ML093210573

Request for Additional Information for the Review of the Cooper Nuclear Station License Renewal Application (TAC Nos. MD9763 & MD9737)

ML093210573
Person / Time
Site:	Cooper
Issue date:	11/19/2009
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: ML093210573 (6)

Text

November 19, 2009 Mr. Stewart B. Minahan Vice President - Nuclear and Chief Nuclear Officer 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 (RAI) B.1.10-6.

The 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

ML0932100573 OFFICE PM:RPB1:DLR LA:RPOB:DLR PM:RPB1:DLR BC:RPB1:DLR PM:RPB1:DLR NAME BBrady SFigueroa BBrady BPham TTran DATE 11/19/09 11/19/09 11/19/09 11/19/09 11/19/09

Letter to Stewart B. Minahan from Tam Tran dated November 19, 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:

PUBLIC RidsNrrDlr Resource RidsNrrDlrRpb1 Resource RidsNrrDlrRpb2 Resource RidsNrrDlrRer1 Resource RidsNrrDlrRer2 Resource RidsNrrDlrRerb Resource RidsNrrDlrRpob Resource RidsNrrDciCvib Resource RidsNrrDciCpnb Resource RidsNrrDciCsgb Resource RidsNrrDraAfpb Resource RidsNrrDraApla Resource RidsNrrDeEmcb Resource RidsNrrDeEeeb Resource RidsNrrDssSrxb Resource RidsNrrDssSbpb Resource RidsNrrDssScvb Resource RidsOgcMailCenter Resource 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)

Cooper Nuclear Station cc:

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

Cooper Nuclear Station cc:

Mr. Art Zaremba, Director of Nuclear Safety Assurance Nebraska Public Power District P.O. Box 98 Brownville, NE 68321 Mr. John F. McCann, Director Licensing, Entergy Nuclear Northeast Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601-1813 Stewart Minahan Vice President Nuclear and Chief Nuclear Officer Cooper Nuclear Station 72676 - 648A Avenue Brownville, NE 68321 Mike Boyce Cooper Strategic Initiatives Manager Cooper Nuclear Station 72676 - 648A Avenue Brownville, NE 68321 Dave Bremer License Renewal Project Manager Cooper Nuclear Station 72676 - 648A Avenue Brownville, NE 68321 Bill Victor License Renewal Project Licensing Lead Cooper Nuclear Station 72676 - 648A Avenue Brownville, NE 68321 Garry Young License Renewal Manager Entergy Nuclear 1448 S.R. 333, N-GSB-45 Russellville, AR 72802 Alan Cox License Renewal Technical Manager Entergy Nuclear 1448 S.R. 333, N-GSB-45 Russellville, AR 72802 Dave Lach LRP Entergy Project Manager Entergy Nuclear 1448 S.R. 333, N-GSB-45 Russellville, AR 72802

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE COOPER NUCLEAR STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION RAI B.1.10-6 In the NPPD Letter NLS2009055, dated July 29, 2009, the applicant submitted response to RAI B.1.10-2 related to recoating the torus prior to or during the period of extended operation to reduce the corrosion rate. The applicant stated that NPPD does not have firm plans to recoat the torus. However, NPPD will continue to inspect the torus prior to and during the period of extended operation as required by ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section XI, Subsection IWE. The indications found during the inspections will continue to be evaluated to determine the need for corrective actions including, but not limited to, recoating. The last recoating of areas within the torus was the result of the 2005 torus inspection.

The staff is concerned that the large number of repairs, excessive zinc depletion, and pitting at thousands of locations to the torus during the last 35 years indicate that the integrity of the torus coating cannot be relied upon during the period of extended operation. Normal life of the torus coating is 15-20 years and CNS torus has never been recoated. In addition, CNS internal documents concerning self assessment of the torus coating have previously recommended recoating of the torus. Therefore, in order to complete its review, the staff requests the applicant to provide detailed justification for not making a commitment to recoat the torus prior to the start of period of extended operation. Based on site specific operating experience and thousands of repairs performed during the last 35 years, it appears that the torus coating have significantly exceeded its useful life. The response should also include the following information.

1. How many repairs have been performed to the Cooper torus shell coating until now?

2. How many of these repairs were performed at locations where the torus base metal thickness had been reduced by greater than 10 percent?

3. How many of the repairs required augmented inspection (including UT examination) in accordance with ASME Section XI, subsection IWE Code, Table 2500-1? Articles IWE-3122.3.b, IWE 3200, IWE 3511.3 and IWE-2420 of the ASME Code requires augmented examination of the area containing flaw or degradation if the base metal thickness is reduced by greater than 10 percent.

4. The bottom half of interior surface is not easily accessible for visual examination.

Therefore, does CNS have any plans to perform UT examination from the torus exterior surface at a number of randomly selected locations to demonstrate with 95 percent confidence that 95 percent of the torus surface has base metal thickness greater than 90 percent of the nominal thickness? If no plans exist, explain the current inspection plan and how the plan ensures the structural integrity of the torus, now and during the period of extended operation.

The staff needs the above information to confirm that the effects of aging of the torus will be adequately managed so that its intended function will be maintained consistent with the current licensing basis for the period of extended operation as required by 10 CFR 54.21(a)(3).

ENCLOSURE