ML051460028
| ML051460028 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Nine Mile Point  |
| Issue date: | 05/26/2005 |
| From: | Tam P NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD1 |
| To: | Spina J Nine Mile Point |
| References | |
| IR-05-002, TAC MC6989 | |
| Download: ML051460028 (4) | |
Text
May 26, 2005 Mr. James A. Spina Vice President Nine Mile Point Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, LLC P.O. Box 63 Lycoming, NY 13093
SUBJECT:
NINE MILE POINT NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT NO. 1 (NMP1) - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI) REGARDING COLD WATER REACTIVITY ADDITION EVENT OF JANUARY 9, 2004 (TAC NO. MC6989)
Dear Mr. Spina:
The subject NMP1 issue was documented in Inspection Report (IR) 05000220/2004002, dated May 5, 2004, and IR 05000220/2005002, dated May 3, 2005. As a result, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff generated a number of questions (see enclosed RAI). The NRC Region I staff had previously discussed these questions with you. Your staff indicated that you can provide your response by June 30, 2005.
If you need clarification on this RAI, please do not hesitate to call me at 301-415-1451.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Peter S. Tam, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-220
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl: See next page
May 26, 2005 Mr. James A. Spina Vice President Nine Mile Point Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, LLC P.O. Box 63 Lycoming, NY 13093
SUBJECT:
NINE MILE POINT NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT NO. 1 (NMP1) - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING COLD WATER REACTIVITY ADDITION EVENT OF JANUARY 9, 2004 (TAC NO. MC6989)
Dear Mr. Spina:
The subject NMP1 issue was documented in Inspection Report (IR) 05000220/2004002, dated May 5, 2004, and IR 05000220/2005002, dated May 3, 2005. As a result, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff generated a number of questions (see enclosed RAI). The NRC Region I staff had previously discussed these questions with you. Your staff indicated that you can provide your response by June 30, 2005.
If you need clarification on this RAI, please do not hesitate to call me at 301-415-1451.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Peter S. Tam, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-220
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl: See next page Distribution:
PUBLIC PDI R/F R. Laufer S. Little P. Tam L. Vick ACRS G. Matakas, RI G. Hunegs Accession Number: ML051460028 OFFICE PDI-1\\PM PDI-1\\LA IROB IROB/SC PDI-1/SC NAME PTam SLittle LVick DTrimble PTam for RLaufer DATE 5/26/05 5/26/05 5/26/05 5/26/05 5/26/05 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NINE MILE POINT NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT NO. 1 (NMP1)
COLD WATER REACTIVITY ADDITION EVENT OF JANUARY 9, 2004 (1)
Have you previously analyzed the initiation of the emergency condenser (EC) at full power with an idle loop (or with all five recirculation pumps in service) with regard to expected reactivity transient effect on the core? Is this event enveloped by such an analysis and do operating procedures address recovery from such an event?
DER 1-1999-3510/3551/3583, page 4 of 5, indicates that no such analysis has ever been conducted. Without such an analysis, is the full effect of the reactivity transient and resultant thermal margin(s) decreases well understood?
(2)
What is your basis for believing that the average power range monitor (APRM) flux spike had reached its maximum peak? The nuclear fuel vendors reports evaluating this event relied heavily on this assertion. Your evaluation relied heavily on the belief that APRM flux had peaked at approximately 17%. What was the peak flux response for local power range monitors (LPRMs) in the core quadrant most affected by this event? The General Electric analysis notes that at high power, the reactors response to a cold water reactivity transient is magnified. This necessitated additional steps prior to conducting the second EC test at higher power level to ensure adequate margin. Does this indicate that the effects of the test on reactivity and thermal margin were not well understood before the conduct of the first EC surveillance test at high power?
(3)
What is your basis for now concluding, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.59(c)(2), that you did not need not to obtain a license amendment prior to implementing this surveillance test procedure change? Have you reached that same conclusion for both the initial test at high power (with one idle recirculation loop) and the second test at high power (with all five recirculation loops in operation)? Has the effect of EC initiation at high power been adequately analyzed to ensure adequate core thermal margin?
(4)
Have you considered the potential impact on the reactivity transient if a turbine bypass valve(s) fails to modulate during the EC surveillance test? If not, considering the significant influence of the turbine bypass valve operation on the magnitude of any reactivity transient, what is your basis for not considering such a failure?
(5)
What was the rate of reactivity addition and amount of reactivity added during the January 9, 2004 event, in contrast to the January 21, 2004, EC surveillance tests?
What was the amount of time for the EC cold water slug to travel through the core and how was this time determined? What was the duration and magnitude of the reactivity transient?
Enclosure
Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit No. 1 cc:
Mr. Michael J. Wallace President Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, LLC c/o Constellation Energy Group 750 East Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202 Mr. Mike Heffley Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Constellation Generation Group 1997 Annapolis Exchange Parkway Suite 500 Annapolis, MD 21401 Regional Administrator, Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 126 Lycoming, NY 13093 Charles Donaldson, Esquire Assistant Attorney General New York Department of Law 120 Broadway New York, NY 10271 Mr. Paul D. Eddy Electric Division NYS Department of Public Service Agency Building 3 Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12223 Mr. Peter R. Smith, President New York State Energy, Research, and Development Authority 17 Columbia Circle Albany, NY 12203-6399 Mark J. Wetterhahn, Esquire Winston & Strawn 1400 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20005-3502 Supervisor Town of Scriba Route 8, Box 382 Oswego, NY 13126 Mr. James M. Petro, Jr., Esquire Counsel Constellation Energy Group, Inc.
750 East Pratt Street, 5th Floor Baltimore, MD 21202 Ms. Deb Katz, Executive Director Nuclear Security Coalition c/o Citizens Awareness Network P.O. Box 83 Shelburne Falls, MA 01370