ML053540390
| ML053540390 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 12/16/2005 |
| From: | Reyes L, Annette Vietti-Cook NRC/EDO, NRC/SECY |
| To: | Leahy P US SEN (Senate) |
| Byrdsong A T | |
| References | |
| 50-271-OLA, ASLBP 04-832-02-OLA, RAS 10852 | |
| Download: ML053540390 (7) | |
Text
December 16, 2005 The Honorable Patrick Leahy United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 December 20.2005 (9:50am)
OFFICE OF SECRETARY RULEMAKINGS AND ADJUDICATIONS STAFF Docket No. 50-271 -0LA SERVED December 20,2005
Dear Senator Leahy:
This is a response to your letter dated November 10, 2005, addressed to Chairman Nils J. Diaz, in which you request an evaluation by the NRC of the condition of the steam dryer at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station. You emphasized that it is essential that your constituents receive information on the condition of the steam dryer during the consideration by the NRC of the proposed power uprate for Vermont Yankee. Your letter has been referred to the NRC staff. The staff will address your specific concerns in a direct reply.
Currently, contentions addressing the power uprate for Vermont Yankee are before an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board in a contested proceeding. Under Nuclear Regulatory Commission procedural rules for adjudications, the Commission has an appellate role in proceedings commenced before its Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards. Because of that role, I trust that you will understand that the Commissioners must remain impartial during the pendency of a case, whether it is before a Licensing Board or on appeal to the Commission.
A copy of your letter and this response, as well as, the response of the NRC staff when issued will be served on the participants in the Vermont Yankee proceeding.
Sincerely, A
Annette L. Vietti-Cook cc: Vermont Yankee Service list
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATOWY C32MFfiBSSjGN WASH!MGTOI\\I. D.C. 20555-3001 December 16, 2005 The Honorable Patrick Leahy United States Senate Washington, D.C. 2051 0
Dear Senator Leahy:
On behalf of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am writing in response to your letter of November 10, 2005, in which you urged the NRC to fully evaluate the condition of the steam dryer at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (Vermont Yankee) as the NRC staff reviews the proposed extended power uprate (EPU) request from Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Entergy). I am pleased to take this opportunity to update you on the NRC's actions to address this issue.
During the fall 2005 refueling outage at Vermont Yankee, Entergy performed an enhanced visual inspection which identified 36 indications of small cracks in the steam dryer. These were in addition to 18 indicaticns identified during the spring 2004 outage. Although the previous dryer inspection was conducted in accordance with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, it was expected that additional indications would be found during the 2005 outage based on use of visual examination techniques that provided greater magnification and resolution. The enhanced inspection also confirmed that none of the previously-identified cracks had propagated in width or length since the last inspection.
Entergy currently believes that, like the previously-identified indications, these new indications developed sometime early in plant operational history, and will not affect the steam dryer structural integrity at current power conditions or at the proposed EPU conditions. None of the identified indications required repairs; however, Entergy did make modifications during the 2004 outage to provide additional structural support to the steam dryer to address generic industry issues with steam dryer integrity. Entergy will continue to monitor the indications during future inspections to ensure there is no further change to the individual indications.
The NRC is closely monitoring Entergy's steam dryer examination and evaluation activities. A specialist inspector from the NRC's Region I office was sent t~ the site to review the steam dryer inspection resulis. Further, specialists from Region I and NRC Headquarters reviewed the examination data and steam dryer evaluation. The NRC reviews did not identify problems with the steam dryer crack evaluation and disposition that would cause concern with operation of Vermont Yankee at current licensed conditions.
Entergy is completing its final evaluation of the new steam dryer indications with regard to EPU operation. The NRC will thoroughly review the final evaluation as part of the proposed EPU review. Additionally, if the proposed EPU is granted, a condition would be added to the Vermont Yankee license for Entergy to monitor and evaluate the effects of increased steam flow on the steam dryer, and promptly take actions as necessary to resolve any adverse flow effects.
The NRC's primary mission is to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety. The NRC will not approve the Vermont Yankee EPU, or any proposed change to any plant license, unless our technical staff can conclude that it has reasonable assurance that adequate protection of public health and safety will be ensured.
Executive Dire for Operations
November 10,2005 The Honorable Nils J. Diaz Chairman U S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Wc writc in rcsponsc to t11c announcement today of the discovery, during a reccnt scheduled outage, of morc than 40 additional cracks in the steam drycr at Vermont Yankcc. We undcrstand that a Region 1 Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) inspector was dispatched to assist the resident inspector in the detemlining whether these cracks pose safety and operational conccms for the plant's current power production. We request that the condition of the steam dryer be fully evaluated, using the techniques of the most recent inspection and any other appropriate means, as the NRC considers EntergyNuclearls request to produce an additional 100 megawatts of power from Vermont Yankcc.
Wc understand that these cracks were discovered through the use of enhanced visual inspection techniques. As you know, thcsc cracks arc in addition to somc 18 cracks, both hairline and larger, that were discovered through visual inspections of the plant'ssteam dryer in April and May of 2004. Steam dryer cracking is of concem at many boiling water reactor facilities. We know that cracking problems have persisted at the Quad Cities facilities' steam dryers, despite repeated fixes, and that uprated power conditions at those facilities place additional stresses on dryer performance. While the steam dryer itself is not a safety-related piece of equipment, its proper functioning is important to the plant's safe and reliable opcration. Stcam dryer cracking could result in pieces breaking off, and falling back into the steam lines that lead out of the reaclor. In the case of the Quad Cities reactors, these plants have becn forced to shut down because of cracking, making thcir operation lcss rcliable.
As the AIRC revicws the Vermont Yankee power uprate request, we believe it is essential that our constituents receive needed information about whether the plant's steam drycr will bc able to withstand boosted power conditions and operate safely and reliably. The functioning of this piece of equipment should receive the Commission's full and thorough attention during the review of the uprate application.
]Ye look fonvard to a prompt reply.
Sincerely, PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
Diaz, pg. 2 November 10,2005
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of
)
1 ENTERGY NUCLEAR VERMONT YANKEE L.L.C. )
and ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC.
)
)
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station)
)
1 (Operating License Amendment)
)
Docket No. 50-271 -0LA CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that copies of the foregoing LETTERS FROM ANNETTE L. VIETTI-COOK AND LUIS A. REYES ADDRESSED TO SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY, AS WELL AS THE LETTER FROM SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY DATED NOVEMBER 10,2005 have been served upon the following persons by U.S. mail, first class, or through NRC internal distribution.
Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Administrative Judge Anthony J. Baratta Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Mail Stop - T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Robert M. Weisman, Esq.
Sherwin E. Turk, Esq.
Jason C. Zorn, Esq.
Office of the General Counsel Mail Stop 15 D21 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Administrative Judge Alex S. Karlin, Chair Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Mail Stop - T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Administrative Judge Lester S. Rubenstein 4270 E Country Villa Drive Tucson, AZ 8571 8 Raymond Shadis New England Coalition P.O. Box 98 Edgecomb, ME 04556
Docket No. 50-271 -0LA LETTERS FROM ANNETTE L. VIETTI-COOK AND LUIS A. REYES ADDRESSED TO SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY, AS WELL AS THE LETTER FROM SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY DATED NOVEMBER 10,2005 John M. Fulton, Esq.
Assistant General Counsel Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Anthony Z. Roisman, Esq.
National Legal Scholars Law Firm 84 East Thetford Rd.
Lyme, NH 03768 Sarah Hofmann, Esq.
Special Counsel Department of Public Service 112 State Street - Drawer 20 Montpelier, VT 05620-2601 Jay E. Silberg, Esq.
Matias F. Travieso-Diaz, Esq.
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP 2300 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20037-1 128 Jonathan M. Rund, Esq.
Law Clerk Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Mail Stop - T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 20th day of December 2005