ML102870193

9/22/10 Summary of Telephone Conference Call Held Between the USNRC and Energy Northwest Concerning the D-RAI Pertaining to the Columbia Generating Station, License Renewal Application

ML102870193
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: ML102870193 (6)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 October 25, 2010 LICENSEE: Energy Northwest FACILITY: Columbia Generating Station

SUMMARY

OF TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL HELD ON SEPTEMBER 22,2010, 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 (the applicant), held a telephone conference call on September 22, 2010, to discuss and clarify the NRC's draft request for additional information (D-RAI) concerning the Columbia Generating Station, license renewal application. 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.

e~~ G-t~~

Evelyn Gettys, ~M1nager Projects Branch 1 Division of license Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-397

Enclosures:

As stated cc w/encls: Distribution via listserv

TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION LIST OF PARTICIPANTS September 22,2010 PARTICIPANTS AFFILIATIONS Evelyn Gettys U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (!\IRC)

Aloysius Obodoako NRC Abbas Mostala Energy Northwest (EN)

Doug Ramey EN John Twomey EN Scott O'Connor EN Sing Chu AREVA ENCLOSURE 1

TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION September 22,2010 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the staff) and representatives of Energy Northwest, held telephone conference calls on September 22,2010, 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 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 instituting areal measurement density techniques, per the corrective action program, such as Boron-10 Areal Density Gauge for Evaluating Racks 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.

ENCLOSURE 2

-2 Requests:

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 of extended operation.

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

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 Table A-1 of the LRA.

Discussion: The staff discussed the D-RAI with the applicant. A formal RAI will be issused.

ML102870193 *concurrence via e-mail OFFICE PM:RPB1:DLR LA:DLR BC: RPB1 :DLR PM:RPB1 :DLR NAME EGettys YEdmonds

• BPham EGettys DATE 10/21/10 10/20/10 10/25/10 10/25/10

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

SUMMARY

OF TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL HELD ON SEPTEMBER 22,2010, 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 (TAG NO. ME3058)

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