ML061420156

RAI, Review of Pending License Amendment Requests (TAC MC3812, MC3743, MC3744) (TS-431 and TS-418)

ML061420156
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	05/25/2006
From:	Holden C Plant Licensing Branch III-2
To:	Singer K Tennessee Valley Authority
Chernoff M, NRR/DORL, 415-4041
References
TAC MC3743, TAC MC3744, TAC MC3812, TS-418, TS-431
Download: ML061420156 (5)

Text

May 25, 2006 Mr. Karl W. Singer Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801

SUBJECT:

BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1, 2 AND 3 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR REVIEW OF PENDING LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUESTS (TAC NOS. MC3812, MC3743, AND MC3744)

(TS-431 AND TS-418)

Dear Mr. Singer:

This letter requests additional information to support the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs review of two license amendment requests currently under review. These submittals are the request for extended power uprate (EPU) for the three Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (BFN) Units. This information is needed for the reviews to proceed and be completed by the requested need dates.

Extended Power Uprate By letters dated June 28 and 25, 2004 [ADAMS Accession Nos. ML041840299 and ML041840109], the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the licensee, submitted amendment requests for all three units. The proposed amendments would change the BFN operating licenses to increase the maximum authorized power level by approximately 20 percent above the current maximum authorized power level for Unit 1 and approximately 15 percent for Units 2 and 3.

During discussions with the NRC staff beginning May 5, 2006, TVA stated that it has decided to construct a 16-cell cooling tower, in lieu of the 20-cell cooling tower described in both the EPU and license renewal applications, to support operation of Unit 1. This change was discussed again during a teleconference with TVA on May 14, 2006. The NRC staff described that the TVA should submit information specifying the changes in design of the new sixth cooling tower, including the number of cells, describe the changes in the expected frequency of derating, and changes in the analysis of environmental impacts. Such analysis should include, but not be limited to, an assessment of impacts on noise, thermal plume impacts on aquatic biota (including hydrothermal modeling and heat shock analysis), impacts on water use and quality, impacts on air quality, and impacts on threatened and endangered species. The submittal should include confirmation that these changes have been endorsed by the appropriate state and federal environmental agencies.

K. Singer As discussed previously, in a letter dated January 19, 2006, the ability of the NRC staff to meet the requested need dates for completion of the EPU submittal reviews can be significantly affected by delays or changes. This information is required by August 1, 2006, to support completion and publication of the Environmental Assessment (EA) in the Federal Register for public comment. Currently, NRC is delaying issuance of the EA to ensure it accurately reflects the modifications TVA plans to implement.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Margaret Chernoff at 301-415-4041 or Ms. Eva Brown at 301-415-2315.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Cornelius F. Holden, Deputy Director Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-259, 50-260, and 50-296 cc: See next page

ML061420156 NRR-088 OFFICE LPL2-2/PM LPL2-2/PM LPL2-2/LA LPL2-2/BC DORL/DD NAME MChernoff for MChernoff BClayton MMarshall CHolden EBrown:bt DATE 05/23/06 05/23/06 05/23/06 05/23/06 05/25/06 Mr. Karl W. Singer BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT Tennessee Valley Authority cc:

Mr. Ashok S. Bhatnagar, Senior Vice President Mr. Robert G. Jones, General Manager Nuclear Operations Browns Ferry Site Operations Tennessee Valley Authority Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 6A Lookout Place Tennessee Valley Authority 1101 Market Street P.O. Box 2000 Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Larry S. Bryant, Vice President Mr. Scott M. Shaeffer Nuclear Engineering & Technical Services Browns Ferry Unit 1 Project Engineer Tennessee Valley Authority Division of Reactor Projects, Branch 6 6A Lookout Place U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1101 Market Street 61 Forsyth Street, SW.

Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Suite 23T85 Atlanta, GA 30303-8931 Brian OGrady, Site Vice President Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Mr. Larry S. Mellen Tennessee Valley Authority Browns Ferry Unit 1 Project Engineer P.O. Box 2000 Division of Reactor Projects, Branch 6 Decatur, AL 35609 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 61 Forsyth Street, SW.

Mr. Robert J. Beecken, Vice President Suite 23T85 Nuclear Support Atlanta, GA 30303-8931 Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place Mr. Glenn W. Morris, Manager 1101 Market Street Corporate Nuclear Licensing Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 and Industry Affairs Tennessee Valley Authority General Counsel 4X Blue Ridge Tennessee Valley Authority 1101 Market Street ET 11A Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Mr. William D. Crouch, Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Mr. John C. Fornicola, Manager Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Nuclear Assurance and Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 6A Lookout Place Decatur, AL 35609 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mr. Bruce Aukland, Plant Manager Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 10833 Shaw Road Tennessee Valley Authority Athens, AL 35611-6970 P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 State Health Officer Alabama Dept. of Public Health Mr. Masoud Bajestani, Vice President RSA Tower - Administration Browns Ferry Unit 1 Restart Suite 1552 Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant P.O. Box 303017 Tennessee Valley Authority Montgomery, AL 36130-3017 P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Chairman Limestone County Commission 310 West Washington Street Athens, AL 35611