ML093510896
| ML093510896 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hatch, Vogtle, Farley  |
| Issue date: | 12/17/2009 |
| From: | Ajluni M Southern Nuclear Operating Co |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NL-09-2000, NRC-2009-0521 | |
| Download: ML093510896 (2) | |
Text
Southern NucieR7 Operatiny Company In(;
L" SOUTHERN'\\
December 17, 2009 COMPANY Docket Nos.: 50-321 50-348 50-424 NL-09-2000 50-366 50-364 50-425 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, D. C. 20555-0001 Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Comments on Draft License Renewal Interim Staff Guidance, LR-ISG-2009-01:
Staff Guidance Regarding Plant-Specific Aging Management Review and Aging Management Program for Neutron-Absorbing Material in Spent Fuel Pools (Docket 10 NRC-2009-0521)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requested comments on Draft License Renewal Interim Staff Guidance, LR-ISG-2009-01: Staff Guidance Regarding Plant-Specific Aging Management Review and Aging Management Program for Neutron-Absorbing Material in Spent Fuel Pools, via Federal Register notice dated December 1, 2009 (74 FR 62829). As the licensed operator for the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant; the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant; and the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC) takes exception to the statement that, "Similarly, the spent fuel pool water chemistry program at Vogtle documented an increase in the concentration of aluminum, which indicates loss of material from the Boral neutron absorbing material (Ref. 7)."
The statement from the ISG which is quoted above implies that Southern Nuclear concluded that the increase in the concentration of aluminum indicates loss of material from the BORAL ' neutron absorbing material. SNC does not believe that increasing aluminum concentration in the ~ent fuel pool water is conclusive evidence that loss of material from the BORAL neutron absorbing material is occurring. The license renewal application for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) (ISG Ref. 7), did state in Section B.3.28, "Aluminum concentrations in the spent fuel pool water have increased... " However, section 3.3.2.2.6 of the VEGP license renewal application also stated, "VEGP manages loss of material due to corrosion of the aluminum cladding material with the Water Chemistry Program."
The aging management reviews documented in the VEGP license renewal application did not conclude that loss of material from the BORAL 'neutron absorbing material was indicated by the increased aluminum concentration in the
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NL-09-2000 Page 2 spent fuel pool water, but rather that it indicated corrosion of the aluminum cladding on the BORAL'.
Therefore, it is inappropriate to use the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant operating experience with aluminum concentration in the spent fuel pool as indication of degradation of the BORAL' neutron absorbing material. SNC will perform testing of the BORAL' neutron absorbing material as committed to in the Future Action Commitment List in Appendix A of NUREG-1920, The Safety Evaluation Report Related to the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2.
This letter contains no NRC commitments. If you have any questions, please advise.
Sincerely,
~~~
M. J. Ajluni Nuclear Licensing Manager MJAlJEH/phr cc:
Southern Nuclear Operating Company Mr. J. T. Gasser, Executive Vice President Mr. J. R. Johnson, Vice President - Farley Mr. D. R. Madison, Vice President - Hatch Mr. T. E. Tynan, Vice President - Vogtle Ms. P. M: Marino, Vice President - Engineering RType:<Farley=CFA04.054; Hatch=CHA02.004; Vogtle=CVC7000 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mr. L. A. Reyes, Regional Administrator Mr. R. E. Martin, NRR Project Manager - Farley Ms. D. N. Wright, NRR Project Manager - Hatch Ms. D. N. Wright, NRR Project Manager - Vogtle Mr. E. L. Crowe, Senior Resident Inspector - Farley Mr. J. A. Hickey, Senior Resident Inspector - Hatch Mr. M. Cain, Senior Resident Inspector - Vogtle