ML072840337
| ML072840337 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Watts Bar  |
| Issue date: | 10/23/2007 |
| From: | Williams J Plant Licensing Branch III-2 |
| To: | Campbell W Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Williams J | |
| References | |
| Download: ML072840337 (7) | |
Text
October 23, 2007 William R. Campbell, Jr.
Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801
SUBJECT:
WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 2 - INFORMATION NEEDED FOR LICENSING REVIEW RECONSTITUTION
Dear Mr. Campbell:
In a letter dated August 3, 2007, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) informed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of its intent to reactivate and complete construction of the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) Unit 2. TVAs letter also described information that TVA plans to submit to document its view of the remaining regulatory reviews needed to complete licensing of this facility. The purpose of this letter is to inform you of information the NRC staff will need for its own assessment of the status of the licensing review. Providing this information in your upcoming submittals will facilitate the timely review of your application.
The NRC staff will review information you provide in accordance with direction provided by the Commission in its July 25, 2007, Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM) (ADAMS Accession Number ML072060688). This memorandum directs the staff to employ the current licensing basis of WBN Unit 1 as the reference basis for the review and licensing of WBN Unit 2.
The staff understands that a significant amount of licensing review for WBN Unit 2 was completed in NUREG-0847, Safety Evaluation Related to the Operation of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 and its supplements. Therefore, the staff has determined that reconstituting the status of the review for each topic addressed in NUREG-0847 with regard to WBN Unit 2 will be the focus of our initial efforts. Similarly, the staff intends to reconstitute the status of WBN Unit 2 reviews for TVA Nuclear Performance Plan topics, and for NRC generic communications.
W. Campbell, Jr.
The enclosure to this letter describes information that will facilitate reconstitution of the licensing review in accordance with the SRM. Addressing these topics in TVAs upcoming submittals will assist the efficient review of your application.
If you have questions regarding these information requests, please contact me at 301-415-1470 or at jfw1@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Joseph F. Williams, Senior Project Manager Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-391
Enclosure:
Info Needed for Reconstruction of WBN-2 Licensing Review cc w/encl: See next page
Information Needed For Reconstitution of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Licensing Review In Accordance With July 25, 2007, Staff Requirements Memorandum
- 1.
In its August 3, 2007, letter, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) stated that it plans to provide a red-line version of the WBN Unit 1 Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR),
documenting differences between the current FSAR and the FSAR in place at the time the Unit 1 operating license was issued. This submittal will assist the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff in fulfilling the Commissions direction to use the Unit 1 current licensing basis as the reference basis for Unit 2. To fully implement the Commissions direction, please ensure your submittal addresses the following topics:
- a.
Describe the differences between WBN Units 1 and 2 expected at the time Unit 2 licensing is anticipated. For example, does TVA plan to request that Unit 2 be licensed at the power level currently described in its operating license application 3411 megawatts thermal (MWt) or at the current Unit 1 licensed power level (3459 MWt )?
- b.
Describe the process for evaluation of WBN Unit 1 modifications to be implemented on Unit 2 to identify whether a previous NRC safety evaluation will need to be revised. Existing licensing reviews for WBN Unit 2 contained in NUREG-0847, and its supplements, are for plant configurations as described in various revisions of the operating license application FSAR. It is the NRCs understanding that TVA has completed modifications to WBN Unit 1 that it intends to implement on Unit 2, as well. If these modifications affect the configuration described in previous NRC safety evaluations, those evaluations may need to be revised to reflect the plant configuration as it will be completed.
- c.
Describe how TVA will ensure that engineering and Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 50.59 evaluations for WBN Unit 1 modifications implemented since initial licensing will remain valid when WBN Unit 2 begins operations.
- d.
Describe changes to the WBN Unit 1 licensing basis that will be required to accommodate multi-unit operations. Also, describe how TVA will demonstrate that the existing WBN Unit 1 configuration is applicable to Unit 2 for multi-unit operations.
- 2.
Operation of WBN Unit 2 will rely on common systems and structures that have already been in use supporting Unit 1 full-power operation since 1996. Based on the expected completion of WBN Unit 2 in 2012 and issuance of a 40-year operating license, these common systems and structures will be required to perform their intended functions well beyond the original term of the Unit 1 operating license. Additionally, Unit 2 components and structures already installed may have experienced degradation during the period of time construction was suspended. Therefore, TVA should describe how it will ensure these common and previously-constructed systems, structures, and components will be capable of performing their intended functions for the entire license term expected for WBN Unit 2.
- 3.
TVA has indicated that it intends to apply Nuclear Performance Plan (NPP) corrective action and special programs used for WBN Unit 1 to WBN Unit 2. The staff notes that the NRC has not issued a safety evaluation for these programs for WBN Unit 2. Therefore, TVA should confirm that previous NPP submittals for WBN Unit 1 are also applicable to Unit 2. TVA should identify if there are any cases where TVA wishes to revise a corrective action or special program for use on WBN Unit 2, along with a schedule for submitting justification for the revision to NRC for its review.
- 4.
Please identify submittal dates for the following items:
- a.
Application for extension of the WBN Unit 2 construction permit
- b.
Items given in Attachment 6 of the August 3, 2007, letter, if no date was provided.
W. Campbell, Jr.
The enclosure to this letter describes information that will facilitate reconstitution of the licensing review in accordance with the SRM. Addressing these topics in TVAs upcoming submittals will assist the efficient review of your application.
If you have questions regarding these information requests, please contact me at 301-415-1470,or at jfw1@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Joseph F. Williams, Senior Project Manager Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-391
Enclosure:
Info Needed for Reconstruction of WBN-2 Licensing Review cc w/encl: See Next Page Distribution:
NON-PUBLIC RidsRgn2MailCenter RidsNrrDlr RidsNrrLABClayton RHaag, RgnII WBearden, RgnII RidsNrrPMJWilliams JBartley, RgnII Accession Number: ML072840337 OFFICE NRR NRR DLR NRR NAME JWilliams BClayton LRaghavan DATE 10/23 /07 10/ 22 /07 10/ 18 /07 10/ 23 /07 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
William R. Campbell, Jr.
Tennessee Valley Authority WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT 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. James R. Douet Senior Vice President Nuclear Support Tennessee Valley Authority 3R Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. H. Rick Rogers Vice President Nuclear Engineering & Technical Services Tennessee Valley Authority 3R Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Michael D. Skaggs, Site Vice President Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Spring City, TN 37381 General Counsel Tennessee Valley Authority 6A West Tower 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Mr. John C. Fornicola, Manager Nuclear Assurance Tennessee Valley Authority 3R Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Larry E. Nicholson, General Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 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. Masoud Bajestani, Vice President Watts Bar Unit 2 Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000, EQB 1B Spring City, TN 37381 Mr. James D. Smith, Acting Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Spring City, TN 37381
Mr. Michael J. Lorek, Plant Manager Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Spring City, TN 37381 Senior Resident Inspector Watts Bar Nuclear Plant U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1260 Nuclear Plant Road Spring City, TN 37381 County Executive 375 Church Street Suite 215 Dayton, TN 37321 County Mayor P. O. Box 156 Decatur, TN 37322 Mr. Lawrence E. Nanney, Director Division of Radiological Health Dept. of Environment & Conservation Third Floor, L and C Annex 401 Church Street Nashville, TN 37243-1532 Ms. Ann P. Harris 341 Swing Loop Road Rockwood, TN 37854