ML071150529
| ML071150529 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Callaway, PROJ0750  |
| Issue date: | 04/24/2007 |
| From: | Lesser M NRC/RGN-II/DCI/CIB1 |
| To: | Wrobel G UniStar Nuclear |
| References | |
| Download: ML071150529 (8) | |
Text
April 24, 2007 George Wrobel, Director Licensing, UniStar Nuclear R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant 1503 Lake Rd.
Ontario, NY 14519
SUBJECT:
SITE VISIT TO THE CALLAWAY SITE TO OBSERVE COMBINED LICENSE PRE-APPLICATION SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES (PROJECT NO. 750)
Dear Mr. Wrobel:
On April 3-4, 2007, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) inspectors from Region II conducted a visit to the Callaway site accompanied by members of the NRCs Office of New Reactors. The purpose of the visit was to observe combined license (COL) pre-application subsurface investigation activities being conducted by AmerenUE to obtain geotechnical/
seismic data to support a COL application for a new nuclear power plant. These observations will provide background information for the NRCs future review of the expected COL application for the Callaway site.
A summary of the site visit is enclosed, which includes a list of NRC participants and persons with whom discussion were held is enclosed.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Mark S. Lesser, Chief Construction Inspection Branch Division of Construction Inspection Project No. 750
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl: (See next page)
G. Wrobel 2
cc w/encl:
Garrett Smith, NNSA/HQ NA-261/Forrestal 1000 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20585 A.J. Eggenberger, Chairman Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board 625 Indiana Ave., NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20004 Joseph Olencz, NNSA/HQ 1000 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20585 Mr. Henry Porter, Assistant Director Division of Radioactive Waste Management Bureau of Health and Environmental Control 2600 Bull Street.
Columbia, SC 29201 D. Silverman Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius 1111 Penn. Ave., NW Washington, DC 20004 Diane Curran Harmon, Curran, Spielburg & Eisenberg, LLP 1726 M St., NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 Michele Boyd Legislative Director Energy Program Public Citizens Critical Mass Energy 215 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003 Anne W. Cottingham Assistant General Counsel Nuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006 Pat Cryderman Superintendent Replacement/Accident Analysis and Major Projects AmerenUE P.O. Box 620 Fulton, MO 65251 Marvin Fertel Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Nuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006-3708 Tim E. Herrmann Vice President, Engineering AmerenUE P.O. Box 620 Fulton, MO 65251
ML071150529 OFFICE RII:DCI HQ:NRO RII:DCI RII:DCI SIGNATURE via e-mail via-e-mail JDF MSL NAME JTapia L. Burkhart JFuller MLesser DATE 4/18/07 4/23/07 4/23/07 4/24/07 E-MAIL COPY?
YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO
Enclosure SITE VISIT TO THE CALLAWAY PROJECT SITE TO OBSERVE COMBINED LICENSE PRE-APPLICATION SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES PROJECT NO. 750 Purpose of Visit:
A site visit was conducted on April 3-4, 2007 by Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Regional and Office of New Reactors (NRO) staff. NRC inspectors observed combined license (COL) pre-application subsurface investigation activities conducted by AmerenUE to obtain geotechnical and seismic data at the proposed location of a new nuclear power plant at the Callaway site. The purpose of the visit was to observe geotechnical investigation activities and gather information to support future NRC licensing and inspection activities. The staff used the following inspection manual chapters and procedures as guidance:
NRC Inspection Manual Chapter 2502, Construction Inspection Program:
Pre-Combined License (PRE-COL) Phase NRC Inspection Procedure 35004, Pre-Docketing Early Site Permit Quality Assurance Controls Inspection NRC Inspection Procedure 45051, Geotechnical/Foundation Activities Procedure Review The visit served to ascertain whether adequate quality assurance controls had been established, were properly being implemented, and to assess whether the technical requirements for geotechnical exploration for a COL had been adequately addressed through specifications, drawings, and work procedures.
Principal Persons Contacted:
S. Bond, AmerenUE P. Cryderman, AmerenUE T. Grothe, AmerenUE L. Kanuckel, AmerenUE E. Mayhorn, AmerenUE S. Meyer, AmerenUE R. Rice, AmerenUE G. Wrobel, UniStar Nuclear D. Campbell, Paul C. Rizzo Associates, Inc.
T. Campbell, Paul C. Rizzo Associates, Inc.
A. Fernandez, Paul C. Rizzo Associates, Inc.
M. Koleber, Paul C. Rizzo Associates, Inc.
M. Pelcher, Paul C. Rizzo Associates, Inc.
2 Enclosure NRC Inspectors:
J. Tapia, P.E., Senior Reactor Inspector, Region II (RII)
J. Fuller, Construction Inspector, RII NRC Accompanying Personnel:
Y. Li, Geophysicist, Office of New Reactors (NRO)
L. Bauer, Geologist/Paleoseismologist, NRO L. Burkhart, Project Manager, NRO R. Jackson, Construction Inspector, RII
Background:
By letters dated February 9 and March 5, 2007, AmerenUE informed the NRC of its proposed schedule for geophysical testing in support of a potential COL application at the Callaway site.
A COL is a combined construction permit and operating license with conditions for a nuclear power facility pursuant to 10 CFR Part 52 Subpart C. AmerenUE contracted Paul C. Rizzo Associates, Inc. to conduct the site studies and perform the sample accumulation and testing required for the application.
Overview of Subsurface Investigation Activities Discussed and/or Observed:
The inspectors determined that AmerenUE was using the Quality Assurance (QA) program for the operating Callaway plant to govern the site activities. AmerenUE planned to use the subsurface investigations described below to provide data to determine site suitability for an COL. AmerenUEs subsurface investigation activities included areas that would be the site of cooling towers, important yard structures and the reactor site. The site investigation included 69 borings, 35 within Category I structures and 34 in other plant locations. The depths of the boreholes varied from 40 to 60 feet and three boreholes were 350 feet for detailed core logging and geophysical testing.
The scope of the site characterization activities included various field and geotechnical laboratory tests. The inspectors determined that the following field testing methods were utilized:
Standard Penetration Test Borings (SPT) (ASTM D1586-99, ASTM D4633-05)
Undisturbed Sampling Using Shelby Tube Samplers (ASTM D1587-00)
Seismic Shear and Compressional Velocity Measurements (P-S Logging)
Borehole Geophysical Logging (ASTM D5753-05)
Standard Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling of Rock for Site Investigation (ASTM D21130-06) for Rock Core (ASTM D2113-06)
Standard Guide for Using the Seismic-Reflection Method for Shallow Subsurface Investigation (ASTM D7128-05)
Standard Test Method for Prebored Pressuremeter Testing in Soils (ASTM D4719-00)
Standard Test Methods for Crosshole Seismic Testing (ASTM D4428-00)
3 Enclosure The inspectors determined that the following laboratory testing standards were scheduled to be implemented at the laboratory:
Moisture Content (ASTM D2216-98)
Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (ASTM D2487-00)
Standard Practice for Description and Identification of Soils (ASTM D2488-00)
Particle-Size Analysis (ASTM D422-63)
Atterberg Limits (ASTM D4318-00)
Moisture-Density (ASTM D1557-02)
Unconfined Compression Strength (ASTM D2166-00)
Unconsolidated-Undrained Triaxial Compression (ASTM D2850-03a)
Consolidated-Undrained Triaxial Compression (ASTM D4767-04)
Direct-Shear Test (ASTM D3080-04)
Consolidation Test (ASTM D2435-00)
Standard Practice for Dry Preparation of Soil Samples for Particle-Size Analysis and Determination of Soil Constants (ASTM D421-85)
Standard Practice for Wet Preparation of Soil Samples for Particle-Size Analysis and Determination of Soil Constants (ASTM D2217-85)
Standard Test Method for Triaxial Compressive Strength of Undrained Rock core Specimens Without Pore Pressure Measurements (ASTM D2664-04)
Standard Test Method for Direct Tensile Strength of Intact Rock Specimens (ASTM D2936-95)
Standard Test Method for Unconfined Compressive Strength of Intact Rock Core Specimens (ASTM D2938-95)
Standard Test Methods for the Determination of the Modulus and Damping Properties of Soils Using the Cyclic Triaxial Apparatus (ASTM D3999-91)
Standard Test Methods for Modulus and Damping of Soils by the Resonant Column Method (ASTM D4015-92)
Standard Test Method for Determination of Pore Volume and Pore Volume Distribution of Soil and Rock by Mercury Intrusion (ASTM D4404-84)
Standard Test Method for Slake Durability of Shales and Similar Weak Rocks (ASTM D4644-04)
Standard Test Method for Erodibility Determination of Soil in the Laboratory by the Jet Index Method (ASTM D5852-00)
Specific Gravity of Soil Solids (ASTM D854-02)
Resonant Column/Torsional Shear Test (University of Texas Procedure)
The inspectors reviewed appropriate quality control and technical site characterization procedures and verified that the following attributes were adequate:
Approved and documented instructions, procedures, and drawings were used for site characterization activities.
Measures were implemented for test control and control of special processes and engineering direction was readily available.
Measures existed to identify and resolve non-conformances and conditions adverse to quality.
For site characterization activities performed by vendors, appropriate oversight and procurement controls were implemented.
4 Enclosure The inspectors reviewed and assessed the adequacy of the following:
AmerenUE Procedure GDP-ZZ-00700, Supplier Quality Work Control, Rev. 15.
AmerenUE Supplier Quality Surveillance Report VS06-003.
AmerenUE Supplier Quality Surveillance Report VS07-002.
AmerenUE Audit Report VA06-001.
AmerenUE Request for Corrective Action VA06-006-01 through VA06-006-07.
Paul C. Rizzo Associates, Inc., Response to Requests for Corrective Action, March 1, 2007.
Paul C. Rizzo Associates, Inc., Internal Audit 06-9012.00.
Paul C. Rizzo Associates, Inc., Quality Assurance Manual, Rev. 3.
Paul C. Rizzo Associates, Inc., Field Investigation Work Plan for Geotechnical Investigation, Rev. 1.
Paul C. Rizzo Associates, Inc., Daily Logs; 12/18/06 through 4/1/07.
NonConformance Reports 06-3624-1 through 06-3624-5.
Corrective/Preventative Action Report (CPAR) 001-07.
Audit Report Bay Geophysical, Inc., March 16, 2007.
Bay Geophysical, Inc., Work Plan: High Resolution Seismic S-Wave Reflection Survey.
Selected Supplier Evaluation Forms.
Commercial Grade Dedication Plan - Drilling Services and Pressuremeter Testing Commercial Grade Dedication Plan - Crosshole Seismic Testing Commercial Grade Dedication Plan - Downhole Seismic Velocity Testing Commercial Grade Dedication Plan - SPT Energy Measurement Commercial Grade Dedication Plan - AquaDrill, Inc. Drilling Services Selected boring logs and data sheets including maps of boring locations and hydrologic observations.
Selected instrumentation and equipment calibration records.
Qualifications of personnel associated with geotechnical and QA activities.
Drilling and Sampling Observed:
Observation of work in progress included pressuremeter testing, obtaining core samples and the generation of logging records. The inspectors verified that work was being performed in accordance with appropriate procedures. Two drilling rigs were operating during the site visit.
Each drilling operation was controlled by a Paul Rizzo rig geologist and each rig worked to an individual work instruction. Inspectors conducted interviews with rig geologists and technicians to determine that personnel were knowledgeable of applicable QA and technical requirements.
The work observed was in accordance with applicable ASTM standards and specific work procedure requirements. The rig geologist field boring logs were detailed and provided a good record of coring results. Samples were collected and stored in accordance with standard practices for preserving and transporting samples. The sample storage facility was located in a locked warehouse within the owner controlled area.
5 Enclosure Shear wave measurements had not been obtained at the time of the site visit. Site specific personnel indicated that NRC Regulatory Guide 1.208, A Performance Based Approach to Define the Site-Specific Earthquake Ground Motion, would be used to determine the ground motion response spectra.
Geotechnical subsurface investigation activities were being adequately controlled with an appropriate level of supervisory and QA oversight and in accordance with both procedural requirements and industry standards. The QA program implementation was evaluated by reviewing nonconformance reports (NCRs) generated to date. The inspectors determined that a low threshold for issuing NCRs was evident, indicating a robust implementation of the QA Program.