ML061100131

2006/04/20-Request for Additional Information for the Review of Th Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, License Renewal Application (TAC MC7624) - Application Sections 3.6.2

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, 2006C. N. SwensonSite Vice President AmerGen Energy Company, LLC

P.O. Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731-0388

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE REVIEW OF THEOYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, LICENSE RENEWALAPPLICATION (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 applicationpursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 54 (10 CFR Part 54), to renew theoperating license for Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station. The NRC staff is reviewing theinformation 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/ forDonnie J. Ashley, Project ManagerLicense Renewal Branch A Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor RegulationDocket No. 50-219

Enclosure:

As statedcc w/encl: See next page

DOCUMENT NAME: E:\Filenet\ML061100131.wpdOFFICEPM:RLRA:DLRLA:RLRA:DLRBC:RLRA:DLRNAMEDAshleyYEdmondsLLund DATE04/ 18 /0604/ 18 /0604/ 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 08731Senior Vice President of Operations AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, KSA 3-N Kennett Square, PA 19348Kathryn M. Sutton, EsquireMorgan, Lewis, & Bockius LLP 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004Kent Tosch, ChiefNew Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Nuclear Engineering CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625Vice President - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555Regional Administrator, Region IU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415Mayor of Lacey Township818 West Lacey Road Forked River, NJ 08731Senior Resident InspectorU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

P.O. Box 445 Forked River, NJ 08731Director - Licensing and Regulatory AffairsAmerGen Energy Company, LLC Correspondence Control

P.O. Box 160 Kennett Square, PA 19348Manager Licensing - Oyster CreekExelon Generation Company, LLC Correspondence Control

P.O. Box 160 Kennett Square, PA 19348Regulatory Assurance Manager Oyster Creek AmerGen Energy Company, LLC

P.O. Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731Assistant General CounselAmerGen Energy Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way Kennett Square, PA 19348Ron Bellamy, Region IU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415Correspondence Control DeskAmerGen Energy Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, KSA 1--1 Kennett Square, PA 19348Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating StationPlant Manager AmerGen Energy Company, LLC

P.O. Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731License Renewal ManagerExelon Generation Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, Suite 230 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station cc:Mr. James RossNuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006-3708Mr. Michael P. GallagherVice President License Renewal Exelon Generation Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, Suite 230 Kennett Square, PA 19348Mr. Christopher M. CranePresident 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 THEOYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, LICENSE RENEWALAPPLICATION (TAC NO. MC7624)Adams Accession No.: ML061100131HARD COPYDLR R/FDISTRIBUTION

JFairRWeisman 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

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VRodriguez DAshley RLaufer GMiller RBellamy, RI RCureton, RI JLilliendahl, RIMModes, RI MSykes, RI AHodgdon DShum RidsOpaMail RidsNrrDorl OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATIONLICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (LRA) REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI)RAI-3.6.2.2.5Industry operating experience as discussed in Information Notice 93-95, identified the potentialfor 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 insulatorsdoes exist for facilities that are near the sea coast where salt spray is prevalent, the staffrequests the applicant to provide an aging management program (AMP) to manage the aging effects of insulator surface contamination due to salt deposits.RAI-3.6.2.2.6-1Torque 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, "BoltedJoint 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-3.6.2.2.6-2The staff requests the applicant to compare the Ontario Hydroelectric study to Oyster Creek.

RAI-3.6.2.3.1-1In LRA Section 3.6.2.3.1, the applicant stated that "These panels are not located in adverselocalized 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-3.6.2.3.1-2In 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-3.6.2.3.1-3In the LRA Section 3.6.2.3.1, the applicant stated that "SCRAM solenoid fuses are not subjectto 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 powersupplies. Also, discuss how often the fuses are manipulated and the reason for this manipulation.RAI-3.6.2.3.2In LRA Section 3.6.2.3.2, the applicant stated that "Because of the non-EQ electricalpenetrations are the same as the EQ electrical penetrations, and the EQ penetrations havebeen 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 EQpenetrations.RAI-3.6.2.3.3In LRA Section 3.6.2.3.3, under the heading "Thermal Cycling, Ohmic Heating and ElectricalTransients," the applicant stated that "At Oyster Creek, power supply cables are typicallyinstalled 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, activecomponents, 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 withcables 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-3.6.2.3.4In LRA Section 3.6.2.3.4, the applicant stated that "Ground connections are commonly madewith 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 thermalexpansion. 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 JointMaintenance & 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.