ML121220225
| ML121220225 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 05/04/2012 |
| From: | John Lamb Plant Licensing Branch 1 |
| To: | Freeman P NextEra Energy Seabrook |
| Lamb J 301-415-3100 | |
| References | |
| TAC ME8513 | |
| Download: ML121220225 (3) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 May 4,2012 Mr. Paul Freeman Site Vice President clo Michael O'Keefe Seabrook Station NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC P.O. Box 300 Seabrook, NH 03874 SUB..IECT:
SEABROOK STATION, UNIT NO.1 - ACCEPTANCE LETTER REGARDING LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST 12-02, REQUEST FOR PERMANENT APPLICATION OF STEAM GENERATOR TUBE ALTERNATE REPAIR CRITERIA, H* (TAC NO. ME8513)
Dear Mr. Freeman:
By letter dated April 10, 2012 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML12121A527), NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC (NextEra) submitted a license amendment request (LAR) 12-02 for Seabrook Station, Unit 1. The proposed change revises the Technical Specification (TS) 6.7.6.k, Steam Generator (SG) Program, to exclude a portion of the tubes below the top of the SG tube sheet from periodic tube inspections and plugging. The proposed change also establishes permanent reporting requirements in TS 6.8.1.7, Steam Generator Tube Inspection Report, that were previously implemented on a temporary basis.
The purpose of this letter is to provide the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff's acceptance review of this amendment request. The acceptance review was performed to determine if there is sufficient technical information in scope and depth to allow the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review. The acceptance review is also intended to identify whether the application has any readily apparent information insufficiencies in its characterization of the regulatory requirements or the licensing basis of the plant.
Consistent with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Section 50.90, an amendment to the license (including the TSs) must fully describe the changes requested, and following as far as applicable, the form prescribed for original applications. Section 50.34 of 10 CFR addresses the content of technical information required. This section stipulates that the submittal address the design and operating characteristics, unusual or novel design features, and principal safety considerations.
The NRC staff has reviewed your application and concluded that it does provide technical information in sufficient detail to enable the staff to proceed with its detailed technical review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed amendment in terms of regulatory requirements and the protection of public health and safety and the environment. If additional information is needed for the NRC staff to complete its technical review, you will be advised by separate correspondence.
P. Freeman
- 2 NextEra requested the NRC staff to review and approve LAR 12-02 with issuance of a license amendment by September 17, 2012. This is a 5-month review request. The NRC performance goals for licensing actions is to complete 90 percent in less than 1 year and 100 percent in less than 2 years. In your letter dated April 10, 2012, you cited that a similar amendment was approved for Catawba Unit 2 on March 12,2012 (ADAMS Accession No. ML12054A692). So, I would like to note that the Catawba Unit 2 LAR was submitted on June 30, 2011 (ML11188A107), and the NRC staff completed the Catawba H* LAR review in 8.5 months.
For a variety of reasons, the NRC did not see significant budget growth during fiscal year 2012.
In addition, the NRC has devoted significant resources to the actions related to the lessons learned from the Fukushima Dai'ichi nuclear incident. This reality requires the NRC staff to exercise greater self-discipline in the way the NRC manages its licensing resources to achieve its performance goals. Operating within a more constrained budget is likely to be difficult and stressful for the NRC staff. Nonetheless, the NRC staff will endeavor to complete its review consistent with the proposed NextEra schedule.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-3100.
.'\\
?11/}'~
Johnl Lamb, Senior Project Manager Plan\\ Icensing Branch 1-2 Divisl n of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-443 cc: Distribution via Listserv
P. Freeman
- 2 NextEra requested the NRC staff to review and approve LAR 12-02 with issuance of a license amendment by September 17, 2012. This is a 5-month review request. The NRC performance goals for licensing actions is to complete 90 percent in less than 1 year and 100 percent in less than 2 years. In your letter dated April 10, 2012, you cited that a similar amendment was approved for Catawba Unit 2 on March 12,2012 (ADAMS Accession No. ML12054A692). So, you are aware the Catawba Unit 2 LAR was submitted on June 30,2011 (ML11188A107). The NRC staff completed the Catawba H* LAR review in 8.5 months.
For a variety of reasons, the NRC did not see significant budget growth during fiscal year 2012.
In addition, the NRC has devoted significant resources to the actions related to the lessons learned from the Fukushima Dai'ichi nuclear incident. This reality requires the NRC staff to exercise greater self-discipline in the way the NRC manages its licensing resources to achieve its performance goals. Operating within a more constrained budget is likely to be difficult and stressful for the NRC staff. Nonetheless, the NRC staff will endeavor to complete its review consistent with the proposed NextEra schedule.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-3100.
Sincerely, Ira!
John G. Lamb, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 1-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-443 cc: Distribution via Listserv DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC LPLI-2 RIF RidsNrrLAABaxter Resource RidsNRRDor1Lp11-2 Resource RidsOgcRP Resource RidsNrrPMSeabrook Resource RidsNrrDorlDpr Resource RidsRgn1 MailCenter Resource RidsNrrDorlResource RidsAcrsAcnw _MaiICTR Resource ADAMS Accession No: ML121220225
- via email PM LPL1-2/LA ESGB LPL1-2/BC LPL 1-2/PM NAME JLamb SLittie for ABaxter AJohnson*
MKhanna JLamb DATE 05/03/12 05/02/12 05/01/12 05/04/12 05/04/12 OFFICIAL RECORD COpy