ML102790223

10/05/2010 Summary of Telephone Conference Call Held Between NRC and Energy Northwest, Concerning the Draft Rao Pertaining to the Columbia Generating Station, License Renewal Application

ML102790223
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia
Issue date:	10/25/2010
From:	Gettys E License Renewal Projects Branch 1
To:
Gettys E, NRR/DLR, 415-4029
References
TAC ME3058
Download: ML102790223 (7)

Text

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LICENSEE: Energy Northwest FACILITY: Columbia Generating Station

SUMMARY

OF TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL HELD ON OCTOBER 5, 2010, BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND ENERGY NORTHWEST, CONCERNING THE DRAFT REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (TAC NO.

ME3058)

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the staff) and representatives of Energy Northwest (EN), held a telephone conference call on October 5, 2010, to discuss and clarify the NRC's draft request for additional information (D-RAI) concerning the Columbia Generating Station, license renewal application (LRA).

Enclosure 1 provides a listing of the participants and Enclosure 2 contains a listing of the D-RAls discussed with the applicant, including a brief description on the status of the items.

The applicant had an opportunity to comment on this summary.

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Evelyn Gettys, Project Manager Projects Branch 1 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-397

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/encls: Distribution via Listserv

TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION LIST OF PARTICIPANTS October 5, 2010 PARTICIPANTS AFFILIATIONS Evelyn Gettys U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Aloysius Obodoako NRC Emma Wong NRC Matt Yoder NRC Ben Parks NRC On Yee NRC Abbas Mostala Energy Northwest (EN)

Doug Ramey EN John Twomey EN Scott Wood EN Marsha Eades EN Massoud Tafazzoli AREVA Mitch McFarland AREVA ENCLOSURE 1

TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION October 5, 2010 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the staff) and representatives of Energy Northwest, held a telephone conference call on October 5,2010, to discuss the following draft requests for additional information (D-RAls) concerning the Columbia Generating Station, license renewal application (LRA).

Draft RAI B.2.54-1

Background

Standard Review Plan for Review of License Renewal Applications for Nuclear Power Plants (SRP-LR) Section A.1.2.3.1, states that the scope of the program should include the specific structures and components of which the program manages the aging.

In addition, SRP-LR Section A.1.2.3.4, states that detection of aging effects should occur before there is a loss of the structure and component intended functions. The parameters to be monitored or inspected should be appropriate to ensure that the structure and component intended functions will be adequately maintained for license renewal under all current licensing basis (CLB) design conditions. This includes aspects such as method or technique (e.g., visual, volumetric, surface inspection), frequency, sample size, data collection and timing of new or one-time inspections to ensure timely detection of aging effects.

In its response dated August 19, 2010, the applicant states that the Boron Carbide Monitoring Program detects degradation of Boron Carbide neutron absorbers in the spent fuel storage racks by B4 C coupon inspection. The applicant further stated that boron loss is determined through measurement of the boron areal density (i.e., neutron attenuation testing) in the coupons and by insitu areal measurement density techniques, per the corrective action program, such as Boron-10 Areal Density Gauge for Evaluating Racks (BADGER) testing.

LRA Section B.2.54 does not indicate the number of B4 C coupons used in the Boron Carbide Monitoring Program and whether or not coupon inspection will be performed in the period of extended operation. Furthermore, the applicant indicated that neutron attenuation testing will be performed, but the frequency of testing was not stated.

1. Indicate the number of B4 C coupons available for use for the Boron Carbide Monitoring Program and discuss the number of coupons inspected during each inspection and whether coupon inspection will be performed throughout the period extended operation.

a. Discuss the location of coupons relative to the spent fuel racks and how the coupons are mounted.

ENCLOSURE 2

-2

b. Discuss the neutron flux of the coupons relative to that for the fuel assemblies.

c. Indicate whether or not the coupons are returned back to the spent fuel pool after inspection.

2. Provide the frequency for which the coupon neutron attenuation testing will be performed.

3. Provide a commitment in the Table A-1 of the LRA.

Discussion: The staff discussed this RAI with the applicant and they understand the staff's question.

Response to RAI XI.S8-1 Discussion - In letter dated August 19, 2010, (ML102440342) the applicant responded to RAI XI.S8-1 that there was no safety impact on the strainer operation from coating debris on the emergency core cooling system. The staff disagrees with this response and the applicant has agreed to amend their response.

Draft RAI 4.2.1

Background:

10 CFR 54.3 defines time-limited aging analyses (TLAA) as those licensee calculations and analyses that:

(1) Involve systems, structures and components within the scope of license renewal, as delineated in 10 CFR 50.54(a);

(2) Consider the effects of aging; (3) Involve time-limited assumptions defined by the current operating term, (4) Were determined to be relevant by the licensee in making a safety determination; (5) Involve conclusions or provide the basis for conclusions related to the capability of the system, structure, and component to perform its intended functions, and (6) Are contained or incorporated by reference in the CLB Reactor vessel neutron fluence meets all six of these criteria. It is relevant in making a safety determination because its value affects the reference temperature for nil-ductility transition and the reactor coolant system pressure-temperature limits.

Issue:

The Columbia Generating Station License Renewal Application states that neutron fluence is not a TLAA.

- 3 Request:

Please revise LRA Section 4.2.1 to indicate the correct categorization of neutron fluence and provide the appropriate disposition in accordance with 10 CFR 54.21 (c).

Discussion: The staff discussed this draft RAI with the applicant and they understands the staff's question.

Draft RAI X In the LRA Page 3.1-11, Item Number 3.1.1-04, the applicant stated in the "Discussion" column that this is not applicable and Cumulative fatigue damage was not identified as a TLAA for Columbia. The staff needs to know more detail about the "not applicable" and "TLAA not identified" .

Discussion: The applicant explained that there was no analysis needed per the code. The staff has requested information on the code that was used.

October 25, 2010 LICENSEE: Energy Northwest FACILITY: Columbia Generating Station

SUMMARY

OF TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL HELD ON OCTOBER 5, 2010, BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND ENERGY NORTHWEST, CONCERNING THE DRAFT REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (TAC NO.

ME3058)

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the staff) and representatives of Energy Northwest (EN), held a telephone conference call on October 5,2010, to discuss and clarify the NRC's draft request for additional information (D-RAI) concerning the Columbia Generating Station, license renewal application (LRA). provides a listing of the participants and Enclosure 2 contains a listing of the D-RAls discussed with the applicant, including a brief description on the status of the items.

The applicant had an opportunity to comment on this summary.

IRAJ Evelyn H. Gettys, Project Manager Projects Branch 1 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-397

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/encls: Distribution via Listserv ADAMS Accession No'.. ML102790223 OFFICE PM:RPB1 :DLR LADLR BC: RPB1 :DLR NAME EGettys YEdmonds BPham DATE 101 110 10/12/10 10/25/10 OFFICIAL RECORD COpy

Letter to Energy Northwest from E. Gettys dated October 25, 2010.

SUMMARY

OF TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL HELD ON OCTOBER 5, 2010, BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND ENERGY NORTHWEST, CONCERNING THE DRAFT REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (TAC NO.

ME3058)

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