ML042650265

Extended Power Uprate Review Schedule

ML042650265
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	10/15/2004
From:	Marsh L NRC/NRR/DLPM
To:	Kansler M Entergy Nuclear Operations
Ennis R, NRR/DLPM, 415-1420
References
FOIA/PA-2005-0031, TAC MC0761
Download: ML042650265 (5)

Text

October 15, 2004 Mr. Michael Kansler President Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601

SUBJECT:

VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION - EXTENDED POWER UPRATE REVIEW SCHEDULE (TAC NO. MC0761)

Dear Mr. Kansler:

By letter dated September 10, 2003, Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Entergy or the licensee), submitted a proposed license amendment to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VYNPS). The proposed amendment, Technical Specification Proposed Change No. 263, Extended Power Uprate would allow an increase in the maximum authorized power level for VYNPS from 1593 megawatts thermal (MWT) to 1912 MWT.

In a letter dated February 20, 2004, the NRC staff informed Entergy that the staff had completed its acceptance review of the VYNPS extended power uprate (EPU) license amendment application and established a forecast review completion date of January 31, 2005.

The purpose of this letter is to provide notification that the staff's review schedule will be impacted, primarily due to concerns regarding the steam dryer analysis.

From the early stages of the VYNPS EPU review, the NRC staff has emphasized that steam dryer integrity was an area receiving a very high level of attention by the NRC due to industry operating experience with steam dryer failures following EPU implementation. Although the steam dryer performs a nonsafety-related function, it must maintain its structural integrity to prevent the occurrence of loose parts in the reactor pressure vessel or attached piping systems that could degrade the ability of safety-related components to perform their safety function.

During the review, in an attempt to resolve our steam dryer concerns, the NRC staff has requested additional information, held three public meetings with Entergy, and performed an audit of the steam dryer analysis at the General Electric office in San Jose, California. Based on review of the information provided in the application, the supplements received through October 7, 2004 (Supplements 1 through 20), and the results of the audit, the NRC staff has determined that the information submitted by the licensee to date does not yet provide sufficient assurance that the VYNPS steam dryer will remain capable of maintaining its structural integrity under EPU conditions. During the audit and the most recent public meeting, Entergy staff indicated that further information will be submitted to address the NRC staff concerns related to steam dryer integrity. The NRC staff expects that Entergy will address additional measures as necessary to account for uncertainties of the analysis.

M. Kansler In addition to the steam dryer concerns, information is needed from the licensee to address technical issues raised during the engineering inspection recently performed at VYNPS.

Entergy has recently submitted some of this information. The remaining information is expected to be submitted in the near future.

The next major milestone in the VYNPS EPU review schedule is for the NRC staff to provide a draft Safety Evaluation (SE) to the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS). This milestone supports an ACRS subcommittee meeting that was scheduled for mid-November, and an ACRS full committee meeting in early December. Based on the current status of the review, the draft SE cannot be completed in time to support the planned ACRS meetings.

Therefore, the staff has notified the ACRS that the November and December meetings will need to be rescheduled.

Following receipt and review of the supplemental information, the staff will coordinate with the ACRS to reschedule the meetings. At that time, the staff will also further assess the overall review schedule and establish a new review completion date. At present, it is clear that the original forecast review completion date of January 31, 2005, will be delayed by at least several months. The NRC staff will not approve the VYNPS EPU, or any other changes to a reactors license, unless we can conclude that the proposed change can be executed in a manner that ensures the publics health and safety.

If you have any questions, please contact the VYNPS Project Manager, Mr. Richard Ennis, at (301) 415-1420.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Ledyard B. Marsh, Director Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-271 cc: See next page

ML042650265 OFFICE PDI-VY/PM PDI-2/LA PDI-VY/SC OGC PDIII/D EMEB/BC PDI/D DLPM/D NAME REnnis CRaynor AHowe BPoole WRuland EImbro CHolden TMarsh DATE 10/15/04 10/13/04 10/4/04 10/5/04 10/13/04 10/13/04 10/13/04 10/15/04

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station cc:

Regional Administrator, Region I U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415 Mr. David R. Lewis Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge 2300 N Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20037-1128 Ms. Christine S. Salembier, Commissioner Vermont Department of Public Service 112 State Street Montpelier, VT 05620-2601 Mr. Michael H. Dworkin, Chairman Public Service Board State of Vermont 112 State Street Montpelier, VT 05620-2701 Chairman, Board of Selectmen Town of Vernon P.O. Box 116 Vernon, VT 05354-0116 Operating Experience Coordinator Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station 320 Governor Hunt Road Vernon, VT 05354 G. Dana Bisbee, Esq.

Deputy Attorney General 33 Capitol Street Concord, NH 03301-6937 Chief, Safety Unit Office of the Attorney General One Ashburton Place, 19th Floor Boston, MA 02108 Ms. Deborah B. Katz Box 83 Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 Ms. Carla A. White, RRPT, CHP Radiological Health Vermont Department of Health P.O. Box 70, Drawer #43 108 Cherry Street Burlington, VT 05402-0070 Mr. James M. DeVincentis Manager, Licensing Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station P.O. Box 0500 185 Old Ferry Road Brattleboro, VT 05302-0500 Resident Inspector Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 176 Vernon, VT 05354 Director, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency ATTN: James Muckerheide 400 Worcester Rd.

Framingham, MA 01702-5399 Jonathan M. Block, Esq.

Main Street P.O. Box 566 Putney, VT 05346-0566 Mr. John F. McCann Director, Nuclear Safety Assurance Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Gary J. Taylor Chief Executive Officer Entergy Operations 1340 Echelon Parkway Jackson, MS 39213

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station cc:

Mr. John T. Herron Sr. VP and Chief Operating Officer Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Danny L. Pace Vice President, Engineering Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Brian OGrady Vice President, Operations Support Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Michael J. Colomb Director of Oversight Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. John M. Fulton Assistant General Counsel Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Jay K. Thayer Site Vice President Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station P.O. Box 0500 185 Old Ferry Road Brattleboro, VT 05302-0500 Mr. Kenneth L. Graesser 38832 N. Ashley Drive Lake Villa, IL 60046 Mr. James Sniezek 5486 Nithsdale Drive Salisbury, MD 21801 Mr. Ronald Toole 1282 Valley of Lakes Box R-10 Hazelton, PA 18202 Ms. Stacey M. Lousteau Treasury Department Entergy Services, Inc.

639 Loyola Avenue New Orleans, LA 70113 Mr. Raymond Shadis New England Coalition Post Office Box 98 Edgecomb, ME 04556 Mr. James P. Matteau Executive Director Windham Regional Commission 139 Main Street, Suite 505 Brattleboro, VT 05301 Mr. William K. Sherman Vermont Department of Public Service 112 State Street Drawer 20 Montpelier, VT 05620-2601