ML072270607
| ML072270607 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | PROJ0690 |
| Issue date: | 08/28/2007 |
| From: | Hoffman S NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR/RLRB |
| To: | Nuclear Energy Institute |
| Hoffman, S T, NRR, 415-3245 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML072270607 (10) | |
Text
August 28, 2007ORGANIZATION:Nuclear Energy Institute
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF THE LICENSE RENEWAL TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL AND MEETING HELD BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF AND THE NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE LICENSE RENEWAL TASK FORCEThe U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)License Renewal Task Force held a public telephone conference call and meeting on July 25, 2007, to discuss generic license renewal topics, lessons learned from the audit process, and license renewal process improvements. Enclosure 1 provides a listing of the conference call participants. Enclosure 2 contains theagenda for the conference call. A summary of the discussions follows:1.Environmental topicsa.Information needed on Category I impacts and NRC staff requests for additionalinformationThe staff indicated that it had reviewed Table 9-1 in the Generic Environmental ImpactStatement (GEIS) (NUREG-1437) and determined that, while the table does summarize the findings of all 92 issues, only certain of these findings apply to all plants and that others apply to plants that have certain features or systems that operate within specified parameters. The staff also clarified that, although Table 9-1 is helpful in determiningwhat conclusions were drawn for each impact issue, it does not assist the staff in meeting its obligation to describe, in a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS), the nuclear power plant, the site, and the plant's interaction with the environment as directed by Chapter 2 of the environmental standard review plan (NUREG-1555, Supplement 1). The staff reiterated that guidance to the industry on how an environmental report (ER) for license renewal can be prepared is provided in Chapters 2 and 3 of Regulatory Guide 4.2, Supplement 1, which addresses information pertaining to the site, environmental interfaces, general plant information, refurbishment activities, and other descriptive information the staff needs to prepare the SEIS. The staff indicated that, to the extent an ER includes this information, the staff will use it to prepare its SEIS. If, however, the ER does not include this information, the staff may need to request it. The staff concluded by encouraging the applicants to raise concerns with specific requests for information to the cognizant project manager for resolution.b.Clarification of non-GEIS or regulatory issuesNEI was not prepared to discuss this agenda topic which was a continuation of a topicdiscussed at the May 31, 2007, meeting. It was agreed that this item will not be included in future meeting agendas until NEI indicates it is ready to discuss it. c.Status - GEIS updateThe staff indicated that the review schedule for the GEIS is subject to further adjustmentbecause technical assistance for the severe accident mitigation alternatives analysis is needed and a contract for this work is needed. The revised schedule will be announced in the future.d.Status - environmental workshop summaryThe staff indicated that a summary of the March 21, 2007, environmental workshop wasissued on July 16, 2007, and the package can be accessed in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) under Accession Number ML071690361.e.Severe accident mitigation alternative (SAMA) analyses: Industry notification of aproblem with use of SECPOP2000 code as input to MACCS2 code.The NRC staff and members of the industry provided a brief summary of errors thatwere recently identified in the codes used to generate SAMA analyses for ERs. The staff indicated that once the errors are well understood and a method to resolve them is identified, the NRC may issue a Regulatory Issue Summary to communicate these items to the industry. When asked what the NRC is expecting the license renewal applicants to do about these errors, the staff responded that applicants need to determine the impacts on their SAMA analyses, identify strategies to resolve them for their specific applications, and discuss these items with the cognizant project manager. 2.Scoping of structures and components credited for recovery from station blackoutGuidance on license renewal scoping and screening for structures and components creditedfor compliance with the stations blackout rule (10 CFR 50.63) is contained in License Renewal Interim Staff Guidance (LR-ISG)-02, "Staff Guidance on Scoping of Equipment Relied on to Meet the Requirements of the Station Blackout (SBO) Rule (10 CFR 50.63) for License Renewal (10 CFR 54(a)(3))," dated April 1, 2002 (ADAMS Accession No.
ML020920464) and the standard review plan for license renewal (NUREG-1800) in which LR-ISG-02 was subsequently incorporated. The guidance indicates that the components and structures that are subject to an aging management review typically include the switchyard circuit breakers that connect to the offsite power transformers. NEI indicated that the staff should consider plant-specific designs and that a manual disconnect device could be credited as the boundary. NEI indicated that the guidance says "typically" and that the NRC has accepted manual disconnect devices in the past on selected applications. The staff responded that the proper interpretation of the guidance is to establish the boundary at the first switchyard circuit breaker from the offsite line and that it would ensure that the guidance is followed in the future. NEI responded that it planned to send the staff a white paper before the next meeting that supports its position. 3.NRC staff on-line access to applicant databasesOne applicant previously provided the NRC staff with password protected, read-only accessto its online database of onsite documentation that support its license renewal application.
This facilitated the staff's preparation for the onsite audit. In response to NEI's request, the staff investigated whether other applicants can provide the staff with the same access. The staff indicated that this option is available to other applicants if the appropriate restrictions are established. The staff will continue to require that the applicant submit all information relied upon to support the staff's safety evaluation report on the docket under oath and affirmation. Applicants interested in pursuing this option should discuss it with their assigned project manager.4.Metal fatigue time-limited aging analyses and cycle projectionsThe NRC staff is requesting information on the methodology used for environmentallyassisted fatigue analyses and NEI questioned whether the staff has established a new standard. The staff responded that it had not established a new standard and that the standard is as described in the license renewal standard review plan. Applicants have provided the information in the past. If the information is not provided in the application, the staff obtains it using requests for additional information and/or through the audit question and answer process as it has in recent application reviews. NEI indicated that in some cases, the information was not provided for past applications for which renewed licenses were issued. The staff responded that it will review past applications and determine if any action is needed. If action is needed, it will be evaluated under the NRC's backfit procedures in accordance with the requirements of the backfit rule, 10 CFR 50.109.5.LR-ISGThe NRC staff is on schedule to issue for public comment by the end of August 2007, theupdated LR-ISG process and the LR-ISG on Generic Aging Lessons Learned Report (GALL), Aging Management Program (AMP) XI.E6.6.Status - post-approval renewal inspection procedure (IP-71003) updateThe NRC staff plans to send NEI the draft revision of IP-71003 by early August 2007. OnceNEI has time to review the draft, a public meeting will be scheduled to discuss the revision and the NRC's plans for post-approval renewal inspections. Subsequent to the meeting, the draft IP-71003 was sent to NEI and other stakeholders by letter dated August, 9, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No. ML071720222).7.Lessons learned from recent safety review auditsa.Level of detail for new AMPs that are consistent with the GALL ReportThe staff clarified previous discussions on this topic during the June 21, 2007, meeting. For new AMPs that are consistent with a GALL Report AMP without exception, the license renewal application does not need to address the ten elements of an acceptable AMP. Consistency with the GALL Report will be confirmed during the staff's onsite audit. If any exceptions are taken to the GALL Report AMP, the renewal applicationmust address the exceptions. The renewal application needs to address all ten elements for new plant-specific AMPs that are not consistent with the GALL Report.b.New observationsNo new observations were discussed.8.Potential new issuesa.Boiling-Water Reactor (BWR) top guide crackingFor BWR top guide irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking concern, GALL ReportAMP XI.M9, "BWR Vessel Internals," recommends that 10% of the top guide locations be inspected within the first 12 years of the period of extended operation (PEO), with 5%
of these locations to be inspected within the first 6 years. The staff is currently considering a change to this position through the ISG process. Top guide cracking, which is caused by neutron embrittlement, is time dependent. No indications of cracks within the first 12 years is not indicative that no cracks will form in the last 8 years of the PEO. Already, at Nine Mile Point and Oyster Creek Power Plants, inspections of top guides have revealed cracks. The staff has requested the BWR Vessel Internals Project committee to investigate this issue in 2003, but has yet to receive a response from them.b.Cable tie wrapsThe NRC staff is evaluating this topic and will discuss it in a future meeting when it hascompleted its evaluation.9.Public participationNo member of the public chose to participate in the meeting./RA/Stephen T. Hoffman, Senior Project Manager License Renewal Branch B Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor RegulationProject No. 690
Enclosures:
As statedcc w/encls: See next page
ML072270607OFFICEPM:RLRB:DLRLA:DLRBC:RLRC:DLRBC:REBB:DLRBC:RLRB:DLRNAMESHoffmanIKing via e-mailKChangRFranovichRAuluckDATE08/27/0708/15/0708/27/0708/27/0708/28/07 Letter to Nuclear Energy Institute, from S. Hoffman, dated August 28, 2007
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF THE LICENSE RENEWAL TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL AND MEETING HELD BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF AND THE NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE LICENSE RENEWAL TASK FORCEDISTRIBUTION
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MModes, RI CJulian, RII LKozak RPalla SRay MMConnell CECarpenter Nuclear Energy Institute Project No. 690 cc:Ms. Christine S. Salembier, Commissioner State Liaison Officer Department of Public Service 112 State Street, Drawer 20 Montipelier, VT 05620-2601Ms. Julie KeysNuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, N.W., Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006-3708Mr. Frederick W. PolaskiManager License Renewal Exelon Corporation 200 Exelon Way Kennett Square, PA 19348Mr. Clifford I. CusterProject Manager, License Renewal FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company P.O. Box 4 Route 168 (Mail Stop SIM-2)
Shippingport, PA 15077Mr. Paul Gunter, DirectorReactor Watchdog Project Nuclear Information & Resource Service 6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 340 Takoma Park, MD 20912Mr. Hugh JacksonPublic Citizen's Critical Mass Energy &
Environment Program 215 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003Ms. Mary OlsonNuclear Information & Resource Service Southeast Office P.O. Box 7586 Asheville, NC 28802 Mr. Garry G. YoungManager, License Renewal Services 1448 SR 333, N-GSB-45 Russellville, AR 72802Mr. Robert A. VincentLicensing Lead - License Renewal Project Palisades Nuclear Plant 27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway Covert, MI 49043Ms. Lorrie Bell, Project ManagerWolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, KS 66839Mr. Roger StewartProgress Energy Carolinas, Inc.
3581 West Entrance Road RNP A9 Hartsville, SC 29550Mr. Michael H. Crowthers, Supervisor Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street (GENPL4)
Allentown, PA 18101-1179 List of ParticipantsLicense Renewal Telephone Conference Between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Staffand the Nuclear Energy InstituteJuly 25, 2007PARTICIPANTSAFFILIATIONS1.Pao-Tsin (P. T.) KuoU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)2.Samson LeeNRC 3.Raj AuluckNRC 4.Rani FranovichNRC 5.Eric BennerNRC 6.Steve HoffmanNRC 7.K. Robert HsuNRC 8.Bob PallaNRC 9.Yeon-Ki ChungNRC 10.Peter WenNRC 11.Roy MatthewNRC 12.Veronica RodriguezNRC 13.Matthew HomiackNRC 14.Sheila RayNRC 15.Matthew McConnellNRC 16.C.E. CarpenterNRC 17.Margaret StambaughNRC 18.Stephen KlementowiczNRC 19.Jennifer DavisNRC 20.Rich EmchNRC 21.Jim MedoffNRC 22.Barry ElliottNRC 23.Julie KeysNuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 24.Dave FlytePPL Susquehanna 25.Dave KunsemillerFENOC/Beaver Valley 26.Garry YoungEntergy 27.Paul AikenDominion 28.Michael HeathProgress Energy 29.Roger StewartProgress Energy 30.Mike FallinConstellation 31.Bob SandersonNine Mile Point 32.Lori BellWolf Creek 33.Kathryn SuttonMorgan Lewis 34.Gene EckholtNMC/Prairie Island 35.Anne LovellTetra Tech 36.Mike DetamorePPL Susquehanna 37.Ed CrantzScientech 38.Richard JanatiPennsylvania Bureau of Radiation Protection 39.Ron Leski List of ParticipantsLicense Renewal Telephone Conference Between theU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Staffand the Nuclear Energy Institute (cont.)40.Brian Olden41.Nancy Renich 42.John O'Rourke 43.Grant Teagarten 44.Mike Fairchild 45.Claire Rushworth 46.Herb Georgio 47.Meta Gialie 48.Bill Lunburg 49.Jim Holdhaus 50.John Hornbuckle 51.Glen Riley Teleconference AgendaBetween the U.S. NRC Staff and the Nuclear Energy InstituteJuly 25, 2007 Topic Lead 1.Environmental topicsa.Information needed on Category I impacts and NRC staffNRCrequests for additional informationb.Clarification of non-GEIS or regulatory issuesNEI c.Status - Generic Environmental Impact Statement updateNRC d.Status - environmental workshop summaryNRC e.SAMA analyses: Industry notification of problem with use ofNRCSECPOP2000 code as input to MACCS2 code2.Scoping of structures and components credited for recoveryNRCfrom station blackout3.NRC staff on-line access to applicant databasesNRC 4.Metal fatigue time-limited aging analyses and cycle projectionsNRC 5.Interim staff guidance (ISG)a.Updated ISG processNRC b.ISG on aging management program XI.E6NRC6.Status - post-approval renewal inspection procedure (IP-71003) updateNRC 7.Lessons learned from recent safety review auditsa.Level of detail for new aging management programsNRCthat are consistent with the GALL Reportb.New observationsNRC/NEI8.Potential new issuesa.BWR top guide crackingNRC b.Cable tie wrapsNRC9.Public participationAll