ML071780517
| ML071780517 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry  |
| Issue date: | 07/16/2007 |
| From: | Boyce T NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLII-2 |
| To: | Campbell W Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Boyce T, NRR/ADRO/DORL/301-415-0184 | |
| References | |
| GL-88-020, TAC MC5729 | |
| Download: ML071780517 (4) | |
Text
July 16, 2007 Mr. William R. Campbell Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801
SUBJECT:
BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 1 - CLOSEOUT OF GENERIC LETTER 88-20 CONCERNING INDIVIDUAL PLANT EXAMINATION (MC5729)
Dear Mr. Campbell:
This letter is to inform you that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA, the licensee) has addressed those actions necessary for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to complete the review of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 1, response to Generic Letter (GL) 88-20, Individual Plant Examination [IPE] for Severe Accident Vulnerabilities. Over the last 3 years, the NRC staff has conducted reviews of the Unit 1 responses to GL 88-20.
GL 88-20 states that "each existing plant should perform a systematic examination to identify any plant-specific vulnerabilities to severe accidents." The NRC has reviewed TVA's response and concluded that the Unit 1 probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) is capable of identifying plant-specific vulnerabilities, and therefore, TVA has met the intent of GL 88-20 with respect to Unit 1. Given the existing information reviewed, the NRC staff finds that the information provided is adequate to support the closeout of GL 88-20. Closeout of GL 88-20 is not intended as approval or endorsement of any material for purposes other than those associated with meeting the intent of GL 88-20.
On a staff review, unrelated to the IPE submittal, the NRC performed an audit in late January 2006 of the PRA model in support of the extended power uprate (EPU) amendment request.
The NRC identified a number of weaknesses with the PRA model during the audit, primarily associated with the EPU application. These weaknesses were discussed with TVA staff and management at the conclusion of the audit. Until such time as the information needed to allow the NRC to reach a conclusion regarding the quality and technical adequacy of the PRA model is provided, the NRC staff does not believe that the existing Unit 1 PRA model should be used to support time-sensitive requests, such as a notice of enforcement discretion, or an emergency or exigent change to the Technical Specifications.
W. Campbell If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Ms. Eva Brown at (301) 415-2315.
Sincerely,
/RA B. Mozafari for/
Thomas H. Boyce, Chief Plant Licensing Branch II-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No: 50-259
ML071780517 NRC-001 OFFICE LPLII-2/PM RES DRA/APLA LPLII-2/LA LPLII-2/BC NAME EBrown DLew by memo dated MRubin BClayton TBoyce BMozafari for DATE 07/16/07 5/5/05 07/16/07 07/16/07 07/16/07 William R. Campbell, Jr.
BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT Tennessee Valley Authority cc:
Mr. Ashok S. Bhatnagar Senior Vice President Nuclear Generation Development and Construction Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Preston D. Swafford Senior Vice President Nuclear Support Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Walter M. Justice II Interim Vice President Nuclear Engineering & Technical Services Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Brian OGrady, Site Vice President Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 General Counsel Tennessee Valley Authority ET 11A 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Mr. John C. Fornicola, General Manager Nuclear Assurance Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Bruce Aukland, Plant Manager Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Masoud Bajestani, Vice President Browns Ferry Unit 1 Restart Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Robert G. Jones, General Manager Browns Ferry Site Operations Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Larry S. Mellen Browns Ferry Unit 1 Project Engineer Division of Reactor Projects, Branch 6 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 61 Forsyth Street, SW.
Suite 23T85 Atlanta, GA 30303-8931 Ms. Beth A. Wetzel, Manager Corporate Nuclear Licensing and Industry Affairs Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. William D. Crouch, Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 10833 Shaw Road Athens, AL 35611-6970 State Health Officer Alabama Dept. of Public Health RSA Tower - Administration Suite 1552 P.O. Box 303017 Montgomery, AL 36130-3017 Chairman Limestone County Commission 310 West Washington Street Athens, AL 35611 Mr. Robert H. Bryan, Jr., General Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801