ML071780517

Closeout of Generic Letter 88-20 Concerning Individual Plant Examination (MC5729)

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 MRubin BClayton TBoyce by memo dated 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 Mr. Robert G. Jones, General Manager Senior Vice President Browns Ferry Site Operations Nuclear Generation Development Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant and Construction Tennessee Valley Authority Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 6A Lookout Place Decatur, AL 35609 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Larry S. Mellen Browns Ferry Unit 1 Project Engineer Mr. Preston D. Swafford Division of Reactor Projects, Branch 6 Senior Vice President U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Nuclear Support 61 Forsyth Street, SW.

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