ML12123A002
| ML12123A002 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Nine Mile Point  |
| Issue date: | 05/03/2012 |
| From: | Bhalchandra Vaidya Plant Licensing Branch 1 |
| To: | Langdon K Nine Mile Point |
| Vaidya B, NRR/DORL/LPL1-1, 415-3308 | |
| References | |
| TAC ME6453, TAC ME6454, BL-11-001 | |
| Download: ML12123A002 (6) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 May 3,2012 Mr. Ken Langdon Vice President Nine Mile Point Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, LLC P.O. Box 63 Lycoming, NY 13093
SUBJECT:
NINE MILE POINT NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 - CLOSEOUT OF BULLETIN 2011-01, "MITIGATING STRATEGIES" (TAC NOS. ME6453 AND ME6454)
Dear Mr. Langdon:
On May 11, 2011, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Bulletin 2011-01, "Mitigating Strategies" (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)
Accession No. ML111250360), to all holders of operating licenses for nuclear power reactors, except those that have permanently ceased operation and have certified that fuel has been removed from the reactor vessel. The purpose of the bulletin was to obtain a comprehensive verification that licensees' mitigating strategies to maintain or restore core cooling, spent fuel cooling, and containment following a large explosion or fire were compliant with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.54(hh}(2).
The bulletin required two sets of responses pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 50.54(f). Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, (NMPNS) provided its responses to the bulletin by letters dated June 10 and July 11, 2011 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML11172A187 and .
The NRC staff has reviewed the information submitted by NMPNS and concludes that its response to the bulletin is acceptable. The NRC staff Summary of NRC Bulletin 2011-01 Response Review is enclosed.
Please feel free to contact me at 301-415-3308 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
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Bhalchandra K. Vaidya, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 1-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-220 and 50-410
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl: Distribution via Listserv
Summary of NRC Bulletin 2011-01, "Mitigating Strategies" Response Review Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 On May 11, 2011, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Bulletin 2011-01, "Mitigating Strategies," (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)
Accession No. ML 1112S0360) to all holders of operating licenses for nuclear power reactors, except those that have permanently ceased operation and have certified that fuel has been removed from the reactor vessel. The bulletin required two sets of responses pursuant to the provisions of with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section SO.S4(f). The first responses were due 30 days after issuance of the bulletin. By letter dated June 10, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML11172A187), Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 (NMPNS) provided its response to this first set of questions (first response). The second responses were due 60 days after issuance of the bulletin. By letter dated July 11, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML11201A161), NMPNS provided its response to this second set of questions (second response). As summarized below, the NRC staff has verified that NMPNS provided the information requested in the bulletin.
1 BACKGROUND On February 2S, 2002, the NRC issued EA-02-026, "Order for Interim Safeguards and Security Compensatory Measures" (ICM Order). Section B.S.b of the ICM Order required licensees to develop specific guidance and strategies to maintain or restore core cooling, containment, and spent fuel pool cooling capabilities using readily available resources (equipment and personnel) that can be effectively implemented under the circumstances associated with the loss of large areas of the plant due to explosions or fire.
By letter dated August 23, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No. ML07233003S), the NRC staff issued its Safety Evaluation (SE) to document the final disposition of information submitted by NMPNS regarding Section B.S.b of the ICM Order. Along with the SE, the staff issued a conforming license condition to incorporate the B.S.b mitigating strategies into the licensing basis.
On March 27, 2009, the NRC issued 10 CFR SO.S4(hh)(2) as a new rule, in order to capture the B.S.b mitigating strategies and related license conditions as regulatory requirements for both current and future licensees. At that time, licensee compliance with the conforming license conditions was sufficient to demonstrate compliance with 10 CFR SO.S4(hh)(2). The Federal Register Notice (74 FR 13926) states that no further actions were required on the part of current licensees.
2 30-DAY REQUEST In order to confirm continued compliance with 10 CFR SO.S4(hh)(2), the bulletin requested that licensees address the following two questions within 30 days of issuing the bulletin:
- 1. Is the equipment necessary to execute the mitigating strategies, as described in your submittals to the NRC, available and capable of performing its intended function?
- 2. Are the guidance and strategies implemented capable of being executed considering the current configuration of your facility and current staffing and skill levels of the staff?
The NRC staff reviewed NMPNS's first response to determine if it had adequately addressed these questions.
Enclosure
- 2 2.1 Question 1: Availability and Capability of Equipment In its first response, NMPNS confirmed that equipment it needs to execute the 10 CFR 50.54(hh)(2) mitigating strategies is available and capable of performing its intended function. The NRC staff verified that this confirmation covered equipment needed for each of the three phases of B.5.b mitigation strategies. Therefore, the NRC staff finds that NMPNS has adequately responded to Question 1.
2.2 Question 2: Guidance and Strategies Can Be Executed In its first response, NMPNS confirmed that the guidance and strategies it has implemented for 10 CFR 50.54(hh)(2), are capable of being executed considering the current facility configuration, staffing levels, and staff skills. Since NMPNS has considered its current facility configuration, staffing levels, and staff skills, and confirmed that it can execute its implemented guidance and strategies, the NRC staff finds that NMPNS has adequately responded to Question 2.
3 SO-DAY REQUEST The bulletin required a response to the following five questions within 60 days of issuing the bulletin:
- 1. Describe in detail the maintenance of equipment procured to support the strategies and guidance required by 10 CFR 50.54(hh)(2) in order to ensure that it is functional when needed.
- 2. Describe in detail the testing of equipment procured to support the strategies and guidance required by 10 CFR 50.54(hh}(2) in order to ensure that it will function when needed.
- 3. Describe in detail the controls for ensuring that the equipment is available when needed.
- 4. Describe in detail how configuration and guidance management is ensured so that strategies remain feasible.
- 5. Describe in detail how you ensure availability of offsite support.
The NRC staff reviewed NMPNS's second response to determine if it had adequately addressed these questions. The NRC staff also reviewed the August 23,2007, SE to determine what equipment, training, and offsite resources at NMPNS were relied upon by NRC staff to conclude that NMPNS's actions would ensure compliance with Section B.5.b of the ICM Order and the conforming license condition.
3.1 Questions 1 and 2: Maintenance and Testing of Equipment Questions 1 and 2 of the 60-day request required licensees to describe in detail the maintenance and testing of equipment procured to support the strategies and guidance required by 10 CFR 50.54(hh)(2) in order to ensure that it is functional when needed. In its second response, NMPNS listed the equipment used to support the 10 CFR 50.54(hh)(2) mitigating strategies which receives maintenance or testing. For each item, NMPNS described the
- 3 maintenance and testing performed, including the frequency and basis for the maintenance or testing activity.
The NRC staff verified that NMPNS listed equipment that typically requires maintenance or testing which was relied upon to make conclusions in the SE or commonly needed to implement the mitigating strategies. In its second response, NMPNS stated that the portable pump, portable power supply, hoses, nozzles, and communications equipment receive maintenance or testing. The NRC staff noted that the fuel level for the portable pump is verified during periodic maintenance. NMPNS also identified other items that support the mitigating strategies that receive maintenance or testing.
The NRC staff verified that NMPNS described the process used for corrective actions and listed the testing performed to ensure that the strategies were initially feasible. NMPNS stated in its second response that its 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B, corrective action program is used to document equipment failure, establish priorities, and perform trending.
Based upon the information above, the NRC staff finds that NMPNS has provided the information requested by Questions 1 and 2.
3.2 Question 3: Controls on Equipment Question 3 of the 50-day request required licensees to describe in detail the controls on equipment, such as inventory requirements, to ensure that the equipment is available when needed. A list of inventory deficiencies and associated corrective actions to prevent loss was also requested.
The NRC staff verified that NMPNS described its process for ensuring that B.S.b equipment will be available when needed. In its second response, NMPNS identified equipment included in its inventory, the inventory frequency, storage requirements, and items verified. Items verified include proper quantity, location, and accessibility of equipment; compressed gas bottle pressures; calibrations; equipment shelf lives, and controls on storage locations. NMPNS states that at the time of its second response there were no outstanding inventory deficiencies that would render the strategies not viable. NMPNS reviewed its corrective action program database back to 2008 and found 17 instances of deficiencies identified during inventory of B.S.b.
equipment. NMPNS stated that all these deficiencies were corrected and that the strategies remained viable.
The NRC staff verified that NMPNS inventoried equipment which was relied upon to make conclusions in the SE or commonly needed to implement the mitigating strategies. In its second response, NMPNS stated that procured non-permanently installed B.S.b equipment is inventoried at least annually in accordance with station procedures. The second response specifically states that the following items are included in the inventory: portable pump; fire response vehicle; portable power supplies; hoses; communications equipment; nozzles; nitrogen bottles; fittings, couplings, and adapters; tools; and instruments. The NRC staff also notes that the portable pump and firefighter turnout gear undergo periodic maintenance which would ensure their availability. NMPNS also identified other items that support the mitigating strategies that are inventoried.
Based upon the information above, the NRC staff finds that NMPNS has provided the information requested by Question 3.
- 4 3.3 Question 4: Configuration and Guidance Management Question 4 of the 60-day request required licensees to describe in detail how configuration and guidance management is assured so that the strategies remain feasible.
The NRC staff verified that NMPNS described its measures to evaluate plant configuration changes for their effects on the mitigating strategies and to ensure its procedures are current. In its second response, NMPNS stated that plant configuration changes are procedurally evaluated against the licensing basis, which includes the B.5.b mitigating strategies. NMPNS states that the design change process requires a review of affected procedures and that procedure changes are validated to ensure that the B.5.b mitigating strategies remain viable.
The NRC staff verified that NMPNS described measures it has taken to validate the procedures or guidelines developed to support the mitigating strategies. In its second response, NMPNS identified testing in response to Question 2 that demonstrated the ability to execute some strategies. NMPNS also states that "initially, mitigating strategies were validated by walkdowns, engineering evaluations and/or table top reviews" and they were similarly revalidated in 2011.
The NRC staff verified that NMPNS described the training program implemented in support of the mitigating strategies and how its effectiveness is evaluated. In its second response, NMPNS identified the training provided to its operations personnel, emergency response organization, security personnel, fire brigade, and other personnel. NMPNS also identified the frequency with which each type of training is provided and the methods for evaluating training.
Based upon the information above, the NRC staff finds that NMPNS has provided the information requested by Question 4.
3.4 Question 5: Offsite Support Question 5 of the 60-day request required licensees to describe in detail how offsite support availability is assured.
The NRC staff verified that NMPNS listed the offsite organizations it relies upon for emergency response, including a description of agreements and related training. The NRC staff compared the list of offsite organizations that NMPNS provided in its second response with the information relied upon to make conclusions in the SE. NMPNS stated that it maintains memorandum of understanding or purchase orders with these offsite organizations, which are reviewed annually, and that these agreements were current at the time of its second response. NMPNS also described the training and site familiarization it provides to these offsite organizations. NMPNS stated that it reviewed its corrective action program back to 2008 and found no issues involving lapsed agreements related to offsite support for B.5.b events.
Based upon the information above, the NRC staff finds that NMPNS has provided the information requested by Question 5.
4 CONCLUSION As described above, the NRC staff has verified that NMPNS has provided the information requested in Bulletin 2011-01. Specifically, NMPNS responded to each of the questions in the bulletin as requested. The NRC staff concludes that NMPNS has completed all of the requirements of the bulletin and no further information or actions under the bulletin are needed.
ML11172A187 and ML11201A161).
The NRC staff has reviewed the information submitted by NMPNS and concludes that its response to the bulletin is acceptable. The NRC staff Summary of NRC Bulletin 2011-01 Response Review is enclosed.
Please feel free to contact me at 301-415-3308 if you have any questions.
Sincerely, Iral Bhalchandra K. Vaidya, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 1-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-220 and 50-410
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl: Distribution via Listserv DISTRIBUTION; PUBLIC LPL1-1 R/F RidsNrrLASLittle RidsNrrDorlLPL 1-1 RidsNrrPMNineMilePoint RidsOgcMailCenter RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter RidsNrrDprPgcb BPurnell, PGCB GDentel, Rgn1 ADAMS Accession No.: ML12123A002 OFFICE LPL 1-1\PM LPL 1-1\LA PGCB/BC(A) LPL1-1 \BC LPL 1-1\PM KMorgan-Butler NAME BVaidya SLittie by memo dated GWilson BVaidya DATE 05/02/12 05/02/12 03/21/12 05/03/12 05/03/12