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MONTHYEARML0411700022004-04-16016 April 2004 Note to File, Facsimile Questions from 02/26/2004 Conference Call Project stage: Other ML0416701122004-06-14014 June 2004 Westinghouse Electric Company, Request for Withholding Information from Public Disclosure for Vogtle, Units 1 & 2 Project stage: Withholding Request Acceptance ML0425803582004-09-13013 September 2004 Facsimile Transmission of Draft Request for Additional Information Project stage: Draft RAI ML0432806212005-03-10010 March 2005 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Related to Exemption to Allow the Elimination of the Reactor Vessel Flange Requirements from the Reactor Coolant System Pressure-Temperature Limits Project stage: Other ML0508403052005-03-24024 March 2005 Exemption, Reactor Coolant System Pressure Temperature Limits Report Project stage: Other ML0506902162005-03-28028 March 2005 Amendment MC2225, Reactor Coolant System Pressure Temperature Limits Report Project stage: Other ML0509100292005-03-28028 March 2005 Enclosure, TS Amendment Mc 2225, Reactor Coolant System Pressure Temperature Limits Report Project stage: Acceptance Review ML0511106192005-04-15015 April 2005 Tech Spec Pages Corrected Pages for Amendment Nos. 136 & 115 Project stage: Other ML0510404582005-04-15015 April 2005 Issuance of Corrected Pages for Amendment Nos. 136 and 115 (Tac No. MC2225, MC2226, MC2227, MC2228, MC3090, MC3091) Project stage: Approval 2005-03-10
[Table View] |
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Category:Environmental Assessment
MONTHYEARML23006A0912023-05-15015 May 2023 Staff Assessment of Updated Seismic Hazard Information and Latest Understanding of Seismic Hazards at the Vogtle Plant Site Following the NRC Process for the Ongoing Assessment of Natural Hazards Information ML23066A3272023-03-31031 March 2023 Draft Staff Assessment of Updated Seismic Hazard Information and Latest Understanding of Seismic Hazards at Vogtle Plant Site Following NRC Process for Ongoing Assessment of Natural Hazards Information ML21070A3102021-04-0202 April 2021 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Related to Exemption from the Requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Section 50.46, Acceptance Criteria for Emergency Core Cooling Systems for Light Water Nuclear Power ML16354A0482017-02-0909 February 2017 Environmental Assessments and Finding of No Significant Impacts to Southern Nuclear Operating Co., Inc ML0732407242006-05-31031 May 2006 Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact, Drought Contingency Plan Update Savannah River Basin ML0432806212005-03-10010 March 2005 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Related to Exemption to Allow the Elimination of the Reactor Vessel Flange Requirements from the Reactor Coolant System Pressure-Temperature Limits ML0432401682005-02-25025 February 2005 Edwin I Hatch, Units 1 and 2, Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, Environmental Assessment, EOFs 2023-05-15
[Table view] Category:Federal Register Notice
MONTHYEARML23096A1982023-08-0202 August 2023 Exemption from the Requirements of 10 CFR 50, Appendix K, ECCS (Emergency Core Cooling Systems) Evaluation Models (EPID L-2022-LLE-0021) - FRN ML23094A0992023-08-0202 August 2023 Exemption from the Requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Section 68, Criticality Accident Requirements (EPID L-2022-LLE-0022)- FRN ML23093A1052023-08-0202 August 2023 Exemption from the Requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Section 46, Acceptance Criteria for Emergency Core Cooling Systems for Light-Water Nuclear Power Reactors (EPID L-2022-LLE-0020) - FRN ML22348A1022023-07-28028 July 2023 103g - FRN ML23123A3572023-05-16016 May 2023 Individual Federal Register Notice of Consideration Regarding License Amendment Request Timing of Technical Specification Effectiveness Prior to Initial Criticality (LAR-23-005) ML23044A0962023-02-24024 February 2023 Federal Register Final Notice of Issuance - Vogtle Unit 3 Amendment No. 190 Technical Specification Exceptions for In-containment Refueling Water Storage Tank Operability Prior to Initial Criticality ML23018A2282023-01-30030 January 2023 FRN Notice of Issuance of Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Unit 3, Emergency License Amendment Request: Technical Specification Limiting Conditions for Operation 3.4.11, 3.4.12, and 3.4.13 Operability Requirements for Auto Depressurization ML22286A0382022-11-23023 November 2022 Federal Register Notice of Issuance for Amendment and Exemption Electrical Inspections, Tests, Analyses, and Acceptance Criteria Optimization (LAR 22-003) ML22251A3552022-09-21021 September 2022 FRN - Individual Notice of Consideration of Issuance of Amendment to Facility Operating License, Proposed No Significant Hazards Consideration Determination, and Opportunity for a Hearing, VEGP 4 ML22210A1932022-08-0909 August 2022 Federal Register Notice - Vogtle Multiple ITAAC FRN Q1 and Q2 2022 ML20290A2832022-08-0303 August 2022 Federal Register Notice Regarding Affirmative 10 CFR 52.103(g) Finding and Commencement of Operations ML21320A0442021-11-23023 November 2021 FRN Exemption from the Requirements of 73.55(a)(4) and 73.56(a)(3) (EPID L-2021-LLE-0049)_Rev.1 ML21279A1922021-11-23023 November 2021 Draft Federal Register Notice Regarding Exemption from Operator Written Examination and Operating Test for Unit 4 Licenses ML21179A1762021-08-0505 August 2021 FRN for Issuance of Exemption - Farley and Vogtle FSAR Update Exemption - Rev 1 ML21179A1852021-08-0404 August 2021 Exemption - Farley and Vogtle - FSAR Update Exemption - Rev 1 ML21071A0512021-08-0303 August 2021 Exemption from the Requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Section 50.46, Acceptance Criteria for Emergency Core Cooling Systems for Light-Water Nuclear Power Reactors (FRN) ML21070A3172021-04-0202 April 2021 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact; Issuance ML21070A3102021-04-0202 April 2021 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Related to Exemption from the Requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Section 50.46, Acceptance Criteria for Emergency Core Cooling Systems for Light Water Nuclear Power ML20147A6632020-09-17017 September 2020 Proposed Alternative Requirements for ASME Code Preservice Inspection Acceptance of Volumetric and Surface Examinations ML20126G2972020-07-21021 July 2020 Federal Register Notice for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Unit 4 Issuance of Exemption from 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E ML20035C4082020-02-18018 February 2020 Biweekly Federal Register Notice - Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving No Significant Hazards Considerations - Publication Date: 02/25/2020 ML19183A0242019-07-15015 July 2019 Federal Register Notice (FRN) for NRC Staff'S Determination of Completion of Multiple ITAAC for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 3 and 4 ML19168A0842019-06-26026 June 2019 Biweekly Federal Register Notice - Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving No Significant Hazards Considerations - Publication Date: 07/02/2019 ML19171A0072019-06-26026 June 2019 Final Individual Federal Register Notice (Notice of Issuance) for LAR 18-030 ML19137A3252019-06-12012 June 2019 Final Individual FRN for LAR 18-028 ML19108A2442019-06-0707 June 2019 Federal Register Notice, Issuance of Exemption for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 3 and 4, for 10 CFR Part 26 Visitor Access Requirements ML19126A0582019-05-31031 May 2019 Federal Register Notice - Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 3 and 4 Request for Exemption from Operator Written Examination and Operating Test ML19140A4562019-05-28028 May 2019 Biweekly Federal Register Notice - Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving No Significant Hazards Considerations - Publication Date: 06/04/2019 ML19073A0092019-04-24024 April 2019 (LAR-18-024) Final Individual Federal Register Notice (Notice of Issuance) ML19060A2752019-04-24024 April 2019 Individual Final Federal Register Notice for LAR 18-031, Clarification of ASME Code Section III Compliance and Alternative Requirements ML19091A2832019-04-0808 April 2019 2019-Q1 Vogtle - Multiple ITAAC FRN ML19085A2172019-03-29029 March 2019 Biweekly Federal Register Notice - Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving No Significant Hazards Considerations - Publication Date: 04/09/2019 ML19046A4062019-03-12012 March 2019 Individual Final FRN for LAR 18-025 ML19064A3992019-03-0606 March 2019 Individual FRN for LAR 18-019 (Correction) NRC-2019-0065, Biweekly Federal Register Notice - Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving No Significant Hazards Considerations - Publication Date: 03/12/20192019-02-28028 February 2019 Biweekly Federal Register Notice - Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving No Significant Hazards Considerations - Publication Date: 03/12/2019 ML19056A5352019-02-28028 February 2019 Biweekly Federal Register Notice - Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving No Significant Hazards Considerations - Publication Date: 03/12/2019 ML18318A3362019-02-26026 February 2019 (LAR 17-043) Federal Register Individual Notice of Issuance ML19032A6302019-02-22022 February 2019 Individual Federal Register Notice (LAR 18-019) ML19052A2352019-02-22022 February 2019 Individual FRN (LAR 18-016) ML19042A3062019-02-15015 February 2019 Biweekly Federal Register Notice - Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving No Significant Hazards Considerations - Publication Date: 2/26/2019 ML19010A2802019-01-25025 January 2019 Individual Issuance FRN Amendment Nos. 149 and 148 (LAR 18-022) NRC-2018-0287, Biweekly Federal Register Notice - Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving No Significant Hazards Considerations - Publication Date: 01/02/20192019-01-0202 January 2019 Biweekly Federal Register Notice - Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving No Significant Hazards Considerations - Publication Date: 01/02/2019 ML18351A0022019-01-0202 January 2019 Biweekly Federal Register Notice - Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving No Significant Hazards Considerations - Publication Date: 01/02/2019 ML18334A2202018-12-13013 December 2018 Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving Proposed No Significant Hazards Consideration and Containing SUNSI and Order Imposing Procedures for Access to SUNSI - Publication Date: January 8, 2 NRC-2018-0277, Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving Proposed No Significant Hazards Consideration and Containing SUNSI and Order Imposing Procedures for Access to SUNSI - Publication Date: January2018-12-13013 December 2018 Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving Proposed No Significant Hazards Consideration and Containing SUNSI and Order Imposing Procedures for Access to SUNSI - Publication Date: January 8, 2 ML18278A0482018-10-26026 October 2018 Individual Federal Register Notice - Exemption from 10 CFR 50.71(h)(1) - Timing of PRA Standards ML18275A0952018-10-26026 October 2018 Individual FRN (LAR 18-001) ML18295A7442018-10-25025 October 2018 Biweekly Federal Register Notice - Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses and Combined Licenses Involving No Significant Hazards Considerations - Publication Date: 11/06/18 ML18274A0592018-10-24024 October 2018 Final Individual Federal Register Notice (LAR 17-037) ML18285A5492018-10-19019 October 2018 LAR-18-015 Individual Federal Register Notice of Issuance Fire Protection Non-safety Cable Spray Removal 2023-08-02
[Table view] Category:Finding of No Significant Impact
MONTHYEARML16354A0482017-02-0909 February 2017 Environmental Assessments and Finding of No Significant Impacts to Southern Nuclear Operating Co., Inc ML0432806212005-03-10010 March 2005 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Related to Exemption to Allow the Elimination of the Reactor Vessel Flange Requirements from the Reactor Coolant System Pressure-Temperature Limits ML0432401682005-02-25025 February 2005 Edwin I Hatch, Units 1 and 2, Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, Environmental Assessment, EOFs 2017-02-09
[Table view] Category:Letter
MONTHYEARML24032A0252024-02-0505 February 2024 NRC Initial Test Program and Operational Programs Integrated Inspection Report 05200026-2023009 ML24010A0712024-01-31031 January 2024 Exemption from Select Requirements of 10 CFR Part 73 (Security Notifications, Reports and Recordkeeping and Suspicious Activity Reporting) ML24031A6102024-01-31031 January 2024 Cyber Security Inspection Report 05200026/2024401 - Public ML24029A0592024-01-30030 January 2024 Request for Withholding Information from Public Disclosure Responses to NRC Request for Additional Information for Refueling Outage 1R24 Steam Generator Tube Inspection Report Enclosure 2, GAE-NRCD-RF-LR-000002 P-Attachment, Rev. 0 ML24016A1132024-01-30030 January 2024 Correction of Unit 1 Amendment Nos. 96 and 190 and Unit 2 Amendment Nos. 74 and 173 Adoption of Standard Technical Specifications Westinghouse Plants NL-24-0031, Inservice Inspection Program Owner'S Activity Report (OAR-1) for Outage 2R232024-01-29029 January 2024 Inservice Inspection Program Owner'S Activity Report (OAR-1) for Outage 2R23 IR 05000424/20244032024-01-26026 January 2024 Information Request for the Cyber-Security Baseline Inspection, Notification to Perform Inspection 05000424/2024403; 05000425/2024403 NL-24-0020, Plan, Unit 1 Responses to NRC Request for Additional Information for Refueling Outage 1R24 Steam Generator Tube Inspection Report2024-01-22022 January 2024 Plan, Unit 1 Responses to NRC Request for Additional Information for Refueling Outage 1R24 Steam Generator Tube Inspection Report ML23347A2092024-01-17017 January 2024 Voluntary Requests for Data, Information, And/Or Observation ML23279A0042024-01-17017 January 2024 Amendment No. 194 to Remove Combined License Appendix C NL-23-0926, Correction of Technical Specification Typographical Error2024-01-12012 January 2024 Correction of Technical Specification Typographical Error ML23341A2042024-01-12012 January 2024 Request for Additional Information Exemption Requests for Physical Barriers (EPID L-2023-LLE-0018 & L-2023-LLE-0021) ML23345A1312024-01-0303 January 2024 Withholding Letter - SNC Fleet - Physical Barriers Exemption (L-2023-LLE-0018 and L-2023-LLE-0021) ML23317A2072023-12-22022 December 2023 Issuance of Amendments 223 and 206 Regarding Revision to Technical Specifications to Adopt TSTF-339-A, Relocate Technical Specification Parameters to the COLR Consistent with WCAP-1448 ML23335A1222023-12-19019 December 2023 Safety Evaluation Regarding Implementation of Mitigating Strategies Related to Order EA-12-049 (EPID L-2023-LRQ-0002) - Letter ML23353A1702023-12-19019 December 2023 LAR-22-002, TS 3.8.3 Inverters Operating Completion Time Extension Letter ML23310A2922023-12-0707 December 2023 Issuance of Amendment for Exception to Regulatory Guide 1.163, LAR 23 007 ML23339A1812023-12-0707 December 2023 Correction Letter Regarding License Amendment Request: More Restrictive Action for Technical Specification 3.1.9 ML23338A2182023-12-0606 December 2023 Project Manager Reassignment NL-23-0878, Request for Exemption from Security Event Notification Implementation2023-11-29029 November 2023 Request for Exemption from Security Event Notification Implementation ML23289A1632023-11-28028 November 2023 Letter and Amendment 195 and 192 LAR-23-006R1 TS 3.1.9 More Restrictive Action NL-23-0827, Response to Requests for Additional Information for a License Amendment Request and a Proposed Alternative Related to TS 3.4.142023-11-17017 November 2023 Response to Requests for Additional Information for a License Amendment Request and a Proposed Alternative Related to TS 3.4.14 ML23318A4582023-11-14014 November 2023 Integrated Inspection Report 05200025/2023003 ML23312A3502023-11-14014 November 2023 Integrated Inspection Report 05200026/2023003 ML23306A3552023-11-0808 November 2023 NRC Initial Test Program and Operational Programs Integrated Inspection Report 052000/262023008 ML23268A0572023-11-0707 November 2023 Issuance of Amendments 194 & 191 Request for License Amendment Relocation of Technical Specification 3.7.9, Spent Fuel Pool Makeup Water Sources (LAR-23-003) IR 05000424/20234022023-11-0606 November 2023 Security Baseline Inspection Report 05000424/2023402 and 05000425/2023402 IR 05000424/20230032023-10-27027 October 2023 Integrated Inspection Report 05000424/2023003 and 05000425/2023003 ML23291A1512023-10-18018 October 2023 Information Request for the Cyber Security Baseline Inspection, Notification to Perform Inspection 0520026/2024401 ML23263A9852023-10-12012 October 2023 Issuance of Amendments Nos. 221 and 204, Regarding Technical Specification 5.5.11.C, Acceptance Criteria for Charcoal Filter Testing ML23283A0472023-10-0808 October 2023 Neop Letter Dated October 8, 2023 - Vogtle 3 & 4 - TS 3.7.6 License Amendment Request NL-23-0750, Response to Second Request for Additional Information Regarding License Amendment Request: Technical Specification Revision to Adopt TSTF-339-A, Relocate Technical Specification Parameters to the Colr2023-10-0404 October 2023 Response to Second Request for Additional Information Regarding License Amendment Request: Technical Specification Revision to Adopt TSTF-339-A, Relocate Technical Specification Parameters to the Colr NL-23-0745, Refueling Outage 1R24 Steam Generator Tube Inspection Report2023-09-22022 September 2023 Refueling Outage 1R24 Steam Generator Tube Inspection Report ML23254A2032023-09-13013 September 2023 Initial Test Program and Operational Programs Inspection Report 05200025/2023013 ML23241B0212023-09-12012 September 2023 Review of Quality Assurance Topical Report ML23234A2352023-09-0808 September 2023 Request for Withholding Information from Public Disclosure Notification of Full Compliance of Required Action for NRC Order EA-12-049 Mitigation Strategies for Beyond-Design-Basis External Events IR 05000424/20230912023-09-0505 September 2023 Plan Units 1 and 2 - NRC Investigation Report 2-2022-006 and Notice of Violation - NRC Inspection Report 05000424/2023091 and 05000425/2023091 ML23234A3002023-09-0101 September 2023 NRC Integrated Inspection Report 05200026/2023003 ML23243A0092023-08-31031 August 2023 Updated Inspection Plan for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 3 & 4 (Report 05200025 2023005 & 05200026 2023005) NL-23-0695, Response to Round 2 Request for Additional Information Regarding License Amendment Request for Technical Specification 3.8.3, Inverters Operating, Completion Time Extension (LAR-22-002S2)2023-08-31031 August 2023 Response to Round 2 Request for Additional Information Regarding License Amendment Request for Technical Specification 3.8.3, Inverters Operating, Completion Time Extension (LAR-22-002S2) ML23243B0252023-08-30030 August 2023 Exam Corporate Notification Letter (210 Day) IR 05000424/20230052023-08-29029 August 2023 Updated Inspection Plan for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 & 2 - Report 05000424/2023005 and 05000425/2023005 NL-23-0666, License Amendment Request: Remove Combined License Appendix C (LAR 23-008)2023-08-28028 August 2023 License Amendment Request: Remove Combined License Appendix C (LAR 23-008) 2024-02-05
[Table view] |
Text
March 10, 2005 Mr. D. E. Grissette Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
Post Office Box 1295 Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295
SUBJECT:
VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANTS UNITS 1 AND 2 -
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT RELATED TO EXEMPTION TO ALLOW THE ELIMINATION OF THE REACTOR VESSEL FLANGE REQUIREMENTS FROM THE REACTOR COOLANT SYSTEM PRESSURE-TEMPERATURE LIMITS (TAC NOS. MC2227 AND MC2228)
Dear Mr. Grissette:
Enclosed is a copy of the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact related to your application for exemption dated February 26, 2004, as supplemented on July 8, and October 22, 2004, for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Vogtle), Units 1 and 2. The proposed exemption would permit the use of Westinghouse Commercial Atomic Power Report (WCAP) 16142, Revision 1, "Reactor Vessel Closure Head/Vessel Flange Requirements Evaluation for Vogtle Units 1 and 2," in lieu of the methodology required by Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 50, Appendix G, Footnote 2 to Table 1.
The Environmental Assessment is being forwarded to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Christopher Gratton, Sr. Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-424 and 50-425
Enclosure:
Environmental Assessment cc: See next page
ML043280621 *No Legal Objection NRR-042 OFFICE PDII-1/PM PDII-1/LA DRIP:RLEP/ES OGC* PDII-1/SC NAME CGratton CHawes AKugler w/comments SLewis JNakoski DATE 02/16/05 02/04/05 12/23/04 03/08/05 03/10/05 7590-01-P UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY DOCKET NOS. 50-424 AND 50-425 VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of an exemption from Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 50, Appendix G, for Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-68 and NPF-81, issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company (the licensee), for operation of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Vogtle), Units 1, and 2, located in Waynesboro, Georgia. Therefore, as required by 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC is issuing this environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of the Proposed Action:
The proposed action would exempt the licensee from the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix G, Footnote 2 to Table 1, and allow the licensee to use the methodology in Westinghouse Commercial Atomic Power Report (WCAP), WCAP-16142, Revision 1, "Reactor Vessel Closure Head/Vessel Flange Requirements Evaluation for Vogtle Units 1 and 2," to justify eliminating the reactor vessel/head flange region when determining pressure-temperature (P-T) limits for the reactor vessel.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensees application dated February 26, 2004, as supplemented on July 8, and October 22, 2004.
The Need for the Proposed Action:
Appendix G of 10 CFR Part 50, contains requirements for P-T limits for the primary system, and requirements for metal temperature of the closure head flange and vessel flange regions. The P-T limits are to be determined using the methodology of American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME Code),Section XI, Appendix G, but the flange temperature requirements are specified in 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix G. This rule states that the metal temperature at the closure flange regions must exceed the material unirradiated RTNDT by at least 120 °F for normal operation when the pressure exceeds 20 percent of the pre-service hydrostatic test pressure.
This requirement was originally based on concerns about the fracture margin in the closure flange region. During the boltup process, outside surface stresses in this region typically reach over 70 percent of the steady state stress, without being at steady state temperature. The margin of 120 °F and the pressure limitation of 20 percent of hydrostatic pressure were developed in the mid-1970s using the KIa fracture toughness to ensure that appropriate margins would be maintained.
Improved knowledge of fracture toughness and other issues that affect the integrity of the reactor vessel have led to the recent change to allow the use of KIc in the development of P-T curves, as contained in ASME Code Case N-640, Alternative Reference Fracture Toughness for Development of P-T Limit Curves for Section XI, Division 1. ASME Code Case, N-640 has been approved for use without conditions by the NRC staff in Regulatory Guide 1.147, Inservice Inspection Code Case Acceptability, ASME Section XI, Division 1, published in June 2003.
However, P-T limit curves can still produce operational constraints by limiting the operational range available to the operator during heatup and cooldown of the plant, especially when considering requirements in the closure head flange and the vessel flange regions.
Implementing the P-T curves that use KIc material fracture toughness without exempting the flange requirement of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix G, would place a restricted operating window in the temperature range associated with the closure head flange and reactor vessel flange, without a commensurate increase in plant safety.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action:
The NRC has completed its safety evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that the more conservative minimum temperature requirements related to footnote (2) to Table 1 of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix G are not necessary to meet the underlying intent of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix G, to protect the Vogtle, Units 1 and 2 RPVs from brittle fracture during normal operation under both core critical and core non-critical conditions and RPV hydrostatic and leak test conditions.
The details of the NRC staffs safety evaluation will be provided in the amendment and exemption that will be issued as part of letter to the licensee approving the amendment and exemption to the regulation.
The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability or consequence of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of effluents that may be released off-site, and there is no significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed action does not have a potential to affect any historic sites. It does not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action:
As an alternative to the proposed action, the NRC staff considered denial of the proposed action (i.e., the no-action alternative). Denial of the application would result in no change in current environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action are similar.
Alternative Use of Resources:
The action does not involve the use of any different resource than those previously considered in NUREG-1087, Final Environmental Statement related to the operation of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, dated December 1985.
Agencies and Persons Consulted:
On January 6, 2005, the NRC staff consulted with the Georgia State official, Mr. Jim Hardeman of the Department of Natural Resources, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT On the basis of the environmental assessment, the NRC concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed action.
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the licensees letter dated February 26, 2004, as supplemented on July 8, and October 22, 2004. Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRCs Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, Public File Area O1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records will be accessible electronically from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in
ADAMS, should contact the NRC PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day of March, 2005.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
/RA/
John Nakoski, Chief, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 & 2 cc:
Mr. N. J. Stringfellow Attorney General Manager, Licensing Law Department Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. 132 Judicial Building P.O. Box 1295 Atlanta, GA 30334 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 Mr. Laurence Bergen Mr. Skip Kitchens, General Manager Oglethorpe Power Corporation Vogtle Electric Generating Plant 2100 East Exchange Place Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. P.O. Box 1349 P.O. Box 1600 Tucker, GA 30085-1349 Waynesboro, GA 30830 Arthur H. Domby, Esquire Mr. Jeffrey T. Gasser Troutman Sanders Executive Vice President NationsBank Plaza Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. 600 Peachtree Street, NE P.O. Box 1295 Suite 5200 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 Atlanta, GA 30308-2216 Mr. Steven M. Jackson Resident Inspector Senior Engineer - Power Supply Vogtle Plant Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia 8805 River Road 1470 Riveredge Parkway, NW Waynesboro, GA 30830 Atlanta, GA 30328-4684 Office of the County Commissioner Mr. Reece McAlister Burke County Commission Executive Secretary Waynesboro, GA 30830 Georgia Public Service Commission 244 Washington St., SW Atlanta, GA 30334 Mr. Harold Reheis, Director Department of Natural Resources 205 Butler Street, SE, Suite 1252 Atlanta, Georgia 30334