ML093650119

Acceptance Review for TAC ME2815 - Hope Creek - License Amendment Request Regarding Control Rod Scram Times - TSTF-460

ML093650119
Person / Time
Site:	Hope Creek
Issue date:	12/31/2009
From:	Richard Ennis Plant Licensing Branch 1
To:	Keenan J Public Service Enterprise Group
Ennis R, NRR/DORL, 415-1420
References
TAC ME2815
Download: ML093650119 (2)

Text

From: Ennis, Rick Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 10:38 AM To: Jeff Keenan Cc: Erin West; Paul Duke; Feintuch, Karl; Lingam, Siva

Subject:

Acceptance Review for TAC ME2815 - Hope Creek - License Amendment Request Regarding Control Rod Scram Times - TSTF-460

Jeff, By letter dated December 1, 2009 (ADAMS Accession No. ML093430242), PSEG Nuclear LLC (PSEG) submitted a license amendment request for Hope Creek Generating Station (HCGS).

The proposed amendment would revise the HCGS Technical Specifications (TSs) to change the required frequency of testing control rod scram times from at least once per 120 days of POWER OPERATION to at least once per 200 days of POWER OPERATION. This change is based on TS Task Force (TSTF) change traveler TSTF-460, Revision 0, Control Rod Scram Time Testing Frequency. TSTF-460 has been approved generically by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for incorporation into the boiling water reactor (BWR) Standard TS (STS);

NUREG-1433 (BWR/4) and NUREG-1434 (BWR/6). The NRC staff published a notice announcing the availability of this proposed TS change using the consolidated line item improvement process (CLIIP) in the Federal Register on August 23, 2004 (69 FR 51864). Since HCGS has not adopted the STS, PSEG has proposed variations from the CLIIP to ensure consistency with NUREG-1433, Revision 3, Standard Technical Specifications, General Electric Plants, BWR/4. The changes to align with NUREG-1433 involve the adoption of a revised control rod scram time test methodology and an establishment of a category of operable but slow control rods.

The purpose of this e-mail is to provide the results of the NRC staff=s acceptance review of this amendment request. The acceptance review was performed to determine if there is sufficient technical information in scope and depth to allow the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review. The acceptance review is also intended to identify whether the application has any readily apparent information insufficiencies in its characterization of the regulatory requirements or the licensing basis of the plant.

Consistent with Section 50.90 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), an amendment to the license (including the TSs) must fully describe the changes requested, and following as far as applicable, the form prescribed for original applications. Section 50.34 of 10 CFR addresses the content of technical information required. This section stipulates that the submittal address the design and operating characteristics, unusual or novel design features, and principal safety considerations.

The NRC staff has reviewed your application and concluded that it does provide technical information in sufficient detail to enable the staff to proceed with its detailed technical review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed amendment request in terms of regulatory requirements and the protection of public health and safety and the environment. Given the lesser scope and depth of the acceptance review as compared to the detailed technical review, there may be instances in which issues that impact the NRC staffs ability to complete the detailed technical review are identified despite completion of an adequate acceptance review. You will be advised of any further information needed to support the NRC staffs detailed technical review by separate correspondence.

If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-1420.

Richard B. Ennis, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch I-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation E-mail Properties Mail Envelope Properties (9E28710E0B702149AEC66397286364401AA8A6E486)

Subject:

Acceptance Review for TAC ME2850 - Hope Creek - License Amendment Request Regarding Control Rod Scram Times - TSTF-460 Sent Date: 12/31/2009 10:38:16 AM Received Date: 12/31/2009 10:38:16 AM From: Ennis, Rick Created By: Rick.Ennis@nrc.gov Recipients:

Jeff.Keenan@pseg.com (Jeff Keenan)

Tracking Status: None erin.west@pseg.com (Erin West)

Tracking Status: None Paul.Duke@pseg.com (Paul Duke)

Tracking Status: None Karl.Feintuch@nrc.gov (Feintuch, Karl)

Tracking Status: None Siva.Lingam@nrc.gov (Lingam, Siva)

Tracking Status: None Post Office:

HQCLSTR01.nrc.gov Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 15816 12/31/2009 Options Expiration Date:

Priority: olImportanceNormal ReplyRequested: False Return Notification: False Sensitivity: olNormal Recipients received: