GO2-11-175, Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding License Renewal Application

Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding License Renewal Application

ML11308A022
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia
Issue date:	11/01/2011
From:	Swank D Energy Northwest
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
GO2-11-175
Download: ML11308A022 (4)

Text

David A. Swank ENERGY Engineering General Manager P.O. Box 968, Mail Drop PE23 Richland, WA 99352-0968 Ph. 509-377-2309 F. 509-377-4173 daswank@energy-northwest.com.

November 1, 2011 G02-11-175 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

Subject:

COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION, DOCKET NO. 50-397 RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION

References:

1) Letter, G02-10-11, dated January 19, 2010, WS Oxenford (Energy Northwest) to NRC, "License Renewal Application"

2) Letter dated September 26, 2011, NRC to DA Swank (Energy Northwest), "Request for Additional Information for the Review of the Columbia Generating Station, License Renewal Application," (ADAMS Accession No. ML11269A014)

Dear Sir or Madam:

By Reference 1, Energy Northwest requested the renewal of the Columbia Generating Station (Columbia) operating license. Via Reference 2, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requested additional information related to the Energy Northwest submittal.

The response to the request for additional information (RAI) is provided as an attachment to this letter. General Electric-Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) provided supporting information for the response to the RAI, enclosed with this letter, and considers the information provided proprietary. Therefore, GEH requests that the information be withheld from public disclosure in accordance with 10 CFR 2.390(a)(4).

As required, an affidavit justifying the proprietary information is provided in the enclosure.

RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION Page 2 of 2 No new commitments are included in this letter.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Abbas Mostala at (509) 377-4197.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on the date of this letter.

Engineering General Manager

Attachment:

Response to Request for Additional Information

Enclosure:

GEH letter GEH 1-2PUAGH-KK1 -003, "Columbia Generating Station (CGS) License Renewal Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) Nozzle Upper Shelf Energy (USE) NRC Request for Additional Information RAI 4.2-7 Support: Data Cover Letter 0000-01 38-8826-R2, Data and Affidavit," dated October 27, 2011.

cc: NRC Region IV Administrator NRC NRR Project Manager NRC Senior Resident Inspector/988C EFSEC Manager RN Sherman - BPA/1 399 WA Horin - Winston & Strawn AD Cunanan - NRC NRR (w/a)

John Daily - NRC NRR (w/a)

BE Holian - NRC NRR MA Galloway - NRC NRR RR Cowley - WDOH

RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION Page 1 of 2 RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION "Request for Additional Information for the Review of the Columbia Generating Station, License Renewal Application,"

(ADAMS Accession No. ML11269A014)

RAI 4.2-7

Background:

The applicant stated in its response to RAI 4.2-6, dated April 22, 2011, that the N12 nozzles are fabricated from SA-508 Class 1 material. The unirradiated (initial) transverse upper shelf energy (USE) of 62 ft-lb and copper content of 0.27 percent used in the calculation of projected USE for the N12 nozzles are based on the results of a statistical analysis.

The regulatory guide 1.99 Rev. 2 decrease in USE projected to 54 EFPY for the N12 nozzles is 18 percent. This results in a USE projected to 54 EFPY of 51 ft-lb for the limiting N12 forging. Therefore, the applicant stated that the 10 CFR 50 Appendix G requirement for 50 ft-lb minimum USE at end of vessel life is met for the current license period and for the period of extended operation for the N12 forgings.

Issue:

The applicant did not provide a technical basis for initial USE values of 62 ft-lb and copper content of 0.27 percent for SA-508 Class 1 forgings material.

Request:

Provide a technical basis, submitted on the docket, for initial USE values of 62 ft-lb and copper content of 0.27 percent for SA-508 Class 1 forgings material, which can be verified by the staff, in order for the applicant to demonstrate that the USE value for the N12 nozzle forgings will not pass below 50 ft-lbs prior to the period of extended operation.

Energy Northwest Response:

The requested technical basis has been provided by General Electric Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) in the enclosed letter (GEH letter GEH 1-2PUAGH-KK1 -003, "Columbia Generating Station (CGS) License Renewal Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) Nozzle Upper Shelf Energy (USE) NRC Request for Additional Information RAI 4.2-7 Support:

Data Cover Letter 0000-01 38-8826-R2, Data and Affidavit," dated October 27, 2011.)

The information in Enclosures 1 and 2 of the GEH letter is proprietary in its entirety.

The GEH letter enclosures contain the data used to determine the SA-508 Class 1 forging unirradiated upper shelf energy (USE) and weight percent copper values. The enclosures also provide detail regarding the GEH statistical analysis of the SA-508 Class 1 forging data. This information constitutes the technical basis, as requested by

RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION Page 2 of 2 the staff, for the initial USE and the weight percent copper values applicable to SA-508 Class 1 forging material. These values were used by Energy Northwest to demonstrate that the USE for the N12 forgings will not pass below 50 ft-lb prior to the end of the current license period or the end of the period of extended operation.