ML061600374

Quick Turnaround for Review of a Proposed Amendment

ML061600374
Person / Time
Site:	Cook
Issue date:	06/16/2006
From:	Raghavan L Plant Licensing Branch III-2
To:	Nazar M Indiana Michigan Power Co, Nuclear Generation Group
tam P, NRR/ADRO/DORL, 415-1451
References
TAC MD2106
Download: ML061600374 (4)

Text

June 16, 2006 Mr. Mano K. Nazar Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Indiana Michigan Power Company Nuclear Generation Group One Cook Place Bridgman, MI 49106

SUBJECT:

DONALD C. COOK NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 1 - QUICK TURNAROUND TIME FOR REVIEW OF A PROPOSED AMENDMENT (TAC NO. MD2106)

The purpose of this letter is to share our observation with you regarding the need for better planning of licensing submittals by the Indiana Michigan Power Company (I&M) that require Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval.

By letter dated May 31, 2006, you submitted an application for license amendment to replace the existing resistance temperature detector (RTD) bypass loop piping with a fast response thermowell-mounted RTDs located in the reactor coolant piping. You requested our approval of the amendment by September 8, 2006, allowing approximately 3 months for the NRC staff to complete its review. The NRC has established performance goals for licensing actions:

complete 96 percent in less than 1 year, and 100 percent in less than 2 years. I&M should anticipate that our review of most licensing actions can be accomplished in a range of 8 to 12 months. Thus, we find your proposed target date for completion of the review to be aggressive.

We will endeavor to complete the review as expeditiously as possible. However, I&M should take appropriate contingency measures if our action is not completed before I&M's requested schedule.

We have previously discussed with I&M the need to exercise prior planning of I&M submittals to ensure adequate time for NRC review consistent with NRC's performance goals. For example, in a public meeting held on February 12, 2004, relating to a proposed license amendment regarding nuclear fuel supplier transition, we had stressed the need for adequate review time.

More recently, while reviewing certain relief requests with short lead times, we again informed you on the need for planning your submittals.

NRC faces significant challenges in balancing its work load, available resources, budget constraints, and performance goals. Licensing actions that involve short turnaround times tend to abruptly divert NRC resources dedicated to other already scheduled tasks, thus, risking timely completion of previously scheduled tasks and hampering NRC's ability to respond to unforseen circumstances. We request that I&M take appropriate corrective actions to ensure

Mr. M. Nazar that future licensing submittals are planned with sufficient lead time to effectively conduct all required internal and external reviews. If you would like to discuss this matter further, please call me at 301-415-2429.

Sincerely,

/RA/

L. Raghavan, Chief Plant Licensing Branch III-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-315 and 50-316 cc: See next page

ML061600374 OFFICE NRR/LPL3-1/PM NRR/LPL3-1/PM NRR/LPL3-1/LA NRR/LPL3-1/BC NAME PTam KFeintuch THarris LRaghavan LRaghavan for DATE 6/16/06 6/16/06 6/16/06 6/16/06 Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 cc:

Regional Administrator, Region III Michigan Department of Environmental U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Quality Suite 210 Waste and Hazardous Materials Div.

2443 Warrenville Road Hazardous Waste & Radiological Lisle, IL 60532-4351 Protection Section Nuclear Facilities Unit Attorney General Constitution Hall, Lower-Level North Department of Attorney General 525 West Allegan Street 525 West Ottawa Street P. O. Box 30241 Lansing, MI 48913 Lansing, MI 48909-7741 Township Supervisor Lawrence J. Weber, Plant Manager Lake Township Hall Indiana Michigan Power Company P.O. Box 818 Nuclear Generation Group Bridgman, MI 49106 One Cook Place Bridgman, MI 49106 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Resident Inspector's Office Mr. Joseph N. Jensen, Site Vice President 7700 Red Arrow Highway Indiana Michigan Power Company Stevensville, MI 49127 Nuclear Generation Group One Cook Place James M. Petro, Jr., Esquire Bridgman, MI 49106 Indiana Michigan Power Company One Cook Place Bridgman, MI 49106 Mayor, City of Bridgman P.O. Box 366 Bridgman, MI 49106 Special Assistant to the Governor Room 1 - State Capitol Lansing, MI 48909 Mr. John A. Zwolinski Safety Assurance Director Indiana Michigan Power Company Nuclear Generation Group One Cook Place Bridgman, MI 49106