

Sincerely, Robert C. Braun Senior Vice President, Nuclear Operations cc: Mr. E. Leeds, Director of Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Mr. W. Dean, Administrator, Region I, NRC Mr. R. Ennis, Project Manager, NRC NRC Senior Resident Inspector, Salem NRC Senior Resident Inspector, Hope Creek Mr. P. Mulligan, Manager IV, NJBNE Mr. L. Marabella, Corporate Commitment Tracking Coordinator Mr. K. Yearwood, Hope Creek Commitment Tracking Coordinator Mr. Thomas Cachaza, Salem Commitment Tracking Coordinator