ML073320176
| ML073320176 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/30/2007 |
| From: | Ruland W NRC/NRR/ADES/DSS |
| To: | Pietrangelo A Nuclear Energy Institute |
| Scott M L, NRR/DSS/SSIB, 415-0565 | |
| References | |
| GL-04-002 | |
| Download: ML073320176 (2) | |
Text
November 30, 2007 Mr. Anthony R. Pietrangelo Nuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington DC, 20006-3708
SUBJECT:
SUPPLEMENTAL LICENSEE RESPONSES TO GENERIC LETTER 2004-02, POTENTIAL IMPACT OF DEBRIS BLOCKAGE ON EMERGENCY RECIRCULATION DURING DESIGN BASIS ACCIDENTS AT PRESSURIZED-WATER REACTORS
Dear Mr. Pietrangelo:
In a letter to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) dated November 14, 2006 (ADAMS Accession No. ML063110263), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) documented expectations regarding final supplemental licensee responses to Generic Letter (GL) 2004-02, Potential Impact of Debris Blockage on Emergency Recirculation during Design Basis Accidents at Pressurized-Water Reactors. Specifically, the NRC stated that each PWR licensee should submit a complete supplemental response as soon in 2007 as the information and analysis results are available, and no later than December 31, 2007.
The NRC staff now understands that many licensees will be performing testing and analyses needed to show compliance with applicable regulations and completion of corrective actions for GL 2004-02 very late in 2007. In a letter to NEI dated November 8, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No. ML073060581), the NRC staff provided information for licensees who will not have completed testing and analyses by the end of 2007. The letter discusses potential plant-specific scenarios and provides guidance on seeking additional time to complete remaining actions.
NEI has notified the NRC staff that licensees continue to focus on completion of testing and analyses, and that licensees are having difficulty managing this work and simultaneously preparing year-end supplemental GL responses. Further, many licensees have obtained or will obtain short extensions to complete corrective actions for GL 2004-02, so many responses provided on or before December 31, 2007, would be preliminary.
The NRC staff believes that a short delay in licensees submitting supplemental responses to GL 2004-02 will have little safety impact, because this is a delay in documentation submittal only. Therefore, the NRC staff has concluded that it is appropriate to authorize all PWR licensees up to two months beyond December 31, 2007 (i.e., to February 29, 2008), to provide the supplemental responses to the NRC. Licensees do not need to submit separate correspondence to the NRC to take advantage of this additional time to prepare and submit the necessary GL response documentation. However, please note the following expectations:
Licensees for plants who are in position to submit complete supplemental responses before February 29, 2008, should do so promptly.
A. Pietrangelo This letter does not authorize additional time to complete corrective actions for GL 2004-02. Requests for extension beyond December 31, 2007, to complete corrective actions for GL 2004-02 should be handled as discussed in Cases 1 through 3 of the NRCs November 8, 2007, letter to NEI. Licensees for plants falling within Case 1 of the November 8, 2007, letter (those plants that have completed enough testing and analysis to have confidence that they have satisfactorily resolved the issues associated with strainer performance and GL 2004-02, but cannot complete necessary internal reviews in time to submit the final results to the NRC by the end of 2007) should still notify the NRC by December 31, 2007, as specified in the November 8, 2007, letter.
Licensees for plants for which corrective actions are still incomplete by February 29, 2008 (i.e., plants with approved extensions to a later date), should submit a supplemental response to GL 2004-02 by February 29, 2008, noting remaining corrective actions and plans for accomplishing them, including target dates and milestones.
We ask your assistance in communicating the contents of this letter to your licensee members.
If you would like to discuss the contents of this letter further, please contact me at (301) 415-3283.
Sincerely,
/RA/
William H. Ruland, Director Division of Safety Systems Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
A. Pietrangelo This letter does not authorize additional time to complete corrective actions for GL 2004-02. Requests for extension beyond December 31, 2007, to complete corrective actions for GL 2004-02 should be handled as discussed in Cases 1 through 3 of the NRCs November 8, 2007, letter to NEI. Licensees for plants falling within Case 1 of the November 8, 2007, letter (those plants that have completed enough testing and analysis to have confidence that they have satisfactorily resolved the issues associated with strainer performance and GL 2004-02, but cannot complete necessary internal reviews in time to submit the final results to the NRC by the end of 2007) should still notify the NRC by December 31, 2007, as specified in the November 8, 2007, letter.
Licensees for plants for which corrective actions are still incomplete by February 29, 2008 (i.e., plants with approved extensions to a later date), should submit a supplemental response to GL 2004-02 by February 29, 2008, noting remaining corrective actions and plans for accomplishing them, including target dates and milestones.
We ask your assistance in communicating the contents of this letter to your licensee members.
If you would like to discuss the contents of this letter further, please contact me at (301) 415-3283.
Sincerely,
/RA/
William H. Ruland, Director Division of Safety Systems Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation DISTRIBUTION: PUBLIC SSIB R/F RidsNrrDss RidsNrrDssSsib ADAMS Accession Number: ML073320176 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DSS/SSIB:BC NRR/DSS: D NAME MScott /LWhitney for/
WRuland DATE 11/28/07 11/30/07 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY