ML11249A162
| ML11249A162 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Bellefonte  |
| Issue date: | 09/01/2011 |
| From: | Hruby R Tennessee Valley Authority |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML11249A162 (5) | |
Text
Tennessee Valley Authority, 1101 Market Street, LP 5A, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402-2801 September 1, 2011 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Bellefonte Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 Construction Permit Nos. CPPR-122 and CPPR-123 NRC Docket Nos. 50-438 and 50-439
Subject:
TVA BOARD OF DIRECTORS' DECISION APPROVING COMPLETION OF BELLEFONTE UNIT I
References:
TVA Board of Directors' Decision Funding the Next Project Phase During Fiscal Year 2011,"dated August 30, 2010
[ML102440618].
Request for Extension of Construction Permit CPPR-122," dated October 8, 2010 [ML102870233].
- 3. Letter from TVA to NRC, "TVA Board Decision Approving the TVA Integrated Resource Plan," dated April 25, 2011 [ML11124A170].
The purpose of this letter is to inform the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of the August 18, 2011 decision by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors to approve the TVA staff's recommendation to complete and operate Bellefonte Nuclear Plant (BLN) Unit 1.
In a letter to the NRC dated August 30, 2010 (Reference 1), TVA informed the NRC of the TVA Board's August 20, 2010 decision to approve a (FY) 2011 budget for initial engineering and design, development of the BLN Regulatory Framework, continued asset preservation and facilities preparation, and procurement of long-lead components.
TVA also informed the NRC that the TVA Board stipulated that a later decision could be made regarding eventual construction and completion of BLN Unit 1 based on the forthcoming conclusions of TVA's Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process in the spring of 2011.
SO3C
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 2 September 1, 2011 By letter dated October 8, 2010 (Reference 2), TVA requested the NRC to extend the latest completion date of the BLN Unit 1 construction permit, CPPR-122, to October 1, 2020. This extended completion date is consistent with the scheduled completion date of BLN Unit 1 and would allow TVA sufficient time to complete construction of the unit in a deliberate and careful manner. Therefore, the requested extension is reasonable to ensure the completion of BLN Unit 1.
TVA's letter to the NRC, dated April 25, 2011 (Reference 3), informed the NRC of the Board's April 14, 2011 decision to accept the results of the IRP. According to the analysis contained in the IRP, TVA will need 9,600 MW and 29,000 GWh of additional power in 2019, increasing to 15,500 MW and 45,000 GWh by 2029. The completion and commercial operation of BLN Unit 1 is consistent with and supports the IRP's planning direction to, among other things, add nuclear generation capacity in the 2018 to 2020 timeframe.
Subsequently, on August 18, 2011, the TVA Board approved completion of the licensing, construction, and eventual commercial operation of BLN Unit 1. The details and basis for this decision are contained in the Record of Decision (ROD) regarding the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, Single Nuclear Unit at the Bellefonte Plant Site, Jackson County, Alabama (FSEIS) as noticed in the Federal Register on August 30, 2011 (76 Fed. Reg. 53994). In this FSEIS, TVA evaluated three generation alternatives and two transmission alternatives. Previous reviews also considered alternatives to nuclear generation, including energy sources not requiring new generating capacity, alternatives requiring new generating capacity, and combinations of alternatives. Alternative sites for additional nuclear generation were also considered.
The FSEIS supplemented the discussion of energy alternatives in response to comments received on the Draft SEIS, including additional discussion of renewable energy sources such as biomass, wind, and solar power. The FSEIS identified TVA's preferred alternative as the completion and operation of BLN Unit 1.
As approved, the TVA Board's decision stipulates that resumption of construction activities associated with BLN Unit 1 completion will occur only after the initial loading of fuel at Watts Bar Unit 2. Accordingly, TVA will submit a construction reactivation letter to the NRC for BLN Unit 1 in accordance with the provisions of NRC Generic Letter 87-15, Commission Policy Statement on Deferred Plants, in an appropriate timeframe to support this schedule for resuming construction.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 3 September 1, 2011 provides a list of TVA commitments made in this letter.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, please call Zackary W. Rad at (256) 574-8265.
Sincerely, Raymond A. Hruby, Jr.
General Manager Bellefonte Project Enclosure(s):
- 1. List of TVA Commitments cc: See page 4
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 4 September 1, 2011 cc (w/Enclosures):
Eric Leeds, Director U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North, 13H16M 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852-2738 Stephen J. Campbell U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North, 8H4A 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852-2738 John Lamb U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North, 8H21 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852-2738 Lakshminarasimh Raghavan U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North, 8H4A 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852-2738 Victor McCree, Regional Administrator U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region II Marquis One Tower 245 Peachtree Center Avenue N.E.,
Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303 Charles Ogle, Deputy Regional Administrator for Construction U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region II Marquis One Tower 245 Peachtree Center Avenue N.E.,
Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303 Robert Haag U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region II Marquis One Tower 245 Peachtree Center Avenue N.E., Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303 Patrick Milano U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North, 8H21 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852-2738 TVA Letter dated September 1, 2011 List of TVA Commitments
- 1. TVA will submit a construction reactivation letter to the NRC for BLN Unit 1 in accordance with the provisions of Generic Letter 87-15, Commission Policy Statement on Deferred Plants, in accordance with a schedule that will support the resumption of construction after the initial loading of fuel at Watts Bar Unit 2 has been accomplished.
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