ML110890314

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Letter Revision 3 to Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) NUMARC 94-01, Industry Guideline for Implementing Performance-Based Option of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J
ML110890314
Person / Time
Site: Nuclear Energy Institute
Issue date: 04/21/2011
From: Stuchell S
Division of Policy and Rulemaking
To: Bradley B
Nuclear Energy Institute
Stuchell S, NRR/DPR,301-415-1847
References
NUMARC 94-01, TAC ME2164
Download: ML110890314 (3)


Text

April 21, 2011 Mr. Biff Bradley, Director Risk Assessment Nuclear Generation Division Nuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006-3708

SUBJECT:

REVISION 3 TO NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE (NEI) NUMARC 94-01, INDUSTRY GUIDELINE FOR IMPLEMENTING PERFORMANCE-BASED OPTION OF 10 CFR PART 50, APPENDIX J (TAC NO. ME2164)

Dear Mr. Bradley:

On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your March 29, 2011, letter (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)

Accession No. ML110970445), requesting the NRC review and consider for endorsement Topical Report (TR) NUMARC 94-01, Revision 3. The subject TR was included as an attachment (ADAMS Accession No. ML110970451) to the letter and is dated March 2011. In addition to TR NUMARC 94-01, Revision 3, two other attachments were also included; (1) NEIs Responses to NRC Requests for Information on Type C Containment Isolation Valve Leak-tight Performance, dated March 28, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML110970448), and (2) EPRIs Type C Containment Isolation Valve Performance, Report # 1022599, Technical Update, dated March 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML110970450).

Section 170.21 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations requires that TRs be subject to fees based on the full cost of the review. However, based on the letter dated August 6, 2009 (ADAMS Accession No. ML093060238), the Office of the Chief Financial Officer has waived the 10 CFR 170.21 fees associated with the review of TR NUMARC 94-01. Any reviews of subsequent revisions to this TR will be in accordance with 10 CFR 170.21, and any desired fee waivers must be requested.

Upon receipt of the documents from NEI, the NRCs staff noted an administrative error in the document numbers. Although there are references to NUMARC 91-04, the NRC understands that the guidelines for implementing Appendix J are contained within NUMARC 94-01.

During the initial review of the cover letter and attachments, the NRC staff noted references to the restoration of the 75-month interval for Type C testing and the staff clarifies that 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Option B does not allow a permanent or scheduled extension of the 60-month (five-year) testing interval for Type C components. The final rule did allow a 25 percent (15-month) margin in testing frequency. Therefore, the review and consideration for acceptance and endorsement of TR NUMARC 94-01, Revision 3, will consider the extension of the 60-month interval to 75 months.

B. Bradley In addition, during a very preliminary review of the EPRI Report # 1022599 Technical Update, the NRC staff concluded that the EPRI focus was on local leak rate test (LLRT) individual failures (each plants staff determines what leakage value results in a failure for each of their valves) with little attention to how close units operate to the 0.6 La combined Type B and C Technical Specification leakage criterion. This may incorrectly result in a condition for desired routine scheduling of Type C tests beyond 60-months, and may result in an understatement of the min-pathway total.

The NRC staff will consider the responses to the request for additional information and determine if sufficient data has been provided to satisfy staffs concerns of Type C component performance. The NRC staff expects to complete a review of all submitted information by May 27, 2011. However, the schedule is based on current NRC plans and workload, and may be impacted by other higher priority tasks assigned by management.

As with all TRs, the SE will be reviewed by the NRCs Office of the General Counsel (OGC) for determination of any impact by the Congressional Review Act (CRA). This review by OGC ensures that any endorsement or acceptance of a TR by the NRC is considered with respect to being a rule according to the CRA. If this initial review by OGC determines the SE, with its accompanying TR, may be a rule, the NRC will forward the package to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for continued review and consideration. Any review by OMB would impact the schedule for the final issuance of the SE.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, I may be reached at 301-415-1847 or Sheldon.Stuchell@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Sheldon D. Stuchell, Senior Project Manager Licensing Processes Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Project No. 689

The NRC staff will consider the responses to the request for additional information and determine if sufficient data has been provided to satisfy staffs concerns of Type C component performance. The NRC staff expects to complete a review of all submitted information by May 27, 2011. However, the schedule is based on current NRC plans and workload, and may be impacted by other higher priority tasks assigned by management.

As with all TRs, the SE will be reviewed by the NRCs Office of the General Counsel (OGC) for determination of any impact by the Congressional Review Act (CRA). This review by OGC ensures that any endorsement or acceptance of a TR by the NRC is considered with respect to being a rule according to the CRA. If this initial review by OGC determines the SE, with its accompanying TR, may be a rule, the NRC will forward the package to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for continued review and consideration. Any review by OMB would impact the schedule for the final issuance of the SE.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, I may be reached at 301-415-1847 or Sheldon.Stuchell@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Sheldon D. Stuchell, Senior Project Manager Licensing Processes Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Project No. 689 DISTRIBUTION:

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