ML073470807
| ML073470807 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Watts Bar  |
| Issue date: | 12/04/2007 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML073470807 (26) | |
Text
Public Meeting Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 2 Licensing and Inspection
Purposes of This Meeting
- Describe planned Watts Bar Unit 2 licensing and inspection programs
- Describe how you can monitor and participate in the NRC review process
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Mission: to protect the public health and safety, promote the common defense and security, and protect the environment
- Independent Agency
- Over 30 years experience regulating operating reactors and other civilian uses of nuclear materials
- 104 operating nuclear power plants
Participants in NRC Participants in NRC Licensing Process Licensing Process NRC Commissioners Staff members Hearing participants Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)
License Applicant Tennessee Valley Authority Stakeholders
-Residents of the community
-Public interest groups
-Other Federal Agencies
-State entities
-Local officials
-Tribal officials, and others 4
Watts Bar History 1971: Application for construction permit (CP) filed by TVA 1972: Hearings held on CP application 1973: Construction permit issued for 2 reactors at Watts Bar 1976: Application for operating license (OL) 1976: Notice of opportunity for hearing on OL application 1979: Final Environmental Statement (FES) for OL issued 1985: TVA nuclear program halted to resolve construction and performance problems 1991: Construction resumed at Watts Bar Unit 1 1995: Watts Bar Unit 1 construction completed 1995: FES Supplement issued for Units 1 and 2 1996: Watts Bar Unit 1 full power license issued 2000: Watts Bar Unit 2 formally deferred 2007: TVA informed NRC of intent to complete Watts Bar Unit 2
Licensing Review Goals
- Ensure facility will be constructed and operated safely by reviewing:
- Design of facility
- Quality assurance
- Security plan
- Emergency preparedness (with the Federal Emergency Management Agency)
- Operator training
- Confirm compliance with regulatory requirements
- Clearly document our safety findings
- Maintain an open and transparent process
Existing Licensing Review Documents
- NUREG-0847, Safety Evaluation Related to the Operation of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2
- NUREG-1232, Vol. 4, Safety Evaluation Report on Tennessee Valley Authority: Watts Bar Nuclear Performance Plan, Watts Bar Unit 1
- NUREG-0498, Final Environmental Statement related to the operation of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2
Reconstitution of Licensing Review
- NRC staff will review NUREG-0847 and NUREG-1232 to identify remaining licensing issues
- NRC has requested that TVA:
- address generic issues as has been required for operating plants
- describe differences between previous reviews and the plant as it will be completed
Licensing Products
- Safety evaluations for remaining technical issues
- Extension of current construction permit completion date
- Supplemental Final Environmental Statement
- Operating license
- Low power
- Full power
Public Participation and Monitoring
- Obtain information at www.nrc.gov
- NRC processes and how to participate
- Publicly available information about the license application
- Meetings between the NRC and the applicant
- Comment on environmental review
- Attend Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards meetings
- Commission meetings
- Participate in the hearing process
The Hearing Process NRC issues a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing in the Federal Register, which offers an opportunity for the public to seek to participate in the hearing process as a party (called intervention)
A request (petition) to intervene must be filed within 60 days of the date of the Notice The requestor must state his or her interest that may be affected by granting the license, and present at least one admissible contention regarding the application Three administrative judges (Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB)) will decide whether to grant intervention and conduct a hearing A person who does not seek to intervene or is not granted intervention status may make a limited appearance statement to the Board Regulations governing intervention are in 10 C.F.R. 2.309
Environmental Review Information Gathering Environmental Review Information Gathering FES FES Development Development Staff Staffss Site Audit Site Audit Public Public Comments Comments Tribal, State & Local Tribal, State & Local Agencies Agencies Social Social Services Services Federal Federal Agencies Agencies License License Application Application
Environmental Review Areas Environmental Review Areas Radiation Protection Terrestrial Ecology Atmospheric Science Socioeconomics/
Environmental Justice Land Use Archaeology/Cultural Resources Hydrology Aquatic Ecology Water Quality
14 Watts Bar 2 Inspection Program December 04, 2007
Region II Construction Inspection Program Division of Construction Inspection Division Of Construction Projects Construction Inspection Branches Construction Projects Branch 3 Senior Project Inspector Project Inspector Senior Resident Inspector Resident Inspectors Specialist Inspectors Construction Inspection Organization
Construction Phase IMC 2512 Startup Testing IMC 2514 NRC Construction Inspection Program Preop Testing
& Operational Prep IMC 2513
Inspection Program Elements Inspection Program Generic Communications Previously Completed inspections New Or re-work CAPs/SPs Licensing issues Allegations Historical Open items (VIO,NCV,IFI..)
Assessment Assessments (Quarterly, Mid Cycle,
End Of Cycle)
Assessments (Quarterly, Mid Cycle,
End Of Cycle)
Inspection Program Results Annual Public Meeting Increased Inspections Root Cause Evaluation Special Inspections Performance Improvement Plan Significant Issues
Preliminary Schedule
Information Resources
- www.nrc.gov - general information regarding agency activities
- http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/plant-specific-items/watts-bar.html - Watts Bar Unit 2 web page
Conclusion
- Before issuing an operating license, NRC will confirm that TVA has completed proper design and construction in accordance with our regulations, and can safely operate Watts Bar Unit 2
- NRC encourages the public to monitor and participate in the licensing process
- Backup Slides
Watts Bar 2 Inspection Program
- Specific guidance for completing Watts Bar 2 inspection program (IMC 2517 )
- Construction inspections will use a combination of planned and reconstituted inspections (IMC 2512)
- Reconstitution similar to Watts Bar 1 process including review of allegations
- Pre-op testing, operational preparedness, and startup testing per IMCs 2513 and 2514
ASSESSMENT
- Quarterly integrated reports
- Use documented inspection findings, cross-cutting aspects, and conclusions as input
- Applicants performance is reviewed over a 12-month period
- Quarterly review;
- Mid-Cycle Review
- End-of Cycle Review, public meeting with licensee
ASSESSMENT (contd)
- Regulatory responses for significant performance issues include:
- Increase inspections in area of concern
- Require applicant root cause evaluation and CA w/NRC oversight
- NRC team inspections in area of concern
- Applicant performance improvement plan with NRC oversight
Commission Direction
- Staff Requirements Memorandum, July 25, 2007
- The Commission supports a licensing review approach that employs the current licensing basis for Unit 1 as the reference basis for the review and licensing of Unit 2.
- Significant changes to that licensing approach would be allowed under certain conditions
- the staff should issue a further notice of opportunity for hearing on the application.