ML092720772

Request for Additional Information Regarding the Upgrade of Emergency Core Cooling System Requirements Per NUREG-1431

ML092720772
Person / Time
Site:	Sequoyah
Issue date:	10/02/2009
From:	Siva Lingam Plant Licensing Branch II
To:	Swafford P Tennessee Valley Authority
Lingam, S NRR/DORL 415-1564
References
TAC ME1115, TAC ME1116
Download: ML092720772 (3)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 October 2, 2009 Mr. Preston D. Swafford Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President Tennessee Valley Authority 3R Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 SUB~IECT: SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE UPGRADE OF EMERGENCY CORE COOLING SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS PER NUREG-1431 (TAC NOS. ME1115 AND ME1116)

Dear Mr. Swafford:

By letter dated April 21, 2009, and supplemented by letter dated September 8, 2009, you submitted an application for license amendment to revise the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 (SQN) Technical Specifications (TSs), and upgrade the Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) requirements to be more consistent with NUREG-1431, Revision 3, "Standard Technical Specifications - Westinghouse Plants." The upgrade revises SQN TS Section 3/4.5.2, "ECCS Subsystems - T av9 Greater Than or Equal to 350 "F." TS Section 3/4.5.3, "ECCS SUbsystems T av9 Less Than 350 "F." and the corresponding surveillance requirements (SRs) that will resolve a nonconforming condition associated with SR 4.5.2.f.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is reviewing the submittal and has determined that additional information is required to complete its evaluation. This request was discussed with Mr. Fred Mashburn of your staff on September 29, 2009, and it was agreed that a response would be provided by October 9,2009.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, I can be reached at 301-415-1564.

Sincerely,

~fj'~.

Siva P. Lingam, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 11-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-327 and 50-328

Enclosure:

Request for Additional Information cc w/encl: Distribution via Listserv

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION CHANGES AND UPGRADE OF EMERGENCY CORE COOLING SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS PER NUREG-1431, REVISION 3 SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 DOCKET NOS. 50-327 AND 50-328 By letter dated April 21, 2009 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML091120193), and supplemented by letter dated September 8,2009 (ADAMS Accession No. ML092530721), the Tennessee Valley Authority (the licensee),

submitted a license amendment request to revise the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 (SQN) Technical Specifications (TSs) and upgrade the Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) requirements to be more consistent with NUREG-1431, Revision 3, "Standard Technical Specifications - Westinghouse Plants." The upgrade revises SQN TS Section 3/4.5.2, "ECCS Subsystems - Tavg Greater Than or Equal to 350 "F," TS Section 3/4.5.3, "ECCS Subsystems T avg Less Than 350 "F," and the corresponding surveillance requirements (SRs) that will resolve a nonconforming condition associated with SR 4.5.2.f. In order to complete its review of the above documents, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff needs the following additional information:

On page E-11 of the licensee's letter dated April 21, 2009, it is noted that new action b of TS 3.5.3 is less restrictive than current requirements because it will allow an extra 3 hours3.472222e-5 days <br />8.333333e-4 hours <br />4.960317e-6 weeks <br />1.1415e-6 months <br /> for the plant to be in Mode 4 when the required ECCS centrifugal charging pump is inoperable.

There is no technical justification provided for this extra time.

1. Provide justification for the extra 3 hours3.472222e-5 days <br />8.333333e-4 hours <br />4.960317e-6 weeks <br />1.1415e-6 months <br /> for the plant to be in Mode 4 when the required ECCS centrifugal charging pump is inoperable.

Enclosure

ML092720772 "transmitted bv memo dated OFFICE LPL2-2/PM LPL2-2/LA NRR/DIRS/ITSB/BC LPL2-2/BC NAME SLinaam CSoia RElliott TBovce DATE 10101/09 10101/09 914/09* 10102/09