ML112590324

Electronic Transmission Draft Request for Additional Information Regarding License Amendment Request 11-03

ML112590324
Person / Time
Site:	Seabrook
Issue date:	09/21/2011
From:	Geoffrey Miller Plant Licensing Branch 1
To:	Chernoff H Plant Licensing Branch 1
Miller G, NRR/DORL/LPL1-2, 415-2481
References
LAR 11-003, TAC ME6726
Download: ML112590324 (3)

Text

September 21, 2011 MEMORANDUM TO: Harold K. Chernoff, Chief Plant Licensing Branch I-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM: G. Edward Miller, Project Manager /ra/

Plant Licensing Branch I-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

SUBJECT:

SEABROOK STATION, UNIT NO. 1 - ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION, DRAFT REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST 11-03 (TAC NO. ME6726)

The attached draft request for additional information (RAI) was provided via electronic transmission on September 21, 2011, to Mr. Michael OKeefe, at NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC (NextEra). This draft RAI was transmitted to facilitate the technical review being conducted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and to support a conference call with NextEra in order to clarify the licensees July 14, 2011, amendment request (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML11203A020) to modify Surveillance Requirement 4.6.2.1.d, Containment Spray System. The draft questions were sent to ensure that they were understandable, the regulatory basis was clear, and to determine if the information was previously docketed. Additionally, review of the draft RAI would allow NextEra to evaluate and agree upon a schedule to respond to the RAI. This memorandum and the attachment do not represent an NRC staff position.

Docket No. 50-443

Enclosure:

As stated

ML112590324 *via email LPLI-2/PM LPLI-2/LA LPLI-2/BC NAME GEMiller ABaxter

• HChernoff DATE 9/21/11 09/20/11 9/21/11 9/21/11 DRAFT REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SEABROOK STATION, UNIT NO. 1 LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST 11-03 CONTAINMENT SPRAY SYSTEM SURVEILLANCE REQUIREMENT DOCKET NO. 50-443 By letter dated July 14, 2011 (Agencywide Document Access and Management System Accession No. ML11203A020), NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC (NextEra or the licensee) submitted license amendment request (LAR) 11-03. LAR 11-03 requested to modify the criteria for when the Technical Specifications require verification that the containment spray nozzles are unobstructed. To complete its review, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff needs the following information:

1. The current Surveillance Requirement (SR) 4.6.2.1.d requires verification that the nozzles are unobstructed by performing an air or smoke flow test. The proposed SR does not specify the type of test to be performed and the LAR does not address this change. Provide a justification for not specifying the type of test to be used to verify the nozzles are not obstructed or revise the proposed SR wording to specify the test to be performed.

2. The LAR indicates that one path for introduction of material that could block the nozzles is through the containment sump. The LAR states that to prevent materials from entering the system, the containment sumps may have covers installed.

a. Clarify what is meant by may have covers installed. Are there programmatic requirements for when a cover is to be installed? During what conditions would the cover be installed?

b. Section 6.2.2.2.j of the Seabrook Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) indicates that the largest debris particle permitted through the sump strainer is 0.068. Although the section does not discuss the spray nozzles, it does indicate that maximum particle permitted through the sump strainer is smaller than the minimum physical restriction in the emergency core cooling flow path (i.e., the fuel assembly debris filter, 0.073). Please provide the dimensions of the minimum restriction in the containment spray (CS) flow path or confirm that the CS flow path was considered in the statement from the UFSAR.

c. Please indicate what function the cover performs if the sump strainer will trap debris of sufficient size to clog the system.

Enclosure