ML092920019

Request for Additional Information for the Review of the Cooper Nuclear Station License Renewal Application

ML092920019
Person / Time
Site:	Cooper
Issue date:	10/29/2009
From:	Tam Tran License Renewal Projects Branch 1
To:	Minahan S Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD)
Tran T, NRR/DLR, 415-3617
References
TAC MD9737, TAC MD9763
Download: ML092920019 (7)

Text

October 29, 2009 Mr. Stewart B. Minahan Chief Nuclear Officer, Vice President - Nuclear Cooper Nuclear Station Nebraska Public Power District 72676 648A Avenue Brownville, NE 68321

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE REVIEW OF THE COOPER NUCLEAR STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (TAC NO.

MD9763 AND MD9737)

Dear Mr. Minahan:

The purpose of this letter is to transmit the request for additional information 3.3.2.2.6-3 and 3.3.2.2.6-4. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has identified, in the enclosure, areas where this additional information is needed to complete the review of the Cooper Nuclear Station license renewal application.

This item in the enclosure was discussed with Mr. David Bremer. If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-3617 or by e-mail at Tam.Tran@nrc.gov, or Bennett M. Brady at 301-415-2981 or by e-mail at Bennett.Brady@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Tam Tran, Project Manager Projects Branch 1 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-298

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/encl: See next page

ML092920019 OFFICE PM:DLR:RPB1 LA:RPOB:DLR PM:DLR:RPB1 BC:DLR:RPB1 PM:DLR:RPB1 NAME BBrady SFigueroa TTran BPham TTran (Signature)

DATE 10/28/09 10/28/09 10/28/09 10/29/09 10/29/09

Letter to Stewart B. Minahan from Tam Tran dated October 29, 2009

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE REVIEW OF THE COOPER NUCLEAR STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (TAC NO.

MD9763 AND MD9737)

DISTRIBUTION:

HARD COPY:

DLR RF E-MAIL:

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T. Tran E. Sayoc B. Brady F. Lyon I.Couret D. Roth (OGC)

A. Jones (OGC)

N. Taylor (RIV)

E. Collins (RIV)

C. Casto (RIV)

B. Maier (RIV)

V. Dricks (RIV)

D. Chamberlain (RIV)

A. Vegel (RIV)

W. Walker (RIV)

G. Miller (RIV)

G. Pick (RIV)

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE COOPER NUCLEAR STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION BORAL AND METAMIC NEUTRON ABSORBING MATERIALS IN SPENT FUEL POOL RACKS RAI 3.3.2.2.6-3 Neutron Absorber Monitoring Program for Boral

1. In the license renewal application, it was stated that the Water Chemistry Control - BWR Program and Neutron Absorber Monitoring Program will continue to monitor the material degradation and neutron attenuation performance of Boral in the spent fuel pool during the period of extended operation. Please discuss the frequency at which the surveillance inspections will be conducted.

2. On page 40 of your July 29, 2009 (Agencywide Documents Access Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML092160084) letter, it was stated that evaluation for change in material properties such as Boron-10 areal density measurement is not done due to operating experience obtained from previous neutron attenuation testing performed. Please discuss the results of the last evaluation for Boron-10 areal density measurement. In addition, please discuss whether any future neutron attenuation testing will be performed.

3. On pages 41 - 43 of your July 29, 2009 letter, it was stated that three Boral coupons were identified as being swollen in the 1982 and 1992 surveillance inspections. Subsequently, testing was performed on the coupons and it was reported that the swelling was due to internal mechanical failure combined with water being entrained in the coupons, and small leakage into the coupons.

a. It was reported that three of the twenty-one coupons in the spent fuel pool were identified with swelling and underwent testing. Please discuss whether the remaining 18 coupons were examined for swelling and discuss their results.

b. Please discuss why the coupons identified with swelling are not characteristic of swollen Boral panels in the spent fuel pool racks.

c. Please discuss the extent of swelling identified in the coupons and whether any swelling has been identified in the Boral panels in the spent fuel pool racks. Additionally, please provide the trending results for the swollen coupons that were returned back to the spent fuel pool after inspection and testing.

d. Please discuss how the neutron attenuation tests on the swollen coupons were performed, i.e. were the coupons submerged in water before testing for neutron attenuation. Further, please discuss whether the swollen coupons exhibited any reduction in neutron attenuation performance.

e. Please discuss whether swelling of coupons with gas is bounded by the criticality analysis.

4. Please discuss the applicability of using NUREG-1787, Safety Evaluation Report Related to the License Renewal of the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, March 2004, and BNL-NUREG-25582, Corrosion Considerations in the Use of Boral in Spent Fuel Storage Pool Racks, January 1979, as justification of aging effects of Boral being insignificant at CNS.

ENCLOSURE

RAI 3.3.2.2.6-4 Water Chemistry Control - BWR Program, Metamic Coupon Sampling Program, and Periodic Testing of Metamic

1. Please confirm that the Water Chemistry Control - BWR Program and Metamic Coupon Sampling program will continue to be used to monitor the material degradation and neutron attenuation performance of Metamic in the spent fuel pool during the period of extended operation. In addition, please confirm that the Metamic coupons will continue to be periodically tested in accordance with CNS License Amendment No. 227 (ADAMS Accession No. ML072130023) during the period of extended operation.

2. Additionally, please discuss how NUREG-1787 and BNL-NUREG-25582 correlate to the performance of Metamic.

Cooper Nuclear Station cc:

Mr. Ronald D. Asche Deputy Director for Policy President and Chief Executive Officer Missouri Department of Natural Resources Nebraska Public Power District P.O. Box 176 1414 15th Street Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 Columbus, NE 68601 Senior Resident Inspector Mr. Gene Mace U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Nuclear Asset Manager P.O. Box 218 Nebraska Public Power District Brownville, NE 68321 P.O. Box 98 Brownville, NE 68321 Regional Administrator, Region IV U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mr. John C. McClure 612 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite 400 Vice President and General Counsel Arlington, TX 76011-4125 Nebraska Public Power District P.O. Box 499 Director, Missouri State Emergency Columbus, NE 68602-0499 Management Agency P.O. Box 116 Mr. David Van Der Kamp Jefferson City, MO 65102-0116 Licensing Manager Nebraska Public Power District Chief, Radiation and Asbestos P.O. Box 98 Control Section Brownville, NE 68321 Kansas Department of Health and Environment Mr. Michael J. Linder, Director Bureau of Air and Radiation Nebraska Department of Environmental 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 310 Quality Topeka, KS 66612-1366 P.O. Box 98922 Lincoln, NE 68509-8922 Ms. Melanie Rasmussen Radiation Control Program Director Chairman Bureau of Radiological Health Nemaha County Board of Commissioners Iowa Department of Public Health Nemaha County Courthouse Lucas State Office Building, 5th Floor 1824 N Street 321 East 12th Street Auburn, NE 68305 Des Moines, IA 50319 Ms. Julia Schmitt, Manager Mr. Keith G. Henke, Planner Radiation Control Program Division of Community and Public Health Nebraska Health & Human Services R&L Office of Emergency Coordination Public Health Assurance 930 Wildwood Drive 301 Centennial Mall, South P.O. Box 570 P.O. Box 95007 Jefferson City, MO 65102 Lincoln, NE 68509-5007

Cooper Nuclear Station cc:

Mr. Art Zaremba, Director of Nuclear Mr. Dave Lach Safety Assurance LRP Entergy Project Manager Nebraska Public Power District Entergy Nuclear P.O. Box 98 1448 S.R. 333, N-GSB-45 Brownville, NE 68321 Russellville, AR 72802 Mr. John F. McCann, Director Mr. Stewart B. Minahan Licensing, Entergy Nuclear Northeast Vice President Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. Nuclear and Chief Nuclear Officer 440 Hamilton Avenue Cooper Nuclear Station White Plains, NY 10601-1813 72676 - 648A Avenue Brownville, NE 68321 Mr. Mike Boyce Cooper Strategic Initiatives Manager Cooper Nuclear Station 72676 - 648A Avenue Brownville, NE 68321 Mr. Dave Bremer License Renewal Project Manager Cooper Nuclear Station 72676 - 648A Avenue Brownville, NE 68321 Mr. Bill Victor License Renewal Project Licensing Lead Cooper Nuclear Station 72676 - 648A Avenue Brownville, NE 68321 Mr. Garry Young License Renewal Manager Entergy Nuclear 1448 S.R. 333, N-GSB-45 Russellville, AR 72802 Mr. Alan Cox License Renewal Technical Manager Entergy Nuclear 1448 S.R. 333, N-GSB-45 Russellville, AR 72802