ML061100131
| ML061100131 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oyster Creek |
| Issue date: | 04/20/2006 |
| From: | Ashley D NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR/RLRA |
| To: | Swenson C AmerGen Energy Co |
| ashley, D J, NRR/DLR/RLRA, 415-3191 | |
| References | |
| %dam200606, TAC MC7624 | |
| Download: ML061100131 (8) | |
Text
April 20, 2006 C. N. Swenson Site Vice President AmerGen Energy Company, LLC P.O. Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731-0388
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE REVIEW OF THE OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (TAC NO. MC7624)
Dear Mr. Swenson:
By letter dated July 22, 2005, AmerGen Energy Company, LLC (AmerGen or the applicant) submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the staff) an application pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 54 (10 CFR Part 54), to renew the operating license for Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station. The NRC staff is reviewing the information contained in the license renewal application and has identified, in the enclosure, areas where additional information is needed to complete the review.
These questions were discussed with members of your staff during two conference calls on March 24 and April 7, 2006. A mutually agreeable date for a response is within 30 days from the date of this letter. If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-3191 or via e-mail at DJA1@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, R. Auluck /RA/ for Donnie J. Ashley, Project Manager License Renewal Branch A Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-219
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl: See next page
DOCUMENT NAME: E:\\Filenet\\ML061100131.wpd OFFICE PM:RLRA:DLR LA:RLRA:DLR BC:RLRA:DLR NAME DAshley YEdmonds LLund DATE 04/ 18 /06 04/ 18 /06 04/ 19 /06
Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station cc:
Site Vice President - Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station AmerGen Energy Company, LLC P.O. Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731 Senior Vice President of Operations AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, KSA 3-N Kennett Square, PA 19348 Kathryn M. Sutton, Esquire Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius LLP 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004 Kent Tosch, Chief New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Nuclear Engineering CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625 Vice President - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Regional Administrator, Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415 Mayor of Lacey Township 818 West Lacey Road Forked River, NJ 08731 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 445 Forked River, NJ 08731 Director - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs AmerGen Energy Company, LLC Correspondence Control P.O. Box 160 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Manager Licensing - Oyster Creek Exelon Generation Company, LLC Correspondence Control P.O. Box 160 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Regulatory Assurance Manager Oyster Creek AmerGen Energy Company, LLC P.O. Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731 Assistant General Counsel AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way Kennett Square, PA 19348 Ron Bellamy, Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415 Correspondence Control Desk AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, KSA 1--1 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Plant Manager AmerGen Energy Company, LLC P.O. Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731 License Renewal Manager Exelon Generation Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, Suite 230 Kennett Square, PA 19348
Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station cc:
Mr. James Ross Nuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006-3708 Mr. Michael P. Gallagher Vice President License Renewal Exelon Generation Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, Suite 230 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Mr. Christopher M. Crane President and Chief Nuclear Officer AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555
Ltr. to C.N. Swenson from Donnie Ashley dated: April 20, 2006
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE REVIEW OF THE OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (TAC NO. MC7624)
Adams Accession No.: ML061100131 HARD COPY DLR R/F DISTRIBUTION:
JFair RWeisman AMurphy RPettis GGalletti CLi GBagchi SSmith (srs3)
SDuraiswamy YL (Renee) Li RidsNrrDlr RidsNrrDlrRlra RidsNrrDlrRlrb RidsNrrDe RidsNrrDci RidsNrreEemb RidsNrrDeEeeb RidsNrrDeEqva RidsNrrDss RidsNrrDnrl RidsOgcMailCenter RidsNrrAdes DLR Staff VRodriguez DAshley RLaufer GMiller RBellamy, RI RCureton, RI JLilliendahl, RI MModes, RI MSykes, RI AHodgdon DShum RidsOpaMail RidsNrrDorl
OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (LRA)
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI)
RAI-3.6.2.2.5 Industry operating experience as discussed in Information Notice 93-95, identified the potential for loss of offsite power due to salt contamination of the switchyard insulators. On March 17, 1993, Crystal River Unit 3 experienced a loss of the 230 kV switchyard (normal offsite power to safety-related buses) when a light rain caused arcing across salt-laden 230 kV insulators and opened breakers in switchyard. Since 1982, Pilgrim station has also experienced several loss of offsite power events when heavy ocean storms deposited salt on the 345 kV switchyard causing the insulator to arc to ground. The applicant stated that an incident on September 18, 2003 was considered a highly unusual weather condition that resulted in wind blown salty spray deposited on insulators causing flashing. The fact that industry operating experience has shown that the potential loss of offsite power due to salt contamination of switchyard insulators does exist for facilities that are near the sea coast where salt spray is prevalent, the staff requests the applicant to provide an aging management program (AMP) to manage the aging effects of insulator surface contamination due to salt deposits.
RAI-3.6.2.2.6-1 Torque relaxation for bolted connections is a concern for transmission conductor connections.
An electrical connection must be designed to remain tight and maintain good conductivity through a large temperature range. Meeting this design requirement is difficult if the material specified for the bolt and the conductor are different and have different rates of thermal expansion. For example, copper or aluminum bus/conductor materials expand faster than most bolting materials. If thermal stress is added to stresses inherent at assembly, the joint members or fasteners can yield. If plastic deformation occurs during thermal loading (i.e.,
heatup) when the connection cools, the joint will be loose. EPRI document TR-104213, Bolted Joint Maintenance & Application Guide recommends inspection of bolted joints for evidence of overheating, signs of burning or discoloration, and indication of loose bolts. The staff requests the applicant to provide a discussion as to why torque relaxation for bolted connection is not a concern for Oyster Creek Generating Station (OCGS).
RAI-3.6.2.2.6-2 The staff requests the applicant to compare the Ontario Hydroelectric study to Oyster Creek.
RAI-3.6.2.3.1-1 In LRA Section 3.6.2.3.1, the applicant stated that These panels are not located in adverse localized areas of high temperature or humidity. These rooms are protected from weather variations and are not subject to significant temperature variations. The staff requests the applicant to explain how these rooms are protected from weather variations.
RAI-3.6.2.3.1-2 In LRA Section 3.6.2.3.1, the applicant indicated that With regard to internal moisture (i.e.,
formation of condensation), a walkdown revealed no signs of moisture/humidity in the area, or any sign of moisture within the enclosure. The staff requests the applicant to provide details about the walkdown (number of fuse holders inspected and condition of the fuse holders, etc.).
RAI-3.6.2.3.1-3 In the LRA Section 3.6.2.3.1, the applicant stated that SCRAM solenoid fuses are not subject to frequent manipulations. When these circuits need to be de-energized, power is removed at the safety-related power supplies. When manipulated an inspection is performed.... The staff requests that the applicant discuss the disconnection means at the safety-related power supplies. Also, discuss how often the fuses are manipulated and the reason for this manipulation.
RAI-3.6.2.3.2 In LRA Section 3.6.2.3.2, the applicant stated that Because of the non-EQ electrical penetrations are the same as the EQ electrical penetrations, and the EQ penetrations have been shown to have a qualified life of 60 years, Amergen concludes that non-EQ electrical penetrations are also qualified for a 60-year life. The staff requests that the applicant confirm that non-EQ electrical penetrations will be exposed to the same environment as the EQ penetrations.
RAI-3.6.2.3.3 In LRA Section 3.6.2.3.3, under the heading Thermal Cycling, Ohmic Heating and Electrical Transients, the applicant stated that At Oyster Creek, power supply cables are typically installed in a continuous run from the supply, e.g., switchgear, to the load, e.g., motor. The metallic parts of connections to the supply and load are therefore part of, or internal to, active components, e.g., the switchgear and motor, and therefore not subject to aging management.
The AMP XI-E6, Electrical Cable Connections not Subject to 10 CFR 50.49 Environmental Qualification Requirements of NUREG-1801, Rev. 1 specified that connections associated with cables within the scope of license renewal are part of this program, regardless of their association with active or passive components. Also, refer to pages 107, 256 and 257 of NUREG-1833, Technical Bases for Revision to the License Renewal Guidance Documents, for additional information regarding AMP XI-E6. The staff requests that the applicant provide an AMP with the ten elements.
RAI-3.6.2.3.4 In LRA Section 3.6.2.3.4, the applicant stated that Ground connections are commonly made with welds or compression type connectors, which include compression-, bolted-, and wedge type devices. Torque relaxation for bolted connections is a concern for ground connections.
An electrical connection must be designed to remain tight and maintain good conductivity through a large temperature range. Meeting this design requirement is difficult if the material specified for the bolt and the conductor are different and have different rates of thermal expansion. For example, copper or aluminum conductor materials expand faster than most bolting materials. If thermal stress is added to stresses inherent at assembly, the joint members or fasteners can yield. If plastic deformation occurs during thermal loading (i.e., heatup) when the connection cools, the joint will be loose. EPRI document TR-104213, Bolted Joint Maintenance & Application Guide recommends inspection of bolted joints for evidence of overheating, signs of burning or discoloration, and indication of loose bolts. The staff requests that the applicant provide a discussion as to why torque relaxation for bolted connection is not a concern for OCGS.