ML090130583

From kanterella
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Summary of Meeting with Pressurized Water Reactor and Boiling Water Reactor Owners Groups Regarding Selected Technical Specification Task Force Issues
ML090130583
Person / Time
Site: Technical Specifications Task Force
Issue date: 02/02/2009
From: Williams J
NRC/NRR/DPR/PSPB
To: Rosenberg S
NRC/NRR/DPR/PSPB
Joseph Williams, 415-1470
References
Download: ML090130583 (6)


Text

February 2, 2009 MEMORANDUM TO: Stacey L. Rosenberg, Chief Special Projects Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM: Joseph F. Williams, Senior Project Manager /RA/

Special Project Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

SUBJECT:

SUMMARY

OF JANUARY 8, 2009, MEETING WITH PRESSURIZED WATER REACTOR AND BOILING WATER REACTOR OWNERS GROUPS REGARDING SELECTED TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION TASK FORCE ISSUES On January 8, 2009, a Category 2 public meeting was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff, and representatives of the Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) Owners Group (PWROG) and Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) Owners Group (BWROG). The purpose of this meeting was to discuss issues associated with three Technical Specification Task Force (TSTF) Travelers and a draft Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) associated with one of the Travelers. A list of attendees is enclosed. No handouts were distributed at the meeting.

The NRC staff began with discussion of TSTF-423, Technical Specifications End States. The NRC staff identified concerns regarding implementation of this item in September 2008. The NRC staff determined that primary containment had been mistakenly included within the scope of TSTF-423. The NRC staff also determined that TSTF-423 provided an unintended loophole which could allow a licensee to start up a power plant with inoperable equipment, when TSTF-423 was intended only to facilitate avoidance of unnecessary shutdowns when equipment problems are found while at power.

The meeting participants discussed options for addressing TSTF-423 issues. The industry representatives indicated that a letter from the NRC staff discussing the issues and the need to revise TSTF-423 would be beneficial, and noted their intent to seek a fee waiver for NRC review associated with generic resolution of the issues.

The industry representatives proposed to resolve the issue using license amendment for a pilot plant. Once the pilot plant amendment is approved, the industry representatives believe the associated application and evaluation could form the basis for additional amendments via the Consolidated Line Item Improvement Program process. Pending amendments for several Exelon facilities can serve as the pilot applications. The NRC staff indicated that this approach is viable.

CONTACT: Joseph F. Williams, NRR/DPR (301) 415-1470

S. Rosenberg The meeting attendees then discussed TSTF-513, Revise Operability Requirements and Actions for RCS [Reactor Coolant System] Leakage Instrumentation, which applies to PWRs.

The revised notice for this meeting issued on December 29, 2008, included a draft RIS associated with this topic and is available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) as Accession No. ML083640134.

The draft RIS describes NRCs plans to address a long-standing issue of very low safety significance. As licensees have improved the radiological cleanliness of RCSs, the length of time required for a gaseous radiation monitor to detect a given volume of RCS leakage has increased, leading to questions regarding whether these detectors are capable of fulfilling their design functions. The NRC actions described in the draft RIS, including review of TSTF-513, are intended to clarify expectations for the radiation monitors.

The industry representatives indicated that they understand the NRCs plans to resolve this issue, and described planned revisions to TSTF-513 to improve clarity and facilitate the NRC staffs review. The representatives also said that a forthcoming TSTF addressing the issue for BWRs will include similar information.

The meeting participants discussed comments on the draft RIS. The principal comment by the industry representatives was directed towards the expectation that licensees should submit license amendments to resolve the issue within 4 months of the relevant TSTF approval in order to continue receiving enforcement discretion. The industry representatives consider 6 months to be a more reasonable period, given the low safety significance of the issue. The NRC staff stated that they would consider the comment as the RIS is completed. The NRC staff projected that the RIS would be issued by mid-January 2009.

The last topic discussed was TSTF-493, Clarify Application of Setpoint Methodology for LSSS

[Limiting Safety System Setting] Functions. The industry representatives provided feedback on NRC letter dated November 4, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML082800484), which described a range of options to resolve issues. The PWROG and BWROG representatives indicated that in discussions amongst the owners groups in December 2008, it was agreed that TS safety limit LSSSs will be addressed in a manner consistent with the NRC staff position described in the letter dated November 4, 2008, and that a TS bases statement regarding treatment of non-safety limit LSSS would be provided. The NRC staff stated that the industry approach seems reasonable. The representatives stated that they are trying to encourage consistent application of the resolution throughout the industry, and that a description of the industry approach will be provided by the end of January 2009.

Project No. 753

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/encl: See next page

ML082800484), which described a range of options to resolve issues. The PWROG and BWROG representatives indicated that in discussions amongst the owners groups in December 2008, it was agreed that TS safety limit LSSSs will be addressed in a manner consistent with the NRC staff position described in the letter dated November 4, 2008, and that a TS bases statement regarding treatment of non-safety limit LSSS would be provided. The NRC staff stated that the industry approach seems reasonable. The representatives stated that they are trying to encourage consistent application of the resolution throughout the industry, and that a description of the industry approach will be provided by the end of January 2009.

Project No. 753

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/encl: See next page DISTRIBUTION:

See attached page ADAMS Accession No: ML090130583 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DPR/PSPB NRR/DPR/PSPB NRR/DIRS/ITSB NRR/DPR/PSPB NAME JWilliams DBaxley RElliot SRosenberg DATE 02/2/09 02/2/09 01/30/09 02/2/09 Memo to Stacey L. Rosenberg from Joseph F. Williams dated February 2, 2009

SUBJECT:

SUMMARY

OF JANUARY 8, 2009, MEETING WITH PRESSURIZED WATER REACTOR AND BOILING WATER REACTOR OWNERS GROUPS REGARDING SELECTED TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION TASK FORCE ISSUES DISTRIBUTION:

PSPB r/f RidsNrrDpr RidsNrrDprPspb RidsNrrPMMHoncharik RidsNrrLADBaxley RidsOgcMailCenter RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter Robert Elliott Joe Williams Jack Donohew Ravi Grover Matthew Hamm Mike Cheok Pamela Henderson Carl Schulten Fred Brown Hukam Garg Bill Kemper Craig Harbuck External Distribution:

tim.abney@ge.com DWCOLEMAN@energy-northwest.com Dennis.Buschbaum@luminant.com mkleisure@duke-energy.com cjriedl@tva.gov bmann@excelservices.com donaldh@excelservices.com holdercm@westinghouse.com

Technical Specification Task Force Project No. 753 cc:

Brian Mann Technical Specification Task Force 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20852 brianm@excelservices.com Donald Hoffman Technical Specification Task Force 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20852 donaldh@excelservices.com

Attendees Meeting with the Pressurized Water Reactors and Boiling Water Reactors Owners Groups January 8, 2009 Name Affiliation Douglas Coleman BWROG Michael Leisure (via telephone) Duke Jerry Voss Excel Tim Abney GE Hitachi Dennis Buschbaum Luminant/PWROG Andrew Johnson MNES Joe Williams NRC Jack Donohew NRC Ravi Grover NRC Matthew Hamm NRC Mike Cheok NRC Pamela Henderson NRC Carl Schulten NRC Fred Brown NRC Hukam Garg NRC Bill Kemper NRC Rob Elliott NRC Craig Harbuck NRC Deann Raleigh Scientech Chris Riedl Tennessee Valley Authority Brian Mann TSTF/Excel Donald Hoffman TSTF/Excel Chad Holderboum Westinghouse ENCLOSURE