ML100351342

Request for Information Concerning the Probable Maximum Flood Elevation at Missouri River Mile 646, Fort Calhoun Station

ML100351342
Person / Time
Site:	Fort Calhoun
Issue date:	02/04/2010
From:	Thomas Farnholtz Region 4 Engineering Branch 1
To:	Remus J US Dept of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Omaha District
References
Download: ML100351342 (11)

Text

February 4, 2010 Mr. John Remus Chief, Hydrologic Engineering Branch U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Attn: CENWO-ED-H 1616 Capitol Avenue, Suite 9000 Omaha, NE 68102

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROBABLE MAXIMUM FLOOD ELEVATION AT MISSOURI RIVER MILE 646, FORT CALHOUN STATION, DOCKET 50-285

REFERENCES:

1. Short, T.E., Omaha Public Power District, letter to C.L.Hipp, Omaha District, Corps of Engineers, December 7, 1967.

2. Hipp, C.L., Omaha District, Corps of Engineers, letter to T.E. Short, Omaha Public Power District, December 12, 1967.

3. Kessler, S.C., Omaha District, Corps of Engineers, letter to K. Stultz, Omaha Public Power District, January 14, 1993.

4. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Upper Mississippi River System Flow Frequency Study, Appendix F, November 2003.

Dear Mr. Remus:

On January 22, 2010, in a telephone conversation with Mr. Predall of your staff, we discussed the frequencies and levels of flooding that could occur along the Missouri River, particularly at Missouri River mile 646, which is the location of an NRC licensed facility. Of particular interest is the probable maximum flood elevation at this location.

In a recent inspection of this licensed facility, NRC inspectors reviewed correspondence between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Omaha Public Power District (Ref. 1, 2, and 3).

Additionally, we reviewed the 2003 Missouri River stage and flow frequency profiles that were estimated by the Corps of Engineers (Ref. 4). Our inspectors noted that the expected flooding elevations for each flooding frequency has increased at Missouri River mile 646 since the facility first inquired about expected flooding elevations in 1967.

Because of the increases in flooding elevations, the inspectors issued an unresolved item concerning the licensed facilitys ability to protect to the probable maximum flood level as required by the facilitys operating license. To resolve this concern, we would appreciate a response to the following questions:

1. Using the most recent Missouri River flow and meteorological information, what is the probable maximum flood elevation at Missouri River mile 646?

2. What is the rate of flow, in cubic feet per second, of the probable maximum flood at Missouri River mile 646?

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION R E GI ON IV 612 E. LAMAR BLVD., SUITE 400 ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76011-4005

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

3. What are the assumptions (e.g., probable maximum precipitation, probable maximum snowpack, etc.) that would be used to estimate the probable maximum flood elevation at Missouri River mile 646?

4. What is the duration of the flooding conditions for 100, 200, 500 year, and probable maximum floods at Missouri River mile 646?

5. If the expected flood elevations for 100, 200, and 500 year floods have changed from the previously evaluated levels, how would these new flood elevations be included in the evaluation for probable maximum flood elevation?

6. What is the peak discharge of the probable maximum flood at Gavins Point Dam and how would this discharge affect flooding conditions at Missouri River mile 646?

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Gerond George at (817) 276-6562 or gerond.george@nrc.gov. We greatly appreciate any assistance you can give on this matter.

Please send your response to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Document Control Desk, Washington, DC 20555-0001, with copies to the Regional Administrator, U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region IV, 612 East Lamar Blvd., Suite 400, Arlington, Texas 76011; and the NRC Resident Inspector, OPPD-Fort Calhoun Station, Highway 75-Service Building, Blair, NE 68008.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter will be made available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of NRCs document system (ADAMS).

ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Sincerely,

/RA/

Thomas Farnholtz, Chief Engineering Branch 1 Division of Reactor Safety Docket: 50-285 License: DPR-40

Enclosures:

Reference 1 Reference 2 Reference 3

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cc w/

Enclosures:

Jeffrey A. Reinhart Site Vice President Omaha Public Power District Fort Calhoun Station FC-2-4 Adm P.O. Box 550 Fort Calhoun, NE 68023-0550 Mr. Thomas C. Matthews Manager - Nuclear Licensing Omaha Public Power District Fort Calhoun Station FC-2-4 Adm.

P.O. Box 550 Fort Calhoun, NE 68023-0550 Winston & Strawn Attn: David A. Repke, Esq.

1700 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006-3817 Chairman Washington County Board of Supervisors P.O. Box 466 Blair, NE 68008 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 Ms. Melanie Rasmussen Radiation Control Program Officer Bureau of Radiological Health Iowa Department of Public Health Lucas State Office Building, 5th Floor 321 East 12th Street Des Moines, IA 50319 Chief, Technological Hazards Branch FEMA, Region VII 9221 Ward Parkway Suite 300 Kansas City, MO 64114-3372

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Electronic distribution by RIV:

Regional Administrator (Elmo.Collins@nrc.gov )

Deputy Regional Administrator (Chuck.Casto@nrc.gov )

DRP Director (Dwight.Chamberlain@nrc.gov)

DRP Deputy Director (Anton.Vegel@nrc.gov )

DRS Director (Roy.Caniano@nrc.gov )

DRS Deputy Director (Troy.Pruett@nrc.gov)

Senior Resident Inspector (John.Kirkland@nrc.gov)

Resident Inspector (Jacob.Wingebach@nrc.gov)

Branch Chief, DRP/E (Jeff.Clark@nrc.gov)

FCS Site Secretary (Berni.Madison@nrc.gov )

Senior Project Engineer, DRP/E (Ray.Azua@nrc.gov)

Public Affairs Officer (Victor.Dricks@nrc.gov)

Public Affairs Officer (Lara.Uselding@nrc.gov)

Branch Chief, DRS/TSS (Mike.Hay@nrc.gov)

Regional Counsel (Karla.Fuller@nrc.gov)

Regional State Liaison Officer (Bill.Maier@nrc.gov)

NRR Project Manager (Lynnea.Wilkins@nrc.gov)

OEMail Resource SUNSI Review Completed: _Yes_ ADAMS: Yes No Initials: _GAG_____

Publicly Available Non-Publicly Available Sensitive Non-Sensitive RIV:RI:DRS/EB1 BC/EB1 GAGeorge/dch TFarnholtz

/RA/

/RA/

2/4/010 2/4/010 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY T=Telephone E=E-mail F=Fax

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