ML051860393
| ML051860393 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Point Beach  |
| Issue date: | 07/15/2005 |
| From: | Reyes L NRC/EDO |
| To: | Wallis G Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| Rodriguez VM, NRR/DRIP/RLEP, 415-3703 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML051860360 | List: |
| References | |
| G20050428, TAC MC7321 | |
| Download: ML051860393 (4) | |
Text
July 15, 2005 Dr. Graham B. Wallis, Chairman Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555
SUBJECT:
RESPONSE TO ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS INTERIM REPORT ON THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION FOR THE POINT BEACH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2
Dear Dr. Wallis:
In your letter dated June 9, 2005, you summarized the results of the interim review by the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) of the Nuclear Management Companys (NMCs) license renewal application for Point Beach Nuclear Plant (PBNP), Units 1 and 2, and the associated safety evaluation report (SER) with open items prepared by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff. The Committee believes the staff should take additional actions to increase confidence that the requirements of the license renewal rule have been met and that there is reasonable assurance that aging degradation can be adequately managed.
As you recognize in your letter, the license renewal rule requires current performance issues to be addressed within the context of Title 10, Part 50, of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Part 50). Section 54.30(a) states that if there is not reasonable assurance during the current license term that licensed activities will be conducted in accordance with the current licensing basis (CLB), the licensee must take measures under its current license to ensure that intended functions will be maintained in accordance with the CLB throughout the term of its current license. Section 54.30(b) states that compliance with Section 54.30(a) is not within the scope of the license renewal review. Results from actions taken to resolve a current license problem becomes part of the CLB and will be carried forward into the period of extended operation. In the first quarter of 2003, PBNP entered the Multiple/Repetitive Degraded Cornerstone column of the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Action Matrix. NRC actions under the ROP are described in the enclosure to this letter.
With regard to the license renewal process, the staffs SER with open items issued on May 2, 2005, contains five open items. The open items are being resolved and will be documented in the final SER. During the past year, the staff has performed several onsite audits and inspections to ensure the applicant is addressing all items required by the license renewal rule. The NRC staff audited all aging management programs credited in the PBNP license renewal application. Additionally, the Region III staff performed its combined scoping, screening, and aging management inspection which identified no findings. During this effort, the Region III staff inspected 18 out of 26 aging management programs credited in the license renewal application. The remaining programs are evaluated through standard baseline inspections. The inspection team verified that the applicant meets the requirements of the license renewal rule and has implemented license renewal programs and activities consistent with its application. During this inspection, NMC was in the process of modifying the scoping methodology and expanding the non-safety-related component scope. Therefore, in
Dr. G. Wallis August 2005, the Region III staff will perform a followup inspection under Inspection Procedure (IP) 71002. This inspection will focus on the One-Time Inspection Program, non-safety-related component scoping, license renewal commitments, and recently implemented actions.
The staff understands the Committees concern about NMCs ability to implement its aging management programs and LRA commitments. If the license is renewed, the staff will conduct License Renewal Application (LRA) a post-approval site inspection for license renewal in accordance with IP 71003 before the period of extended operation begins. During this inspection the staff will verify: (1) that all license renewal programs and activities have been implemented in accordance with the license renewal rule, (2) that outstanding commitments have been met, and (3) that the FSAR supplement contains the required summary description of aging management programs and activities.
The staff recognizes the ACRSs commitment to safety and appreciates the Committees continued efforts in support of the license renewal process.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Luis A. Reyes Executive Director for Operations
Enclosure:
As stated cc: Chairman Diaz Commissioner Merrifield Commissioner Jaczko Commissioner Lyons SECY
Dr. G. Wallis August 2005, the Region III staff will perform a followup inspection under Inspection Procedure (IP) 71002. This inspection will focus on the One-Time Inspection Program, non-safety-related component scoping, license renewal commitments, and recently implemented actions.
The staff understands the Committees concern about NMCs ability to implement its aging management programs and LRA commitments. If the license is renewed, the staff will conduct License Renewal Application (LRA) a post-approval site inspection for license renewal in accordance with IP 71003 before the period of extended operation begins. During this inspection the staff will verify: (1) that all license renewal programs and activities have been implemented in accordance with the license renewal rule, (2) that outstanding commitments have been met, and (3) that the FSAR supplement contains the required summary description of aging management programs and activities.
The staff recognizes the ACRSs commitment to safety and appreciates the Committees continued efforts in support of the license renewal process.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Luis A. Reyes Executive Director for Operations
Enclosure:
As stated cc: Chairman Diaz Commissioner Merrifield Commissioner Jaczko Commissioner Lyons SECY DISTRIBUTION: See next page ADAMS ACCESSION NOS: ML051860360-Package ML051680321-Incoming ML051860393-Response ML051860398-Enclosure OFFICE:
PM:RLEP PM:RLEP PM:RLEP LA:RLEP Tech Ed NAME:
MMorgan GSuber VRodriguez YEdmonds PKleene (by fax)
DATE:
07/ 06 /05 07/ 06 /05 07/ 12 /05 07/ 08 /05 07/ 05 /05 OFFICE:
SC:RLEP BC:RLEP D:DRIP D:DRS:RIII D:DLPM NAME:
SLee PTKuo DMatthews CPederson (by email)
LMarsh (CHolden for)
DATE:
07/ 12 /05 07/ 12 /05 07/ 12 /05 07/ 08 /05 07/ 08 /05 OFFICE:
D:DIPM OGC NLO D:NRR EDO NAME:
BBoger (MCase for)
KWinsberg (B. Poole for)
JDyer LReyes DATE:
07/ 06 /05 07/ 12 /05 07/13/05 07/15/05 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
DISTRIBUTION FOR RESPONSE TO GREEN TICKET G20050428, Dated: July 15, 2005 M. Morgan G. Suber V. Rodriguez Y. Edmonds S. Lee P.T. Kuo D. Matthews F. Gillespie L. Marsh B. Boger B. Sweeney C. Pederson, RIII J. Caldwell, RIII DripSecy ACRS File RLEP/RF RidsResOd RidsNrrOd RidsNrrWpcMail RidsOpaMail RidsOcaMailCenter RidsOgcMailCenter RidsEdoMailCenter RidsNrrAdpt RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter