ML083230774

Acceptance of Requested Licensing Action Relief Request for Alternative Depth Sizing Qualification

ML083230774
Person / Time
Site:	Seabrook
Issue date:	11/19/2008
From:	Geoffrey Miller Plant Licensing Branch 1
To:	St.Pierre G Florida Power & Light Energy Seabrook
Miller G, NRR/DORL, 415-2481
References
TAC MD9785
Download: ML083230774 (3)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 November 19, 2008 Mr. Gene St. Pierre Vice President North Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant FPL Energy Seabrook, LLC PO Box 300 Seabrook, NH 03874

SUBJECT:

SEABROOK STATION, UNIT NO.1 - ACCEPTANCE OF REQUESTED LICENSING ACTION RE: RELIEF REQUEST FOR ALTERNATIVE DEPTH SIZING QUALIFICATION (TAC NO. 1\1109785)

Dear Mr. St. Pierre:

By letter dated September 30, 2008 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML082760464), FPL Energy Seabrook, LLC (FPLE) submitted a relief request for Seabrook Station, Unit NO.1. The proposed relief request would allow use of an alternate depth sizing qualification for reactor pressure vessel nozzle-to-surface end dissimilar metal welds and safe end-to-pipe welds from the inside surface. The purpose of this letter is to provide the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff's acceptance review of this relief request. The acceptance review was performed to determine if there is sufficient technical information in scope and depth to allow the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review. The acceptance review was also intended to identify whether the application has any readily apparent information insufficiencies in its characterization of the regulatory requirements or the licensing basis of the plant.

Pursuant to Sections 50.55a(a)(3)(i), 50.55a(a)(3)(ii), and 50.55a(g)(6)(i) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), the applicant shall demonstrate that the proposed alternatives would provide an acceptable level of quality and safety, or that compliance with the specified requirements of Section 50.55a would result in hardship or unusual difficulty without a compensating increase in the level of quality or safety.

Initially, the relief request was determined to lack sufficient information to be considered acceptable for NRC staff review. This determination was communicated to your staff on October 30, 2008. The information insufficiencies identified during the acceptance review were provided by letter dated November 3,2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML083030539). By letter dated November 12, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML083220442), you provided supplemental information.

G. 51. Pierre - 2 The NRC staff has reviewed your application, including the supplemental information provided, and concludes that it now provide technical information in sufficient detail for the NRC staff to proceed with its detailed technical review. If additional information is needed for the staff to complete its technical review, you will be advised by separate correspondence. If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-2481.

G. Edward Miller, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 1-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-443 cc: Distribution via Listserv

ML083230774 OFFICE DORLILPLI-2/PM DORLILPLI-2/LA DORLILPLI-2/BC NAME G. E. Miller A. Baxter H. Chernoff DATE 11/19/2008 11/19/08 11/19/08