ML13113A174
| ML13113A174 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 04/30/2013 |
| From: | Lois James Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Beltz, G | |
| References | |
| NUREG-1437 Supp 46 | |
| Download: ML13113A174 (181) | |
Text
NUREG-1437 Supplement 46 Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants Supplement 46 Regarding Seabrook Station Second Draft Report for Comment Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
AVAILABILITY OF REFERENCE MATERIALS IN NRC PUBLICATIONS NRC Reference Material Non-NRC Reference Material As of November 1999, you may electronically access Documents available from public and special technical NUREG-series publications and other NRC records at libraries include all open literature items, such as books, NRCs Public Electronic Reading Room at journal articles, transactions, Federal Register notices, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm.html. Publicly released Federal and State legislation, and congressional reports.
records include, to name a few, NUREG-series Such documents as theses, dissertations, foreign reports publications; Federal Register notices; applicant, and translations, and non-NRC conference proceedings licensee, and vendor documents and correspondence; may be purchased from their sponsoring organization.
NRC correspondence and internal memoranda; bulletins and information notices; inspection and investigative Copies of industry codes and standards used in a reports; licensee event reports; and Commission papers substantive manner in the NRC regulatory process are and their attachments. maintained at The NRC Technical Library NRC publications in the NUREG series, NRC Two White Flint North regulations, and Title 10, Energy, in the Code of 11545 Rockville Pike Federal Regulations may also be purchased from one Rockville, MD 20852-2738 of these two sources.
- 1. The Superintendent of Documents These standards are available in the library for reference U.S. Government Printing Office use by the public. Codes and standards are usually Mail Stop SSOP copyrighted and may be purchased from the originating Washington, DC 20402-0001 organization or, if they are American National Standards, Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov from Telephone: 202-512-1800 American National Standards Institute Fax: 202-512-2250 11 West 42nd Street
- 2. The National Technical Information Service New York, NY 10036-8002 Springfield, VA 22161-0002 www.ansi.org www.ntis.gov 212-642-4900 1-800-553-6847 or, locally, 703-605-6000
Legally binding regulatory requirements are stated only A single copy of each NRC draft report for comment is in laws; NRC regulations; licenses, including technical available free, to the extent of supply, upon written specifications; or orders, not in NUREG-series request as follows: publications. The views expressed in contractor-Address: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission prepared publications in this series are not necessarily Office of Administration those of the NRC.
Publications Branch The NUREG series comprises (1) technical and Washington, DC 20555-0001 administrative reports and books prepared by the staff E-mail: DISTRIBUTION.RESOURCE@NRC.GOV (NUREG-XXXX) or agency contractors (NUREG/CR-Facsimile: 301-415-2289 XXXX), (2) proceedings of conferences (NUREG/CP-XXXX), (3) reports resulting from international Some publications in the NUREG series that are agreements (NUREG/IA-XXXX), (4) brochures posted at NRCs Web site address (NUREG/BR-XXXX), and (5) compilations of legal http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs decisions and orders of the Commission and Atomic and are updated periodically and may differ from the last Safety Licensing Boards and of Directors decisions printed version. Although references to material found on under Section 2.206 of NRCs regulations (NUREG-a Web site bear the date the material was accessed, the 0750).
material available on the date cited may subsequently be DISCLAIMER: This report was prepared as an account removed from the site. of work sponsored by an agency of the U.S.
Government. Neither the U.S. Government nor any agency thereof, nor any employee, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for any third partys use, or the results of such use, of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this publication, or represents that its use by such third party would not infringe privately owned rights.
NUREG-1437 Supplement 46 Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants Supplement 46 Regarding Seabrook Station Second Draft Report for Comment Manuscript Completed: March 2013 Date Published: April 2013 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Proposed Action Issuance of renewed operating license NPF-86 for Seabrook Station in the city of Seabrook, Rockingham County, New Hampshire Type of Statement Supplement to Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Agency Contact Lois M. James Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Mail Stop O-11F1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Telephone: 301-415-3306 E-mail: lois.james@nrc.gov Comments Any interested party may submit comments on this supplement to the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS). Please specify NUREG-1437, Supplement 46, Volume 2, draft supplement to draft, in your comments. Comments must be received by June 30, 2013.
Comments received after the expiration of the comment period will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) cannot assure that consideration of late comments will be given. Comments may be submitted electronically by searching for docket ID NRC-2010-0206 at the Federal rulemaking Web site, http://www.regulations.gov. Comments may also be mailed to the following address:
Chief, Rules, Announcements, and Directives Branch Division of Administrative Services Office of Administration Mail Stop: TWB-05-B01M U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Please be aware that any comments that you submit to the NRC will be considered a public record and entered into the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS). Do not provide information you would not want to be publicly available.
.
ABSTRACT This document supplements the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) which had been prepared in response to an application submitted by NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC (NextEra) to renew the operating license for Seabrook Station (Seabrook) for an additional 20 years. This supplement incorporates new information that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has obtained since the publication of the DSEIS in August 2011.
This supplement to the DSEIS includes the NRC staff evaluation of revised information provided by NextEra pertaining to the severe accident mitigation alternatives (SAMA) analysis for Seabrook.
In addition, the NRC is taking the opportunity to (1) update the Uranium Fuel Cycle section in light of the June 8, 2012, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (New York v.
NRC, 681 F.3d 471 (D.C. Cir. 2012)) decision to vacate the NRCs Waste Confidence Decision Rule (WCD) (75 Federal Register (FR) 81032, 75 FR 81037) and (2) to provide information on its analysis of new NEPA issues and associated environmental impact findings for license renewal.
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................................iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES .........................................................................................................................vii EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
............................................................................................................. ix ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ......................................................................................... xiii
1.0 INTRODUCTION
................................................................................................................ 1-1 2.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................. 2-1 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF REFURBISHMENT ...................................................... 3-1 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF OPERATION ................................................................ 4-1 4.1 Land Use ............................................................................................................ 4-1 4.2 Air Quality ........................................................................................................... 4-1 4.3 Geologic Environment ........................................................................................ 4-1 4.3.1 Geology and Soils ............................................................................... 4-1 4.4 Surface Water Resources .................................................................................. 4-2 4.5 Groundwater Resources .................................................................................... 4-2 4.5.1 Generic Groundwater Issues ............................................................... 4-2 4.5.2 Groundwater Use Conflicts .................................................................. 4-2 4.5.3 Radionuclides Released to Groundwater ............................................ 4-2 4.6 Aquatic Resources ............................................................................................. 4-4 4.6.1 Exposure of Aquatic Organisms to Radionuclides............................... 4-5 4.6.2 Generic Aquatic Ecology Issues .......................................................... 4-5 4.6.3 Entrainment and Impingement ............................................................ 4-5 4.6.4 Thermal Shock .................................................................................... 4-5 4.6.5 Mitigation ............................................................................................. 4-5 4.6.6 Combined Impacts ............................................................................... 4-5 4.7 Terrestrial Resources ......................................................................................... 4-5 4.7.1 Generic Terrestrial Resource Issues ................................................... 4-6 4.7.2 Effects on Terrestrial Resources (Non-cooling System Impacts) ........ 4-7 4.8 Protected Species and Habitats ......................................................................... 4-7 4.9 Human Health .................................................................................................... 4-8 4.9.1 Generic Human Health Issues ............................................................. 4-8 4.9.2 Microbiological Organisms .................................................................. 4-9 4.9.3 Electromagnetic FieldsAcute Shock................................................. 4-9 4.9.4 Electromagnetic FieldsChronic Effects ............................................ 4-9 4.10 Socioeconomics ................................................................................................. 4-9 4.11 Evaluation of New and Potentially Significant Information ............................... 4-10 4.12 Cumulative Impacts .......................................................................................... 4-10 4.13 References ....................................................................................................... 4-10 5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF POSTULATED ACCIDENTS ....................................... 5-1 5.1 Design-Basis Accidents ...................................................................................... 5-1 v
5.2 Severe Accidents ............................................................................................... 5-2 5.3 Severe Accident Mitigation Alternatives ............................................................. 5-3 5.3.1 Risk Estimates for Seabrook ............................................................... 5-4 5.3.2 Adequacy of Seabrook PRA for SAMA Evaluation .............................. 5-7 5.3.3 Potential Plant Improvements ............................................................ 5-12 5.3.4 Cost-Beneficial SAMAs ..................................................................... 5-14 5.3.5 Conclusions ....................................................................................... 5-22 5.4 References ....................................................................................................... 5-23 6.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE URANIUM FUEL CYCLE, SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, AND GREENHOUSE GAS ............................................................................ 6-1 6.1 The Uranium Fuel Cycle ..................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ............................................................................... 6-3 6.3 References ......................................................................................................... 6-3 7.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DECOMMISSIONING .................................................. 7-1 8.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES .......................................................... 8-1
9.0 CONCLUSION
.................................................................................................................... 9-1 10.0 LIST OF PREPARERS ................................................................................................... 10-1 11.0 LIST OF AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND PERSONS TO WHOM COPIES OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ARE SENT .................... 11-1 APPENDIX A COMMENTS RECEIVED ON THE SEABROOK STATION ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW .................................................................................................... A-1 APPENDIX B NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT ISSUES FOR LICNESE RENEWAL OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS .......................................................................... B-1 APPENDIX C APPLICABLE REGULATIONS, LAWS, AND AGREEMENTS.......................... C-1 APPENDIX D CONSULTATION CORRESPONDENCE ......................................................... D-1 APPENDIX E CHRONOLOGY OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW ........................................... E-1 APPENDIX F U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF EVALUATION OF SEVERE ACCIDENT MITIGATION ALTERNATIVES FOR SEABROOK STATION UNIT 1 IN SUPPORT OF LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW ............................................F-1 F.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................F-1 F.2 Estimate of Risk for Seabrook ............................................................................F-3 F.3 Potential Plant Improvements...........................................................................F-25 F.4 Risk Reduction Potential of Plant Improvements .............................................F-33 F.5 Cost Impacts of Candidate Plant Improvements ..............................................F-44 F.6 Cost-Benefit Comparison .................................................................................F-46 F.7 Conclusions ......................................................................................................F-63 F.8 References .......................................................................................................F-64 vi
LIST OF TABLES LIST OF TABLES Table 4.5-1. Groundwater use and quality issues ..................................................................... 4-2 Table 4.6-1. Aquatic resources issues ...................................................................................... 4-4 Table 4.7-1. Terrestrial resources issues .................................................................................. 4-6 Table 4.9-1. Human health issues ............................................................................................ 4-8 Table 4.9-2. Category 1 issues applicable to radiological impacts of normal operations during the renewal term ............................................................................................................. 4-9 Table 5.1-1. Issues related to postulated accidents .................................................................. 5-1 Table 5.3-1. Seabrook CDF for internal and external events .................................................... 5-4 Table 5.3-2. Breakdown of population dose by containment release mode ............................. 5-6 Table 5.3-3. SAMA cost benefit Phase II analysis for Seabrook ............................................ 5-14 Table 6.1-1. Issues related to the uranium fuel cycle and solid waste management. ............... 6-1 vii
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
=
Background===
By letter dated May 25, 2010, NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC (NextEra) submitted an application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to issue a renewed operating license for Seabrook Station (Seabrook) for an additional 20-year period.
Pursuant to Title 10, Part 51.20(b)(2) of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 51.20(b)(2)), the renewal of a power reactor operating license requires preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) or a supplement to an existing EIS. In addition, 10 CFR 51.95(c) states that the NRC shall prepare an EIS, which is a supplement to the Commissions NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants.
The NRC published its draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) for Seabrook in August 2011. Subsequent to the issuance of the DSEIS, by letter dated March 19, 2012, NextEra notified the NRC of significant changes that were made to the severe accident mitigation alternatives (SAMA) analysis related to the Seabrook license renewal application (LRA).
To address this new information, the NRC staff has prepared this supplement to the DSEIS in accordance with 10 CFR 51.72(a)(2) and (b), which address preparation of a supplement to a final environmental impact statement for proposed actions that have not been taken, under the following conditions:
There are significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action or its impacts.
It is the opinion of the NRC staff that preparation of a supplement will further the purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
In addition, the NRC is taking the opportunity to update the Uranium Fuel Cycle section in light of the June 8, 2012, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (New York v.
NRC, 681 F.3d 471 (D.C. Cir. 2012)) decision to vacate the NRCs Waste Confidence Decision Rule (WCD) (75 Federal Register (FR) 81032, 75 FR 81037). In response to the courts ruling, the Commission (NRC 2012a) determined that it would not issue licenses dependent upon the WCD, until the issues identified in the courts decision are appropriately addressed. The Commission also noted that this determination extends only to final license issuance; all current licensing reviews and proceedings should continue to move forward.
Further, the NRC is also taking the opportunity to provide information on its analysis of new NEPA issues and associated environmental impact findings for license renewal. This is the result of NRC having recently completed, through its rulemaking process, an update and re-evaluation of the potential environmental impacts associated with the renewal of an operating license for a nuclear power reactor for an additional 20 years. A revised Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (GEIS), which updates the 1996 GEIS (NRC 1996), provides the technical basis for the revised rule, including the list of NEPA issues and findings contained in Table B-1 in Appendix B to Subpart A of the revised 10 CFR Part 51.
ix
Proposed Action The proposed action remains the same as that stated in the DSEIS (page 1-1):
[NextEra] initiated the proposed Federal action by submitting an application for license renewal [for Seabrook], for which the existing license, NPF-86, expires on March 15, 2030. The NRCs Federal action is the decision whether to renew the license for an additional 20 years.
Purpose and Need for Action The purpose and need for action remains the same as stated in the DSEIS (page 1-1):
The purpose and need for the proposed action (issuance of a renewed license) is to provide an option that allows for baseload power generation capability beyond the term of the current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs. Such needs may be determined by other energy-planning decisionmakers, such as State, utility, and, where authorized, Federal agencies (other than NRC). This definition of purpose and need reflects the NRCs recognition that, unless there are findings in the safety review required by the Atomic Energy Act or findings in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental analysis that would lead the NRC to reject a license renewal application, the NRC does not have a role in the energy-planning decisions of whether a particular nuclear power plant should continue to operate.
If the renewed license is issued, the appropriate energy-planning decisionmakers, along with NextEra, will ultimately decide if the plant will continue to operate based on factors such as the need for power. If the operating license is denied, then the facility must be shut down on or before the expiration date of the current operating license, March 15, 2030.
Environmental Impacts of License Renewal The changes to this section are highlighted in redline and strikeout.
The SEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action. The environmental impacts from the proposed action are designated as SMALL, MODERATE, or LARGE. As set forth in the GEIS, Category 1 issues are those that meet all of the following criteria:
x
Executive Summary The environmental impacts associated with the issue SMALL: Environmental effects are determined to apply either to all plants or, for some are not detectable or are so issues, to plants having a specific type of cooling minor that they will neither destabilize nor noticeably alter system or other specified plant or site characteristics. any important attribute of the A single significance level (i.e., SMALL, MODERATE, resource.
or LARGE) has been assigned to the impacts, except MODERATE: Environmental for collective offsite radiological impacts from the fuel effects are sufficient to alter noticeably, but not to destabilize, cycle and from high-level waste and spent fuel important attributes of the disposal. resource.
Mitigation of adverse impacts associated with the issue LARGE: Environmental effects is considered in the analysis, and it has been are clearly noticeable and are determined that additional plant-specific mitigation sufficient to destabilize important attributes of the resource.
measures are likely not to be sufficiently beneficial to warrant implementation.
For Category 1 issues, no additional site-specific analysis is required in this draft SEIS unless new and significant information is identified. Chapter 4 of this report presents the process for identifying new and significant information. Site-specific issues (Category 2) are those that do not meet one or more of the criterion for Category 1 issues; therefore, an additional site-specific review for these non-generic issues is required, and the results are documented in the SEIS.
Recently, the NRC approved a revision to its environmental protection regulation, 10 CFR Part 51, which governs environmental impact reviews of nuclear power plant operating license renewals. The NRC, through its rulemaking process, has completed an update and re-evaluation of the potential environmental impacts associated with the renewal of an operating license for a nuclear power reactor for an additional 20 years. A revised GEIS, which updates the 1996 GEIS, provides the technical basis for the revised rule.
The revised GEIS specifically supports the revised list of NEPA issues and associated environmental impact findings for license renewal contained in Table B-1 in Appendix B to Subpart A of the revised 10 CFR Part 51. The revised rule consolidates similar Category 1 and 2 issues, changes some Category 2 issues into Category 1 issues and consolidates some of those issues with existing Category 1 issues. The revised rule also adds new Category 1 and 2 issues.
The revised rule is expected to be published in 2013; it will become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Compliance by license renewal applicants will not be required until one year from the date of publication (i.e., license renewal environmental reports submitted later than one year after publication must be compliant with the new rule). Nevertheless, under NEPA, the NRC must now consider and analyze, in its license renewal SEISs, the potential significant impacts described by the revised rules new Category 2 issues, and to the extent there is any new and significant information, the potential significant impacts described by the revised rules new Category 1 issues.
Table ES-1 summarizes the Category 2 issues applicable to Seabrook, as well as the NRC staffs findings related to those issues. If the NRC staff determined that there were no Category 2 issues applicable for a particular resource area, the findings of the GEIS, as documented in Appendix B to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51, stand.
xi
Table ES-1. Summary of NRC conclusions relating to site-specific impact of license renewal Resource Area Relevant Category 2 Issues Impacts Land Use None SMALL Air Quality None SMALL Surface Water Resources None SMALL Groundwater Resources Radionuclides released to groundwater SMALL None Aquatic Resources Impingement Entrainment SMALL to LARGE Heat shock Terrestrial Resources NoneEffects on terrestial resources (non- SMALL cooling system impact)
Protected Species and Habitats Threatened or endangered species SMALL to LARGE Human Health Electromagnetic fieldsacute effects SMALL (electric shock)
Socioeconomics Housing Impacts Public services (public utilities)
Offsite land use SMALL Public services (public transportation)
Historic and archaeological resources Cumulative Impacts Aquatic resources MODERATE to LARGE All other resource areas SMALL No further changes were made to the Executive Summary.
xii
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
°F degree(s) Fahrenheit AC alternating current ACC averted cleanup and contamination costs ADAMS Agencywide Documents Access and Management System AEA AEA Technology PLC AOC averted offsite property damage cost AOE averted offsite occupational exposure AOSC averted onsite costs AOV air-operated valve ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers APE averted public exposure ATWS anticipated transient without scram CBS containment building spray CCW component cooling water CDF core damage frequency CEQ Council on Environmental Quality CET containment event tree CFR U.S. Code of Federal Regulations CIV containment isolation valve CLB current licensing basis CMR Code of Massachusetts Regulations COE cost of enhancement CR control rod CS core spray CST condensate storage tank DBA design-basis accident DC direct current DG diesel generator DSEIS draft supplemental environmental impact statement ECCS emergency core cooling system EDG emergency diesel generator EFW emergency feedwater EGCA East Coast Greenway Alliance EIS environmental impact statement EOP emergency operating procedure xiii
EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPRI Electric Power Research Institute EPZ emergency planning zone ER Environmental Report F&O facts and observations FIVE fire-induced vulnerability evaluation FPLE Florida Power and Light Energy Seabrook, LLC FR Federal Register FSEIS final supplemental environmental impact statement FWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service g gram GEIS NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants GI generic issue GIS geographic information system GL generic letter HCLPF high confidence low probability of failure HELB high-energy line break HEP human error probability HFO high winds, floods, and other external events HPI high-pressure injection HRA human reliability analysis HVAC heating, ventilation, and air conditioning IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in. inch IPE individual plant examination IPEEE individual plant examination of external events ISLOCA interfacing system loss-of-coolant accident K thousand km kilometer kV kilovolt LERF large early release frequency LHSI low-head safety injection LL-5 large late containment basemat failure xiv
Abbreviations and Acronyms LLNL Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory LOCA loss-of-coolant accident LOOP loss of offsite power LOSP loss of system pressure LRA license renewal application m meter M million MAAP Modular Accident Analysis Program MAB Maximum Attainbale Benefit MACCS2 MELCOR Accident Consequences Code System 2 MACR maximum averted cost risk MDFW Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife MELCOR Methods for Estimation of Leakages and Consequences of Releases MFGD Massachusetts Fish and Game Department MFW main feedwater MG motor generator mi mile MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology MOV motor-operated valve mph miles per hour mps meters per second MSSV steam safety valve MW megawatt MWe megawatt electric MWt megawatt thermal NAESC North Atlantic Energy Service Corp.
NAI Normandeau Associates, Inc.
NEA Nuclear Energy Agency NEI Nuclear Energy Institute NEPA National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 NextEra NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC NHDES New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services NHDHR New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources NHDRED New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development NHFGD New Hampshire Fish and Game Department NHNHB New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau NHY New Hampshire Yankee NIEHS National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences xv
NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NRC U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NRR Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation NUSCO Northeast Utilities Service Company PAB primary auxiliary building PCC primary component cooling PCCW primary component cooling water system PNNL Pacific Northwest National Laboratory PORV power-operated relief valve POST Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology PRA probabilistic risk assessment PWR pressurized-water reactor psia pounds per square inch absolute RAI request for additional information RCP reactor coolant pump RCS reactor coolant system RHR residual heat removal ROW right-of-way RPC replacement power costs RRW risk reduction worth RSCS Radiation Safety & Control Services, Inc.
RSP remote shutdown panel RWST reactor water storage tank SAMA severe accident mitigation alternatives SAMG severe accident mitigation guideline SAR safety analysis report SBO station blackout SE-3 small early containment penetration failure to isolate Seabrook Seabrook Station SEIS supplemental environmental impact statement SELL small early containment penetration failure to isolate and large late containment basemat failure SEPS supplemental electrical power system SG steam generator SGTR steam generator tube rupture SI safety injection SLOCA small break LOCA xvi
Abbreviations and Acronyms SRM staff requirements memorandum SRP Standard Review Plan SUFP startup feed pump Sv Sievert SW service water SWGR switchgear SWS service water system TDAFW turbine-driven auxiliary feedwater TDEFW turbine-driven emergency feedwater the Court U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit TIBL thermal internal boundary layer TMDL total maximum daily load UHS uniform hazard spectrum USCB U.S. Census Bureau USGCRP U.S. Global Change Research Program USGS U.S. Geological Survey WCD Waste Confidence Decision and Rule WOG Westinghouse Owners Group xvii
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff prepared this supplement to the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) in accordance with Title 10, Parts 51.72(a)(2) and (b) of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 51.72(a)(2) and (b)),
which address preparation of a supplement to an environmental impact statement for proposed actions that have not been taken, under the following conditions:
There are significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action or its impacts.
It is the opinion of the NRC staff that preparation of a supplement will further the purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
The NRC staff prepared this supplement to the DSEIS because, subsequent to the issuance of the DSEIS, NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC (NextEra) (2012) notified the NRC of significant changes that were made to the severe accident mitigation alternatives (SAMA) analysis related to the Seabrook Station (Seabrook) license renewal application (LRA). Specifically, NextEra identified many changes to its SAMA analysis, based on various plant and probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) model changes, that were sufficiently different from what was published in the NRC staffs August 2011 DSEIS to warrant the issuance of this supplement.
In addition, the NRC is taking the opportunity to update the Uranium Fuel Cycle section in light of the June 8, 2012, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (New York v.
NRC, 681 F.3d 471 (D.C. Cir. 2012)) decision to vacate the NRCs Waste Confidence Decision Rule (WCD) (75 Federal Register (FR) 81032, 75 FR 81037). In response to the courts ruling, the Commission (NRC 2012a) determined that it would not issue licenses dependent upon the WCD, until the issues identified in the courts decision are appropriately addressed. The Commission also noted that this determination extends only to final license issuance; all current licensing reviews and proceedings should continue to move forward.
Further, on December 6, 2012, the Commission affirmed a decision to publish in the Federal Register an amendment that would revise its environmental protection regulation, 10 CFR Part 51, which governs environmental impact reviews of nuclear power plant operating license renewals (NRC 2012b). Specifically, the revised rule will update and re-evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with the renewal of an operating license for a nuclear power reactor for an additional 20 years. A revised GEIS, which updates the 1996 GEIS, provides the technical basis for the revised rule. The revised GEIS specifically supports the revised list of NEPA issues and associated environmental impact findings for license renewal contained in Table B-1 in Appendix B to Subpart A of the revised 10 CFR Part 51. The revised GEIS and rule reflect lessons learned and knowledge gained during previous license renewal environmental reviews. In addition, public comments received on the draft revised GEIS and rule and during previous license renewal environmental reviews were re-examined to validate existing environmental issues and identify new ones.
The revised rule identifies 78 environmental impact issues, of which 17 will require plant-specific analysis. The revised rule consolidates similar Category 1 and 2 issues, changes some Category 2 issues into Category 1 issues and consolidates some of those issues with existing Category 1 issues. The revised rule also adds new Category 1 and 2 issues. The new Category 1 issues include geology and soils, exposure of terrestrial organisms to radionuclides,
Purpose and Need exposure of aquatic organisms to radionuclides, human health impact from chemicals, and physical occupational hazards. Radionuclides released to groundwater, effects on terrestrial resources (non-cooling system impacts), minority and low-income populations (i.e.,
environmental justice), and cumulative impacts were added as new Category 2 issues.
The revised rule is expected to be published in 2013; it will become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Compliance by license renewal applicants will not be required until one year from the date of publication (i.e., license renewal environmental reports submitted later than one year after publication must be compliant with the new rule).
Nevertheless, under NEPA, the NRC must now consider and analyze, in its license renewal SEISs, the potential significant impacts described by the revised rules new Category 2 issues, and to the extent there is any new and significant information, the potential significant impacts described by the revised rules new Category 1 issues.
Where appropriate, bold text indicates specific text corrections or additions to the DSEIS and strikeout indicates deletions from the DSEIS text. This supplement to the DSEIS, and any changes made to it based on public comments, will be incorporated back into the main supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) prior to publishing the final document.
2
2.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT No changes from the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) issued in August 2011.
2-1
3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF REFURBISHMENT No changes from the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) issued in August 2011.
3-1
1 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF OPERATION 2 This chapter addresses potential environmental impacts related to the period of extended 3 operation of Seabrook Station (Seabrook). These impacts are grouped and presented 4 according to resource. Generic issues (Category 1) rely on the analysis provided in the generic 5 environmental impact statement (GEIS) (NRC 1996, 1999) and are discussed briefly. Site-6 specific issues (Category 2) have been analyzed for Seabrook and assigned a significance level 7 of SMALL, MODERATE, or LARGE, accordingly. Some remaining issues are not applicable to 8 Seabrook because of site characteristics or plant features.
9 4.1 Land Use 10 No changes from the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) issued 11 in August 2011.
12 4.2 Air Quality 13 No changes from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
14 4.3 Geologic Environment 15 4.3.1 Geology and Soils 16 As described in Section 1.0 of this supplement, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 17 (NRC) has approved a revision to its environmental protection regulation, Title 10 of the 18 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 51 (10 CFR Part 51). With respect to the geologic 19 environment of a plant site, the revised rule amends Table B-1 in Appendix B, Subpart A, 20 to 10 CFR Part 51 by adding a new Category 1 issue, Geology and soils. This new 21 issue has an impact level of SMALL. This new Category 1 issue considers geology and 22 soils from the perspective of those resource conditions or attributes that can be affected 23 by continued operations during the renewal term. An understanding of geologic and soil 24 conditions has been well established at all nuclear power plants and associated 25 transmission lines during the current licensing term, and these conditions are expected 26 to remain unchanged during the 20-year license renewal term for each plant. The impact 27 of these conditions on plant operations and the impact of continued power plant 28 operations and refurbishment activities on geology and soils are SMALL for all nuclear 29 power plants and not expected to change appreciably during the license renewal term.
30 Operating experience shows that any impacts to geologic and soil strata would be 31 limited to soil disturbance from construction activities associated with routine 32 infrastructure renovation and maintenance projects during continued plant operations.
33 Implementing best management practices would reduce soil erosion and subsequent 34 impacts on surface water quality. Information in plant-specific SEISs prepared to date, 35 and GEIS reference documents have not identified these impacts as being significant.
36 Section 2.2.3 of this SEIS describes the local and regional geologic environment relevant 37 to Seabrook. The NRC staff did not identify any new and significant information with 38 regard to this Category 1 (generic) issue based on review of the Environmental Report 39 (ER) (NextEra 2010), the public scoping process, or as a result of the environmental site 40 audit. As discussed in Chapter 3 of this SEIS and as identified in the ER (NextEra 2010),
41 NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC. (NextEra) has no plans to conduct refurbishment or 4-1
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 construction of new facilities during the license renewal term. Further, it is anticipated 2 that routine plant operation and maintenance activities would continue in areas 3 previously disturbed by construction activities, including existing transmission line 4 rights-of-way (ROWs). Based on this information, it is expected that any incremental 5 impacts on geology and soils during the license renewal term would be SMALL.
6 4.34.4 Surface Water Resources 7 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
8 4.44.5 Groundwater Resources 9 The groundwater issues applicable to Seabrook are listed in Table 4.5-1Table 4.5-1 (also see 10 Table B-1 of Appendix B of 10 CFR Part 51). Groundwater use and water quality relative to 11 Seabrook are described in Sections 2.1.7.2 and 2.2.5 of this SEIS, respectively.
12 Table 4.5-1. Groundwater use and quality issues Issues GEIS sections Category Groundwater use conflicts (potable & service water; 4.8.1.1 1 plants that use <100 gallons per minute)
Groundwater quality degradation (saltwater intrusion) 4.8.2.1 1 (a)
Radionuclides released to groundwater To be determined 2 (a)
NRC 2012, since the revised GEIS has not been finalized and approved by the Commission, the revised GEIS ssection can not be referenced in this table.
13 4.5.1 Generic Groundwater Issues 14 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
15 4.5.2 Groundwater Use Conflicts 16 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
17 4.5.3 Radionuclides Released to Groundwater 18 With respect to groundwater quality, the revised rule amends Table B-1 in Appendix B, 19 Subpart A, to 10 CFR Part 51 by adding a new Category 2 issue, Radionuclides released 20 to groundwater, with an impact level range of SMALL to MODERATE, to evaluate the 21 potential impact of discharges of radionuclides from plant systems into groundwater.
22 This new Category 2 issue has been added to evaluate the potential impact to 23 groundwater quality from the discharge of radionuclides from plant systems, piping, and 24 tanks. This issue was added because, within the past several years, there have been 25 events at nuclear power reactor sites that involved unknown, uncontrolled, and 26 unmonitored releases of radioactive liquids into the groundwater. A discussion of 27 groundwater quality concerns at Seabrook is included in Section 2.2.5 of the 28 August 2011 DSEIS, and an assessment of the significance of groundwater quality 29 degradation due to tritium contamination is presented in Section 4.10 of the August 2011 30 DSEIS.
4-2
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 As detailed in Section 2.2.5 of the August 2011 DSEIS, the NRC staff indicated that 2 groundwater with elevated tritium activity concentrations was detected in the annular 3 space around the Unit 1 containment structure in September 1999. In response to the 4 elevated tritium concentrations, NextEra initiated a leak investigation which identified a 5 leak source associated with the cask loading area and transfer canal adjacent to the 6 spent fuel pool. In addition, NextEra has undertaken leak source elimination efforts and 7 other corrective actions, which ultimately involved installation of a groundwater 8 dewatering and pumping system to mitigate contaminated groundwater. An extensive 9 groundwater monitoring network was also installed to provide surveillance of 10 groundwater quality across the Seabrook site.
11 NextEra has monitored the dewatering system since 2000, the results of which were 12 reviewed by NRC staff in support of the preparation of the August 2011 DSEIS. The 13 highest tritium levels (up to 3,500,000 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) in 2003) were found in 14 water removed from around the Unit 1 containment enclosure ventilation area (CEVA).
15 Since monitoring began, NextEra has found that the tritium levels are trending down.
16 Based on the most recent (2011) dewatering system monitoring data available for the 17 site, tritium concentrations in the CEVA have ranged from 2,150 up to 50,000 pCi/L 18 (NextEra 2011a).
19 NextEra continues to conduct groundwater monitoring as part of its participation in the 20 Nuclear Energy Institutes Groundwater Protection Initiative (NextEra 2010). Monitoring 21 results obtained through the onsite Groundwater Protection Program are reported in 22 NextEra's radioactive effluent release reports, which are submitted to the NRC. Based on 23 monitoring results from Seabrooks network of 27 groundwater monitoring wells through 24 the end of 2011, the highest concentration of tritium detected was 2,850 pCi/L in well SW-25 1, a shallow aquifer well located near the Unit 1 containment structure. EPAs drinking 26 water standard (or Maximum Contaminant Level) is 20,000 pCi/L. Several other nearby 27 wells had lower tritium levels, while samples from most wells yielded no tritium above 28 analytical detection limits. Monitoring results from a line of perimeter wells located 29 south and downgradient of the tritium leak source have shown no tritium detections.
30 Finally, NextEra reported no unplanned, unanticipated, or abnormal releases of liquid 31 effluents from the site to unrestricted areas during 2010 and 2011 (NextEra, 2010a, 2011b, 32 2012).
33 As noted above and further discussed in the August 2011 DSEIS, the Unit 1 groundwater 34 dewatering system, in combination with pumping from beneath the incomplete Unit 2 35 containment building, functions at Seabrook to remove and provide hydraulic 36 containment of the tritium-contaminated groundwater by reversing the hydraulic gradient 37 and flow of groundwater offsite. No offsite migration of tritium in groundwater has been 38 observed to date. Further, the only drinking water wells (Town of Seabrook) are located 39 hydraulically upgradient from the Seabrook site, and there is no drinking water pathway 40 onsite.
41 While tritium continues to be detected above background levels at several onsite 42 locations, the applicant is actively monitoring and controlling the tritium concentrations 43 on site. The tritium-impacted groundwater is sent to the facilitys main outfall to the 44 ocean, where it is released in compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 45 System (NPDES) and NRCs radiological limits. Tritium concentrations in groundwater 46 as measured in onsite monitoring wells have remained well below EPA's 20,000 pCi/L 47 drinking water standard. Based on the information presented above and in 48 Sections 2.2.5 and 4.10 of the August 2011 DSEIS, the NRC concludes that inadvertent 49 releases of tritium have not substantially impaired site groundwater quality or affected 4-3
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 groundwater use downgradient of the Seabrook site. The NRC staff further concludes 2 that groundwater quality impacts would remain SMALL during the license renewal term.
3 4.54.6 Aquatic Resources 4 Section 2.1.6 of this SEIS describes Seabrooks cooling-water system, and Section 2.2.6 5 describes the aquatic resources. Category 1 issues in 10 CFR Part 51, Subpart A, 6 Appendix B, Table B-1, which are applicable to the operation of Seabrooks cooling-7 water systems during the renewed license term, are listed in Table 4.6-1. The NRC staff 8 did not find any new and significant information during the review of the ER 9 (NextEra 2010), the site audit, the scoping process, or the evaluation of other available 10 information; therefore, the NRC staff concludes that there are no impacts related to 11 aquatic resource issues beyond those discussed in the GEIS (NRC 1996) and the revised 12 rule (NRC 2012). Consistent with the GEIS and the revised rule, the NRC staff concludes 13 that the impacts are SMALL, and additional site-specific mitigation measures are unlikely 14 to be sufficiently beneficial to warrant implementation.
15 Table 4.6-1. Aquatic resources issues Issues GEIS sections Category For all plants Accumulation of contaminants in sediments or biota 4.2.1.2.4 1 Entrainment of phytoplankton & zooplankton 4.2.2.1.1 1 Cold shock 4.2.2.1.5 1 Thermal plume barrier to migrating fish 4.2.2.1.6 1 Distribution of aquatic organisms 4.2.2.1.6 1 Premature emergence of aquatic insects 4.2.2.1.7 1 Gas supersaturation (gas bubble disease) 4.2.2.1.8 1 Low dissolved oxygen in the discharge 4.2.2.1.9 1 Losses from predation, parasitism, & disease among organisms 4.2.2.1.10 1 exposed to sublethal stresses Stimulation of nuisance organisms 4.2.2.1.11 1 (a)
Exposure of aquatic organisms to radionuclides To be determined 1 For plants with once-through dissipation systems Entrainment of fish & shellfish in early life stages 4.1.2 2 Impingement of fish & shellfish 4.1.3 2 Heat shock 4.1.4 2 Table source (61 FR 28467): Table B-1 in Appendix B, Subpart A, to 10 CFR Part 51.
(a)
NRC 2012, since the revised GEIS has not been finalized and approved by the Commission, the revised GEIS ssection can not be referenced in this table.NRC 2012 4-4
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 4.5.14.6.1 Exposure of Aquatic Organisms to Radionuclides 2 As described in Section 1.0 of this SEIS, the NRC has approved a revision to its 3 environmental protection regulation, 10 CFR Part 51. With respect to the aquatic 4 organisms, the revised rule amends Table B-1 in Appendix B, Subpart A, to 5 10 CFR Part 51 by adding a new Category 1 issue, Exposure of aquatic organisms to 6 radionuclides, among other changes. This new Category 1 issue considers the impacts 7 to aquatic organisms from exposure to radioactive effluents discharged from a nuclear 8 power plant during the license renewal term. An understanding of the radiological 9 conditions in the aquatic environment from the discharge of radioactive effluents within 10 NRC regulations has been well established at nuclear power plants during their current 11 licensing term. Based on this information, the NRC concluded that the doses to aquatic 12 organisms are expected to be well below exposure guidelines developed to protect these 13 organisms and assigned an impact level of SMALL.
14 The NRC staff has not identified any new and significant information related to the 15 exposure of aquatic organisms to radionuclides during its independent review of 16 Seabrooks ER, the site audit, and the scoping process. Section 2.1.2 of this SEIS 17 describes the applicants Radioactive Waste Management Program to control radioactive 18 effluent discharges to ensure that they comply with NRC regulations in 10 CFR Part 20.
19 Section 4.9.3 of this SEIS contains the NRC staffs evaluation of Seabrooks Radioactive 20 Effluent and Radiological Environmental Monitoring programs. Seabrooks Radioactive 21 Effluent and Radiological Environmental Monitoring programs provide further support 22 for the conclusion that the impacts of aquatic organisms from radionuclides are SMALL.
23 The NRC staff concludes that there would be no impacts to aquatic organisms from 24 radionuclides beyond those impacts contained in Table B-1 in Appendix B, Subpart A, to 25 10 CFR Part 51 of the revised rule; therefore, the impacts to aquatic organisms from 26 radionuclides are SMALL.
27 4.5.24.6.2 Generic Aquatic Ecology Issues 28 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
29 4.5.34.6.3 Entrainment and Impingement 30 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
31 4.5.44.6.4 Thermal Shock 32 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
33 4.5.54.6.5 Mitigation 34 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
35 4.5.64.6.6 Combined Impacts 36 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
37 4.7 Terrestrial Resources 38 The issues related to terrestrial resources The Category 1 (generic) and Category 2 (site-39 specific) terrestrial resources issues applicable to Seabrook are listed in Table 4.7-1.
40 There are no Category 2 issues related to terrestrial resources. The NRC staff did not identify 4-5
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 any new and significant information during the review of the applicants ER (NextEra, 2010), the 2 NRC staffs site audit, the scoping process, or the evaluation of other available information.
3 Therefore, there are no impacts related to these issues beyond those discussed in the GEIS.
4 For these issues, the GEIS concluded that the impacts are SMALL, and additional site-specific 5 mitigation measures are not likely to be sufficiently beneficial to warrant implementation.
6 Table 4.7-1. Terrestrial resources issues 7 Section 2.2.7 provides a description of the terrestrial resources at Seabrook and in the 8 surrounding area.
Issues GEIS section Category Cooling tower impacts on crops & ornamental vegetation 4.3.4 1 Cooling town impacts on native plants 4.3.5.1 1 Bird collisions with cooling towers 4.3.5.2 1 Powerline ROW management (cutting herbicide application) 4.5.6.1 1 Bird collisions with powerlines 4.5.6.1 1 Impacts of electromagnetic fields on flora and fauna (plants, 4.5.6.3 1 agricultural crops, honeybees, wildlife, livestock)
Floodplains & wetland on powerline ROW 4.5.7 1 (a)
Exposure of terrestrial organisms to radionuclides To be determined 1 (a)
Effects on terrestrial resources (non-cooling system impacts) To be determined 2 (a)
NRC 2012, since the revised GEIS has not been finalized and approved by the Commission, the revised GEIS ssection can not be referenced in this table.
9 4.7.1 Generic Terrestrial Resource Issues 10 For the Category 1 terrestrial resources issues listed in Table 4.7-1, the NRC staff did not 11 identify any new and significant information during the review of the ER (NextEra 2010),
12 the NRC staffs site audit, the scoping process, or the evaluation of other available 13 information. Therefore, there are no impacts related to these issues beyond those 14 discussed in the GEIS and the revised rule (NRC 2012). For these issues, the GEIS and 15 the revised rule concluded that the impacts are SMALL, and additional site-specific 16 mitigation measures are unlikely to be sufficiently beneficial to warrant implementation.
17 4.7.1.1 Exposure of Terrestrial Organisms to Radionuclides 18 As described in Section 1.0 of this SEIS, the NRC has approved a revision to its 19 environmental protection regulation, 10 CFR Part 51. With respect to the terrestrial 20 organisms, the revised rule amends Table B-1 in Appendix B, Subpart A, to 21 10 CFR Part 51 by adding a new Category 1 issue, Exposure of terrestrial organisms to 22 radionuclides, among other changes. This new issue has an impact level of SMALL.
23 This new Category 1 issue considers the impacts to terrestrial organisms from exposure 24 to radioactive effluents discharged from a nuclear power plant during the license renewal 25 term. An understanding of the radiological conditions in the terrestrial environment from 26 the discharge of radioactive effluents within NRC regulations has been well established 27 at nuclear power plants during their current licensing term. Based on the revision to the 28 environmental protection guidance and the staff's understanding of radiological 29 conditions, the NRC concluded that the doses to terrestrial organisms are expected to be 4-6
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 well below exposure guidelines developed to protect these organisms and assigned an 2 impact level of SMALL.
3 The NRC staff has not identified any new and significant information related to the 4 exposure of terrestrial organisms to radionuclides during its independent review of 5 Seabrooks ER, the site audit, and the scoping process. Section 2.1.2 of this SEIS 6 describes the applicants Radioactive Waste Management Program to control radioactive 7 effluent discharges to ensure that they comply with NRC regulations in 10 CFR Part 20.
8 Section 4.9.3 of this SEIS contains the NRC staffs evaluation of Seabrooks Radioactive 9 Effluent and Radiological Environmental Monitoring programs. Seabrooks Radioactive 10 Effluent and Radiological Environmental Monitoring programs provide further support 11 for the conclusion that the impacts from radioactive effluents are SMALL.
12 Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that there would be no impact to terrestrial 13 organisms to radionuclides beyond those impacts contained in Table B-1 in Appendix B, 14 Subpart A, to 10 CFR Part 51 of the revised rule; therefore, the impacts to terrestrial 15 organisms from radionuclides are SMALL.
16 4.7.2 Effects on Terrestrial Resources (Non-cooling System Impacts) 17 As described in Section 1.0 of this supplement, the NRC has approved a revision to its 18 environmental protection regulation, 10 CFR Part 51. With respect to the terrestrial 19 organisms, the revised rule amends Table B-1 in Appendix B, Subpart A, to 20 10 CFR Part 51 by expanding the Category 2 issue, Refurbishment impacts, among 21 others, to include normal operations, refurbishment, and other supporting activities 22 during the license renewal term. This issue remains a Category 2 issue with an impact 23 level range of SMALL to LARGE; however, the revised rule renames this issue Effects 24 on terrestrial resources (non-cooling system impacts).
25 Section 2.2.7 of this SEIS describes the terrestrial resources on and in the vicinity of the 26 Seabrook site, and Section 2.2.8 describes protected species and habitats. During the 27 construction of Seabrook, approximately 22 percent of the plant site (194 ac (79 ha)) was 28 cleared for buildings, parking lots, roads, and other infrastructure. By 2014, NextEra 29 plans to have returned approximately 32 ac (13 ha), which are currently occupied by 30 excavation spoil, to its natural state. The remaining terrestrial habitats have not changed 31 significantly since construction. As discussed in Chapter 3 of this SEIS and according to 32 the applicants ER (NextEra 2010), NextEra has no plans for refurbishment or other 33 license renewal-related construction activities. Further, it is anticipated that routine plant 34 operation and maintenance activities would continue in areas previously disturbed by 35 construction activities, including existing transmission line ROWs. Based on the staffs 36 independent review, the staff concurs that operation and maintenance activities that 37 NextEra might undertake during the renewal term, such as maintenance and repair of 38 plant infrastructure (e.g., roadways, piping installations, onsite transmission lines, 39 fencing and other security infrastructure), would likely be confined to previously -
40 disturbed areas of the plant site or along the in-scope transmission line corridors.
41 Therefore, the staff expects non-cooling system impacts on terrestrial resources during 42 the license renewal term to be SMALL.
43 4.64.8 Protected Species and Habitats 44 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
4-7
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 4.74.9 Human Health 2 The human health issues applicable to Seabrook are discussed below and listed in 3 Table 4.9-1Table 4.9-1 for Category 1, Category 2, and uncategorized issues.
4 Table 4.9-1. Human health issues 5 Table B-1 of Appendix B to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51 contains more information on these 6 issues.
Issues GEIS section Category Radiation exposures to the public during refurbishment 3.8.1(a) 1 (a)
Occupational radiation exposures during refurbishment 3.8.2 1 Microbiological organisms (occupational health) 4.3.6 1 Microbiological organisms (public health, for plants using lakes or (b) 4.3.6 2 canals or discharging small rivers)
Noise 4.3.7 1 Radiation exposures to public (license renewal term) 4.6.2 1 Occupation radiation exposures (license renewal term) 4.6.3 1 Electromagnetic fieldsacute effects (electric shock) 4.5.4.1 2 Electromagnetic fieldschronic effects 4.5.4.2 Uncategorized (c)
Human health impact from chemicals To be determined 1 (c)
Physical occupational hazards To be determined 1 (a)
Issues apply to refurbishment, an activity that Seabrook does not plan to undertake.
(b)
Issue applies to plant features such as cooling lakes or cooling towers that discharge to small rivers. The issue does not apply to Seabrook.
(a)
NRC 2012, since the revised GEIS has not been finalized and approved by the Commission, the revised GEIS ssection can not be referenced in this table.
7 4.7.14.9.1 Generic Human Health Issues 8 Category 1 issues in 10 CFR Part 51, Subpart A, Appendix B, Table B-1, applicable to 9 Seabrook in regard to radiological impacts, are listed in Table 4.9-2Table 4.9-2. NextEra stated 10 in its ER (NextEra 2010) that it was aware of one new radiological issue associated with the 11 renewal of the Seabrook operating licenseelevated tritium concentrations in groundwater 12 adjacent to Unit 1. The groundwater monitoring for tritium is discussed later in this section. The 13 NRC staff determined that the issue, while new, is not significant. Section 4.10 contains the 14 discussion of this issue. The NRC staff has not identified any new and significant information, 15 beyond this issue identified by the applicant, during its independent review of NextEras ER, the 16 site visit, the scoping process, or its evaluation of other available information.
17 4.9.1.1 New Category 1 Human Health issues 18 As described in Section 1.4 of this SEIS, the NRC has approved a revision to its 19 environmental protection regulation, 10 CFR Part 51. With respect to the human health, 20 the revised rule amends Table B-1 in Appendix B, Subpart A, to 10 CFR Part 51 by adding 21 two new Category 1 issues, Human health impact from chemicals and Physical 22 occupational hazards. The first issue considers the impacts from chemicals to plant 23 workers and members of the public. The second issue only considers the non-24 radiological occupational hazards of working at a nuclear power plant. An 4-8
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 understanding of these non-radiological hazards to nuclear power plant workers and 2 members of the public have been well established at nuclear power plants during the 3 current licensing term. The impacts from chemical hazards are expected to be minimized 4 through the applicants use of good industrial hygiene practices as required by permits 5 and Federal and State regulations. Also, the impacts from physical hazards to plant 6 workers will be of small significance if workers adhere to safety standards and use 7 protective equipment as required by Federal and State regulations. The impacts to 8 human health for each of these new issues from continued plant operations are SMALL.
9 The NRC staff has not identified any new and significant information related to these 10 non-radiological issues during its independent review of NextEras ER, the site audit, and 11 the scoping process. Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that there would be no impact 12 to human health from chemicals or physical hazards beyond those impacts described in 13 Table B-1 in Appendix B, Subpart A, to 10 CFR Part 51 of the revised rule; therefore, the 14 impacts are SMALL.
15 Table 4.9-2. Category 1 issues applicable to radiological impacts of normal operations 16 during the renewal term Issue10 CFR Part 51, Subpart A, Appendix B, Table B-1 GEIS section Human health Radiation exposures to public (license renewal term) 4.6.2 Occupational radiation exposures (license renewal term) 4.6.3 17 According to the GEIS, the impacts to human health are SMALL, and additional plant-specific 18 mitigation measures are unlikely to be sufficiently beneficial to be warranted (Category 1 19 issues). These impacts are expected to remain SMALL through the license renewal term.
20 4.7.1.14.9.1.2 Radiological Impacts of Normal Operations 21 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
22 4.7.1.24.9.1.3 Seabrook Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program 23 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
24 4.7.1.34.9.1.4 Seabrook Radioactive Effluent Release Program 25 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
26 4.7.24.9.2 Microbiological Organisms 27 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
28 4.7.34.9.3 Electromagnetic FieldsAcute Shock 29 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
30 4.7.44.9.4 Electromagnetic FieldsChronic Effects 31 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
32 4.84.10 Socioeconomics 33 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
4-9
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 4.94.11 Evaluation of New and Potentially Significant Information 2 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
3 4.104.12 Cumulative Impacts 4 No changes to the text from the DSEIS issued in August 2011.
5 4.114.13 References 6 Boesch, D.F., 1977, Application of Numerical Classification in Ecological Investigations of 7 Water Pollution, EPA, Ecological Research Report Agency.
8 Brousseau, D.J., 1978, Population dynamics of the soft-shell clam Mya arenaria, Marine 9 Biology. 50:63-71, 1978.
10 Clifford, H.T., and W. Stephenson, 1975, An Introduction to Numerical Classification, Academic 11 Press, New York.
12 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR), Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, Part 13 300, Chapter 1, Title 10, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
14 Collette, B.B. and G. Klein-MacPhee, eds., 2002, Bigelow and Schroeders Fish of the Gulf of 15 Maine, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C., 3rd Edition.
16 Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), 1997, Environmental Justice: Guidance Under the 17 National Environmental Policy Act, December 10, 1997, Available URL:
18 http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/regs/ej/justice.pdf.
19 Dominion Resources Services, 2010, Annual Report 2009Monitoring the Marine Environment 20 of Long Island Sound at Millstone Power Station Waterford, Connecticut, Millstone 21 Environmental Laboratory.
22 East Coast Greenway Alliance (EGCA), 2010, Welcome to the New Hampshire Seacoast 23 Greenway: the EGC in NH, Available URL: http://www.greenway.org/nh.aspx (accessed 24 December 20, 2010).
25 Eberhardt, A.L. and D.M. Burdick, 2009, Hampton-Seabrook Estuary Habitat Restoration 26 Compendium, Report to the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership and the New Hampshire 27 Coastal Program, Durham and Portsmouth, NH.
28 Entergy Nuclear-Pilgrim Station, 2010, Marine Ecology Studies, Pilgrim Nuclear Power 29 Station, Report No. 70, Report Period: January 2009-December 2009.
30 Florida Power and Light Energy Seabrook, LLC (FPLE), 2006, 2005 Annual Radioactive 31 Effluent Release Report, Seabrook, NH, Agencywide Documents Access and Management 32 System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML061250364.
33 FPLE, 2006a, 2005 Annual Radiological Environmental Monitoring Report, Seabrook, NH, 34 ADAMS Accession No. ML061210428.
35 FPLE, 2007, 2006 Annual Radioactive Effluent Release Report, Seabrook, NH, 2007, ADAMS 36 Accession No. ML071220456.
37 FPLE, 2007a, 2006 Annual Radiological Environmental Monitoring Report, Seabrook, NH, 38 ADAMS Accession No. ML072990335.
4-10
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 FPLE, 2008, 2007 Annual Radioactive Effluent Release Report, Seabrook, NH, ADAMS 2 Accession No. ML081570602.
3 FPLE, 2008a, 2007 Annual Radiological Environmental Monitoring Report, Seabrook, NH, 4 ADAMS Accession No. ML093160352.
5 FPLE, 2008b, Ichthyoplankton Entrainment Sampling, Seabrook Station Regulatory 6 Compliance Procedure, ZN1120.1, Revision 01, Change 03.
7 FPLE, 2008c, Seabrook Station Updated Final Safety Analysis Report, Revision 12, August 1.
8 Fogarty, M.J., 1988, Time Series Models of the Maine Lobster Fishery: The Effect of 9 Temperature, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 451145-1153, 1988.
10 Glude, J.B., 1955, The Effects of Temperature and Predators on the Abundance of the 11 Softshell Clam, Mya arenaria, in New England, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 12 84:13-26, 1955.
13 Haley and Aldrich, Inc., 2009, Annual Groundwater Monitoring Report, Vehicle Maintenance 14 Facility, Seabrook Nuclear Power Station, prepared for NextEra, December 16, 2009.
15 Hampton (The Town of Hampton), 2007, Hampton Beach Area Master Plan, The Town of 16 Hampton, NH, NH Department of Resources and Economic Development, Division of Parks and 17 Recreation, November 7, 2001, Available URL:
18 http://www.hampton.lib.nh.us/hampton/town/masterplan/index.htm (accessed September 30, 19 2010).
20 Incze, L.S., et al., 2000, Neustonic Postiarval Lobsters, Homarus americanus, in the Western 21 Gulf of Maine, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 57(4):755-765, 2000.
22 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Safety Code, 2007, National Electric 23 Safety Code.
24 Johnson, M.R., et al., 2008, Impacts to Marine Fisheries Habitat from Nonfishing Activities in 25 the Northeastern United States, NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-209, NMFS, 26 Northeast Regional Office, Gloucester, MA.
27 Link, J.S. and L.P. Garrison, 2002, Changes in Piscivory Associated with Fishing Induced 28 Changes to the Finfish Community on Georges Bank, Fisheries Research, 55: 71-86, 2002.
29 Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MDFW), 2008, Massachusetts List of 30 Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species, Available URL:
31 http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/species_info/mesa_list/mesa_list.htm (accessed 32 January 28, 2011).
33 MDFW, 2009, French, T.W., Assistant Director, MDFW, letter to M.D. OKeefe, FPLE Seabrook 34 Station, Transmission Lines Associated with the Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant, June 35 11, 2009, ADAMS Accession No. ML101590089.
36 Menzie, C., et al., 1996, Report of the Massachusetts Weight-of-Evidence Workshop: A 37 Weight-of-Evidence Approach for Evaluating Ecological Risks, Human and Ecological Risk 38 Assessment, 2:227-304, 1996.
39 Massachusetts Fish and Game Department (MFGD), 2010, Holt, E., Endangered Species 40 Review Assistant, Massachusetts Fish and Game Department, e-mail to J. Susco, Project 41 Manager, NRC, Reply to MA State-listed Rare Species in Seabrook Station Transmission Line 42 ROWs, August 18, 2010, ADAMS Accession No. ML102360545.
4-11
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), 1999, NIEHS Report on Health 2 Effects from Exposure to Power-Line Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields, Publication No.
3 99-4493, 1999, Available URL: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/niehs-report.pdf (accessed 4 September 3, 2010).
5 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 1998, Final Recovery Plan for Shortnose Sturgeon 6 (Acipenser brevirostrum), Prepared by the Shortnose Sturgeon Recovery Team for the NMFS, 7 Silver Spring, MD, December 1998.
8 NMFS, 2002, Allen, L., NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, letter to A. Legendre, FPLE 9 Seabrook Station, Withdrawal of Application for Incidental Take Authorization, May 7, 2004.
10 NMFS, 2009, Ecosystem Assessment Report for the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf Large 11 Marine Ecosystem, Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document 09-11, Northeast 12 Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Assessment Program.
13 NMFS, 2010, Kurkul, Patricia A., Regional Administration, NMFS, letter to Bo Pham, Chief, 14 NRC, Response to Renewal application of Seabrook Station, Seabrook, New Hampshire, 15 August 5, 2010, ADAM Accession No. ML0224010816 NMFS, 2010a, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Listings for Two 17 Distinct Population Segments of Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) in the 18 Southeast, Federal Register, Vol. 75, No. 193., pp. 61904-61929.
19 NMFS, 2011, Ocean Acidification: The Other Carbon Dioxide Problem, Available URL:
20 http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/Ocean+Acidification (accessed on February 22, 2011).
21 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 1995, Status of the Fishery 22 Resources off of the Northeastern United States for 1994, NOAA Technical Memorandum 23 NFMS-NE-108. NMFS, Conservation and Utilization Division, Northeast Fisheries Science 24 Center, January 1995.
25 New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), 2004, Total Maximum Daily 26 Load (TMDL) Study for Bacteria in Hampton/Seabrook Harbor, State of New Hampshire, 27 Department of Environmental Services, Water Division, Watershed Management Bureau, May 28 2004.
29 NHDES, 2009, The New Hampshire Climate Action Plan, March 2009, Available URL:
30 http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/air/tsb/tps/climate/action_plan/
31 nh_climate_action_plan.htm (accessed January 20, 2011).
32 NHDES, 2010, Heirtzler, P., Administrator, Wastewater Engineering Bureau, NHDES, letter to 33 A. Legendre, NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC., Letter of Deficiency No. WD WWEB/C 10-002, 34 CEI NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC (Seabrook Station), NPDES Permit No. NH0020338, June 35 15, 2010.
36 NHDES, 2010a, Heirtzler, P., Administrator, Wastewater Engineering Bureau, NHDES, letter to 37 A. Legendre, NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC., Letter of Compliance for Letter of Deficiency 38 No. WD WWEB/C 10-002, CEI, NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC (Seabrook Station), NPDES 39 Permit No. NH0020338, July 20, 2010.
40 New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development (NHDRED), 2010, Best 41 Management Practices Manual for Utility Maintenance In and Adjacent to Wetlands and 42 Waterbodies in New Hampshire, January 2010, Available URL:
43 http://www.nhdfl.org/library/pdf/Publications/DESUtilityBMPrev3.pdf (accessed October 8, 44 2010).
4-12
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources (NHDHR), 2010, E. Feighner, Review 2 Compliance Coordinator, letter to B. Pham, Branch Chief, NRC, Seabrook Station License 3 Renewal Application Review (R&C #863), ADAMS Accession No. ML102160299.
4 New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFGD), 2005, New Hampshire Wildlife Action 5 Plan, October 1, 2005.
6 NHFGD, 2010, Estuarine Juvenile Finfish Survey for 2009, Available URL:
7 http://wildlife.state.nh.us/marine/marine_PDFs/Estuarine_Juvenile_Finfish_2009.pdf (accessed 8 January 5, 2011) 9 New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau (NHNHB), 2009, Coppola, M., Environmental 10 Information Specialist, NHNHB, memo to S. Barnum, Normandeau Associates, Database 11 Search for Rare Species and Exemplary Natural Communities Along Seabrook Station 12 Transmission Corridors, NHB File ID: NHB09-0508, March 18, 2009, ADAMS Accession 13 No. ML101590089.
14 NHNHB, 2010, Coppola, M., Environmental Information Specialist, NHNHB, memo to J. Susco, 15 Project Manager, NH Natural Heritage Bureau Review of Seabrook Station Transmission 16 Lines, September 13, 2010, ADAMS Accession No. ML102600341.
17 NHNHB, 2011, Rare Plants, Rare Animals, and Exemplary Natural Communities in New 18 Hampshire Towns, 2011, Available URL:
19 http://www.nhdfl.org/library/pdf/Natural%20Heritage/Townlist.pdf (Accessed January 5, 2011).
20 NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC (NextEra), 2009, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan for 21 NextEra Energy Seabrook LLC., Revision 41, July 1, 2009.
22 NextEra, 2009a, 2008 Annual Radioactive Effluent Release Report, Seabrook, NH, ADAMS 23 Accession No. ML091330634.
24 NextEra, 2009b, 2008 Annual Radiological Environmental Monitoring Report, Seabrook, NH, 25 ADAMS Accession No. ML091260453.
26 NextEra, 2010, Applicants Environmental ReportOperating License Renewal Stage, Docket 27 No. 050-443, Appendix E, May 2010, ADAMS Accession Nos. ML101590092 and 28 ML101590089.
29 NextEra, 2010a, 2009 Annual Radioactive Effluent Release Report, Seabrook, NH, ADAMS 30 Accession No. ML101310304.
31 NextEra, 2010b, 2009 Annual Radiological Environmental Monitoring Report, Seabrook, NH, 32 ADAMS Accession No. ML101260140.
33 NextEra, 2010c, Freeman, P., Site Vice President, NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC (NextEra),
34 letter to U.S. NRC Document Control Desk, Seabrook Station Response to Request for 35 NextEra Energy Seabrook License Renewal Environmental Report, SBK-L-10185, Docket 36 No. 50-443, November 23, 2010, ADAMS Accession No. ML103350639.
37 Normandeau Associates, Inc. (NAI), 1998, Seabrook Station 1996 Environmental Monitoring in 38 the Hampton-Seabrook Area: A Characterization of Environmental Conditions, Prepared for 39 Northeast Utilities Service Company.
40 NAI, 2001, Seabrook Station Essential Fish Habitat Assessment. R-18900.009, Prepared for 41 North Atlantic Energy Service Corporation, August 2001.
42 NAI, 2010, Seabrook Station 2009 Environmental Monitoring in the Hampton-Seabrook Area: A 43 Characterization of Environmental Conditions, Prepared for NextEra.
4-13
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 NAI and ARCADIS (NAI and ARCADIS), 2008, Seabrook Nuclear Power Station EPA 316(b) 2 Phase II Rule Project, Revised Proposal for Information Collection, Prepared for FPLE, Section 3 7.0, June 2008.
4 Northeast Utilities Service Company (NUSCO), 1988, Fish ecology studiesMonitoring the 5 marine environment of Long Island Sound at Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Three-Unit 6 Operational Studies 1986-1987, Waterford, CT.
7 Nye, J., 2010, Climate Change and Its Effect on Ecosystems, Habitats, and Biota: State of the 8 Gulf of Maine Report, Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment and NOAA, June 2010.
9 Padmanabhan M. and Hecker, GE., 1991, Comparative Evaluation of Hydraulic Model and 10 Field Thermal Plume Data, Seabrook Nuclear Power Station, Alden Research Laboratory, Inc.
11 Radiation Safety & Control Services, Inc. (RSCS), 2009, 2009 Site Conceptual Ground Water 12 Model for Seabrook Station, Revision 01, TSD #09-019, June 10, 2009.
13 RSCS, 2009a, Tritium Distribution and Ground Water Flow at Seabrook Station, Revision 00, 14 TSD #09-039, August 31, 2009.
15 Ropes, J.W., 1969, The Feeding Habits of the Green Crab Carcinus maenas (L.), Fishery 16 Bulletin, FWS, 67:183-203, 1969.
17 Sosebee, K., et al., 2006, Aggregate Resource and Landings Trends, Available URL:
18 http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/sos/agtt/archives/AggregateResources_2006.pdf (accessed January 19 25, 2011).
20 Thompson, C., 2010, The Gulf of Maine in Context, State of the Gulf of Maine Report, Gulf of 21 Maine Council on the Marine Environment, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, June 2010.
22 U.S. Census Bureau (USCB), 2003, LandView 6Census 2000 Profile of General 23 Demographic Characteristics DP-1 (100%) and Census Profile of Selected Economic 24 Characteristics DP-3, Summary of Census Block Groups in a 50-mile radius around the 25 Seabrook Station (42.898561 Lat., -70.849094 Long.), December 2003.
26 USCB, 2011, American FactFinder, Census 2000 and State and County QuickFacts 27 information and 2009 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates and Data Profile 28 Highlights information on Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, and Rockingham and 29 Strafford Counties, Available URLs: http://factfinder.census.gov and 30 http://quickfacts.census.gov (accessed January 2011).
31 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Standards for Protection Against Radiation, Part 20, 32 Title 10, Energy.
33 CFR, Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory 34 Function, Part 51, Title 10, Energy.
35 U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2008, Electricity Generating Capacity: Existing 36 Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2008, Available URL:
37 http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/capacity/capacity.html (accessed December 20, 38 2010).
39 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 1977, Guidance for Evaluating the Adverse 40 Impact of Cooling Water Intake Structures on Aquatic Environment: Section 316(b) P.L.92-500, 41 Office of Water Enforcement, Permits Division, Washington, D.C., Draft, May 1, 1977.
42 EPA, 1998, Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment, Risk Assessment Forum, Washington, 43 D.C., EPA/630/R-95/002F.
4-14
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 EPA, 1999, Consideration of Cumulative Impacts in EPA Review of NEPA Documents, Office 2 of Federal Activities (2252A), Washington, D.C., EPA-315-R-99-002.
3 EPA, 1999a, Memorandum of Understanding with North Atlantic Energy Service Organization 4 regarding SF6 Emissions Reduction Partnership for Electric Power Systems, April 6, 1999.
5 EPA, 2002, Authorization to Discharge Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 6 System (NPDES), Permit No. NH0020338, transferred to FPLE, December 24, 2002.
7 EPA, 2002a, Case Study Analysis for the Proposed Section 316(b) Phase II Existing Facilities 8 Rule, Office of Water, Washington, D.C., EPA-821-R-02-002.
9 EPA, 2007, Puleo, S.B., Environmental Protection Specialist, Municipal Assistance Unit, EPA, 10 letter to G. St. Pierre, Site Vice President, FPLE Seabrook LLC., NPDES Application 11 No. NH0020338FPL[E] Seabrook LLC., May 25, 2007.
12 EPA, 2010, AirData: Access to Air Pollution Data, Available URL: http://www.epa.gov/oar/data/
13 (accessed December 20, 2010).
14 EPA, 2010a, Enforcement & Compliance History Online (ECHO), Detailed Facility Report, 15 Available URL:
16 http://www.epa-echo.gov/cgi-bin/get1cReport.cgi?tool=echo&IDNumber=110001123061 17 (accessed October 1, 2010).
18 EPA, 2010b, Sole Source Aquifer Program, Available URL:
19 http://www.epa.gov/region01/eco/drinkwater/pc_solesource_aquifer.html (accessed December 20 21, 2010).
21 EPA, 2011, eGRID, eGRID2007, Version 1.1, Available URL:
22 http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/egrid/index.html (accessed January 18, 23 2011).
24 EPA, 2011a, State CO2 Emissions from Fossil Fuel Combustion, 1990-2007, Available URL:
25 http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/documents/pdf/CO2FFC_2007.pdf (accessed January 18, 26 2011).
27 EPA, 2011b, Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2008, EPA 28 430-R-10-006, April 15, 2011, Available URL: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/
29 (accessed January 20, 2011).
30 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), 2010, Chapman, T., Supervisor, New England Field 31 Office, USFWS, letter to B. Pham, Branch Chief, NRC, Reply to Request for List of Protected 32 Species Within the Area Under Evaluation for the Seabrook Station License Renewal 33 Application Review, September 1, 2010, ADAMS Accession No. ML10263018.
34 U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), 2009, Global Climate Change Impacts in 35 the United States, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, MA, Available URL:
36 http://downloads.globalchange.gov/usimpacts/pdfs/climate-impacts-report.pdf (accessed 37 January 20, 2011).
38 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), 1982, Final Environmental Statement Related to 39 the Operation of Seabrook Station, Units 1 and 2, Docket Nos. 50-443 and 50-444, 40 NUREG-0895, Washington, D.C., December 1982, ADAMS Accession No. ML102290543.
41 NRC, 1996, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, 42 NUREG-1437, Washington, D.C., Volumes 1 and 2, May 1996, ADAMS Accession 43 Nos. ML040690705 and ML040690738.
4-15
Environmental Impacts of Operation 1 NRC, 1999, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, 2 NUREG-1437, Volume 1, Addendum 1, Section 6.3, Transportation, Table 9.1, Summary of 3 Findings on NEPA Issues for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants, Final Report, 4 August 31, 1999, ADAMS Accession No. ML040690720.
5 NRC, 2005, Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Regarding Millstone Power 6 Station Units 2 and 3, NUREG-1437, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Washington, D.C.,
7 Supplement 22, 2005, ADAMS Accession Nos. ML051960295 and ML051960299.
8 NRC, 2007, Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Regarding Pilgrim Nuclear 9 Power Station, NUREG-1437, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Washington, D.C.,
10 Supplement 29, 2007, ADAMS Accession Nos. ML071990020 and ML071990027.
11 NRC, 2010, Pham, B., Branch Chief, NRC, letter to M. Moriarty, Regional Director, USFWS, 12 Request for List of Protected Species Within the Area Under Evaluation for the Seabrook 13 Station License Renewal Application Review, July 16, 2010, ADAMS Accession 14 No. ML101790278.
15 NRC, 2010a, Pham, B., Branch Chief, NRC, letter to the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, 16 Cowasuck Band of Pennacook-Abenaki People, Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, and Wampanoag 17 Tribe of Gay Head-Aquinnah, Request for Scoping Comments Concerning the Seabrook 18 Station License Renewal Application Review, 2010 (2010a), ADAMS Accession 19 No. ML102730657.
20 NRC, 2010b, Pham, B., Branch Chief, NRC, letter to E. Muzzey, SHPO, State of New 21 Hampshire, Division of Historical Resources, Seabrook Station License Renewal Application 22 Review, 2010 (2010b), ADAMS Accession No. ML101790273.
23 NRC, 2010c, Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Regarding Indian Point 24 Generating Unit Nos. 2 and 3, NUREG-1437, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, 25 Washington, D.C., Supplement 38, 2010, ADAMS Accession Nos. ML1033350405, 26 ML103350438, ML103360209, ML103360212, and ML103350442.
27 Zhang, Y. and Y. Chen, 2007, Modeling and Evaluating Ecosystem in 1980s and 1990s for 28 American Lobster (Homarus americanus) in the Gulf of Maine, Ecological Modeling, 203: 475-29 489, 2007.
30 NRC, 2012, Staff Requirements, SECY-12-0063-Final Rule: Revisions to Environmental 31 Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses (10 CFR Part 51; RIN 32 3150-AI42). December 6, 2012. ADAMS Accession No. ML12341A134.
33 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. 42 U.S.C. §4321, et seq.
34 NextEra, 2011a, Freeman, P., Site Vice President, NextEra, letter to NRC Document 35 Control Desk, Seabrook Station NextEra Energy Seabrook Comments on NUREG-1437 36 Supplement 46 Seabrook Station Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, 37 SBK-L-11218, 38 Docket No. 50-443, October 27, 2011, ADAMS Accession No. ML11307A235.
39 NextEra, 2011b, "Seabrook Station Replacement Submittal of 2010 Annual Radioactive 40 Effluent Release Report," Seabrook, NH, October 3, 2011, ADAMS Accession 41 No. ML11285A142.
42 NextEra, 2012, Seabrook Station 2011 Annual Radioactive Effluent Release Report, 43 Seabrook, NH, April 26, 2012, ADAMS Accession No. ML12123A039 4-16
1 5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF POSTULATED ACCIDENTS 2 This chapter describes the environmental impacts from postulated accidents that Seabrook 3 Station (Seabrook) might experience during the period of extended operation. A more detailed 4 discussion of the severe accident mitigation alternative (SAMA) assessment is provided in 5 Appendix F. The term accident refers to any unintentional event outside the normal plant 6 operational envelope that results in a release or the potential for release of radioactive materials 7 into the environment. Two classes of postulated accidents are evaluated in the Generic 8 Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants prepared 9 by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) (NRC 1996), as listed in Table 5.1-1. These 10 two classes include the following design-basis accidents (DBAs) and severe accidents.
11 Table 5.1-1. Issues related to postulated accidents 12 Two issues related to postulated accidents are evaluated under the National Environmental 13 Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) in the license renewal reviewDBAs and severe accidents.
Issues GEIS sections Category DBAs 5.3.2; 5.5.1 1 Severe accidents 5.3.3; 5.3.3.2; 5.3.3.3; 5.3.3.4; 5.3.3.5; 5.4; 5.5.2 2 14 5.1 Design-Basis Accidents 15 In order to receive NRC approval to operate a nuclear power facility, an applicant for an initial 16 operating license must submit a safety analysis report (SAR) as part of its application. The SAR 17 presents the design criteria and design information for the proposed reactor and comprehensive 18 data on the proposed site. The SAR also discusses various hypothetical accident situations and 19 the safety features that prevent and mitigate accidents. The NRC staff reviews the application 20 to determine if the plant design meets the NRCs regulations and requirements and includes, in 21 part, the nuclear plant design and its anticipated response to an accident.
22 DBAs are those accidents that both the applicant and the NRC staff evaluate to ensure that the 23 plant can withstand normal and abnormal transients and a broad spectrum of postulated 24 accidents, without undue hazard to the health and safety of the public. Many of these 25 postulated accidents are not expected to occur during the life of the plant but are evaluated to 26 establish the design basis for the preventative and mitigative safety systems of the facility.
27 Title 10, Part 50, of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Part 50) and 28 10 CFR Part 100 describe the acceptance criteria for DBAs.
29 The environmental impacts of DBAs are evaluated during the initial licensing process, and the 30 ability of the plant to withstand these accidents is demonstrated to be acceptable before 31 issuance of the operating license. The results of these evaluations are found in license 32 documentation such as the applicants final safety analysis report, the NRC staffs safety 33 evaluation report, the final environmental statement, and Section 5.1 of this supplement to the 34 draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS). An applicant is required to 35 maintain the acceptable design and performance criteria throughout the life of the plant, 36 including any extended-life operation. The consequences for these events are evaluated for the 37 hypothetical maximum exposed individual. Because of the requirements that continuous 38 acceptability of the consequences and aging management programs be in effect for license 5-1
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents 1 renewal, the environmental impacts, as calculated for DBAs, should not differ significantly from 2 initial licensing assessments over the life of the plant, including the license renewal period.
3 Accordingly, the design of the plant, relative to DBAs during the extended period, is considered 4 to remain acceptable; therefore, the environmental impacts of those accidents were not 5 examined further in the GEIS.
6 The NRC has determined that the environmental impacts of DBAs are of SMALL significance for 7 all plants because the plants were designed to successfully withstand these accidents.
8 Therefore, for the purposes of license renewal, DBAs are designated as a Category 1 issue in 9 10 CFR Part 51, Subpart A, Appendix B, Table B-1. The early resolution of the DBAs makes 10 them a part of the current licensing basis (CLB) of the plant. The CLB of the plant is to be 11 maintained by the applicant under its current license; therefore, under the provisions of 12 10 CFR 54.30, it is not subject to review under license renewal.
13 No new and significant information related to DBAs was identified during the review of the 14 NextEra Energy Seabrook (NextEra) Environmental Report (ER), the site visit, the scoping 15 process, or the NRC staffs evaluation of other available information. Therefore, there are no 16 impacts related to DBAs beyond those discussed in the GEIS.
17 5.2 Severe Accidents 18 Severe nuclear accidents are those that are more severe than DBAs because they could result 19 in substantial damage to the reactor core, whether or not there are serious offsite 20 consequences. In the GElS, the staff assessed the impacts of severe accidents during the 21 license renewal period, using the results of existing analyses and information from various sites 22 to predict the environmental impacts of severe accidents for plants during the renewal period.
23 Severe accidents initiated by external phenomenasuch as tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, 24 fires, and sabotagehave not traditionally been discussed in quantitative terms in the final 25 environmental impact statements and were not specifically considered for the Seabrook site in 26 the GElS (NRC 1996). The GEIS, however, did evaluate existing impact assessments 27 performed by the NRC staff and by the industry at 44 nuclear plants in the U.S. It segregated all 28 sites into six general categories and then estimated that the risk consequences calculated in 29 existing analyses bound the risks for all other plants within each category. The GElS further 30 concluded that the risk from beyond design-basis earthquakes at existing nuclear power plants 31 is designated as SMALL. The Commission believes that NEPA does not require the NRC to 32 consider the environmental consequences of hypothetical terrorist attacks on NRC-licensed 33 facilities. However, the NRC staffs GElS for license renewal contains a discretionary analysis 34 of terrorist acts in connection with license renewal. The conclusion in the GElS is that the core 35 damage and radiological release from such acts would be no worse than the damage and 36 release to be expected from internally initiated events. In the GEIS, the NRC staff concludes 37 that the risk from sabotage and beyond design-basis earthquakes at existing nuclear power 38 plants is designated as SMALL and that the risks from other external events are adequately 39 addressed by a generic consideration of internally initiated severe accidents (NRC 1996).
40 Based on information in the GEIS, the staff found the following to be true:
41 The generic analysisapplies to all plants and that the probability-weighted 42 consequences of atmospheric releases, fallout onto open bodies of water, 43 releases to groundwater, and societal and economic impacts of severe accidents 44 are of small significance for all plants. However, not all plants have performed a 45 site-specific analysis of measures that could mitigate severe accidents.
46 Consequently, severe accidents are a Category 2 issue for plants that have not 5-2
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents 1 performed a site-specific consideration of severe accident mitigation and 2 submitted that analysis for Commission review.
3 The staff identified no new and significant information related to postulated accidents during the 4 review of NextEras ER, the site audit, the scoping process, or evaluation of other available 5 information. Therefore, there are no impacts related to postulated accidents beyond those 6 discussed in the GEIS. In accordance with 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(L), however, the NRC staff 7 has reviewed SAMAs for Seabrook. Review results are discussed in Section 5.3.
8 5.3 Severe Accident Mitigation Alternatives 9 Under 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(L), license renewal applicants must consider alternatives to 10 mitigate severe accidents if the staff has not previously evaluated SAMAs for the applicants 11 plant in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or related supplement or in an environmental 12 assessment. The purpose is to ensure that potentially cost-beneficial, aging-related plant 13 changes (i.e., hardware, procedures, and training) with the potential for improving severe 14 accident safety performance are identified and evaluated. SAMAs have not been previously 15 considered by NextEra, for Seabrook; therefore, the remainder of Section 5.3 addresses those 16 alternatives.
17 NextEra submitted an assessment of SAMAs for Seabrook as part of the ER (NextEra 2010),
18 based on the most recently available Seabrook probabilistic risk assessment (PRA). This 19 assessment is supplemented by a plant-specific offsite consequence analysis performed using 20 the Methods for Estimation of Leakages and Consequences of Releases (MELCOR) Accident 21 Consequence Code System 2 (MACCS2) computer code and insights from the Seabrook 22 individual plant examination (IPE) (NHY 1991) and individual plant examination of external 23 events (IPEEE) (North Atlantic Energy Service Corp. (NAESC) 1992). In identifying and 24 evaluating potential SAMAs, NextEra considered SAMAs that addressed the major contributors 25 to core damage frequency (CDF) and large early release frequency (LERF) at Seabrook, as well 26 as a generic list of SAMA candidates for pressurized-water reactor (PWR) plants identified from 27 other industry studies. In the original ER, NextEra identified 191 potential SAMA candidates.
28 This list was reduced to 74 SAMA candidates by eliminating SAMAs for the following reasons:
29 Seabrook has a different design.
30 The SAMA has already been implemented at Seabrook.
31 The intent of the SAMA has already been met at Seabrook.
32 The SAMA has been combined with another SAMA candidate that is similar in nature.
33 Estimated implementation costs would exceed the dollar value associated with 34 eliminating all severe accident risk at Seabrook.
35 The SAMA would be of very low benefit as it is related to a non-risk significant system.
36 NextEra assessed the costs and benefits associated with each of these 74 potential SAMAs and 37 concluded in the ER that several of the candidate SAMAs evaluated are potentially cost 38 beneficial.
39 Based on its review, the NRC staff issued requests for additional information (RAIs) to NextEra 40 (NRC 2010a, 2011b). NextEras responses addressed the NRC staffs concerns and resulted in 41 the identification of additional potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs (NextEra 2011a, 2011b; 42 NRC 2011a).
5-3
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents 1 Subsequent to the RAI responses, NextEra submitted a supplement to the ER that 2 incorporated updates to the PRA model (NextEra 2012a). NextEra identified four 3 additional SAMA candidates that could be cost beneficial. The supplement to the ER 4 assessed the costs and benefits of these additional SAMA candidates and reassessed 5 the costs and benefits of the previously-identified SAMA candidates. The result of this 6 analysis and reassessment is one additional potentially cost-beneficial SAMA. Based on 7 its review of this supplement, the NRC staff issued RAIs to NextEra (NRC 2012a).
8 NextEras responses addressed the NRC staffs concerns (NextEra 2012b; NRC 2012b).
9 5.3.1 Risk Estimates for Seabrook 10 NextEra combined two distinct analyses to form the basis for the risk estimates used in the 11 SAMA analysis(1) the Seabrook Level 1 and 2 PRA model, which is an updated version of the 12 IPE (NHY 1991), and (2) a supplemental analysis of offsite consequences and economic 13 impacts (essentially a Level 3 PRA model) developed specifically for the SAMA analysis.1 The 14 SAMA analysis is based on the most recent Seabrook Level 1 and Level 2 PRA models 15 available at the time of the ER, referred to as SSPSS-2011 (the model-of-record used to support 16 SAMA evaluation). The scope of this Seabrook PRA includes both internal and external events.
17 Table 5.3-1 indicates the Seabrook CDF, based on initiating events, for internal events (plus 18 internal and external flooding and severe weather), fires, and seismic events 19 (NextEra 2012a, 2012b).
20 Table 5.3-1. Seabrook CDF for internal and external events CDF % Contribution to Initiating event (per year)(a) total CDF(ab)
Loss of offsite power (LOOP)due to weather(e) 6.810-7 1.510-6 6 10 Flood in relay room from high- energy line break (HELB)(e) 5.910-7 9.510-7 56
-7 Steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) 5.710 5 Reactor tripcondenser available 5.410-7 9.310-7 46 Medium loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) 5.310-7 4
-7 -7 LOOP due to grid-related events 4.510 9.010 46 Flood in yard due to service water (SW) common return 4.110-78.110-7 35 rupture(e)
Loss of essential alternating current (AC) power 4 kV bus 3.210-77.310-7 35 Steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) 5.910-7 4
-7 -7 Loss of primary component cooling water system (PCCW) B train 3.010 5.310 34 Loss of PCCW system A train 2.310-73.910-7 23 1
The NRC uses PRA to estimate risk by computing real numbers to determine what can go wrong, how likely is it, and what are its consequences. Thus, PRA provides insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the design and operation of a nuclear power plant. For the type of nuclear plant currently operating in the U.S., a PRA can estimate three levels of risk. A Level 1 PRA estimates the frequency of accidents that cause damage to the nuclear reactor core. This is commonly called CDF. A Level 2 PRA, which starts with the Level 1 core damage accidents, estimates the frequency of accidents that release radioactivity from the nuclear power plant. A Level 3 PRA, which starts with the Level 2 radioactivity release accidents, estimates the consequences in terms of injury to the public and damage to the environment. (http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/risk-informed/pra.html) 5-4
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents CDF % Contribution to Initiating event (per year)(a) total CDF(ab)
Major flood, rupture of SW Train A in primary auxiliary 2.210-73.510-7 2
building (PAB)(e)
LOOP due to switchyard 2.110-7 3.410-7 2 Large flood, rupture SW Train A piping in PAB(e) 2.010-7 3.410-7 2 (e) -7 -7 Large flood, rupture SW Train B piping in PAB 2.010 3.310 2 Major flood, rupture of SW Train B in PAB(e) 2.010-72.510-7 2 Major flood, rupture of fire protection piping in turbine 1.810-72.510-7 2
building impacting offsite power(e)
Loss of Train B essential AC Power (4 kV Bus E6) 1.610-71.910-7 1 (e) -7 -7 Large flood, rupture of SW common return piping in PAB 1.410 1.710 1 Large LOCA 3.410-7 2 (bc)
Other internal events 1.610-61.010-6 13 7 (eb) -6 -5 Total internal events CDF 7.810 1.110 64 70 Fire Initiating Event Fire in control roompower- operated relief valve (PORV) 3.610-73.710-7 32 LOCA Fire in switchgear (SWGR) room Bloss of Bus E6 3.510-73.710-7 32 Fire SWGR room Aloss of Bus E5 3.110-72.110-7 21 Fire control roomAC power loss 1.810-71.410-7 1 (c) -7 -7 Other fire events 3.810 2.310 2 (d)
Total fire events CDF 1.410-61.310-6 11 9 Seismic Initiating Event
-7 -7 Seismic 0.7 g transient event 9.310 9.210 86
-7 -7 Seismic 1.0 g transient event 8.910 8.710 76 Seismic 1.4 g transient event 3.610-7 32
-7 Seismic 1.0 g anticipated transient without scram (ATWS) 1.110 1 Seismic 1.4 g large LOCA 1.110-7 1
-7 Seismic 0.7 g ATWS 1.010 1 Seismic 1.0 g large LOCA 8.910-8 1 (df)
Other seismic events 8.810-74.910-7 73 Total seismic events CDF(d) 3.110-6 25 21 Total CDF (internal and external events)(g) 1.2x10-51.5x10-5 100 5-5
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents CDF % Contribution to Initiating event (per year)(a) total CDF(ab)
[References were revised, and only new text is provided below.]
(a)
Individual percent contributions may not sum exactly to subtotals due to round off.
(b)
Obtained by subtracting the sum of the internal initiating event contributors to internal event CDF from the total internal events CDF.
(c)
Obtained by subtracting the sum of the fire initiating event contributors to fire event CDF from the total fire events CDF.
(d)
Obtained by subtracting the sum of the seismic initiating event contributors to seismic event CDF from the total seismic events CDF.
(e)
NextEra explained in response to an RAI the difference in the frequencies reported for many initiating events for the 2006 and 2011 PRA models. The total internal events CDF in the 2011 model decreased slightly as a result of model enhancements, the internal flooding CDF increased as result of a more detailed flooding analysis, and the severe weather CDF decreased primarily due to the incorporation of more recent data (NextEra 2012b).
1 The Level 2 Seabrook PRA model that forms the basis for the SAMA evaluation is an updated 2 version of the Level 2 IPE model (New Hampshire Yankee (NHY1991) and IPEEE model 3 (NAESC 1992), using a single containment event tree (CET) to address both phenomenological 4 and systemic events. The Level 1 core damage sequences are linked directly with the CET, for 5 which the quantified sequences are binned into a set of 2114 release categories, which are 6 subsequently grouped into 1310 source term categories that provide the input to the Level 3 7 consequence analysis (NextEra 2012a). Source terms were developed using the results of 8 Modular Accident Analysis Program (MAAP), Version 4.0.7 computer code calculations. The 9 offsite consequences and economic impact analyses use the MACCS2 code to determine the 10 offsite risk impacts on the surrounding environment and public. Inputs for these analyses 11 include plant-specific and site-specific input values for core radionuclide inventory, source term 12 and release characteristics, site meteorological data, projected population distribution within an 13 50-mi (80-km) radius for the year 2050, emergency response evacuation planning, and 14 economic parameters. The core radionuclide inventory corresponds to the end-of-cycle values 15 for Seabrook operating at 3,659 MWt, which is slightly above the current licensed power level of 16 3,648 MWt. The magnitude of the onsite impacts (in terms of cleanup and decontamination 17 costs and occupational dose) is based on information provided in NUREG/BR-0184 18 (NRC 1997a). NextEra estimated the dose to the population within 80 km (50 mi) of the 19 Seabrook site to be approximately 37.8 10.7 person-rem (0.378 107 person-Sievert (Sv)) per 20 year, as shown in Table 5.3-2 (NextEra 2012a).
21 Table 5.3-2. Breakdown of population dose by containment release mode Containment release mode Population dose (Person-rem(a) per year) % Contribution Small early releases 1.7 5.3 5 49 Large early releases 1.7 1.6 4 15 Large late releases(b) 34.4 3.8 91 36 Intact containment negligible negligible Total 37.8 10.7 100 (a)
One person-rem = 0.01 person-Sv (b)
Includes small early containment penetration failure to isolate and large late containment basemat failure (SELL).
5-6
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents 1 5.3.2 Adequacy of Seabrook PRA for SAMA Evaluation 2 The first Seabrook PRA was completed in December 1983 to provide a baseline risk 3 assessment and an integrated plant and site model for use as a risk management tool. This 4 model was subsequently updated in 1986, 1989, and 1990, with the last update used to support 5 the IPE. Based on its review of the Seabrook IPE, as described in an NRC report dated 6 March 1, 1992 (NRC 1992), the NRC staff concluded that the IPE submittal met the intent of 7 generic letter (GL) 88-20, Individual Plant Examination for Severe Accident Vulnerabilities 8 (NRC 1988). Although no severe accident vulnerabilities were identified in the Seabrook IPE, 9 14 potential plant improvements were identified. Four of the improvements have been 10 implemented. Each of the 10 improvements not implemented is addressed by a SAMA in the 11 current evaluation. The internal events CDF value from the 1991 Seabrook IPE (6.110-5 per 12 year) is near the average of the range of the CDF values reported in the IPEs for Westinghouse 13 four-loop plants, which ranges from about 310-6 per year to 210-4 per year, with an average 14 CDF for the group of 610-5 per year (NRC 1997b). It is recognized that plants have updated 15 the values for CDF subsequent to the IPE submittals to reflect modeling and hardware changes.
16 Based on CDF values reported in the SAMA analyses for LRAs, the internal events CDF result 17 for Seabrook used for the SAMA analysis (7.810-6 1.110-5 per year, including internal and 18 external flooding) is somewhat lower than that for most other plants of similar vintage and 19 characteristics.
20 There have been 1110 revisions to the IPE model since the 1991 IPE submittal, and 3 revisions 21 to the PRA model, from the original 1983 PRA model to the 1990 update used to support the 22 IPE submittal. The SSPSA-2011 model was used for the SAMA analysis. NextEra identified 23 the major changes in each revision of the PRA, with the associated change in internal and 24 external event CDF (NextEra 2010, 2011a, 2012a). A comparison of the internal events CDF 25 between the 1991 IPE and the 2011 PRA model used for the SAMA evaluation indicates a 26 decrease of approximately 8782 percent (from 6.110-5 per year to 7.810-61.110-5 per year).
27 The external events CDF has increased by approximately 25 percent since the 1993 IPEEE 28 (from 3.610-5 per year to 4.510-5 per year).
29 The Seabrook PRA model is an integrated internal and external events model that has 30 integrated seismic-initiated, fire-initiated, and external flooding-initiated events with internal 31 events since the initial 1983 PRA (NextEra 2011a). The external events models used in the 32 SAMA evaluation are essentially those used in the IPEEE, with the exception of the seismic 33 PRA model, which underwent a major update for the SSPSA-2005 model. The Seabrook 34 IPEEE was submitted on October 2, 1992 (NAESC 1992), in response to Supplement 4 of 35 GL 88-20 (NRC 1991). The submittal used the same PRA as was used for the IPE 36 (i.e., SSPSA-1990) except for updates to the external events. No fundamental weaknesses or 37 vulnerabilities to severe accident risk with regard to external events were identified.
38 Improvements that have already been realized as a result of the IPEEE process minimized the 39 likelihood of there being cost-beneficial enhancements as a result of the SAMA analysis, 40 especially with the inclusion of a multiplier to account for the additional risk of seismic events. In 41 a letter dated May 2, 2001, the NRC staff concluded that the submittal met the intent of 42 Supplement 4 to GL 88-20, and the applicants IPEEE process is capable of identifying the most 43 likely severe accidents and severe accident vulnerabilities (NRC 2001).
44 Internal Events CDF 45 NextEra identified three peer reviews that have been performed on the PRAa 46 1999 Westinghouse Owners Group (WOG) certification peer review, a 2005 focused peer 5-7
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents 1 review against the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) PRA standard 2 (ASME 2003; NextEra 2010) and a 2009 peer review of the internal flood model against the 3 ASME PRA standard (ASME 2009; NextEra 2012a). None of the peer reviews included 4 examination of external flooding, fire, or seismic hazards. The 1999 certification peer review 5 identified 30 Category A and B facts and observations (F&O), and the 2005 focused peer review 6 identified 4 Category A and B F&Os.2 NextEra provided the resolution of each of the 34 F&Os 7 and stated that all have been dispositioned and implemented in the PRA model (NextEra 2010).
8 NextEra also stated that there were no Category A and three Category B F&Os from the 9 2009 peer review, all of which were resolved and implemented in the PRA model 10 (NextEra 2012a). NextEra explained that many other internal reviews including 11 vendor-assisted reviews have been performed on specific model updates and that comments 12 from these reviews, along with plant changes and potential model enhancements, are tracked 13 through a model change database to ensure that the comments are addressed in the periodic 14 update process (NextEra 2011a).
15 Consistent with the requirements of the ASME 2009 PRA standard (ASME 2009), NextEra 16 maintains PRA quality control at Seabrook via an existing administrative procedure that defines 17 the quality control process for PRA updates and ensures that the PRA model accurately reflects 18 the current Seabrook plant design, operation, and performance (NextEra 2011a). The quality 19 control process includes monitoring PRA inputs for new information, recording new applicable 20 information, assessing significance of new information, performing PRA revisions, and 21 controlling computer codes and models. NextEra also stated that the PRA training qualification 22 is performed as part of the Engineering Support Personnel Training Program. Given that the 23 Seabrook internal events PRA model has been peer-reviewed, and the peer review findings 24 were all addressed, and that NextEra has satisfactorily addressed NRC staff questions 25 regarding the PRA, the NRC staff concludes that the internal events Level 1 PRA model is of 26 sufficient quality to support the SAMA evaluation.
27 Seismic CDF 28 The Seabrook IPEEE seismic analysis used a seismic PRA following NRC guidance 29 (NRC 1991). The seismic PRA included the following:
30 a seismic hazard analysis (based on the EPRI (1988) and the Lawrence Livermore 31 National Laboratory (LLNL) (NRC 1994) hazard curves),
32 a seismic fragility assessment, 33 seismic quantification to yield initiating event frequencies and conditional system failure 34 probabilities, and 35 plant model assembly to integrate seismic initiators and seismic-initiated component 36 failures with random hardware failures and maintenance unavailabilities.
37 The seismic CDF resulting from the Seabrook IPEEE was calculated to be 1.210-5 per year 38 using a site-specific seismic hazard curve, with sensitivity analyses yielding 1.310-4 per year 39 using the LLNL seismic hazard curve and 6.110-6 per year using the EPRI seismic hazard 40 curve. The Seabrook IPEEE did not identify any vulnerability due to seismic events but did 41 identify two plant improvements to reduce seismic risk. Neither of the two improvements has 2
Now termed a Finding, a Category A or B F&Os is an observation (an issue or discrepancy) that is necessary to address to ensure: [1] the technical adequacy of the PRA ... [2] the capability/robustness of the PRA update process, or [3] the process for evaluating the necessary capability of the PRA technical elements (to support applications). (Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 05-04, Process for Performing Internal Events PRA Peer Reviews Using the ASME/ANS PRA Standard, Revision 2, 2008) 5-8
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents 1 been implemented. Each of the two improvements is addressed by a SAMA in the current 2 evaluation.
3 Subsequent to the IPEEE, NextEra updated the seismic PRA analysis. These updates included 4 expanding fragility analysis, with additional components; using the more current EPRI uniform 5 hazard spectrum (UHS); and improving modeling and documentation of credited operator 6 actions.
7 NextEra stated that extensive internal technical reviews of the seismic PRA analysis were 8 performed for the original 1983 PRA and again when the seismic analysis was revised for the 9 IPEEE and when the seismic analysis was revised for the SSPSA-2005 PRA model update. No 10 significant comments were documented from these reviews, and no formal peer reviews have 11 been conducted on the seismic PRA model (NextEra 2011a). In response to an NRC staff 12 request to assess the impact on the SAMA evaluation of updated seismic hazard curves 13 developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 2008 (USGS 2008), NextEra provided a 14 revised SAMA evaluation using a multiplier of 2.1 to account for the maximum estimated 15 seismic CDF for the Seabrook of 2.2x10-5 per year. This was noted in the attachments to NRC 16 Information Notice 2010-18, generic issue (GI) 199, Implications of Updated Probabilistic 17 Seismic Hazard Estimates in Central and Eastern United States on Existing Plants 18 (NRC 2010a, 2010b; NextEra 2011a, 2011b, 2012a). Note that, in the process of estimating an 19 appropriate multiplier, NextEra considered that the estimated seismic CDF of 2.210-5 per year 20 did not credit the installation of the supplemental electrical power system (SEPS) diesel 21 generators (DGs) in 2004, which, based on a subsequent PRA estimate, reduced seismic CDF 22 by 26 percent. Therefore, in estimating the multiplier, NextEra first reduced the 2.210-5 per 23 year estimate for seismic CDF by 26 percent to 1.6 x 10-5 per year. Using a seismic CDF 24 of 1.6 x 10-5 per year, the total CDF equates to 2.5 x 10-5 per year or 2.1 times the total 25 CDF from Table 5.3-1 (1.2 x 10-5 per year).
26 The NRC staff concludes that the seismic PRA model, in combination with the use of a seismic 27 events multiplier of 2.1, provides an acceptable basis for identifying and evaluating the benefits 28 of SAMAs. This conclusion is based on the fact that the Seabrook seismic PRA model is 29 integrated with the internal events PRA, the seismic PRA has been updated to include 30 additional components and to extend the fragility screening threshold, the SAMA evaluation was 31 updated using a multiplier to account for a potentially higher seismic CDF, and NextEra has 32 satisfactorily addressed NRC staff RAIs regarding the seismic PRA.
33 Fire CDF 34 The Seabrook IPEEE fire analysis employed EPRIs fire-induced vulnerability evaluation (FIVE) 35 methodology (Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) 1992) based on definitions of 36 Appendix R fire areas for Seabrook. Qualitative and quantitative screening was performed to 37 determine that 13 of the 73 fire areas contained important equipment (pumps, valves, and 38 cabling, etc.). These were further assessed. Final quantification used the Seabrook IPE PRA 39 model to calculate a fire-induced CDF of 1.210-5 per year. While no physical plant changes 40 were found to be necessary as a result of the IPEEE fire analysis, potential plant improvements 41 to reduce fire risk were identifiedof which, four have been implemented. The one 42 improvement not implemented is addressed by a SAMA in the current evaluation.
43 NextEra updated the fire PRA, subsequent to the IPEEE, in support of the SSPSS-2004 PRA 44 update. NextEra stated that the fire analysis methodology used was essentially the same, with 45 some variations, as that described previously for the IPEEE fire analysis (NextEra 2011a).
5-9
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents 1 NextEra stated that extensive internal technical reviews of the fire PRA analysis were 2 performed for the original 1983 PRA and, again, when the fire analysis was revised for the 3 IPEEE and when the fire analysis was revised for the SSPSS-2005 PRA model update. No 4 significant comments were documented from these reviews, and no formal peer reviews have 5 been conducted on the fire PRA model (NextEra 2011a). Considering that the Seabrook fire 6 PRA model is integrated with the internal events PRA, that the fire PRA has been updated to 7 include more current data, and that NextEra has satisfactorily addressed NRC staff RAIs 8 regarding the fire PRA, the NRC staff concludes that the fire PRA model provides an acceptable 9 basis for identifying and evaluating the benefits of SAMAs.
10 Other External Event CDF 11 The Seabrook IPEEE analysis of other external events included high winds, external floods, 12 transportation accidents, etc. (HFO events), and it followed the screening and evaluation 13 approaches specified in Supplement 4 to GL 88-20 (NRC 1991), concluding that Seabrook met 14 the 1975 Standard Review Plan (SRP) criteria (NRC 1975b). The following external event 15 frequencies exceeded the 1.010-6 per year screening criterion (NAESC 1992):
16 flooding resulting from a storm surge caused by a hurricane, which is modeled in the 17 PRA (NextEra 2010) and reported to contribute 210-8 per year to the total Seabrook 18 CDF, and 19 a truck crash into the SF6 transmission lines, which has been mitigated by the 20 installation of jersey barriers and guard rails and that, as a result, has been screened 21 from the PRA model (NextEra 2011a).
22 While no physical plant changes were found to be necessary as a result of the IPEEE HFO 23 analysis, one plant improvement based on HFO analysis was recommended, but this has 24 already been implemented (NextEra 2011a). The Seabrook IPEEE submittal also stated that, 25 as a result of the Seabrook IPE, cost-benefit analyses were being performed for many potential 26 plant improvements, which may also collaterally reduce external event risk. Four of these five 27 potential plant improvements have been implemented, and the fifth is addressed by a SAMA in 28 the current evaluation.
29 Level 2 and LERF 30 To translate the results of the Level 1 PRA into containment releases, as well as the results of 31 the Level 2 analysis, NextEra significantly revised the 2005 PRA update (i.e., PRA model 32 SSPSS-2005) from that used in the IPE to reflect the Seabrook plant as designed and operated 33 as of 2006. NextEra explained that the quantification of the Level 1 and Level 2 models is done 34 using a linked event tree method approach that does not employ plant damage states 35 (NextEra 2011a). Therefore, all Level 1 sequences are evaluated by the CET. The Level 2 36 model is a single CET and evaluates the phenomenological progression of all the Level 1 37 sequences including internal, fire, and seismically initiated events. It has 37 branching events, 38 for each of which the split fraction is determined based on the type of event. End states 39 resulting from the combinations of the branches are then assigned to one of 2116 release 40 categories based on characteristics that determine the timing and magnitude of the release, 41 whether or not the containment remains intact, and isotopic composition of the released 42 material. The quantified CET sequences are subsequently grouped into 1013 source term 43 categories by grouping those that occur due to different phenomena but for which the 44 consequence is essentially the same. Eight of the release categories were mapped 45 one-to-one into a corresponding source term category while 13 release categories were 5-10
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents 1 mapped into five combined source term categories. These 13 source term categories 2 provide the input to the Level 3 consequence analysis.
3 Source terms were developed for each of the source term categories. The release fractions and 4 timing for 5 of the 10 source term categories are based on the results of plant-specific 5 calculations using the MAAP Version 4.0.7. NextEra generally selected the representative 6 MAAP case based on that which resulted in the most realistic timing and source term release.
7 For four of the combined source term categories, the source term for the release 8 category having the highest (dominant) release frequency was used as the source term 9 for the combined category. In the fifth combined source term category, one of the 10 contributors had the most significant source term and the highest frequency so it was 11 selected as the representative case.
12 The current Seabrook Level 2 PRA model is an update of that used in the IPE, which did not 13 identify any severe accident vulnerabilities associated with containment performance. The NRC 14 staffs review of the IPE back-end (i.e., Level 2) model concluded that it appeared to have 15 addressed the severe accident phenomena normally associated with large dry containments, 16 that it met the IPE requirements, and that there were no obvious or significant problems or 17 errors. The LERF model was included in the 1999 industry peer review. All F&Os from this 18 review have been dispositioned and implemented in the PRA model. NextEra explained that 19 the apparently very low LERF for Seabrook (1.210-7 per year in the SSPSS-2006 model, which 20 is less than 1 percent of the CDF) results from the very large-volume and strong containment 21 building in comparison to most other nuclear power plant containment designs (NextEra 2011a),
22 such that there are no conceivable severe accident progression scenarios that result in 23 catastrophic failure early in the accident sequence. The NRC staff considers NextEras 24 explanation reasonable. Based on the NRC staffs review of the Level 2 methodology, the NRC 25 staff concludes that NextEra has adequately addressed NRC staff RAIs, that the LERF model 26 was reviewed in more detail as part of the 1999 WOG certification peer review, and that all 27 F&Os have been resolved. Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that the Level 2 PRA provides 28 an acceptable basis for evaluating the benefits associated with various SAMAs.
29 Level 3Population Dose 30 NextEra extended the containment performance (Level 2) portion of the PRA to assess offsite 31 consequences (essentially a Level 3 PRA) via Version 1.13.1 of the MACCS2 code, including 32 consideration of the source terms used to characterize fission product releases for the 33 applicable containment release categories and the major input assumptions used in the offsite 34 consequence analyses (NRC 1998). Plant-specific input to the code included the following:
35 the source terms for each release category, 36 the reactor core radionuclide inventory, 37 site-specific meteorological data for the year 2005, 38 projected population distribution within an 80-km (50-mi) radius for the year 2050, based 39 on year 2000 census data from SECPOP2000 (NRC 2003),
40 emergency evacuation planning, using only 95 percent of the population (conservative 41 relative to NUREG-1150, which assumed 99.5 percent (NRC 1990)), and 42 economic parameters including agricultural production.
43 Multiple sensitivity cases were run, including the following:
5-11
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents 1 releases at ground level and 25 percent, 50 percent, and 75 percent of the containment 2 building height (baseline is release at the top of containment),
3 release plumes with 1 and 10 MW heat release, 4 factor-of-two scaling of containment building wake effects, 5 annual meteorological data from 2004 through 2008, 6 variations in evacuation parameters, such as percent of population, evacuation speed, 7 and delay time, and 8 variations in sea-breeze circulation assumptions.
9 NextEras results showed only minor variations from the baseline for these sensitivities, which is 10 consistent with previous SAMA analyses. The NRC staff concludes that the methodology used 11 by NextEra to estimate the offsite consequences for Seabrook provides an acceptable basis 12 from which to proceed with an assessment of risk reduction potential for candidate SAMAs.
13 Accordingly, the NRC staff based its assessment of offsite risk on the CDF and offsite doses 14 reported by NextEra.
15 5.3.3 Potential Plant Improvements 16 NextEras process for identifying potential plant improvements (SAMAs) consisted of the 17 following elements:
18 review of the most significant basic events from the 2011 plant-specific PRA, which was 19 the most current PRA model at the time the SAMA evaluation was performed, 20 review of potential plant improvements identified in the Seabrook IPE and IPEEE, 21 review of other industry documentation discussing potential plant improvements, and 22 insights from Seabrook personnel.
23 Based on this process, an initial set of 195 191 candidate Phase I SAMAs was identified, for 24 which NextEra performed a qualitative screening to eliminate ones from further consideration 25 using the following criteria:
26 The SAMA is not applicable to Seabrook due to design differences (19 SAMAs 27 screened).
28 The SAMA has already been implemented at Seabrook or the Seabrook meets the intent 29 of the SAMA (87 SAMAs screened).
30 The SAMA is similar to another SAMA under consideration (11 SAMAs screened).
31 The SAMA has estimated implementation costs that would exceed the dollar value 32 associated with eliminating all severe accident risk at Seabrook (no SAMA screened).
33 The SAMA was determined to provide very low benefit (no SAMA screened).
34 Based on this screening, 117 SAMAs were eliminated, leaving 78 74 for detailed evaluation in 35 Phase II. In Phase II, a detailed evaluation was performed for each of the remaining 78 SAMA 36 candidates. NextEra accounted for the potential risk reduction benefits associated with each 37 SAMA by quantifying the benefits using the integrated internal and external events PRA model.
5-12
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents 1 The NRC staff reviewed NextEras process for identifying and screening potential SAMA 2 candidates, as well as the methods for quantifying the benefits associated with potential risk 3 reduction. This included reviewing insights from the plant-specific risk studies, reviewing plant 4 improvements considered in previous SAMA analyses, and explicitly treating external events 5 in the SAMA identification process. The NRC staff concludes that NextEra used a systematic 6 and comprehensive process for identifying potential plant improvements for Seabrook, and the 7 set of SAMAs evaluated in the ER, together with those evaluated in response to NRC staff 8 inquiries, is reasonably comprehensive; therefore, it is acceptable.
9 5.3.3.1 Risk Reduction 10 NextEra evaluated the risk-reduction potential of the 78 SAMAs retained for the Phase II 11 evaluation, which includes the risk-reduction potential of additional SAMAs identified in 12 the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a) and in response to NRC staff RAIs 13 (NextEra 2012b). NextEra used model re-quantification to determine the potential benefits 14 based on the SSPSS-2011 PRA model. The majority of the SAMA evaluations were performed 15 in a bounding fashion in that the SAMA was assumed to eliminate the risk associated with the 16 proposed enhancement. On balance, such calculations overestimate the benefit and are 17 conservative. The NRC staff reviewed NextEras bases for calculating the risk reduction for the 18 various plant improvements and concludes that the rationale and assumptions are reasonable 19 and generally conservative (i.e., the estimated risk reduction is higher than what would actually 20 be realized). Accordingly, the NRC staff based its estimates of averted risk for the various 21 SAMAs on NextEras risk reduction estimates.
22 5.3.3.2 Cost Impacts 23 NextEra developed plant-specific costs of implementing the 78 Phase II candidate SAMAs using 24 an expert panelcomposed of senior plant staff from the PRA group, the design group, 25 operations, and license renewalwith experience in developing and implementing modifications 26 at Seabrook. In most cases, detailed cost estimates were not developed because of the large 27 margin between the estimated SAMA benefits and the estimated implementation costs 28 (NextEra 2011a). The cost estimates, conservatively, did not specifically account for inflation, 29 contingencies, implementation obstacles, or replacement power costs (RPC). The NRC staff 30 reviewed the bases for the applicants cost estimates and, for certain improvements, compared 31 the cost estimates to estimates developed elsewhere for similar improvements, including 32 estimates developed as part of other applicants analyses of SAMAs for operating reactors and 33 advanced light-water reactors. The NRC staff concludes that the cost estimates provided by 34 NextEra are sufficient and appropriate for use in the SAMA evaluation.
35 5.3.3.3 Cost-Benefit Comparison 36 The methodology used by NextEra was based primarily on NRCs guidance for performing 37 cost-benefit analysis (i.e., NUREG/BR-0184, Regulatory Analysis Technical Evaluation 38 Handbook (NRC 1997a)). The guidance involves determining the net value for each SAMA 39 according to the following formula:
40 Net Value = (APE + AOC + AOE + AOSC) - COE 41 where:
42 APE = present value of averted public exposure ($)
43 AOC = present value of averted offsite property damage costs ($)
5-13
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents 1 AOE = present value of averted occupational exposure costs ($)
2 AOSC = present value of averted onsite costs ($)
3 COE = cost of enhancement ($)
4 If the net value of a SAMA is negative, the cost of implementing the SAMA is larger than the 5 benefit associated with the SAMA, and it is not considered cost beneficial. Present values for 6 both a 3 percent and 7 percent discount rate were considered. Using the NUREG/BR-0184 7 methods, NextEra estimated the total present dollar value equivalent associated with eliminating 8 severe accidents from internal and external events at Seabrook to be about $3.05 million 9 819,000. Use of a multiplier of 2.1 to account for the additional risk from seismic events 10 in the sensitivity analysis increases the value to $6.4 million. This represents the dollar 11 value associated with completely eliminating all internal and external event severe 12 accident risk at Seabrook, and it is also referred to as the maximum averted cost risk 13 (MACR).
14 If the implementation costs for a candidate SAMA exceeded the calculated benefit, the SAMA 15 was considered not to be cost beneficial. In the baseline analysis (using a 7 percent discount 16 rate), NextEra identified three one potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs (SAMA 157, 165, and 192, 17 see Table 5.3-3). Based on the consideration of analysis uncertainties, NextEra identified three 18 one additional potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs (SAMA 164, 172, and 193195, see 19 Table 5.3-3). In addition, as a result of the sensitivity analysis using a multiplier of 2.1 to 20 account for the additional risk from seismic events, NextEra identified one additional cost-21 beneficial SAMA (SAMA 193, see Table 5.3-3).
22 The seven four potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs are discussed in Section 5.3.4. The NRC 23 staff notes that these are included within the set of SAMAs that NextEra plans to enter into the 24 Seabrook long-range plan development process for further implementation consideration. The 25 NRC staff concludes that, with the exception of the seven four potentially cost-beneficial 26 SAMAs, the costs of the other SAMAs evaluated would be higher than the associated benefits.
27 5.3.4 Cost-Beneficial SAMAs 28 Highlighted in bold italics in Table 5.3-3 are the potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs (157, 164, 29 165, 172, 192, 193, and 195).
30 Table 5.3-3. SAMA cost-benefit Phase-II analysis for Seabrook
% Risk Total benefit ($)
Analysis case & reduction applicable SAMAs Modeling Baseline (with 2.1 (where multiples, only Cost ($)
assumptions Pop. multiplier) number & minimum CDF cost are listed) dose Internal + with External uncertainty No station blackout Eliminate failure 22 6 12 220K (470K) 525K 1.75M >1.0M (SBO): of the emergency 27 160K (330K (1.1M) (minimum of six) diesel generators 300K (620K Six Five SAMAs (EDGs) analyzed 5-14
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents
% Risk Total benefit ($)
Analysis case & reduction applicable SAMAs Modeling Baseline (with 2.1 (where multiples, only Cost ($)
assumptions Pop. multiplier) number & minimum CDF cost are listed) dose Internal + with External uncertainty No LOOP: Eliminate LOOP 18 17 36 530K (1.2M) 1.2M (2.7M) >3M 2.4M (minimum events 42 340K (700K 640K of three)
Three Five SAMAs (1.3M) analyzed No loss of 4 kV in-feed Eliminate failure 1 <1 8K (17K) 15K (32K) Screened breakers: of the 4 kV bus in-feed breakers
- 21Develop procedures to repair or replace failed 4 kV breakers No loss of high-pressure Eliminate failure 22 34 52 1.1M (2.3M) 2.5M (5.3M) 8.8M>5.0M (minimum injection (HPI): of the HPI system 68 470K (980K 890K (1.9M of boththree)
Two Three SAMAs analyzed No loss of low-pressure Eliminate failure 2 11 2 29 68K (140K) 160K >1M 1.0M injection: of the low- 160K (340K (340K) pressure injection 300K (640K
- 28Add a diverse system low-pressure injection system No depletion of reactor Eliminate RWST 13 10 12 310K (655K) 730K >3M 1.0M (minimum water storage tank running out of 28 160K (330K (1.5M) of both)
(RWST): water 300K (630K Two SAMAs analyzed Reduce common cause Eliminate <1 0 <1K (<1K) <1K (<1K) >5M failure of the safety dependency of injection (safety the existing injectionSI) system: intermediate head SI pump
- 39Replace two of trains on AC the four electric SI power pumps with diesel-powered pumps No small LOCAs: Eliminate all 27 12 27K (57K) 64K (130K) >1M 1.0M small LOCA 33K (70K 63K
- 41Create a reactor events coolant depressurization system No direct current (DC) Eliminate the <2 1 01 11K (24K) 26K (55K) >100K dependence for SW: dependence of 10K (21K 19K (40K the SW pumps
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents
% Risk Total benefit ($)
Analysis case & reduction applicable SAMAs Modeling Baseline (with 2.1 (where multiples, only Cost ($)
assumptions Pop. multiplier) number & minimum CDF cost are listed) dose Internal + with External uncertainty No loss of component Eliminate failure 14 31 920K (1.9M) 2.15M >6M cooling water (CCW): of the CCW (4.6M) pumps
- 44Replace emergency core cooling system ( ECCS) pump motors with air-cooled motors No failure of support Eliminate 28 34 23 1.0M (2.2M) 2.45M >6.4M 1.0M (minimum systems for core spray failures of 25 180K (380K (5.2M) of six both)
(CS) division B of HPI: support 350K (730K systems (e.g.,
SixTwo SAMAs analyzed AC and DC power, cooling) for division B of HPI No CCW pump failure Eliminate CCW 4 11 335K (700K) 785K >6.1M when AC/DC power pump failure (1.7M) available: when AC and DC power
- 59Install a digital support is feed water upgrade available No plant risk Eliminate all 100 100 12 3.05M (6.4M) 7.15M >15M 500K plant risk 11 92K (170K (15M) 180K TwoSeven SAMAs (370K (minimum of two analyzed seven)
No PORV failures: Eliminate all <1 07 1.7K (4K) 4.1K (9K) >2.7M 1.0M PORV failures 12 73K (150K 140K (290K
- 79Install bigger pilot operated relief valve so only one is required No heating, ventilation, Eliminate the 38 51 150K (320K) 360K >1M 500K and air conditioning dependence of 32K (67K (750K) 61K (HVAC) dependence for CS, SI, residual (130K CS, SI, RH, & heat removal containment building (RHR), & CBS spray (CBS): pumps on HVAC
- 80Provide a redundant train or means of ventilation No HVAC dependence Eliminate loss of <1 0 <1 <1K (<2K 1K) <2K 1K >250K for emergency feedwater EFW ventilation (<4K 2K)
(EFW):
- 84Switch for EFW room fan power supply to station batteries 5-16
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents
% Risk Total benefit ($)
Analysis case & reduction applicable SAMAs Modeling Baseline (with 2.1 (where multiples, only Cost ($)
assumptions Pop. multiplier) number & minimum CDF cost are listed) dose Internal + with External uncertainty No CBS support system Eliminate CBS 0 58 1.7M (3.5M) 4.0M (8.3M) >10M (minimum of or common cause power, signal, two) failures: and cooling support system Two SAMAs analyzed failures, and common cause failure among similar components for one division of CBS No failure of human Eliminate 0 1 36 39K (82K) 92K (190K) >3M 3.0M (minimum action to vent allfailure of the 160K (340K 310K (650K of six) containment: human action to vent containment
- 93Install an unfiltered hardened containment vent Four SAMAs analyzed No release from Eliminate 0 69 2.0M (4.1M) 4.6M (9.7M) >20M containment venting release category and reduced release LL3 from basemat melt- (containment through: vent) and prevent 80
- 94Install a filtered percent of containment vent to release category remove decay heat LL5 (basemat melt-through)
Reduced likelihood of Reduce by a 0 4 120K (245K) 270K 11.5M non-recovery off off- factor of 10 the (570K) site power: non-recovery of off-site power
- 99Strengthen before late primary & secondary containment containment (e.g., add pressure failure ribbing to containment occurs shell)
Reduced failure of CBS: Add redundant 0 1 29K (62K) 69K (140K) >10M train of CBS
- 107Install a redundant containment spray system No hydrogen burns or Eliminate all 0 10 18K (39K) 43K (90K) >100K (minimum of detonations: hydrogen ignition <1K (<1K <1K (<1K three) and burns Three SAMAs analyzed 5-17
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents
% Risk Total benefit ($)
Analysis case & reduction applicable SAMAs Modeling Baseline (with 2.1 (where multiples, only Cost ($)
assumptions Pop. multiplier) number & minimum CDF cost are listed) dose Internal + with External uncertainty No failure of operator Eliminate the 32 0 <1 12K (25K) 27K (58K) >100K action to transfer to long- human failure to 7.2K (15K 14K (29K term recirculation complete/ ensure following large LOCA: the RHR/low-head safety
- 105Delay injection (LHSI) containment spray transfer to long-actuation after a large term recirculation LOCA during large LOCA events No high- pressure core Eliminate high- 0 0 <1K (<1K) 1K (2K) >10M ejection: pressure core ejection
- 110Erect a barrier occurrences that would provide enhanced protection of the containment walls (shell) from ejected core debris following a core melt scenario at high pressure No containment Eliminate CIV 0 6 19 115K (240K) 270K >1M 500K (minimum isolation valve (CIV) failures 100K (220K (570K) of both) failures: 200K (420K Two SAMAs analyzed Reduce ISLOCA risk by Reduce ISLOCA 1 3 14K (30K) 27K (60K) >100K half event risk by 50%
No interfacing system Eliminate all <1 2 37 48K (100K) 110K >500 190K (minimum loss-of-coolant accidents ISLOCAs 28K (60K (240K) 53K of boththree)
(ISLOCAs):
Three TwoSAMAs analyzed No SGTRs: Eliminate all 53 2 17 67K (140K) 160K >500K (minimum of SGTR events 86K (180K (330K345K) five)
Five SAMAs analyzed No anticipated transient Eliminate all 43 2 11 60K (130K) 140K >500K (minimum of without scrams ATWS events 70K (150K (290K) four)
(ATWSs): 130K (280K Four SAMAs analyzed No piping system LOCAs: Eliminate all 9 10 2 12 77K (160K) 180K >500K piping failure 100K (220K (380K)
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents
% Risk Total benefit ($)
Analysis case & reduction applicable SAMAs Modeling Baseline (with 2.1 (where multiples, only Cost ($)
assumptions Pop. multiplier) number & minimum CDF cost are listed) dose Internal + with External uncertainty No secondary side Eliminate all <1 0 0 <1 5K (11K) 3K 11K (24K) >500K depressurization from steam line break (7K 6K (13K stem line break upstream events of main steam isolation valves:
- 153Install secondary side guard pipes up to the main steam isolation valves No operator error when Eliminate failure 8 2 NP 64K (135K) 150K >750K aligning & loading SEPS of all operator NP* 33K (68K (320K) 62K DGs: actions to align (130K and load the
- 154Modify SEPS SEPS DGs design to accommodate:
(a) automatic bus loading, (b) automatic bus alignment Provide independent AC Eliminate failure <2 4 12 34K (72K) 80K (170K) power to battery of operator 23K (48K 45K (95K chargers: action to shed 30K DC loads to
- 157Provide extend batteries independent AC power to 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br /> &
source for battery eliminate failure chargers; for example, to recover provide portable offsite power for generator to charge plant-related, station battery grid-related, &
weather-related LOOP events
- 159Install additional >1.0M batteries No depletion of Eliminate CST <2 1 1 35K (73K) 9K 81K (170K) condensate storage: running out of (18K 16K (34K water >2.5M
- 162Increase the capacity margin of the condensate storage >40K (minimum of tank (CST) Two SAMAs both) analyzed
- 164Modify 10" condensate filter flange to have a 2-1/2"-inch female fire hose adapter with isolation valve 5-19
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents
% Risk Total benefit ($)
Analysis case & reduction applicable SAMAs Modeling Baseline (with 2.1 (where multiples, only Cost ($)
assumptions Pop. multiplier) number & minimum CDF cost are listed) dose Internal + with External uncertainty No loss of turbine-driven Eliminate failure 5 19 12 9 360K (750K) 835K >2.0M auxiliary feedwater of the TDAFW 100K (210K (1.8M)
(TDAFW): train 190K (400K
- 163Install third EFW pump (steam-driven)
Guaranteed success of Guaranteed 5 10 28 57K (120K) 130K 50K RWST long-term makeup success of 75K (160K (280K) without recirculation: RWST makeup 120K (300K for long-term
- 165RWST fill from sequences firewater during where containment injection recirculation is Modify 6" RWST Flush not available Flange to have a 21/2" female fire hose adapter with isolation valve No loss of reactor Eliminate failure 34 49 1.5M (3.2M) 2.5M (7.4M) >2M coolant pump (RCP) of RCP seal seal cooling and no cooling failure of RCP seals initiating event following a plant and RCP seal transient: failures subsequent to a
- 172Evaluate plant transient installation of a shutdown seal in the RCPs being developed by Westinghouse No fire in turbine building This SAMA has been implemented (NextEra 2011b) at west wall or relay room:
- 175Improve fire detection in turbine building relay room No failure of operator Eliminate operator 01 0 <1K (<1K) 4K <1K (<2K) >20K action to close PORV failure to close PORV <1 (8K 7K (15K block valve during a block valve during a control room fire: control room fire
- 179Fire- induced LOCA response procedure from alternate shutdown panel No failures due to seismic Eliminate all seismic 12 3 87K (180K) 200K >600K relay chatter: relay chatter failures 9 12 100K (210K (470K410K)
- 181Improve relay chatter fragility 5-20
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents
% Risk Total benefit ($)
Analysis case & reduction applicable SAMAs Modeling Baseline (with 2.1 (where multiples, only Cost ($)
assumptions Pop. multiplier) number & minimum CDF cost are listed) dose Internal + with External uncertainty No seismic-induced loss Eliminate all seismic <1 0 2.4K (6K) 5.6K (12K) >500K of DGs or turbine-driven failures of EDGs or 0 <1K (<1K <1K (<1K emergency feedwater TDEFW (TDEFW):
- 182Improve seismic capacity of EDGs &
steam-driven EFW pump Containment purge Eliminate possibility of 0 0 <1K (<1K) <1K >20K valves are always closed: containment purge (<2K1K) valves being open at
- 184Control/reduce the time of an event time that the containment purge valves are in open position No CDF contribution from Eliminate all CDF 0 0 4.4K (12K) 10K (27K) >500K pre-existing containment contribution from pre- NP NP 11K (23K 20K (43K leakage: existing containment leakage
- 186Install containment leakage monitoring system Benefits of SEPS Modify fault tree so that 6 7 2 1 63K (130K) 150K >2M 300K success criteria change, one of two SEPS DGs 30K (60K (310K) 60K from two of two SEPS are required rather than (120K DGs to one of two SEPS both SEPS DGs being DGs: required
- 189Modify or analyze SEPS capability; one of two SEPS for loss of system pressure (LOSP) non-SI loads, two of two for LOSP SI loads No inadvertent failures of Eliminate inadvertent <1 0 <1K (<1K) <1K (<2K >100K redundant temperature failure of the redundant <1 1K) logic during loss of temperature PCCW: element/logic of the associated primary
- 191Remove the component cooling 135 ºF temperature trip of (PCC) division for both the PCCW pumps loss of PCCW initiating events & loss of PCCW mitigative function 5-21
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents
% Risk Total benefit ($)
Analysis case & reduction applicable SAMAs Modeling Baseline (with 2.1 (where multiples, only Cost ($)
assumptions Pop. multiplier) number & minimum CDF cost are listed) dose Internal + with External uncertainty No flooding in control Eliminate control 24 11 470K (990K) 1.1M (2.3M) 370K 200K building due to fire building fire 25 6 160K (340K 310K (640K protection system protection flooding actuation: initiators
- 192Install a globe valve or flow limiting orifice upstream in the fire protection system No failure of operator Eliminate operator 0 5 86K (180K) 200K 300K action to close CIV failure to close CIV 35 190K (400K (420K)
CS-V-167: CS-V-167 365K (770K
- 193Hardware change to eliminate motor-operated valve (MOV) AC power dependency No failure of main Eliminate failure of 0 0 <1K (<1K) <1K (<2K) >30K steam safety valves MSSVs to reseat (MSSVs) to reseat:
- 194Purchase or manufacture a gagging device that could be used to close a stuck-open steam generator safety valve No failure of Eliminate failure of 3 5 140K (300K) 340K 300K temperature elements temperature control (710K) for PCC Trains A and B: and modulation for PCC Trains A and B
- 195Make that could fail PCCW improvements to PCCW temperature control reliability 1 5.3.5 Conclusions 2 NextEra compiled a list of 191 SAMAs in the ER and 4 additional SAMAs in the 2012 SAMA 3 supplement (NextEra 2012a) based on a review of the most significant basic events from the 4 plant-specific PRA, insights from the plant-specific IPE and IPEEE, review of other industry 5 documentation, and insights from Seabrook personnel. Of these, 117 SAMAs were eliminated 6 qualitatively, leaving 78 candidate SAMAs for evaluation. These underwent more detailed 7 design and cost estimates to show that threetwo were potentially cost beneficial in the baseline 8 analysis (SAMAs 157, 165, and 192). NextEra also performed additional analyses to evaluate 9 the impact of parameter choices and uncertainties, resulting in three additional potentially 10 cost-beneficial SAMAs (SAMAs 164, 172, and 195). In addition, NextEra performed a 5-22
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents 1 sensitivity analysis accounting for the additional risk of seismic events and identified one 2 additional SAMA (SAMA 193) as being potentially cost beneficial. NextEra has indicated that all 3 sevenfour potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs will be entered into the Seabrook long-range plan 4 development process for further implementation consideration.
5 The NRC staff reviewed the NextEra analysis and concludes that the methods used and their 6 implementation were acceptable. The treatment of SAMA benefits and costs support the 7 general conclusion that the SAMA evaluations performed by NextEra are reasonable and 8 sufficient for the license renewal submittal.
9 The NRC staff agrees with NextEras identification of areas in which risk can be further 10 reduced in a potentially cost-beneficial manner through the implementation of the 11 identified, potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs. Given the potential for cost-beneficial risk 12 reduction, the NRC staff agrees that further evaluation of these SAMAs by NextEra is 13 warranted. However, the applicant stated that the sevenfour potentially cost-beneficial 14 SAMAs are not aging-related in that they do not involve aging management of passive, 15 long-lived systems, structures, or components during the period of extended operation.
16 Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that they need not be implemented as part of license 17 renewal pursuant to 10 CFR Part 54.
18 5.4 References 19 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), 2003, Addenda to ASME RA-S-2002, 20 Standard for Probabilistic Risk Assessment for Nuclear Power Plant Applications, 21 ASME RA-Sa-2003, December 5, 2003.
22 ASME, 2009, Addenda to ASME RA-S-2008, Standard for Level 1/Large Early Release 23 Frequency Probabilistic Risk Assessment for Nuclear Power Plant Applications, 24 ASME RA-Sa-2009, February 2, 2009.
25 Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), 1992, Fire-Induced Vulnerability Evaluation (FIVE),
26 EPRI TR-100370, Revision 0, Palo Alto, CA, April 1992.
27 EPRI, 1988, A Methodology for Assessment of Nuclear Power Plant Seismic Margin, 28 EPRI NP-6041, Revision 0, Palo Alto, CA, August 1988.
29 New Hampshire Yankee (NHY), 1991, Individual Plant Examination Report for Seabrook 30 Station, March 1, 1991.
31 NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC. (NextEra), 2010, Seabrook StationLicense Renewal 32 Application, Applicants Environmental Report, Operating License Renewal Stage, 33 May 25, 2010, Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession 34 Nos. ML101590092 and ML101590089.
35 NextEra, 2011a, Letter from Paul O. Freeman, NextEra, to U.S. NRC Document Control Desk, 36
Subject:
Seabrook Station, Response to Request for Additional Information, NextEra Energy 37 Seabrook License Renewal Application, Seabrook, NH, January 13, 2011, ADAMS Accession 38 No. ML110140810.
39 NextEra, 2011b, Letter from Paul O. Freeman, NextEra, to U.S. NRC Document Control Desk, 40
Subject:
Seabrook Station, Response to Request for Additional Information, NextEra Energy 5-23
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents 1 Seabrook License Renewal Application, Seabrook, NH, April 18, 2011, ADAMS Accession 2 No. ML11122A075.
3 NextEra, 2012a, Letter from Paul O. Freeman, NextEra, to U.S. NRC Document Control 4 Desk.
Subject:
Seabrook Station, Supplement 2 to Severe Accident Mitigation 5 Alternatives Analysis, NextEra Energy Seabrook License Renewal Application, 6 Seabrook, NH, March 19, 2012, ADAMS Accession No. ML12080A137.
7 NextEra, 2012b, Letter from Kevin T. Walsh, NextEra, to U.S. NRC Document Control 8 Desk.
Subject:
Seabrook Station, Supplement 3 to Severe Accident Mitigation 9 Alternatives Analysis, Response to RAI Request dated July 16, 2012, NextEra Energy 10 Seabrook License Renewal Application, Seabrook, NH, September 13, 2012, ADAMS 11 Accession No. ML12262A513.
12 North Atlantic Energy Service Corp. (NAESC), 1992, Individual Plant Examination External 13 Events Report for Seabrook Station, October 2, 1992, ADAMS Accession No. ML080100029.
14 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic 15 Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions, Part 50, Chapter 1, Title 10, Energy.
16 U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS), 2008, 2008 NSHM Gridded Data, Peak Ground Acceleration, 17 Available URL: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/products/conterminous/2008/data/.
18 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), 1975a, Reactor Safety Study: An Assessment of 19 Accident Risks in U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Plants, WASH-1400 (NUREG-75/014),
20 Washington, D.C., October 1975.
21 NRC, 1975b, Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis Report for Nuclear 22 Power Plants, NUREG-0800, Washington, D.C., November 1975.
23 NRC, 1988, GL 88-20, Individual Plant Examination for Severe Accident Vulnerabilities, 24 November 23, 1988.
25 NRC, Severe Accident Risks: An Assessment for Five U.S. Nuclear Power Plants, 26 NUREG-1150, Washington, D.C., December 1990.
27 NRC, 1991, GL 88-20 Individual Plant Examination of External Events (IPEEE) for Severe 28 Accident Vulnerabilities, Washington, D.C., Supplement 4, June 28, 1991.
29 NRC, 1992, Letter from Gordon E. Edison, U.S. NRC, to Ted C. Feigenbaum, NHY,
Subject:
30 Staff Evaluation of Seabrook Individual Plant Examination (IPE)Internal Events, GL 88-20 31 (TAC No. M74466), Washington, D.C., February 28, 1992.
32 NRC, 1994, Revised Livermore Seismic Hazard Estimates for Sixty-Nine Nuclear Power Plant 33 Sites East of the Rocky Mountains, NUREG-1488, April 1994.
34 NRC, 1996, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, 35 NUREG-1437, Volumes 1 and 2, May 31, 1996, ADAMS Accession Nos. ML040690705 and 36 ML040690738.
37 NRC, 1997a, Regulatory Analysis Technical Evaluation Handbook, NUREG/BR-0184, 38 Washington, D.C., January 1997, ADAMS Accession No. ML050190193.
5-24
Environmental Impacts of Postulated Accidents 1 NRC, 1997b, Individual Plant Examination Program: Perspectives on Reactor Safety and Plant 2 Performance, NUREG-1560, Washington, D.C., December 1997.
3 NRC, 1998, Code Manual for MACCS2: Volume 1, Users Guide, NUREG/CR-6613, 4 Washington, D.C., May 1998.
5 NRC, 1999, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, 6 NUREG-1437, Volume 1, Addendum 1, Section 6.3, Transportation, Table 9.1, Summary of 7 Findings on NEPA Issues for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants, Final Report, 8 August 31, 1999, ADAMS Accession No. ML040690720.
9 NRC, 2001, Letter from Victor Nerses, U.S. NRC, to Ted C. Feigenbaum, NAESC,
Subject:
10 Seabrook Station, Unit No. 1Individual Plant Examination of External Events (IPEEE) (TAC 11 No. M83673), Washington, D.C., May 2, 2001, ADAMS Accession No. ML010320252.
12 NRC, 2003, Sector Population, Land Fraction, and Economic Estimation Program, SECPOP:
13 NUREG/CR-6525, Washington D.C., April 2003 14 NRC, 2010a, Letter from Michael Wentzel, U.S. NRC, to Paul Freeman, NextEra,
Subject:
15 Request for Additional Information for the Review of the Seabrook Station License Renewal 16 Application-SAMA Review (TAC No. ME3959), Washington, D.C., November 16, 2010, 17 ADAMS Accession No. ML103090215.
18 NRC, 2010b, NRC Information Notice 2010-18: GI-199, Implications of Updated Probabilistic 19 Seismic Hazard Estimates in Central and Eastern United States on Existing Plants, 20 Washington, D.C., September 2, 2010, ADAMS Accession No. ML101970221.
21 NRC, 2011a, Memorandum to NextEra from Michael J. Wentzel, U.S. NRC,
Subject:
Summary 22 of Telephone Conference Calls held on February 15, 2011, between the U.S. Nuclear 23 Regulatory Commission and NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC, to Clarify the Responses to the 24 Requests for Additional Information Pertaining to the Severe Accident Mitigation Alternatives 25 Review of the Seabrook Station License Renewal Application (TAC No. ME3959),
26 Washington, D.C., February 28, 2011, ADAMS Accession No. ML110490165.
27 NRC, 2011b, Letter from Bo Pham, U.S. NRC, to Paul Freeman, NextEra,
Subject:
Schedule 28 Revision and Request for Additional Information for the Review of the Seabrook Station License 29 Renewal Application Environmental Review (TAC Number ME3959), Washington, D.C.,
30 March 4, 2011, ADAMS Accession No. ML110590638.
31 NRC, 2012a, Letter from Micheal Wentzel, U.S. NRC, to Kevin Walsh, NextEra.
Subject:
32 Request for Additional Information for the Review of the Seabrook Station License 33 Renewal Application Environmental ReviewSAMA Review (TAC Number ME3959),
34 Washington, D.C., July 16, 2012, ADAMS Accession No. ML12180A355.
35 NRC, 2012b, Memorandum to File.
Subject:
Summary of Telephone Conference Call 36 held on October 3, 2012, between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and NextEra 37 Energy Seabrook, LLC, Clarifying Responses to Requests for Additional Information 38 Pertaining to the Seabrook Station License Renewal Application Environmental Review 39 (TAC. No. ME3959), dated November 1, 2012, ADAMS Accession No. ML12278A250.
40 5-25
1 6.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE URANIUM FUEL CYCLE, 2 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, AND GREENHOUSE GAS 3 6.1 The Uranium Fuel Cycle 4 This section addresses issues related to the uranium fuel cycle and solid waste management 5 during the period of extended operation (listed in Table 6.1-1). The uranium cycle includes 6 uranium mining and milling, the production of uranium hexafluoride, isotopic enrichment, fuel 7 fabrication, reprocessing of irradiated fuel, transportation of radioactive materials, and 8 management of low-level wastes and high-level wastes related to uranium fuel cycle activities.
9 The generic potential impacts of the radiological and nonradiological environmental impacts of 10 the uranium fuel cycle and transportation of nuclear fuel and wastes are described in detail in 11 the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) (NRC 1996, 1999). They are based, in 12 part, on the generic impacts provided in Title 10, Part 51.51(b) of the Code of Federal 13 Regulations (10 CFR 51.51(b)), Table S-3, Table of Uranium Fuel Cycle Environmental Data, 14 and in 10 CFR 51.52(c), Table S-4, Environmental Impact of Transportation of Fuel and Waste 15 to and from One Light-Water-Cooled Nuclear Power Reactor.
16 Table 6.1-1. Issues related to the uranium fuel cycle and solid waste management.
17 There are nine generic issues related to the fuel cycle and waste management. There are no 18 site-specific issues.
Issues GEIS Sections Category Offsite radiological impacts (individual effects from other 6.1; 6.2.1; 6.2.2.1; 6.2.2.3; 6.2.3; 6.2.4; 1 than the disposal of spent fuel and & high-level waste) 6.6 Offsite radiological impacts (collective effects) 6.1; 6.2.2.1; 6.2.3; 6.2.4; 6.6 1 Offsite radiological impacts (spent fuel and & high-level 6.1; 6.2.2.1; 6.2.3; 6.2.4; 6.6 1 waste disposal)
Nonradiological impacts of the uranium fuel cycle 6.1; 6.2.2.6; 6.2.2.7; 6.2.2.8; 6.2.2.9; 1 6.2.3; 6.2.4; 6.6 Low-level waste storage and & disposal 6.1; 6.2.2.2;6.4.2; 6.4.3; 6.4.3.1; 1 6.4.3.2; 6.4.3.3; 6.4.4; 6.4.4.1; 6.4.4.2; 6.4.4.3; 6.4.4.4; 6.4.4.5; 6.4.4.5.1; 6.4.4.5.2; 6.4.4.5.3; 6.4.4.5.4; 6.4.4.6;6.6 Mixed waste storage and & disposal 6.4.5.1; 6.4.5.2; 6.4.5.3; 6.4.5.4; 1 6.4.5.5; 6.4.5.6; 6.4.5.6.1; 6.4.5.6.2; 6.4.5.6.3; 6.4.5.6.4; 6.6 Onsite spent fuel 6.1; 6.4.6; 6.4.6.1; 6.4.6.2; 6.4.6.3; 1 6.4.6.4; 6.4.6.5; 6.4.6.6; 6.4.6.7; 6.6 Nonradiological waste 6.1; 6.5; 6.5.1; 6.5.2; 6.5.3; 6.6 1 Transportation 6.1; 6.3.1; 6.3.2.3; 6.3.3; 6.3.4; 6.6, 1 Addendum 1 19 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs evaluation of the environmental 20 impacts associated with spent nuclear fuel is addressed in two issues in Table 6-1, 21 Offsite radiological impacts (spent fuel and high-level waste disposal) and Onsite 22 spent fuel. However, as explained later in this section, the scope of the evaluation of 6-1
Environmental Impacts of the Uranium Fuel Cycle, Solid Waste Management, and Greenhouse Gas 1 these two issues in this supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) has been 2 revised. The issue, Offsite radiological impacts (spent fuel and high-level waste 3 disposal), is not evaluated in this SEIS. In addition, the issue, Onsite spent fuel, only 4 evaluates the environmental impacts during the license renewal term.
5 For the term of license renewal, the staff did not find any new and significant information 6 related to the remaining uranium fuel cycle and solid waste management issues listed in 7 Table 6-1 during its review of the Seabrook Station Environmental Report (ER) 8 (NextEra 2010), the site visit, and the scoping process. Therefore, there are no impacts 9 related to these issues beyond those discussed in the GEIS. For these Category 1 10 issues, the GEIS concludes that the impacts are SMALL, except for the issue, Offsite 11 radiological impacts (collective effects), which the NRC has not assigned an impact 12 level. This issue assesses the 100-year radiation dose to the U.S. population (i.e.,
13 collective effects or collective dose) from radioactive effluents released as part of the 14 uranium fuel cycle for a nuclear power plant during the license renewal term compared to 15 the radiation dose from natural background exposure. It is a comparative assessment 16 for which there is no regulatory standard to base an impact level.
17 For the offsite radiological impacts resulting from spent fuel and high-level waste 18 disposal and the on-site storage of spent fuel, which will occur after the reactors have 19 been permanently shutdown, the NRCs Waste Confidence Decision and Rule 20 represented the Commissions generic determination that spent fuel can continue to be 21 stored safely and without significant environmental impacts for a period of time after the 22 end of the licensed life for operation. This generic determination meant that the NRC did 23 not need to consider the storage of spent fuel after the end of a reactors licensed life for 24 operation in NEPA documents that support its reactor and spent fuel storage application 25 reviews.
26 The NRC first adopted the Waste Confidence Decision and Rule in 1984. The NRC 27 amended the decision and rule in 1990, reviewed them in 1999, and amended them again 28 in 2010 (49 FR 34694; 55 FR 38474; 64 FR 68005; and 75 FR 81032 and 81037). The Waste 29 Confidence Decision and Rule are codified in 10 CFR 51.23.
30 On December 23, 2010, the Commission published in the Federal Register a revision of 31 the Waste Confidence Decision and Rule to reflect information gained from experience in 32 the storage of spent fuel and the increased uncertainty in the siting and construction of a 33 permanent geologic repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste 34 (75 FR 81032 and 81037). In response to the 2010 Waste Confidence Decision and Rule, 35 the States of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Vermont along with several other 36 parties challenged the Commissions NEPA analysis in the decision, which provided the 37 regulatory basis for the rule. On June 8, 2012, the United States Court of Appeals, 38 District of Columbia Circuit in New York v. NRC, 681 F.3d 471 (D.C. Cir. 2012) vacated the 39 NRCs Waste Confidence Decision and Rule, after finding that it did not comply with 40 NEPA.
41 In response to the courts ruling, the Commission, in CLI-12-16 (NRC 2012a), in which the 42 Commission determined that it would not issue licenses that rely upon the Waste 43 Confidence Decision and Rule, until the issues identified in the courts decision are 44 appropriately addressed by the Commission. In CLI-12-16, the Commission also noted 45 that the decision not to issue licenses only applied to final license issuance; all licensing 46 reviews and proceedings should continue to move forward.
47 In addition, the Commission directed in SRM-COMSECY-12-0016 (NRC 2012b) that the 48 NRC staff proceed with a rulemaking that includes the development of a generic EIS to 6-2
Environmental Impacts of the Uranium Fuel Cycle, Solid Waste Management, and Greenhouse Gas 1 support a revised Waste Confidence Decision and Rule and to publish both the EIS and 2 the revised decision and rule in the Federal Register within 24 months (by 3 September 6, 2014). The Commission indicated that both the EIS and the revised Waste 4 Confidence Decision and Rule should build on the information already documented in 5 various NRC studies and reports, including the existing environmental assessment that 6 the NRC developed as part of the 2010 Waste Confidence Decision and Rule. The 7 Commission directed that any additional analyses should focus on the issues indentified 8 in the courts decision. The Commission also directed that the NRC staff provide ample 9 opportunity for public comment on both the draft EIS and the proposed Waste 10 Confidence Decision and Rule.
11 The revised rule and supporting EIS are expected to provide the necessary NEPA 12 analyses of waste confidence-related human health and environmental issues. As 13 directed by the Commission, the NRC will not issue a renewed license before the 14 resolution of waste confidence-related issues. This will ensure that there would be no 15 irretrievable or irreversible resource commitments or potential harm to the environment 16 before waste confidence impacts have been addressed.
17 If the results of the Waste Confidence Decision and Rule and supporting EIS identify 18 information that requires a supplement to this SEIS, the NRC staff will perform any 19 appropriate additional NEPA review for those issues before the NRC makes a final 20 licensing decision.
21 6.2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions 22 No changes from the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) issued 23 in August 2011.
24 6.3 References 25 AEA Technology (AEA), 2006, Carbon Footprint of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Briefing Note, 26 Prepared for British Energy, March 2006.
27 Andseta et al., 1998, CANDU Reactors and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Canadian Nuclear 28 Association, 11th Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference, Banff, Alberta, Canada, May 1998.
29 Dones, R., 2007, Critical Note on the Estimation by Storm Van Leeuwen J.W., and Smith P. of 30 the Energy Uses and Corresponding CO2 Emissions for the Complete Nuclear Energy Chain, 31 Paul Sherer Institute, April 2007.
32 Fritsche, U.R., 2006, Comparison of Greenhouse-Gas Emissions and Abatement Cost of 33 Nuclear and Alternative Energy Options from a Life-Cycle Perspective, Oko-Institut, Darmstadt 34 Office, January 2006.
35 Fthenakis, V.M. and H.C. Kim, 2007, Greenhouse-Gas Emissions From Solar-Electric And 36 Nuclear Power: A Life Cycle Study, Energy Policy, Volume 35, Number 4, 2007.
37 Hagen, R.E., J.R. Moens, and Z.D. Nikodem, 2001, Impact of U.S. Nuclear Generation on 38 Greenhouse Gas Emissions, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, November 39 2001.
40 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), 2000, Nuclear Power for Greenhouse Gas 41 Mitigation under the Kyoto Protocol: The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), November 42 2000.
6-3
Environmental Impacts of the Uranium Fuel Cycle, Solid Waste Management, and Greenhouse Gas 1 Keepin, B., 1988, Greenhouse Warming: Efficient Solution of Nuclear Nemesis?, Rocky 2 Mountain Institute, Joint Hearing on Technologies for Remediating Global Warming, 3 Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Agriculture Research and Environment and 4 Subcommittee on Science, Research and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, June 5 1988.
6 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2003, The Future of Nuclear Power: An 7 Interdisciplinary MIT Study, 2003.
8 Mortimer, N., 1990, World Warms to Nuclear Power, SCRAM Safe Energy Journal, December 9 1989 and January 1990, Available URL:
10 http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/articles/mortimer_se74.php (accessed July 15, 2010).
11 NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC (NextEra), 2010, License Renewal Application, Seabrook 12 Station, Appendix E, Applicants Environmental Report, Operating License Renewal Stage, 13 May 25, 2010, Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession 14 Nos. ML101590092 and ML101590089.
15 Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), 2002, Nuclear Energy and the Kyoto Protocol, Organization for 16 Economic Co-Operation and Development, 2002.
17 Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), 2006, Carbon Footprint of Electricity 18 Generation, Postnote, Number 268, October 2006.
19 Schneider, M., 2000, Climate Change and Nuclear Power, World Wildlife Fund for Nature, April 20 2000.
21 Spadaro, J.V., L. Langlois, and B. Hamilton., 2000, Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Electricity 22 Generation Chains: Assessing the Difference, IAEA Bulletin 42/2/2000, Vienna, Austria, 2000.
23 Storm van Leeuwen, J.W. and P. Smith, 2005, Nuclear PowerThe Energy Balance, August 24 2005.
25 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic 26 Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions, Part 51, Title 10, Energy.
27 CFR, Requirements for Renewal of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants, Part 54, 28 Title 10, Energy.
29 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Generic Environmental Impact Statement for 30 License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, NUREG-1437, Washington, D.C., Volumes 1 and 2, 1996, 31 ADAMS Accession Nos. ML040690705 and ML040690738.
32 NRC, 1999, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, 33 Main Report, NUREG-1437, Washington, D.C., Volume 1, Addendum 1, Section 6.3, Table 9.1, 34 1999, ADAMS Accession No. ML040690720.
35 Weisser, D., 2006, A Guide to Life-Cycle Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Electric 36 Supply Technologies, 2006, Available URL:
37 http://www.iaea.org/OurWork/ST/NE/Pess/assets/GHG_manuscript_pre-print_versionDanielWei 38 sser.pdf (accessed November 24, 2010).
39 75 FR 81032. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Consideration of environmental 40 impacts of temporary storage of spent fuel after cessation of reactor operation. Federal 41 Register 75(246):81032-81037. December 23, 2010.
42 75 FR 81037. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Waste confidence decision update.
43 Federal Register 75(246):81037-81076. December 23, 2010.
6-4
Environmental Impacts of the Uranium Fuel Cycle, Solid Waste Management, and Greenhouse Gas 1 NRC, 2012a, Commission, Memorandum and Order CLI-12-16. August 7, 2012. ADAMS 2 Accession No. ML12220A094.
3 NRC, 2012b, SRM-COMSECY-12-0016-Approach for Addressing Policy Issues Resulting 4 from Court Decision To Vacate Waste Confidence Decision and Rule. September 6, 5 2012. ADAMS Accession No. ML12250A032.
6-5
7.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DECOMMISSIONING No changes from the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) issued in August 2011.
7-1
8.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES No changes from the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) issued in August 2011.
8-1
9.0 CONCLUSION
No changes from the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) issued in August 2011.
9-1
1 10.0 LIST OF PREPARERS 2 Members of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRCs) Office of Nuclear Reactor 3 Regulation (NRR) prepared this supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) 4 with assistance from other NRC organizations, as well as contract support from the 5 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Table 10-1 identifies each contributors 6 name, affiliation, and function or expertise.
7 Table 10-1. List of Preparers Name Affiliation Function or Expertise NRC Dave Wrona NRR Branch Chief Melanie Wong NRR Branch Chief Lois James NRR Project Manager Severe accident mitigation John Parillo NRR alternatives (SAMA)
Ray Gallucci NRR SAMA Contractor Steve M Short PNNL SAMA Bruce E Schmitt PNNL SAMA Garill A Coles PNNL SAMA 8
10-1
11.0 LIST OF AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND PERSONS TO WHOM COPIES OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ARE SENT Name & Title Company & Address Max Abramson Commenter David Agnew Cape Downwinders Commenter 173 Morton Road South Chatham, MA 02659 Ilse Andrews Seacoast Anti Pollution League (SAPL)
Commenter Jeffrey Andrews New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES)
Wastewater Engineering Bureau 29 Hazen Drive Concord, NH 03301 Steven Athearn Commenter Robert Backus Commenter Paul Blanch Commenter Doug Bogen SAPL Commenter Marcia Bowen Normandeau Associates Mary Broderick Commenter K. Allen Brooks New Hampshire Department of Justice (NHDOJ)
Chief, Environmental Protection Bureau Environmental Protection Bureau 33 Capitol Street Concord, NH 03301 Gilbert Brown Commenter Thomas Burack NHDES Commissioner 29 Hazen Drive Concord, NH 03302 Ed Carley NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC (NextEra)
License Renewal Environmental Engineer P.O. Box 300 Seabrook, NH 03874 Joe Casey New Hampshire Building & Construction Trades Commenter Council Chair Rockingham County Board of Commissioners 119 North Road Brentwood, NH 03883 11-1
List of Agencies, Organizations, and Persons Name & Title Company & Address Chairman Town of Seabrook Board of Selectmen 99 Lafayette Road P.O. Box 456 Seabrook, NH 03874 Richard Cliche NextEra License Renewal Project Manager P.O. Box 300 Seabrook, NH 03874 Peter Colosi National Marine Fisheries Service Assistant Regional Administrator for Habitat Northeast Region Conservation 55 Great Republic Drive Gloucester, MA 01930 Melissa Coppola New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau Environmental Information Specialist Department of Resources and Economic Development 172 Pembroke Road PO Box 1856 Concord, NH 03301-1856 Jim Cotter Commenter Patricia DeTuillo Amesbury Public Library Director 149 Main Street Amesbury, MA 01913 Josephine Donovan Commenter Timothy Drew NHDES Administrator 29 Hazen Drive Concord, NH 03302 EIS Filing Section U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20004 EIS Review Coordinator EPA, Region 1 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 Boston, MA 02109-3912 Joseph Fahey Town of Amesbury, Office of Community &
Commenter Economic Development Kevin Fleming Commenter Paul Freeman NextEra Site Vice President P.O. Box 300 Seabrook, NH 03874 Sandra Gavutis C-10 Research and Education Foundation Executive Director 44 Merrimac Street Newburyport, MA 01950 Filson Glanz Commenter Shirley Glanz Commenter 11-2
List of Agencies, Organizations, and Persons Name & Title Company & Address Debbie Grinnell C-10 Research & Education Foundation Commenter Doug Grout New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Chief of Marine Fisheries 225 Main Street Durham, NH 03824-4732 Janet Guen United Way of the Greater Seacoast Commenter Paul Gunter Beyond Nuclear Commenter William Harris Commenter Emily Holt Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Endangered Species Review Assistant Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program 1 Rabbit Hill Road Westborough, MA 01581 Joyce Kemp Commenter Susan Kepner Commenter Randall Kezar Commenter Phyllis Killam-Abell Commenter Richard Knight Commenter Sandra Koski Commenter Patricia Kurkul National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Regional Administrator (NOAA) Fisheries Service Northeast Regional Office 55 Great Republic Drive Gloucester, MA 01930 Mary Lampert Commenter Robert McDowell Commenter Scott Medford Commenter Marvin Moriarty U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Officer Northeast Regional Office 300 Westgate Center Drive Hadley, MA 01035 Herbert Moyer SAPL Commenter 11-3
List of Agencies, Organizations, and Persons Name & Title Company & Address Elizabeth Muzzey New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) 19 Pillsbury Street 2nd Floor Concord, NH 03301 Reid Nelson Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Director Office of Federal Agency Programs 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 803 Washington, DC 20004 Tim Noonis Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce Commenter Chris Nord C-10 Research & Education Foundation Commenter NRC Regional Administrator U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Region I 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 NRC Senior Resident NRC P.O. Box 300 Seabrook, NH 03874 Dennis ODowd New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Administrator Services Division of Public Services Radiological Health Section 29 Hazen Drive Concord, NH 03301-6504 Michael OKeefe NextEra Licensing Manager P.O. Box 300 Seabrook, NH 03874 John Parker SAPL Thomas Popik Foundation for Resilient Societies Commenter 52 Technology Way Nashua, NH 03060 Andrew Port City of Newburyport, Office of Planning &
Commenter Development Russell Prescott State of New Hampshire Senate Senator, District 23 Robin Read State of New Hampshire House of Representatives Representative, District 16 Lee Roberts Commenter Ann Robinson Seabrook Library Director 25 Liberty Lane Seabrook, NH 03874 Peter C.L. Roth NHDOJ Senior Assistant Attorney General Environmental Protection Bureau 33 Capitol Street Concord, NH 03301 11-4
List of Agencies, Organizations, and Persons Name & Title Company & Address Thomas Saporito Saprodani Associates Commenter 177 U.S. Highway 1 North Unit 212 Tequesta, FL 33469 Michael Schidlovsky Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce Commenter Peter Schmidt State of New Hampshire House of Representatives Representative, District 4 Raymond Shadis New England Coalition Commenter Friends of the Coast PO Box 98 Edgecomb, ME 04556 Brona Simon Massachusetts Historical Commission SHPO 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, MA 02125 Peter Somssich Commenter Donald Tilbury Commenter Dennis Wagner Commenter David Webster EPA, Region 1 NPDES Permit Branch Chief Water Quality Management Unit 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 Boston, MA 02109-3912 Christian Williams NHDES Federal Consistency Coordinator New Hampshire Coastal Program 222 International Drive, Suite 175 Pease Tradeport Portsmouth, NH 03801 Robin Willits Commenter Cathy Wolff Commenter 11-5
APPENDIX A.
COMMENTS RECEIVED ON THE SEABROOK STATION ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Appendix A 1 A. COMMENTS RECEIVED ON THE SEABROOK STATION 2 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW 3
4 No changes from the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) issued in 5 August 2011.
A-1
APPENDIX B.
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT ISSUES FOR LICENSE RENEWAL OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
1 B. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT ISSUES FOR 2 LICENSE RENEWAL OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS 3
4 No changes from the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) issued in 5 August 2011.
B-1
APPENDIX C.
APPLICABLE REGULATIONS, LAWS, AND AGREEMENTS
1 C. APPLICABLE REGULATIONS, LAWS, AND AGREEMENTS 2 No changes from the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) issued in 3 August 2011.
C-1
APPENDIX D.
CONSULTATION CORRESPONDENCE
1 D. CONSULTATION CORRESPONDENCE 2 No changes from the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) issued in 3 August 2011.
D-1
APPENDIX E.
CHRONOLOGY OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
1 E. CHRONOLOGY OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW 2 CORRESPONDENCE 3 No changes from the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) issued in 4 August 2011.
E-1
APPENDIX F U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF EVALUATION OF SEVERE ACCIDENT MITIGATION ALTERNATIVES FOR SEABROOK STATION UNIT 1 IN SUPPORT OF LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW
Appendix F 1 F U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF 2 EVALUATION OF SEVERE ACCIDENT MITIGATION 3 ALTERNATIVES FOR SEABROOK STATION UNIT 1 IN SUPPORT 4 OF LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW 5 F.1 Introduction 6 NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC (NextEra), submitted an assessment of severe accident 7 mitigation alternatives (SAMAs) for the Seabrook Station (Seabrook), Unit 1, as part of its 8 Environmental Report (ER) (NextEra 2010). This assessment was based on the most recent 9 Seabrook probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) available at that time, a plant-specific offsite 10 consequence analysis performed using the Methods for Estimation of Leakages and 11 Consequences of Releases (MELCOR) Accident Consequence Code System 2 (MACCS2) 12 computer code (NRC 1998a), and insights from the Seabrook individual plant examination (IPE) 13 (New Hampshire Yankee (NHY) 1991) and individual plant examination of external events 14 (IPEEE) (North Atlantic Energy Service Corp. (NAESC) 1992). In identifying and evaluating 15 potential SAMAs, NextEra considered SAMA candidates that addressed the major contributors 16 to core damage frequency (CDF) and large early release frequency (LERF) at Seabrook, as well 17 as a generic list of SAMA candidates for pressurized-water reactor (PWR) plants identified from 18 other industry studies. In the initial ER, NextEra identified 191 potential SAMA candidates.
19 This list was reduced to 74 SAMA candidates by eliminating SAMAs for the following reasons:
20 Seabrook has a different design.
21 The SAMA has already been implemented at Seabrook.
22 The intent of the SAMA has already been met at Seabrook.
23 The SAMA has been combined with another SAMA candidate that is similar in nature.
24 Estimated implementation costs would exceed the dollar value associated with 25 eliminating all severe accident risk at Seabrook.
26 The SAMA would be of very low benefit as it is related to a non-risk significant system.
27 NextEra assessed the costs and benefits associated with each of these 74 potential SAMAs and 28 concluded in the ER that several of the candidate SAMAs evaluated are potentially cost 29 beneficial.
30 Based on a review of the SAMA assessment, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) 31 issued requests for additional information (RAIs) to NextEra by letters dated November 16, 2010 32 (NRC 2010a), and March 4, 2011 (NRC 2011b). Key questions in these RAIs concerned the 33 following:
34 additional details regarding the plant-specific PRA model and changes to internal and 35 external event CDF and LERF since the IPE, 36 F-1
Appendix F 1 the process used to map Level 1 PRA results into the Level 2 analysis and group 2 containment event tree (CET) end states into release categories,1 3 the process for selecting the representative Modular Accident Analysis Program (MAAP) 4 case for each release category and the release characteristics of each representative 5 case, 6 changes to the fire and seismic PRA models since the IPEEE, 7 the impact of updated seismic hazard curves, 8 the sensitivity of the SAMA results to assumptions used in the Level 3 analysis, 9 the use of Level 2 importance analysis and industry SAMA analyses in identifying 10 plant-specific SAMAs, and 11 further information on the cost-benefit analysis of several specific candidate SAMAs and 12 low-cost alternatives.
13 NextEra submitted additional information to the NRC by letters dated January 13, 2011 14 (NextEra 2011a), and April 18, 2011 (NextEra 2011b). NextEra provided additional information 15 in a telephone conference call with the NRC staff on February 15, 2011 (NRC 2011a). In 16 response to the RAIs, NextEra provided the following:
17 the internal and external event contribution to CDF and LERF for each version of the 18 Seabrook PRA model and model changes that most impacted CDF and LERF, 19 a description of the CET and the process for determining the frequency of each release 20 category, 21 a description of the process for selecting representative MAAP cases for each release 22 category and the characteristics of each plume in each release category, 23 changes to the fire and seismic PRA models since the IPEEE, 24 a sensitivity analysis of the impact on the SAMA analysis from updated seismic hazard 25 curves, 26 the results of the sensitivity analyses performed on the assumptions used in the Level 3 27 analysis, 28 listings of the important basic events for the most risk-significant release categories, 29 evaluation of additional SAMA candidates based on basic events important to CDF 30 and release frequency, 31 a review of the applicability of industry cost-effective SAMA candidates to Seabrook, and 32 additional information regarding several specific SAMAs.
1 The NRC uses PRA to estimate risk by computing real numbers to determine what can go wrong, how likely is it, and what are its consequences. Thus, PRA provides insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the design and operation of a nuclear power plant. For the type of nuclear plant currently operating in the U.S., a PRA can estimate three levels of risk. A Level 1 PRA estimates the frequency of accidents that cause damage to the nuclear reactor core. This is commonly called CDF. A Level 2 PRA, which starts with the Level 1 core damage accidents, estimates the frequency of accidents that release radioactivity from the nuclear power plant. A Level 3 PRA, which starts with the Level 2 radioactivity release accidents, estimates the consequences in terms of injury to the public and damage to the environment.
(http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/risk-informed/pra.html)
F-2
Appendix F 1 NextEras responses addressed the NRC staffs concerns and resulted in the identification of 2 additional potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs.
3 Subsequent to the RAI responses, NextEra submitted a supplement to the ER that 4 incorporates updates made to the PRA model (NextEra 2012a). NextEra identified 5 additional SAMA candidates, assessed the costs and benefits of these SAMAs, and 6 reassessed the costs and benefits of the previously-identified SAMA candidates, which 7 resulted in additional potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs.
8 The NRC staff reviewed this supplement and issued RAIs to NextEra by letter dated 9 July 16, 2012 (NRC 2012a). Key questions in these RAIs concerned the following:
10 additional initiating event contributors to total CDF, 11 additional basic events presented in the CDF and release category importance 12 lists, 13 justification for the implementation cost estimates for certain SAMAs, and 14 clarification of apparent inconsistencies in the risk reduction and cost-benefit 15 evaluation of certain SAMAs.
16 NextEra submitted additional information to the NRC by letter dated September 13, 2012 17 (NextEra 2012b). NextEra also provided additional information in a telephone conference 18 call with the NRC staff on October 3, 2012 (NRC 2012b). In response to the RAIs, NextEra 19 provided the following:
20 initiating events that contribute one percent and greater to CDF, 21 additional risk-significant release category basic events and evaluation of SAMA 22 candidates for each, 23 justification for the increase in the implementation costs for selected SAMAs 24 since the ER and original RAI responses were submitted to the NRC, and 25 additional information regarding the cost-benefit evaluation of certain SAMAs.
26 NextEras responses addressed the NRC staffs concerns.
27 The NRC staff notes that many of the original RAIs asked regarding the SAMA analysis in 28 the ER, and associated RAI responses, were superseded by the updated information 29 provided in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a). For this reason, many of the 30 RAI responses on the original ER submittal are not specifically discussed in this review 31 since they were determined to not be needed to support the conclusions presented in 32 Section F.7.
33 An assessment of SAMAs for Seabrook is presented below.
34 F.2 Estimate of Risk for Seabrook 35 NextEras estimates of offsite risk at Seabrook are summarized in Section F.2.1. The summary 36 is followed by the NRC staffs review of NextEras risk estimates in Section F.2.2.
F-3
Appendix F 1 F.2.1 NextEras Risk Estimates 2 Two distinct analyses are combined to form the basis for the risk estimates used in the SAMA 3 analysis(1) the Seabrook Level 1 and 2 PRA model, which is an updated version of the IPE 4 (NHY 1991), and (2) a supplemental analysis of offsite consequences and economic impacts 5 (essentially a Level 3 PRA model) developed specifically for the SAMA analysis. The SAMA 6 analysis is based on the most recent Seabrook Level 1 and Level 2 PRA models available, 7 model SSPSS-2006 for the ER (NextEra 2010) updated by model SSPSS-2011 in the 2012 8 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a). The scope of this Seabrook PRA includes both internal 9 and external events.
10 The Seabrook CDF is approximately 1.210-51.510-5 per year for both internal and external 11 events, as determined from quantification of the Level 1 PRA model. A truncation level of 12 110-14 per year was used when quantifying event trees, and a truncation value of 110-12 per 13 year was used when quantifying fault trees, except for the service water system (SWS) 14 (NextEra 2011a). The SWS was divided into two trains, which were each solved at a truncation 15 level of 110-8 per year. The CDF is based on the risk assessment for internally initiated events, 16 which include internal flooding, and external events, which include fire and seismic events. The 17 internal events CDF is approximately 7.8 10-61.110-5 per year (internal events modeling 18 includes external flooding), and the external events CDF (fire and seismic events) is 19 approximately 4.510-6 per year (NextEra 2012a).
20 The breakdown of CDF by initiating event is provided in Table F-1 and includes internal, fire, 21 and seismic initiating events. As shown in Table F-1, the largest single contributor to the total 22 CDF is loss of offsite power (LOOP) due to weather. NextEra clarified in response to an NRC 23 staff RAI (NextEra 2012a) that station blackout (SBO) contributes approximately 24 3.310-65.310-6 per year, or 2735 percent, and anticipated transients without scram (ATWS) 25 contribute approximately 4.710-74.610-7 per year, or 43 percent, to the total internal and 26 external events CDF.
27 The Level 2 Seabrook PRA model that forms the basis for the SAMA evaluation is an updated 28 version of the Level 2 IPE model (NHY 1991) and IPEEE model (NAESC 1992). The current 29 Level 2 model uses a single CET that is used to address internal, fire, and seismic events. The 30 CET addresses both phenomenological and systemic events. The Level 1 core damage 31 sequences are linked directly with the CET, so all Level 1 sequences are evaluated by the CET 32 (NRC 2011a). The CET probabilistically evaluates the progression of the damaged core with 33 respect to release to the environment. CET nodes are evaluated using supporting fault trees 34 and logic rules. The CET end states are then examined for considerations of timing and 35 magnitude of release and assigned to release categories.
F-4
Appendix F 1 Table F-1. Seabrook CDF for internal and external events Internal initiating event CDF % contribution to (per year) total CDF (a)
LOOP due to weather(e) 6.810-71.510-6 6 10 (e)
Flood in relay room from high- energy line break (HELB) Loss 5.910-79.510-7 56 of essential alternating current (AC) power 4 kilovolt (kV) bus Steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) 5.710-7 5
-7 -7 Reactor tripcondenser available 5.410 9.310 46 Medium loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) 5.310-7 4
-7 LOOP due to grid-related events 9.010 46 Flood in yard due to service water (SW) common return 4.110-78.110-7 35 rupture(e) LOOP due to hardware or maintenance Loss of essential alternating current (AC) power 4 kilovolt (kV ) 3.210-77.310-7 35 bus Flood in turbine building Steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) 5.910-7 4 Loss of primary component cooling water system (CS)PCCW) B 3.010-75.310-7 34 train Loss of PCCW system A train Loss of essential direct current (DC) 2.310-73.910-7 23 power 125V DC bus Major flood, rupture of SW Train A in PAB(e) Reactor tripduring 2.210-73.510-7 2 shutdown LOOP due to switchyard Interfacing systems loss-of-coolant 2.110-73.410-7 2 accident (ISLOCA)
Large flood, rupture SW Train A piping in primary auxiliary 2.010-73.410-7 2 building (PAB)(e) Large loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA)
Large flood, rupture SW Train B piping in PAB(e) Medium LOCA 2.010-73.310-7 2 (e)
Major flood, rupture of SW Train B in PAB Excessive LOCA 2.010-72.510-7 2
-7 -7 Major flood, rupture of fire protection piping in turbine building 1.810 2.510 2 impacting offsite power(e) Inadvertent safety injection (SI)
Loss of Train B Essential AC Power (4 kV Bus E6) Small LOCA 1.610-71.910-7 1 (e)
Large flood, rupture of SW common return piping in PAB 1.410-71.710-7 1 Reactor trip with no condenser cooling Large LOCA 3.410-7 2 (b) -6 -6 Other internal events 1.610 1.010 13 7 Total internal events CDF(ec) 7.810-61.110-5 64 70 Fire initiating event Fire in control roompower- operated relief valve (PORV) LOCA 3.610-73.710-7 32 Fire switchgear (SWGR) room Bloss of bus E6 Fire in switchgear (SWGR) room Bloss of Bus E6Fire SWGR 3.510-73.710-7 32 room Aloss of bus E5 F-5
Appendix F Fire SWGR room Aloss of Bus E5Fire control roomAC power 3.110-72.110-7 21 loss Fire control roomAC power-operated relief valve (PORV) LOCA 1.810-71.410-7 1 loss Other fire events(cd) 3.810-72.310-7 2 (e)
Total fire events CDF 1.410-61.310-6 11 9 Seismic initiating event
-7 -7 Seismic 0.7 g transient event 9.310 9.210 86
-7 -7 Seismic 1.0 g transient event 8.910 8.710 76
-7 Seismic 1.4 g transient event 3.610 32 Seismic 1.0 g ATWS 1.110-7 1
-7 Seismic 1.4 g large LOCA 1.110 1 Seismic 0.7 g ATWS 1.010-7 1 Seismic 1.0 g large LOCA 8.910-8 1 (df) -7 -7 Other seismic events 8.810 4.910 73 Total seismic events CDF(e) 3.110-6 25 21 Total CDF (internal and external events)(g) 1.2x10-51.5x10-5 100 (a)
MayIndividual percent contributions may not totalsum exactly to 100 percentsubtotals due to round off.
(b)
Obtained by subtracting the sum of the internal initiating event contributors to internal event CDF from the total internal events CDF.
(c)
Obtained from percentage contribution of internal events provided in response to RAI 1.b.1 (NextEra, 2011a) times the total internal and external events CDF (d (c)
Obtained by subtracting the sum of the fire initiating event contributors to fire event CDF from the total fire events CDF.
(e)
Provided in response to conference call clarification #2 (NRC, 2011a)
(f (d)
Obtained by subtracting the sum of the seismic initiating event contributors to seismic event CDF from the total seismic events CDF.
(g) (e)
Provided in response to RAI 1.b.1 (NextEra, 2011a) NextEra explained in response to an RAI the difference in the frequencies reported for many initiating events for the 2006 and 2011 PRA models. The total internal events CDF in the 2011 model decreased slightly as a result of model enhancements, the internal flooding CDF increased as results of a more detailed flooding analysis, and the severe weather CDF decreased primarily due to the incorporation of more recent data (NextEra , 2012b).
1 Per the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a), the quantified CET sequences are binned 2 into a set of 21 14 release categories, which are subsequently grouped into 13 10 source term 3 categories that provide the input to the Level 3 consequence analysis (NextEra 2012a). The 4 frequency of each source term category was obtained by summing the frequency of the 5 individual accident progression CET endpoints, or release categories, assigned to each source 6 term category. Source terms were developed using the results of MAAP Version 4.0.7 7 computer code calculations (NextEra 2012a).
8 The offsite consequences and economic impact analyses use the MACCS2 code to determine 9 the offsite risk impacts on the surrounding environment and public. Inputs for these analyses 10 include plant-specific and site-specific input values for core radionuclide inventory, source term 11 and release characteristics, site meteorological data, projected population distribution within an 12 80-km (50-mi) radius for the year 2050, emergency response evacuation planning, and F-6
Appendix F 1 economic parameters. The core radionuclide inventory corresponds to the end-of-cycle values 2 for Seabrook operating at 3,659 MWt, which is slightly above the current licensed power level of 3 3,648 MWt. The magnitude of the onsite impacts (in terms of cleanup and decontamination 4 costs and occupational dose) is based on information provided in NUREG/BR-0184 5 (NRC 1997a).
6 In the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a), NextEra estimated the dose to the 7 population within 80 km (50 mi) of the Seabrook site to be approximately 0.378 person-Sievert 8 (Sv) (37.8 person-rem) per year. The breakdown of the total population dose by containment 9 release mode is summarized in Table F-2, below, and in Table F-2 of the SAMA supplement 10 (NextEra 2012a). The large late releases are the dominant contributors to population dose risk 11 at Seabrook.
12 Table F-2. Breakdown of population dose by containment release mode Containment release mode Population dose (person-rem(a) per year) % contribution Small early releases 1.7 5.3 5 49 Large early releases 1.71.6 4 15 Large late releases (b) 34.4 3.8 91 36 Intact containment negligible negligible Total 37.8 10.7 100 (a)
One person-rem = 0.01 person-Sv (b)
Includes small early containment penetration failure to isolate and large late containment basemat failure (SELL).
13 F.2.2 Review of NextEras Risk Estimates 14 NextEras determination of offsite risk at Seabrook is based on the following major elements of 15 analysis:
16 the Level 1 and 2 risk models that form the bases for the 1991 IPE submittal (NHY 1991) 17 and the external event analyses of the 1992 IPEEE submittal (NAESC 1992),
18 the major modifications to the IPE and IPEEE models that have been incorporated in the 19 Seabrook PRA, including a complete revision of the Level 2 risk model, and 20 the MACCS2 analyses performed to translate fission product source terms and release 21 frequencies from the Level 2 PRA model into offsite consequence measures (essentially 22 this equates to a Level 3 PRA).
23 Each of these analyses was reviewed to determine the acceptability of the Seabrook risk 24 estimates for the SAMA analysis, as summarized below.
25 The first Seabrook PRA was completed in December 1983, its purpose being to provide a 26 baseline risk assessment and an integrated plant and site model for use as a risk management 27 tool. This model was subsequently updated in 1986, 1989, and 1990, with the last update used 28 to support the IPE.
29 The NRC staffs review of the Seabrook IPE is described in an NRC report dated March 1, 1992 30 (NRC 1992). Based on a review of the original IPE submittal and responses to RAIs, the NRC F-7
Appendix F 1 staff concluded that the IPE submittal met the intent of generic letter (GL) 88-20 (NRC 1988).
2 That is, the applicant demonstrated an overall appreciation of severe accidents, had an 3 understanding of the most likely severe accident sequences that could occur at Seabrook, and 4 had gained a quantitative understanding of core damage and fission product release. Although 5 no severe accident vulnerabilities were identified in the Seabrook IPE, 14 potential plant 6 improvements were identified. Four of the improvements have been implemented. Each of the 7 10 improvements not implemented is addressed by a SAMA in the current evaluation and is 8 discussed further in Section F.3.2.
9 The internal events CDF value from the 1991 Seabrook IPE (6.110-5 per year) is near the 10 average of the range of the CDF values reported in the IPEs for Westinghouse four-loop plants.
11 Figure 11.6 of NUREG-1560 shows that the IPE-based internal events CDF for these plants 12 range from about 310-6 per year to 210-4 per year, with an average CDF for the group of 13 610-5 per year (NRC 1997b). It is recognized that plants have updated the values for CDF 14 subsequent to the IPE submittals to reflect modeling and hardware changes. Based on CDF 15 values reported in the SAMA analyses for license renewal applications (LRAs), the internal 16 events CDF result for Seabrook used for the SAMA analysis (7.810-6 1.110-5 per year, 17 including internal and external flooding) is somewhat lower than that for most other plants of 18 similar vintage and characteristics.
19 There have been 1110 revisions to the IPE model since the 1991 IPE submittal, and 4 20 3 revisions to the PRA model, as discussed previously, from the original 1983 PRA model to the 21 1990 update used to support the IPE submittal. The SSPSS-2006 model was used for the 22 SAMA analysis presented in the ER (NextEra 2010) but was updated by the SSPSS-2011 23 model used in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a). A listing of the major changes 24 in each revision of the PRA, and the associated change in internal and external event CDF, was 25 provided in the ER (NextEra 2010) in response to an NRC staff RAI (NextEra 2011a), in the 26 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a), and is summarized in Table F-3. A comparison of 27 the internal events CDF between the 1991 IPE and the 2011 PRA model used for the 2012 28 SAMA supplement indicates a decrease of approximately 87 82 percent (from 6.110-5 per 29 year to 7.810-61.110-5 per year). This decrease results from the significant changes shown, 30 while the external events CDF has increased by approximately 25 percent since the 1993 31 IPEEE (from 3.610-5 per year to 4.510-5 per year).
32 Table F-3. Seabrook PRA historical summary External Internal events PRA Total CDF Summary of significant changes from prior model(a) events CDF CDF version (per year)
(per year)(b) (per year)(b)
-4 SSPSA- Original modelincludes internal, fire, and seismic events 2.310-4 1.8x10 4.6x10-5 PLG-0300 (1983)
-4 SSPSS- Updated allowed outage times to reflect current 2.910 Not provided Not 1986 technical specifications provided Revised models of the inservice test pump test frequency; turbine driven emergency feedwater (EFW) pump atmospheric relief valves; boron injection tank, pump, and lines; enclosure building air handling system; reactor trip breakers; & reactor coolant pump (RCP) thermal barrier core spray (CS)
F-8
Appendix F External Internal events PRA Total CDF Summary of significant changes from prior model(a) events CDF CDF version (per year)
(per year)(b) (per year)(b)
Improved quantification traceability & documentation Updated seismic fragilities Expanded common cause treatment
-5 SSPSS- Updated initiating event frequencies 1.410
-4 9.5x10 4.5x10-5 1989 Updated common cause & maintenance distributions Revised electric power recovery model using current data Added recovery actions into event model
-4 SSPSS- IPE submittal 1.110 6.110-5 5.010-5 1990 Added modeling of ATWS mitigation system Updated electric power recovery model Updated RCP seal LOCA analysis Added new recovery actions Revised CET to explicitly model induced SGTR & direct containment heating
-5 SSPSS- IPEEE submittal 8.010 4.410-5 3.610-5 1993 Added plant-specific data for main safety pumps &
diesel generators (DGs)
Improved fire event modeling, including modeling operator actions & addition of new fire hazard initiating events Revised startup feed pump (SUFP) model to conservatively require manual startup Improved modeling of high-pressure injection (HPI) and event tree logic
-5 SSPSS- Improved common cause modeling of primary 4.310 2.110-5 2.210-5 1996 component cooling (PCC) with opposite PCC train failure Updated ATWS model to account for change from an 18-month to 24-month fuel cycle Increased use of plant-specific data Changed definition of LERF to include steam leak from SGTR Increased failure likelihood for small containment penetrations in seismic sequences Added credit for manual operator action to close RCP seal return line motor-operated valve (MOV)
SSPSS- Updated LOCA initiator frequencies 4.610-5 2.710-5 1.910-5 1999 Updated ATWS model to account for change from a 24-F-9
Appendix F External Internal events PRA Total CDF Summary of significant changes from prior model(a) events CDF CDF version (per year)
(per year)(b) (per year)(b) month to an 18-month fuel cycle & to use more current failure rates Updated event tree to explicitly incorporate RCP seal LOCA model & related power recovery models Changed emergency diesel generator (EDG) mission time from 6 hours6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br /> to 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> for weather-related LOOP
& similar initiators Moved LOOP & internal flooding models from external to internal events model Modified common cause factors & mission times for PCC system & SWS Updated human error probability (HEP) event tree rules
& quantification
-5 SSPSS- Transitioned PRA software from DOS-based 4.610 2.710-5 1.910-5 2000 RISKMAN 9.2 to Windows-based RISKMAN 3.0 SSPSS- Changed system initiator models 4.810-5 2.810-5 2.010-5 2001
-5 SSPSS- Integrated shutdown & low power risk models into all- 4.810 2.510-5 2.010-5 2002 modes model SSPSS- Updated the human reliability analysis (HRA) 3.010-5 1.710-5 1.310-5 2004 Added credit for the supplemental electric power system (SEPS) DG Updated the LERF model to include consequential SGTR
-5 SSPSS- Revised success criteria & operator timing 1.410 9.510-6 4.510-6 2005 Updated the seismic PRA Updated DG failure rate & unavailability data Updated the Level 2 analysis including modeling of severe accident management guideline (SAMG) actions
-5 SSPSS- Updated the Mode 4, 5, & 6 shutdown model 1.510 1.110-5 4.510-6 (c) 2006 Revised modeling of PCC & SWS initiators
-5 SSPSS- Updated plant-specific data & generic data distributions 1.210 7.110-6 4.910-6 2009 Incorporated electric power convolution model Expanded the steam generator (SG) model to include condenser cooling, circulating water, & condenser steam dump Revised operator action modeling SSPSS- Updated the internal flood model to incorporate 1.210-5 7.810-6 4.510-6 2011(c) plant changes, EPRI data and guidance, and to meet current PRA standards for internal flooding(d)
F-10
Appendix F External Internal events PRA Total CDF Summary of significant changes from prior model(a) events CDF CDF version (per year)
(per year)(b) (per year)(b)
Revised release category and source term based on more detailed modeling using MAAP 4.0.7 Added new breakers and buses to reflect a switchyard upgrade (a)
Summarized from information provided in the ER and in response to an NRC staff RAI (NextEra 2011a).
(b)
Estimated from percent contribution to total CDF provided in response to an NRC staff RAI (NextEra 2011a).
(c)
PRA model revision used in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a).
(d)
NextEra confirmed in response to an RAI that flow orifices installed in the plant and credited in the internal flooding model passed startup acceptance testing (NextEra 2012b).
1 The NRC staff considered the peer reviews performed for the Seabrook PRA and the potential 2 impact of the review findings on the SAMA evaluation. In the ER (NextEra 2010), NextEra 3 identifies two peer reviews that have been performed on the PRAa 1999 Westinghouse 4 Owners Group (WOG) certification peer review and a 2005 focused peer review against the 5 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) PRA standard (ASME 2003). The 2012 6 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a) identifies an additional peer reviewa 2009 peer 7 review of the internal flood model against the ASME PRA standard (ASME 2009). There 8 were no Category A facts and observations (F&Os) from that 2009 focused peer review, 9 and the three Category B F&Os were addressed in the SSPSS-2011 PRA model update.
10 In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra clarified the scope of these 1999 and 2005 peer 11 reviews. The 1999 review provided a full review of the technical elements of the Level 1 and 2 12 LERF internal events models, including internal flooding and the 2005 peer review providing a 13 focused scope examination of Level 1 internal events accident sequences, success criteria, 14 post-initiating event HRA, and configuration control (NextEra 2011a). Neither the 1999 nor the 15 2005 peer review included examination of external flooding, fire, or seismic hazards. The 16 1999 certification peer review identified 30 Category A and B F&Os, and the 2005 focused peer 17 review identified 4 Category A and B F&Os.2 The applicant provides the resolution of each of 18 the 34 F&Os in the ER and states that all have been dispositioned and implemented in the PRA 19 model.
20 The NRC staff requested that NextEra clarify how the resolution to F&O 3 (aggressive load 21 shedding and the available cross tie can extend battery life from 8 to 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br />) addresses the 22 F&O. The NRC asked NextEra to assess the ability of the operators to successfully cool the 23 core using the EFW pump without underfeeding the SGs (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, 24 NextEra clarified that during an extended SBO condition, the normal control instrumentation and 25 procedures for which operators are trained and with which they are familiar would be used to 26 maintain long-term control of SG water level (NextEra 2011a).
27 The NRC staff asked NextEra to summarize the scope and unresolved findings from any other 28 reviews performed on the Seabrook PRA (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, NextEra 29 explained that many other internal reviewsincluding vendor-assisted reviewshave been 2
Now termed a Finding, a Category A or B F&Os is an observation (an issue or discrepancy) that is necessary to address to ensure: [1] the technical adequacy of the PRA ... [2] the capability/robustness of the PRA update process, or [3] the process for evaluating the necessary capability of the PRA technical elements (to support applications). (NEI 05-04, Process for Performing Internal Events PRA Peer Reviews Using the ASME/ANS PRA Standard, Revision 2, 2008)
F-11
Appendix F 1 performed on specific model updates, and comments from these reviewsalong with plant 2 changes and potential model enhancementsare tracked through a model change database to 3 assure that the comments are addressed in the periodic update process (NextEra 2011a).
4 NextEra specifically explains in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a) that the 5 source term analysis was performed by the PRA group and reviewed by industry experts 6 from a vendor, and the Level 3 model was prepared by experts from a vendor and 7 independently reviewed.
8 The NRC staff asked NextEra to identify any changes to the plant, including physical and 9 procedural modifications, since the SSPSS-2006 PRA model that could have a significant 10 impact on the results of the SAMA analysis (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, NextEra 11 stated that there have been no major plant changes since PRA model SSPSS-2006 was issued 12 that could significantly impact the SAMA analysis but did identify specific plant and model 13 changes made to the PRA model that resulted in the 2009 periodic update of the model, 14 referred to as PRA model SSPSS-2009 (NextEra 2011a). NextEra explained that the model 15 changes resulted in a total CDF decrease of about 19 percent but resulted in no significant shift 16 in the relative importance of initiating events or components. Since then, NextEra has 17 updated the SSPSS-2011 PRA model, which uses source estimates based on more 18 detailed MAAP modeling and meets the internal flooding requirements in the ASME PRA 19 standard (ASME 2009). The 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a) is based on the 20 SSPSS-2011 model and calculates an increase in the CDF, compared to the SSPSS-2009 21 model, by about 5 percent.
22 The NRC staff asked NextEra to describe the PRA quality control process used at Seabrook 23 (NRC 2010a). NextEra responded that an existing administrative procedure defines the quality 24 control process for updates to the Seabrook PRA, and the process is consistent with 25 requirements of the ASME 2009 PRA standard (ASME 2009) and ensures that the PRA model 26 accurately reflects the current Seabrook plant design, operation, and performance 27 (NextEra 2011a). The quality control process includes monitoring PRA inputs for new 28 information, recording new applicable information, assessing the significance of new 29 information, performing PRA revisions, and controlling computer codes and models. NextEra 30 also stated that the PRA training qualification is performed as part of the Engineering Support 31 Personnel Training Program.
32 Given that the Seabrook internal events PRA model has been peer-reviewed and the peer 33 review findings were all addressed, and that NextEra has satisfactorily addressed NRC staff 34 questions regarding the PRA, the NRC staff concludes that the internal events Level 1 PRA 35 model is of sufficient quality to support the SAMA evaluation.
36 The Seabrook PRA model is an integrated internal and external events model in that it includes 37 seismic-initiated, fire-initiated, and external flooding-initiated events as well as internal initiating 38 events. The external events models have been integrated with the internal events model since 39 the initial 1983 PRA (NextEra 2011a). The external events models used in the SAMA 40 evaluation are essentially those used in the IPEEE, with the exception of the seismic PRA 41 model, which underwent a major update for the SSPSS-2005 model. The updated external 42 events CDF results are described in a response to an NRC staff RAI (NextEra 2011a) and are 43 included in Table F-3 along with the internal events results.
44 The Seabrook IPEEE was submitted October 2, 1992 (NAESC 1992), in response to 45 Supplement 4 of GL 88-20 (NRC 1991). The submittal used the same PRA as was used for the 46 IPE (i.e., SSPSS-1990) except for updates to the external events. No fundamental weaknesses F-12
Appendix F 1 or vulnerabilities to severe accident risk in regard to the external events were identified.
2 Improvements that have already been realized as a result of the IPEEE process minimized the 3 likelihood of there being cost-beneficial enhancements as a result of the SAMA analysis, 4 especially with the inclusion of a multiplier to account for the additional risk of seismic events. In 5 a letter dated May 2, 2001, the NRC staff concluded that the submittal met the intent of 6 Supplement 4 to GL 88-20 and the applicants IPEEE process is capable of identifying the most 7 likely severe accidents and severe accident vulnerabilities (NRC 2001).
8 The Seabrook IPEEE seismic analysis used a seismic PRA following NRC guidance 9 (NRC 1991a). The seismic PRA included a seismic hazard analysis, a seismic fragility 10 assessment, seismic quantification to yield initiating event frequencies and conditional system 11 failure probabilities, and plant model assembly to integrate seismic initiators and 12 seismic-initiated component failures with random hardware failures and maintenance 13 unavailabilities.
14 The seismic hazard analysis estimated the annual frequency of exceeding different levels of 15 ground motion. Seabrook seismic CDFs were determined for site-specific, Electric Power 16 Research Institute (EPRI) (EPRI 1989) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) 17 (NRC 1994) hazard curves. The seismic fragility assessment was performed by walkdowns that 18 were conducted at the time of the original seismic PRA in 1982 through 1983, walkdowns 19 performed for a revised fragility analysis in 1986, and supplemental walkdowns performed in 20 1991 for the IPEEE, using procedures and screening caveats in EPRIs seismic margin 21 assessment methodology (EPRI 1988). Fragility calculations were made for about 22 82 components using a screening criterion of median peak ground acceleration of 2.0 g, which 23 corresponds to a high confidence (95 percent) low probability (5 percent) of failure (HCLPF) 24 capacity. A total of 15 components and 2 sets of relay groups were further assessed. Fragility 25 calculations were also made for eight buildings and structures, and HCLPF values were 26 determined. The seismic systems analysis defined the potential seismic induced structure and 27 equipment failure scenarios that could occur after a seismic event and lead to core damage.
28 The Seabrook IPE event tree and fault tree models were used as the starting point for the 29 seismic analysis. Quantification of the seismic models consisted of convoluting the seismic 30 hazard curve with the appropriate structural and equipment seismic fragility curves to obtain the 31 frequency of the seismic damage state. The conditional probability of core damage, given each 32 seismic damage state, was then obtained from the IPE models with appropriate changes to 33 reflect the seismic damage state. The CDF was given based on the product of the seismic 34 damage state probability and the conditional core damage probability.
35 Quantification of the seismic CDF for Seabrook was performed in nine discrete ground 36 acceleration ranges between 0.1 g to 2.0 g. The seismic CDF resulting from the Seabrook 37 IPEEE was calculated to be 1.210-5 per year using a site-specific seismic hazard curve, with 38 sensitivity analyses yielding 1.310-4 per year using the LLNL seismic hazard curve and 39 6.110-6 per year using the EPRI seismic hazard curve. The Seabrook IPEEE did not identify 40 any vulnerability due to seismic events but did identify two plant improvements to reduce 41 seismic risk. Neither of the two improvements has been implemented. Each of the two 42 improvements is addressed by a SAMA in the current evaluation and is discussed further in 43 Section F.3.2.
44 Subsequent to the IPEEE, NextEra updated the seismic PRA analysis. The NRC staff asked 45 NextEra to describe the changes to the seismic analysis incorporated in the PRA model 46 SSPSS-2005 update and to explain the reasons for any significant changes to the seismic CDF 47 (NRC 2011a). In response to the RAI, NextEra stated that the most significant changes to the F-13
Appendix F 1 IPEEE seismic model made in the SSPSS-2005 update of the Seabrook PRA were as follows 2 (NextEra 2011a):
3 The fragility analysis was updated to extend the fragility screening of equipment from 4 greater than 2.0 g to the range from 2.0 g to 2.5 g and greater than 2.5 g to better 5 capture seismic risk.
6 The EPRI hazard curve was adopted and used to update the equipment fragilities. The 7 site-specific hazard curve was replaced with the EPRI hazard curve because the EPRl 8 uniform hazard spectrum (UHS) developed for the Seabrook site is more current and 9 realistic than that used in the original 1983 and the IPEEE PRA. In response to a 10 followup NRC staff RAI, NextEra further clarified that the EPRI UHS was judged to be 11 more realistic and representative of the best estimate hazard because of overall general 12 improvement in seismic technology from the early 1980s to 1989, when the EPRI hazard 13 curve was developed (NextEra 2011b). The probabilistic estimates of seismic capacity 14 of structures and components were updated to reflect component-specific fragility 15 information and the EPRI UHS.
16 Several new component fragilities were added to the seismic PRA model, including 17 seismic fragilities for the SEPS DGs, which had been added to the plant since the 18 IPEEE.
19 Modeling and documentation of operator actions credited in the seismic PRA were 20 improved.
21 NextEra stated that the most recognizable conservatism in the seismic model is the use of 22 complete correlation of the fragility between identical components, such as both EDGs are 23 assumed to fail at the same seismic hazard level (NextEra 2011a). NextEra further stated that 24 extensive internal technical reviews of the seismic PRA analysis were performed for the original 25 1983 PRA, when the seismic analysis was revised for the IPEEE, and when the seismic 26 analysis was revised for the SSPSS-2005 PRA model update. No significant comments were 27 documented from these reviews, and no formal peer reviews have been conducted on the 28 seismic PRA model (NextEra 2011a).
29 The NRC staff noted that, in the attachments to NRC Information Notice 2010-18, generic 30 issue (GI) 199 (NRC 2010b), the NRC staff estimated a seismic CDF for Seabrook of between 31 5.9x10-6 per year and 2.2x10-5 per year using updated seismic hazard curves developed by the 32 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 2008 (USGS 2008). The NRC staff asked that NextEra 33 provide an assessment of the impact of the updated USGS seismic hazard curves on the SAMA 34 evaluation (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, NextEra provided a revised SAMA evaluation 35 using multipliers of 2.1 and 2.6 to account for the maximum GI-199 seismic CDF of 2.2x10-5 per 36 year, which is discussed further below (NextEra 2011a, 2011b). The 2012 SAMA supplement 37 (NextEra 2012a) uses a multiplier of 2.1 to account for a higher seismic hazard than 38 assessed in the PRA.
39 Considering the following points, the NRC staff concludes that the seismic PRA model, in 40 combination with the use of a seismic events multiplier, provides an acceptable basis for 41 identifying and evaluating the benefits of SAMAs:
42 The Seabrook seismic PRA model is integrated with the internal events PRA.
43 The seismic PRA has been updated to include additional components and to extend the 44 fragility-screening threshold.
F-14
Appendix F 1 The SAMA evaluation was updated using a multiplier to account for a potentially higher 2 seismic CDF.
3 NextEra has satisfactorily addressed NRC staff RAIs regarding the seismic PRA.
4 The Seabrook IPEEE fire analysis, which was significantly updated from the original fire 5 analysis completed in 1983, employed EPRIs FIVE methodology (EPRI 1992) to calculate area 6 fire frequencies, quantitatively screen areas, and provide hazards analysis for resulting critical 7 areas. The quantification of CDF was obtained by propagating fire-induced initiating events 8 through the PRA used for the IPE.
9 The IPEEE fire areas were based on definitions of Appendix R fire areas for Seabrook.
10 Qualitative screening was performed using a spatial database specifically developed for the 11 IPEEE fire analysis that identified equipment important in initiating or mitigating an accident. Of 12 the 73 fire areas, 13 were determined to contain important equipment (pumps, valves, and 13 cabling, etc.) and were further assessed. Quantitative screening used industry fire data and the 14 assumption that a fire in a compartment damaged all equipment and cables in the compartment.
15 The resulting fire-initiating events are propagated through the appropriate event tree models.
16 Using fire frequencies and conditional core damage probabilities from the internal events PRA, 17 all but eight fire areas were screened as contributing less than 110-6 per year to the CDF.
18 Based on the FIVE fire methodology analysis, the unscreened areas were assessed by 19 considering possible targets, fire sources and combustibles, possible fire scenarios 20 (e.g., target-in-plume), and detection and suppression systems to determine the probability of 21 damage given a fire. Credit was explicitly taken for automatic and manual fire suppression.
22 Calculation of automatic fire suppression unavailability was supported by fault tree modeling.
23 Calculation of manual suppression unavailability was supported by HRA. Consideration of fires 24 on containment performance was also addressed. Final quantification used the Seabrook IPE 25 PRA model to determine plant responses and CDFs. The resulting fire-induced CDF was 26 calculated to be 1.210-5 per year. While no physical plant changes were found to be necessary 27 as a result of the IPEEE fire analysis, fire potential plant improvements to improve fire risk were 28 identified. Four of the plant improvements have been implemented. The one improvement not 29 implemented is addressed by a SAMA in the current evaluation and is discussed further in 30 Section F.3.2.
31 NextEra updated the fire PRA subsequent to the IPEEE. The NRC staff asked NextEra to 32 describe the changes to the fire analysis since the IPEEE and to explain the reasons for any 33 significant changes to the fire CDF (NRC 2011a). In response to the RAI, NextEra explained 34 that the most recent update of the fire PRA was in support of the SSPSS-2004 PRA update, and 35 the fire analysis methodology used is essentially the same, with some variations, as that 36 described previously for the IPEEE fire analysis (NextEra 2011a). Specific changes made to 37 the Seabrook fire PRA since the IPEEE are listed below:
38 including current plant data and procedures, 39 performing detailed walkdowns to verify locations of the major fire sources and important 40 targets, 41 updating data to the EPRI fire database that includes fire records through 42 December 2000, 43 developing updated severity factors for cabinets, pumps, control room panels, and 44 transients, F-15
Appendix F 1 revisiting the quantitative screening results, 2 using new data on cabinet heat release rates, and 3 quantitatively evaluating the total area heat-up rate.
4 NextEra stated that the most significant conservatism in the fire analysis is the assumption that 5 small fires, typical of the generic fire events database, are assumed to grow to cause the 6 maximum damage (NextEra 2010). However, because these fire sequences have such low 7 frequencies and large uncertainties, NextEra claimed that the impact of this conservatism on the 8 overall fire CDF is difficult to determine (NextEra 2011a). NextEra further stated that extensive 9 internal technical reviews of the fire PRA analysis were performed for the original 1983 PRA, 10 when the fire analysis was revised for the IPEEE and when the fire analysis was revised for the 11 SSPSS-2005 PRA model update. No significant comments were documented from these 12 reviews, and no formal peer reviews have been conducted on the fire PRA model 13 (NextEra 2011a).
14 In a followup RAI, the NRC staff asked NextEra to clarify if fire-induced failures of components 15 and human actions credited with mitigating the initiator were assessed and to describe how hot 16 short probabilities were considered in the fire analysis (NRC 2011b). In response to the RAI, 17 NextEra clarified that, for fire initiators that are not screened and are evaluated in detail, the 18 probability of fire damage to components due to the fire is included in the analysis and that this 19 probability is dependent upon the presence of combustible material and the success of 20 suppression (NextEra 2011b). NextEra stated that the probability of additional failures needed 21 for core damage was also evaluated, including unavailability of redundant systems and 22 components and failure of operator actions, and component failures not impacted by the fire are 23 modeled as random. Regarding the hot short probability question, NextEra explained that a hot 24 short probability of 0.1 was used in the screening evaluation for important valves and 25 components. NextEra also described the results of an evaluation to assess the sensitivity of the 26 SAMA results to using a hot short probability of 0.6. This evaluation determined that the fire 27 event screening evaluation is insensitive to this increase in the potential for hot shorts and that, 28 while the contribution to CDF does increase due to the higher probability, the contribution 29 compared to the CDF contribution of similarly modeled internal events remains relatively low.
30 Specifically, NextEra evaluated 18 fire events and determined that 3 of the events contributed in 31 the range of 10 to 20 percent of the corresponding internal events CDF, and the remaining 32 15 fire events contributed less than 10 percent. Based on this result, NextEra determined that 33 the increase in hot short potential does not have a significant effect on the SAMA analysis 34 (NextEra 2011b).
35 The NRC staff noted that the fire ignition frequencies for a fire in SWGR room BLoss of 36 Bus E6 and SWGR room ALoss of Bus E5, which were reported to be about 1.010-3 per year 37 each, appeared to be low unless the fire only involved the associated buses. The NRC staff 38 asked that NextEra justify these values (NRC 2010a). NextEra responded that the ignition 39 frequency for SWGR room BLoss of Bus E6 includes the cumulative fire ignition frequencies 40 for 21 Bus E6 cabinets and 170 other electrical cabinets. SWGR room ALoss of Bus E5 41 similarly includes the cumulative fire ignition frequencies for 21 Bus E5 cabinets and 86 other 42 electrical cabinets (NextEra 2011a). NextEra explained that the cited value of 1.010-3 per year 43 was more than just frequency (i.e., it included not only fire ignition frequency of 4.610-5 per 44 year per cabinet but also a severity factor of 0.2 and a manual non-suppression probability of 45 0.1 for fires in the other electrical cabinets). Therefore, the calculated total fire ignition 46 frequency for each of the two SWGR rooms is the same as that reported in the ER. The NRC 47 staff considers NextEras assumptions reasonable.
F-16
Appendix F 1 Considering that the Seabrook fire PRA model is integrated with the internal events PRA, that 2 the fire PRA has been updated to include more current data, and that NextEra has satisfactorily 3 addressed NRC staff RAIs regarding the fire PRA, the NRC staff concludes that the fire PRA 4 model provides an acceptable basis for identifying and evaluating the benefits of SAMAs.
5 The Seabrook IPEEE analysis of high winds, tornadoes, external floods, and other (HFO) 6 external events followed the screening and evaluation approaches specified in Supplement 4 to 7 GL 88-20 (NRC 1991) and concluded that Seabrook meets the 1975 Standard Review Plan 8 (SRP) criteria (NRC 1975). Two external event frequencies exceeded the 1.010-6 per year 9 screening criterion (NAESC 1992). One of these events is flooding resulting from a storm surge 10 caused by a hurricane, which is modeled in the PRA and described in the ER (NextEra 2010) as 11 event EXFLSW in which the SW pumps are flooded. This sequence was reported in the ER to 12 contribute just 210-8 per year to the total Seabrook CDF. The second event is an external 13 initiating event involving a truck crash into the SF6 transmission lines. In response to an NRC 14 staff RAI, NextEra explained that this event has been mitigated by the installation of jersey 15 barriers and guard rails that further limit the possibility of a truck crash impacting the 16 transmission lines and that, as a result, this initiating event has been screened from the PRA 17 model (NextEra 2011a).
18 While no physical plant changes were found to be necessary as a result of the IPEEE HFO 19 analysis, one plant improvement based on HFO analysis was recommendedmodify several 20 exterior doors so that they will be able to withstand the design pressure differential resulting 21 from high winds. NextEra clarified in response to an NRC staff RAI that this suggested 22 improvement has been implemented (NextEra 2011a).
23 The NRC staff noted that while the risk of flooding resulting from a storm surge caused by a 24 hurricane is included in the PRA, the impact of hurricane-force winds does not appear to be 25 addressed, and the staff requested that NextEra provide an assessment of the risk of this event 26 on the Seabrook site (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, NextEra explained that the high 27 winds associated with a hurricane that might accompany a storm surge are screened from 28 consideration because the site design basis criteria for high winds and tornadoes meets the 29 1975 SRP criteria (NextEra 2011a). The NRC staff considered this explanation acceptable.
30 The Seabrook IPEEE submittal also stated that as a result of the Seabrook IPE, cost-benefit 31 analyses are being performed for many potential plant improvements, which may also reduce 32 external event risk because they address functional failures. Five potential plant improvements 33 to improve internal event risk that may also reduce external event risk were identified. Four of 34 the plant improvements have been implemented. The one improvement not implemented is 35 addressed by a SAMA in the current evaluation and is discussed further in Section F.3.2.
36 NextEra estimated the benefits for both internal and external events using the integrated 37 Seabrook PRA model. However, as discussed previously, an NRC staff assessment of the 38 USGS 2008 seismic hazard curves yielded an upper bound seismic CDF for Seabrook of 39 2.210-5 per year, which is substantially greater than the 3.110-6 per year seismic CDF used in 40 the SAMA evaluation. The NRC staff requested that NextEra provide an assessment of the 41 impact of this higher seismic CDF on the SAMA evaluation (NRC 2010a, 2011b). In response 42 to the RAIs, NextEra noted that the NRC staffs estimate of the seismic CDF using the USGS 43 2008 seismic hazard curves did not include credit for the SEPS DGs installed at Seabrook in 44 2004, which have a median seismic fragility of 1.23 g (NextEra 2011b). NextEra stated that the 45 SEPS DGs were modeled in the Seabrook seismic PRA in 2005 and reduced the seismic CDF 46 by approximately 26 percent by avoiding SBO sequences, and a corresponding reduction in the F-17
Appendix F 1 NRC staff estimate of the seismic CDF using the USGS 2008 seismic hazard curves to 1.610-5 2 per year would be expected. NextEra also provided a sensitivity analysis using a multiplier of 3 2.1 to account for the revised higher seismic CDF. This multiplier is based on an increased 4 seismic CDF of 1.310-5 per year (upper bound seismic CDF of 1.610-5 per year minus seismic 5 CDF of 3.110-6 per year used in the SAMA evaluation) and a total estimated CDF of 1.210-5 6 per year for PRA model SSPSS-2009 (NextEra 2011b). The NRC staff agrees that a seismic 7 CDF of 1.610-5 per year for Seabrook is reasonable and agrees that the applicants use of a 8 multiplier of 2.1, which was used in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a), to account 9 for the additional risk from seismic events is reasonable for the purposes of the SAMA 10 evaluation. This is discussed further in Section F.6.2.
11 The NRC staff reviewed the general process used by NextEra to translate the results of the 12 Level 1 PRA into containment releases, as well as the results of the Level 2 analysis, as 13 described in the ER and in response to NRC staff RAIs (NextEra, 2011a). The Level 2 model 14 was significantly revised in the 2005 PRA update (i.e., PRA model SSPSS-2005) from that used 15 in the IPE and reflects the Seabrook plant as designed and currently operated. In response to 16 an NRC staff RAI (NextEra 2010), NextEra identified the following major changes to the PRA 17 that most impacted the LERF (NextEra 2011a):
18 change in definition of LERF to include steam leak from a SGTR, 19 higher failure likelihood for small containment penetrations in seismic sequences, 20 update to credit manual operator action to close the RCP seal return line MOV, 21 expansion of the LERF model by adding a steam line break to SGTR and consideration 22 of ATWS sequences, 23 updates to the Level 2 analysis to reflect current state of knowledge including SAMGs, 24 revisions to incorporate plant-specific data, 25 update of data distributions, and 26 revisions to operator action modeling.
27 No Level 2 design or plant changes were identified in the 2012 SAMA supplement 28 (NextEra 2012a).
29 In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra explained that the quantification of the Level 1 and 30 Level 2 models is done using a linked event tree method approach and does not employ plant 31 damage states (NextEra 2011a). Therefore, all Level 1 sequences are evaluated by the CET, 32 making it unnecessary to summarize and group similar sequences into Level 1 plant damage 33 states before they are input to the CET. The Level 2 model is a single CET and evaluates the 34 phenomenological progression of all the Level 1 sequences including internal, fire, and 35 seismically initiated events. In response to another NRC staff RAI, NextEra clarified that the 36 CET has 37 branching events, which include 10 hardware-related, 13 human action-related, and 37 13 phenomena-related events, along with a single mapping event (NextEra 2011a). CET 38 branch point split fraction numerical values are determined based on the type of event. The 39 CET event success criterion is defined, and split fraction logic rules are used to apply the 40 correct event split fraction values during CET quantification. Included in the response to the 41 NRC staff RAI, NextEra provided a description of each of the 37 CET branching events. End 42 states resulting from the combinations of the branches are then assigned to one of 16 release 43 categories based on characteristics that determine the timing and magnitude of the release, F-18
Appendix F 1 whether or not the containment remains intact, and isotopic composition of the released 2 material. In response to another NRC staff RAI, NextEra clarified that the frequency of each 3 release category was obtained by summing the frequency of the individual accident progression 4 CET end states binned into the release category (NextEra 2011a).
5 The quantified CET sequences binned into the 2116 release categories are subsequently 6 grouped into 1310 source term categories that provide the input to the Level 3 consequence 7 analysis (NextEra 2012a). In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra explained that the 16 8 release categories were reduced to 10 source term categories by grouping release categories 9 that occur due to different phenomena, but the consequence is essentially the same 10 (e.g., thermally induced SGTR and pressure-induced SGTR) (NextEra 2011a). Eight of the 11 release categories were mapped one-to-one into a corresponding source term category.
12 For three of the source term categories, three release categories were binned together to 13 form the combined source term category, and for two of the source term categories, two 14 release categories were binned together to form the combined source term category.
15 Source terms were developed for each of the source term categories. In the 2012 SAMA 16 supplement, NextEra explains that the release fractions and timing for source term categories 17 are based on the results of plant-specific calculations using the MAAP Version 4.0.7 and 18 represent more realism and an upgrade from the source terms presented in the ER 19 (NextEra 2010). NextEra generally selected the representative MAAP case based on that which 20 resulted in the most realistic timing and source term release. In four of the combined source 21 term categories, the source term for the release category having the highest (dominant) 22 release frequency was used as the source term for the combined category. The 23 consequences from the contributors were considered similar. In one of the four 24 categories, the total frequency was very low (approximately 1E-9 per year). In the fifth 25 combined source term category (i.e., SELL), one of the contributors had the most 26 significant source term and the highest frequency so it was selected as the 27 representative case. The source term categories and their frequencies and release 28 characteristics are presented in tables on pages 12, 13, and 18 of the 2012 SAMA 29 supplement (NextEra 2012a).
30 As indicated above, the current Seabrook Level 2 PRA model is an update of that used in the 31 IPE. The IPE did not identify any severe accident vulnerabilities associated with containment 32 performance. Risk-related insights and improvements discussed in the IPE submittal were 33 discussed previously. The NRC staff review of the IPE back-end (i.e., Level 2) model concluded 34 that it appeared to have addressed the severe accident phenomena normally associated with 35 large dry containments, it met the IPE requirements, and there were no obvious or significant 36 problems or errors.
37 The LERF model was included in the 1999 industry peer review discussed previously. Seven of 38 the F&Os from this review addressed the LERF analysis. The applicant provides in the ER the 39 resolution of each of the seven F&Os and states that all have been dispositioned and 40 implemented in the PRA model. NextEra noted that the Seabrook radiological source terms 41 were significantly revised for the SSPSS-2005 PRA model based on Level 2 analysis by 42 Westinghouse Electric Company. In addition, NextEra noted that the source terms were further 43 revised during the SSPSS-2011 PRA model and are reflected in the 2012 SAMA supplement 44 (NextEra 2012a).
45 The NRC staff noted that the LERF reported for Seabrook is less than 1 percent of the CDF and 46 asked NextEra to explain this apparently very low LERF (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, F-19
Appendix F 1 NextEra explained that Seabrook has a very large-volume and strong containment building in 2 comparison to most other nuclear power plant containment designs (NextEra 2011a). As a 3 result of the containment design median failure pressure of 187 pounds per square inch 4 absolute (psia) (dry) and 210 psia (wet), there are no conceivable severe accident progression 5 scenarios that result in catastrophic failure early in the accident sequence. The NRC staff 6 considers NextEras explanation reasonable.
7 The NRC staff requested that NextEra explain how fire-induced interfacing system 8 loss-of-coolant accidents (ISLOCAs) and fire-induced containment impacts are addressed in the 9 fire analysis (NRC 2010a, 2011b). In response to the RAIs, NextEra explained that containment 10 performance was evaluated in three areas: (1) containment structure, (2) containment response 11 to a core damage event, and (3) containment isolation failure (NextEra 2011a). Fires were 12 determined to have no impact on containment structure integrity. Fire-initiated core damage 13 events were determined to have the same impact on containment response as internal-initiated 14 events; thus, they are handled through the CET. The potential for containment isolation failure 15 was assessed by evaluating the potential for fire-induced failure of important isolation valves, as 16 follows:
17 Because the containment isolation valves (CIVs) are located both inside and outside 18 containment, NextEra concluded that only a fire in the control room or cable spreading 19 room could affect CIVs both inside and outside containment and that, in this event, 20 important CIVs could be controlled locally at the valve or from the remote shutdown 21 panel (RSP). CIVs located outside containment could be controlled both locally at the 22 valve and from the RSP, CIVs located inside containment could be controlled from the 23 RSP, and no credit is taken for local control of valves inside containment 24 (NextEra 2011b).
25 Because the letdown system has three normally open, air-operated valves (AOVs) in 26 series, NextEra concluded that hot shorting in all three valves is not credible. NextEra 27 clarified that failure to isolate the letdown system for an extended period of time is 28 judged to not be credible for the following reasons (NextEra 2011b):
29 - There are three AOVs inside containment and one AOV outside containment.
30 - All four AOVs fail to the closed position upon loss of air or control power.
31 - Shorts to ground in the control cables for these AOVs will also result in the AOVs 32 failing to the closed position.
33 - There are two MOVs inside containment that are available to provide isolation.
34 The potential for fire-induced failures of several other potential isolation pathways was 35 also evaluated (e.g., large residual heat removal (RHR) suction line MOVs, RCP seal 36 return line isolation valves, and containment on-line purge valves) and determined to not 37 be credible.
38 Based on the information above, NextEra concluded that the only credible impact of fires on 39 containment performance is to fail a single train of isolation. For isolation failure of one or more 40 valves in a single train, either redundant isolation would be available or the ability to remove 41 power from fail closed valves to provide isolation is available (NextEra 2011a). NextEra further 42 clarified that, since Seabrook is designed with divisional cable separation, power to the fail 43 closed valves can be removed, if necessary, by removing its divisional power supply, thus 44 ensuring that the valves fail closed and are prevented from being failed opened due to hot 45 shorting (NextEra 2011b). NextEra further concluded that the frequency of fires that could F-20
Appendix F 1 cause this level of damage is sufficiently low compared to hardware failures that this scenario 2 does not contribute significantly to containment isolation failure and that, as a result, no fire 3 impacts on containment isolation components are included in the PRA (NextEra 2011a).
4 Based on the NRC staffs review of the Level 2 methodology, the NRC staff concludes that 5 NextEra has adequately addressed NRC staff RAIs, that the LERF model was reviewed in more 6 detail as part of the 1999 WOG certification peer review, and that all F&Os have been resolved.
7 Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that the Level 2 PRA provides an acceptable basis for 8 evaluating the benefits associated with various SAMAs.
9 As indicated in the ER, the reactor core radionuclide inventory used in the consequence 10 analysis corresponds to the end-of-cycle values for Seabrook operating at 3,659 MWt. This 11 bounds the current Seabrook rated power of 3,648 MWt. The core radionuclide inventory is 12 provided in Table F.3.4.3-1 of Appendix F of the ER (NextEra 2010). In response to an NRC 13 staff RAI, NextEra clarified that a Seabrook-specific core inventory was calculated using 14 ORIGEN2.1 except for Cobalt-58 and Cobalt-60 (NextEra 2011a). NextEra noted that the 15 ORIGEN calculations did not provide isotopic inventories for Cobalt-58 and Cobalt-60.
16 Therefore, these isotope inventories were estimated using the MACCS2 sample problem 17 inventory corrected by the ratio of Seabrooks power level to the MACCS2 sample problem A 18 power level (i.e., 3,659 MWt/3,412 MWt). Based on this clarification, the NRC staff concludes 19 that the reactor core radionuclide inventory assumptions for estimating consequences are 20 reasonable and acceptable for purposes of the SAMA evaluation.
21 The NRC staff reviewed the process used by NextEra to extend the containment performance 22 (Level 2) portion of the PRA to an assessment of offsite consequences (essentially a Level 3 23 PRA). This included consideration of the source terms used to characterize fission product 24 releases for the applicable containment release categories and the major input assumptions 25 used in the offsite consequence analyses. Version 1.13.1 of the MACCS2 code was used to 26 estimate offsite consequences (NRC 1998) based on the results of the SSPSS-2011 PRA 27 model (NextEra 2012a). Plant-specific input to the code includes the source terms for each 28 release category and the reactor core radionuclide inventory (both discussed above),
29 site-specific meteorological data, projected population distribution within an 80-km (50-mi) 30 radius for the year 2050, emergency evacuation planning, and economic parameters including 31 agricultural production. This information is provided in Section F3.4 of Attachment F to the ER 32 (NextEra 2010) and was unchanged by the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra, 2012a).
33 All releases were modeled as occurring at the top height of the containment building. In the 34 ER, sensitivity cases were run assuming ground level release, as well as releases at 35 25 percent, 50 percent, and 75 percent of the containment building height. In response to an 36 NRC staff RAI, NextEra reported that decreasing the release height from the top of the reactor 37 building to ground level decreased the population dose risk and offsite economic cost risk by up 38 to 3 percent and 4 percent, respectively (NextEra 2011a). The thermal content of each of the 39 releases was assumed to be the same as ambient (that is a non-buoyant plume). A sensitivity 40 analysis was performed in the ER assuming a 1 MW and 10 MW heat release plume. In 41 response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra reported that increasing the release heat decreased the 42 population dose risk by 2 percent and 12 percent, and the offsite economic cost risk decreased 43 by 1 percent and 9 percent for the 1 MW and 10 MW heat release, respectively 44 (NextEra 2011a). Wake effects for the containment building were included in the model. A 45 sensitivity analysis was performed in the ER assuming the wake size was one-half and double 46 the baseline wake size. In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra reported that decreasing the 47 wake size by one-half decreased the population dose risk by 1 percent and did not change the F-21
Appendix F 1 offsite economic cost risk, while doubling the wake size increased both the population dose risk 2 and offsite economic cost risk by 1 percent (NextEra 2011a). While these sensitivity 3 analyses were not re-performed for the 2012 SAMA supplement, NextEra concluded that 4 the results in the ER would be representative of the updated SAMA evaluation 5 (NextEra 2012a). The NRC staff notes that these results are consistent with previous SAMA 6 analyses that have shown only minor sensitivities to release height, buoyancy, and building 7 wake effects. Based on the information provided, the staff concludes that the release 8 parameters used are acceptable for the purposes of the SAMA evaluation.
9 NextEra used site-specific meteorological data for the year 2005 as input to the MACCS2 code.
10 The development of the meteorological data is discussed in Section F.3.4.5 of the ER 11 (NextEra 2010). Data from 2004 through 2008 were also considered, but the 2005 data were 12 chosen because the results of a MACCS2 sensitivity analysis indicated that the 2005 data 13 produced more conservative results (i.e., the 2005 data set was found to result in the largest 14 population dose risk and offsite economic cost risk). In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra 15 reported that the results of the meteorological data sensitivity analysis, which was performed for 16 each of the years 2004 through 2008, showed a decrease in population dose risk in the range of 17 5 to 13 percent and a range of 3 to 12 percent decrease in offsite economic cost risk 18 (NextEra 2011a). NextEra repeated this sensitivity study for the 2012 SAMA supplement 19 (NextEra 2012a), and the 2005 data set was again found to result in the largest population 20 dose risk and offsite economic cost risk. Missing data were estimated using data 21 substitution methods. These methods include substitution of missing data with corresponding 22 data from another level on the meteorological tower, interpolation between data from the same 23 level, or data from the same hour and a nearby day of a previous year. Hourly stability was 24 classified according to the system used by the NRC (NRC 1983). The baseline analysis 25 assumes perpetual rainfall in the 40 to 50 mi segment surrounding the site. A sensitivity 26 analysis was performed for the 2012 SAMA supplement assuming measured rainfall rather 27 than perpetual rainfall in the 40 to 50 mi spatial segment (NextEra 2012a). This resulted in a 28 decrease in population dose risk of 14 percent and a decrease in offsite economic cost risk of 29 1517 percent. The NRC staff notes that these results are consistent with previous SAMA 30 analyses that have shown little sensitivity to year-to-year differences in meteorological data.
31 Based on the information provided, the NRC staff concludes that the use of the 2005 32 meteorological data in the SAMA analysis is reasonable.
33 The population distribution the licensee used as input to the MACCS2 analysis was estimated 34 for the year 2050 using year 2000 census data as accessed by SECPOP2000 (NRC 2003).
35 The baseline population was determined for each of 160 sectors, consisting of the 16 directions 36 for each of 10 concentric distance rings with outer radii at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mi 37 surrounding the site. County population growth estimates were applied to year 2000 census 38 data to develop year 2050 population distribution. The distribution of the population is given for 39 the 10-mi radius from Seabrook and for the 50-mi radius from Seabrook in the ER 40 (NextEra 2010). In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra clarified that the year 2000 41 population was exponentially extrapolated to year 2050 (NextEra 2011a). The NRC staff noted 42 that the total population of 4,157,215, identified in Section 2.6.1 of the ER, was different than the 43 4,232,394 reported in ER Table F.3.4.1 (NRC 2010a). In response to the NRC staff RAI, this 44 difference was attributed to the following factors (NextEra 2011a):
45 the choice of distribution centroids between the two references, 46 the inclusion of transient population in the population extrapolation for ER 47 Table F.3.4.1-1 but not in ER Section 2.6.1, and F-22
Appendix F 1 the assumption that the population fraction is equal to the land area fraction where the 2 50-mi radius bisects the census block groups.
3 The NRC staff also requested clarification of why some sectors showed zero or (small) negative 4 population growth (NRC 2010a). NextEra clarified that this was attributed to the geographic 5 information system (GIS) land layers not being detailed enough to account for the existence of 6 some small islands, and the GIS water sectors were projected as zero populations 7 (NRC 2011a). Also, the direction distribution used in the 2050 projection was slightly offset from 8 the existing population, resulting in some sectors being considered all water and, thus, zero 9 population. In fact, a portion of those sectors include the coastline; therefore, they have a 10 population. The population projections were refined to account for the above and to include the 11 most recent county population growth rates (the sensitivity case above). A sensitivity analysis 12 was performed using the refined population projections and the population distribution centroid 13 for ER Table F.3.4.1-1 (NextEra 2010). This resulted in an overall population decrease of about 14 4 percent, resulting in a corresponding decrease in population dose risk and economic cost risk 15 of 5 percent and 6 percent, respectively. The NRC staff considers the methods and 16 assumptions for estimating population reasonable and acceptable for purposes of the SAMA 17 evaluation.
18 The emergency evacuation model was modeled as a single evacuation zone extending out 19 16 km (10 mi) from the plant. NextEra assumed that 95 percent of the population would 20 evacuate. This assumption is conservative relative to the NUREG-1150 study (NRC 1990),
21 which assumed evacuation of 99.5 percent of the population within the emergency planning 22 zone (EPZ). The evacuated population was assumed to move at an average speed of 23 approximately 0.4 mps (0.9 mph) with a delayed start time of 120 minutes after declaration of a 24 general emergency. The evacuation speed was derived from the projected time to evacuate the 25 entire EPZ under adverse weather conditions during the year 2000 (NextEra 2010) and then 26 adjusted by the ratio of the year 2000 EPZ population to the projected year 2050 EPZ 27 population. In the ER, NextEra performed sensitivity analyses in which the evacuation speed, 28 the delayed start time or preparation time for evacuation of the EPZ, and the emergency 29 declaration time were each individually decreased by 50 percent and doubled relative to the 30 base case. In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra reported that the decrease in evacuation 31 speed increased the population dose risk by 3 percent, and the increase in evacuation speed 32 decreased the population dose risk by 4 percent. Additionally, the decrease in delay time 33 decreased the population dose risk by 9 percent, the increase in delay time decreased the 34 population dose risk by 2 percent, the decrease in emergency declaration time decreased the 35 population dose risk by 6 percent, and the increase in emergency declaration time decreased 36 the population dose risk by 3 percent (NextEra 2011a). For all three parameters, both the 37 increase and decrease in the base values resulted in no change to the offsite economic cost 38 risk. In the ER, NextEra explained that an increase in delay time or emergency declaration time 39 could decrease population dose risk if the evacuation and plume release are simultaneous.
40 NextEra also performed a sensitivity analysis in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a) 41 assuming that the population does not evacuate for a severe accident resulting in a small, early 42 containment penetration failure with no source term scrubbing, representative of a seismically 43 induced severe accident event. This resulted in an increase in population dose risk of less 44 than 1 percent and no change in offsite economic cost risk. The NRC staff concludes that the 45 evacuation assumptions and analysis are reasonable and acceptable for the purposes of the 46 SAMA evaluation.
47 In an NRC staff RAI, NextEra clarified that sea-breeze circulation was included in the SAMA 48 evaluation only to the extent that this is included in the onsite meteorological data F-23
Appendix F 1 (NextEra 2011a). NextEra further explained that there are two major mechanisms associated 2 with sea-breezes, a mixing front and thermal internal boundary layer (TIBL). A mixing front 3 results in increased plume mixing and dispersion, resulting in a potential decrease in population 4 dose. This was conservatively ignored in the SAMA evaluation. However, TIBL could decrease 5 dispersion and increase population dose. Given this, NextEra performed a sensitivity study 6 assuming 25 percent of the year with TIBL formation (data for year 2005 identified a TIBL was 7 present 7 percent of the year). The increase in TIBL formation increased the population dose 8 risk and offsite economic cost risk by 4 percent and 7 percent, respectively. NextEra re-9 performed this sensitivity study in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a). The 10 results of the evaluation indicate that the population dose and offsite economic cost 11 risks increase by less than 1 percent each. NextEra clarified that the previous results 12 were calculated in MACCS2 using the Monte Carlo random bin sampling technique. The 13 revised evaluation summarized above used the MACCS2 sequential hour analysis 14 technique, which provides a more accurate result compared to the Monte Carlo bin 15 sampling technique. Thus, the latest results are shown to be less than previous results 16 despite the increase in release category source terms. In both the original RAI response 17 and the 2012 SAMA supplement, NextEra performed a sensitivity study of the TIBL lid 18 height by changing the lid height from 110 m to 100 m. The decrease in TIBL lid height, 19 in both sensitivity studies, resulted in an increase in population dose risk and offsite 20 economic cost of less than 1 percent each. The NRC staff concludes that sea-breeze affects 21 have a minor impact on the SAMA analysis results.
22 Much of the site-specific economic and agricultural data were provided from SECPOP2000 23 (NRC 2003) by specifying the data for each of the 13 counties surrounding Seabrook, to a 24 distance of 80 km (50 mi). SECPOP2000 uses county economic and agriculture data from the 25 2000 National Census of Agriculture. This included the fraction of land devoted to farming, 26 annual farm sales, the fraction of farm sales resulting from dairy production, and the value of 27 non-farmland. In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra identified that the recent, three known 28 errors in SECPOP2000 were corrected for the SAMA evaluation (NextEra 2011a).
29 NRC staff asked NextEra to explain its assertion in the 2012 SAMA supplement 30 (NextEra 2012a) that sensitivities to variation in other Level 3 parameters (not explicitly 31 re-evaluated in the 2012 SAMA supplement) are expected to be consistent with the ER 32 sensitivity analysis results. NextEra explained (NextEra 2012b) that except for the 33 difference in source term release, the Level 3 parameters used in the SAMA analysis 34 supplement did not change. In addition, NextEra further noted (a) that greater 35 meteorology specification (imposed as 40 to 50 mi (approximately 64 to 80 km) rather 36 than following the site boundary) produces 15 percent more conservative dose and cost 37 risks, (b) that the re-evaluated sea-breeze effect for the 2012 SAMA supplement 38 (NextEra 2012a) showed only small change in dose and cost risk, and (c) that non-39 evacuation rather than delayed evacuation for extreme seismic events (release 40 category LE4) results in only a small increase in total LE4 dose consequences.
41 The NRC staff concludes that the methodology used by NextEra to estimate the offsite 42 consequences for Seabrook provides an acceptable basis from which to proceed with an 43 assessment of risk reduction potential for candidate SAMAs. Accordingly, the NRC staff based 44 its assessment of offsite risk on the CDF and offsite doses reported by NextEra.
F-24
Appendix F 1 F.3 Potential Plant Improvements 2 The process for identifying potential plant improvements, an evaluation of that process, and the 3 improvements evaluated in detail by NextEra are discussed in this section.
4 F.3.1 Process for Identifying Potential Plant Improvements 5 NextEras process for identifying potential plant improvements (SAMAs) consisted of the 6 following elements:
7 review of the most significant basic events from the plant-specific PRA used in the 2012 8 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a),
9 review of potential plant improvements identified in the Seabrook IPE and IPEEE, 10 review of other industry documentation discussing potential plant improvements, and 11 insights from Seabrook personnel.
12 Based on this process, an initial set of 191 candidate SAMAs was identified in the ER 13 (NextEra 2010), and 4 additional SAMA candidates were identified in the 2012 SAMA 14 supplement. A total of 195 candidate SAMAs, which are referred to as Phase I SAMAs, was 15 identified. In Phase I of the evaluation, NextEra performed a qualitative screening of the initial 16 list of SAMAs and eliminated SAMAs from further consideration. The screening was 17 performed using the following criteria:
18 The SAMA is not applicable to Seabrook due to design differences (19 SAMAs 19 screened).
20 The SAMA has already been implemented at Seabrook or Seabrook meets the intent of 21 the SAMA (87 SAMAs screened).
22 The SAMA is similar to another SAMA under consideration (11 SAMAs screened).
23 The SAMA has estimated implementation costs that would exceed the dollar value 24 associated with eliminating all severe accident risk at Seabrook (no SAMA screened).
25 The SAMA was determined to provide very low benefit (no SAMA screened).
26 In response to an NRC staff RAI (NRC 2012a), NextEra clarified that Phase I SAMAs 27 screened on the basis of the first three criteria were not re-reviewed in the 2012 SAMA 28 supplement since this supplement was based on modeling changes that did not change 29 the conclusions of earlier qualitative screening of Phase 1 SAMAs (NextEra 2012b).
30 Based on this screening, 117 SAMAs were eliminated, leaving 7874 for reevaluation, 31 including the 4 new SAMAs identified in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a).
32 These SAMAs are referred to as Phase II SAMAs and are listed in Table 1 of the 2012 SAMA 33 supplement (NextEra 2012a). As part of Phase II, a detailed evaluation was performed for 34 each of these 78 SAMA candidates, as discussed in Sections F.4 and F.6 below. The 35 estimated benefits for these SAMAs include the risk reduction from both internal and external 36 events.
37 As previously discussed, NextEra accounted for the potential risk reduction benefits associated 38 with each SAMA by quantifying the benefits using the integrated internal and external events 39 PRA model. In response to NRC staff RAIs, NextEra performed a sensitivity analysis to account 40 for the potential additional risk reduction benefits associated with the additional risk from seismic F-25
Appendix F 1 events (NextEra 2011a), which was also performed in the 2012 SAMA supplement 2 (NextEra 2012a), NextEra multiplied the estimated benefits for internal and external events by a 3 factor of 2.16 for those Phase II SAMAs that were qualitatively screened on high implementation 4 costs and by a factor of 2.1 for all other Phase II SAMAs for which a detailed evaluation was 5 performed (NextEra 2012a).
6 F.3.2 Review of NextEras Process 7 NextEras efforts to identify potential SAMAs focused primarily on areas associated with internal 8 initiating events but also included explicit consideration of potential SAMAs for fire and seismic 9 events. The initial list of SAMAs generally addressed the accident sequences considered to be 10 important to CDF from functional, initiating event, and risk reduction worth (RRW) perspectives 11 at Seabrook.
12 NextEras SAMA identification process began with a review of the list of potential PWR 13 enhancements in Table 14 of NEI 05-01 (NEI 2005). As a result of this review, 153 SAMAs 14 were identified. In response to NRC staff RAIs, NextEra clarified that 25 SAMAs were 15 identified from previous reviews of internal and external events from the Seabrook plant-16 specific PRA and an additional 13 SAMAs were identified as a result of a general solicitation 17 of Seabrook staff for possible SAMA candidates by an expert panel. As mentioned 18 previously, four additional SAMAs were identified in the 2012 SAMA supplement, of which 19 three SAMAs were suggested by plant personnel and one SAMA was identified in 20 response to an NRC staff RAI (NextEra 2012a).
21 In the ER and subsequent RAI responses, NextEra provided tabular listings of both the 22 Level 1 and LERF PRA internal, fire, and seismic basic events sorted according to their 23 RRW (NextEra 2010), listings of the Level 2 non-LERF basic events that contribute 24 90 percent of the population dose risk, and a review all of these basic events for potential 25 SAMAs.
26 These importance analyses were subsequently updated in the 2012 SAMA supplement 27 (NextEra 2012a) based on the SSPSS-2011 PRA model. In this supplement, NextEra 28 provided a tabular listing of the top 15 initiating events contributing to each of CDF and 29 LERF, the top 15 basic events contributing to each of CDF and LERF, and the basic 30 events for the Level 2 release categories that cumulatively contribute to approximately 31 90 percent of the total public risk (i.e., dose and economic cost risk). As a result, 32 existing SAMAs or new SAMAs were identified for a total of 29 initiating events (one 33 initiating event contributes to both CDF and LERF) and 43 basic events (some basic 34 events contribute to multiple release categories). In response to an NRC staff RAI on the 35 supplement to provide importance analysis down to a level that all potentially cost-36 beneficial SAMAs could be identified, NextEra provided listings of basic event 37 contributors to non-LERF release categories LL-5 (large late containment basemat 38 failure), SE-3 (small early containment penetration failure to isolate ), and SELL (small 39 early RCS release with large late containment failure), down to RRW values of 1.005, 40 1.003, and 1.003, respectively (NextEra 2012b). For release categories SE-3 and SELL, all 41 of the basic events were already identified and evaluated in the 2012 SAMA supplement.
42 For release category LL-5, 28 new basic events were identified, and a SAMA (either 43 already existing or new) was correlated to each of these basic events. NextEra explained 44 that differences in basic events and corresponding RRW values to those presented in the 45 ER (NextEra 2010) and associated RAI responses (NextEra 2011a) were in general due to 46 an accumulation of small changes including an updated HRA performed in 2009. In F-26
Appendix F 1 response to a separate RAI (NextEra 2012b), NextEra also provided a listing of all CDF 2 and LERF initiating events contributing greater than 1 percent of the total CDF and 3 0.3 percent of the total LERF. All of the LERF initiating events were already identified 4 and evaluated in the 2012 SAMA supplement, while 11 new CDF initiating events and a 5 SAMA (either already existing or new) was correlated to each of these initiating events.
6 The newly identified SAMAs, and the results of their evaluation, are discussed further in 7 Section F.6.2.
8 NextEra states in the ER that no SAMAs were identified to address the operator actions in the 9 Level 1 and LERF basic events importance lists because the current plant procedures and 10 training meet current industry standards, and no plant-specific procedure improvements were 11 identified that would affect the results of the HEP calculations. The NRC staff asked NextEra to 12 consider the feasibility of non-procedural and training SAMAs for the human error basic events 13 (NRC 2011a). In response to RAIs, NextEra identified and evaluated three operator actions 14 included in the top 15 Level 1 basic events and to automate or install additional alarm indication 15 for the operator action having the highest LERF-related RRW (NextEra 2011a). Subsequently 16 in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a), NextEra included an evaluation of SAMAs 17 for 15 different operator failures covered by the importance analyses.
18 The NRC staff estimated that a risk reduction of 3.3 1 percent, corresponding to the least 19 bounding cut-off of the different importance analysis listings (i.e., CDF initiating event 20 listing) produced by NextEra, equates to a maximum baseline benefit of approximately 21 $30,000, or approximately $64,000 after the benefits have been multiplied by a factor of 2.1 to 22 account for the additional risk from seismic events, which is less than the minimum 23 implementation cost of $100,000 associated with a hardware change.
24 Based on this, and NextEras statement discussed previously that procedure and training 25 improvements have been considered but that no improvements were identified that would 26 reduce plant risk, the NRC staff concludes that it is unlikely that additional cost-beneficial 27 SAMAs would be found from a further review of initiating events having lower contribution to 28 CDF.
29 In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra reviewed the cost-beneficial SAMAs from prior SAMA 30 analyses for five Westinghouse four-loop PWR sites (NextEra 2011a). NextEras review 31 determined that all but two of these cost-beneficial SAMAs were already represented by a 32 SAMA, have intent that was already met at Seabrook, have low potential for risk reduction at 33 Seabrook (e.g., do not address risk-important basic events), or were not applicable to Seabrook.
34 Two SAMAs were identified and evaluated further as a result of this review and are further 35 discussed in Section F.6.2. The two SAMAs are procedure change to ensure that the reactor 36 coolant system (RCS) cold leg water seals are not cleared and installation of redundant 37 parallel service water valves to the emergency diesel generators (EDGs).
38 The NRC staff noted that both SAMA 173, identified from the IPEEE review, and SAMA 185 are 39 described as improve procedural guidance for directing depressurization of RCS, and it asked 40 NextEra to clarify the difference between these two SAMAs (NRC 2010a). In response to the 41 RAI, NextEra clarified that SAMA 173 was to improve procedural guidance directing operators 42 to depressurize the RCS before core damage, while SAMA 185 was to improve procedural 43 guidance directing operators to depressurize the RCS after core damage. The NRC staff 44 considers NextEras clarification reasonable and the screening of those Phase I SAMAs 45 acceptable.
F-27
Appendix F 1 Although the IPE did not identify any fundamental vulnerabilities or weaknesses related to 2 internal events, 14 potential plant improvements were identified. NextEra reviewed these 3 potential improvements for consideration as plant-specific candidate SAMAs. In response to an 4 NRC staff RAI, NextEra clarified that the following 13 SAMAs were identified from the review of 5 the potential plant improvements identified in the IPE (NextEra 2011a):
6 Phase II SAMA 167, install independent seal injection pump (low volume pump) with 7 automatic start, 8 Phase II SAMA 168, install independent seal injection pump (low volume pump) with 9 manual start, 10 Phase II SAMA 169, install independent charging pump (low volume pump) with manual 11 start, 12 Phase I SAMA 155, install alternate emergency AC power source (e.g., swing diesel),
13 Phase II SAMA 156, install alternate offsite power source that bypasses switchyard, for 14 example, use campus power source to energize Bus E5 or E6, 15 Phase II SAMA 174, provide alternate scram button to remove power from motor 16 generator (MG) sets to control rod (CR) drives, 17 Phase II SAMA 157, provide independent AC source for battery chargers, for example, 18 provide portable generator to charge station battery, 19 Phase I SAMA 158, provide enhanced procedural direction for cross-tie of batteries 20 within each train, 21 Phase II SAMA 159, install additional batteries, 22 Phase II SAMA 184, control/reduce time that the containment purge valves are in open 23 position, 24 Phase I SAMA 185, improve procedural guidance to directing depressurization of RCS, 25 Phase II SAMA 186, install containment leakage monitoring system, and 26 Phase II SAMA 187, install RHR isolation valve leakage monitoring system.
27 In addition, the improvement identified in the IPE for alternate, independent EFW pump 28 (e.g., diesel firewater pump hard piped to discharge of startup feed pump), is already 29 addressed by Phase I SAMA 29, provide capability for alternate injection via diesel-driven fire 30 pump, and Phase II SAMA 163, install third EFW pump (steam-driven). Phase I SAMA 29 31 and Phase II SAMA 163 were previously identified from the review of the list of potential PWR 32 enhancements in Table 14 of NEI 05-01 (NEI 2005). Phase I SAMAs 29, 155, 158, and 185 33 were screened in the Phase I evaluation as having already been implemented.
34 Based on this information, the NRC staff concludes that the set of SAMAs evaluated in the ER 35 and 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a), together with those identified in response to 36 NRC staff RAIs, addresses the major contributors to internal event CDF.
37 As described previously, NextEras importance analysis considered both fire and seismic basic 38 events from the internal and external event integrated Level 1 and Level 2 PRA model. The 39 NRC staff noted that since the importance analyses did not separately consider the importance 40 of internal, fire, and seismic events, SAMAs identified to address the important basic events 41 may not address the more important initiator (e.g., fire), and it asked NextEra to explain how the F-28
Appendix F 1 identified SAMAs address this issue (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, NextEra explained 2 that the importance analysis considers the contribution from all hazards, and the contribution 3 from the individual hazards will be a subset of the total risk contribution (NextEra 2011a).
4 Additionally, based on evaluations provided in response to the NRC staff RAIs discussed above, 5 in which SAMAs were identified to address each of the important Level 1 and 2 basic events, 6 hardware changes to address the individual hazard contributors would not, in NextEras 7 judgement, be cost beneficial based on a conservative minimum cost for a hardware change of 8 $100,000 (NextEra 2011a). Based on the NRC staff conclusions above regarding NextEras 9 systematic process for identifying SAMAs for each important Level 1 and 2 basic event and 10 NextEras statement that procedure/training improvements have been considered but that no 11 improvements were identified that would reduce plant risk, the NRC staff agrees that it is 12 unlikely that additional cost-beneficial SAMAs would be found from a further review of basic 13 events.
14 Although the IPEEE did not identify any fundamental vulnerabilities or weaknesses related to 15 external events, two potential plant improvements were identified to improve seismic CDF, and 16 five potential plant improvements were identified to improve fire CDF. Additionally, five potential 17 plant improvements were identified that were being evaluated to improve internal event risk but 18 which may also reduce external event risk because they address functional failures. In 19 response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra clarified that the following 12 SAMAs were identified 20 from the review of the potential plant improvements identified in the IPEEE (NextEra 2011a):
21 SAMAs to improve seismic CDF:
22 - Phase II SAMA 181, improve relay chatter fragility, and 23 - Phase II SAMA 182, improve seismic capacity of EDGs and steam-driven EFW 24 pump.
25 SAMAs to improve fire CDF:
26 - Phase II SAMA 175, install fire detection in turbine building relay room, 27 - Phase I SAMA 176, install additional suppression at west wall of turbine 28 building, 29 - Phase I SAMA 177, improve fire response procedure to indicate that PCCW can 30 be impacted by PAB fire event, 31 - Phase I SAMA 178, improve the response procedure to indicate important fire 32 areas including control room, PCCW pump area, and cable spreading room, and 33 - Phase I SAMA 180, modify SW pump house roof to allow scuppers to function 34 properly.
35 Other SAMAs identified from the IPEEE review:
36 - Phase I SAMA 160, enhancements to address loss of SF6-type sequences, 37 - Phase I SAMA 171, install high temperature O-rings in RCPs, 38 - Phase I SAMA 173, improve procedural guidance for directing depressurization 39 of RCS, 40 - Phase II SAMA 179, fire-induced LOCA response procedure from Alternate 41 Shutdown Panel, and 42 - Phase I SAMA 183, Turbine Building internal flooding improvements.
F-29
Appendix F 1 Phase I SAMAs 160, 171, 173, 176, 177, 178, 180, and 183 were screened in the Phase I 2 evaluation as having already been implemented.
3 The NRC staff questioned whether SAMA 162, increase the capacity margin of the CST 4 addressed basic event COTK25.RT, CST CO-TK-25 ruptures/excessive leakage 5 (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, NextEra explained that the CST has a median seismic 6 fragility of 1.65 g and a HCLPF of 0.65, without crediting the concrete shield structure 7 surrounding the CST (NextEra 2011a). Therefore, NextEra identified and evaluated a SAMA to 8 make seismic upgrades to the CST. This is discussed further in Section F.6.2.
9 The NRC staff asked NextEra to clarify how additional fire barriers for fire areas were 10 considered since SAMA 143, upgrade fire compartment barriers, was screened in the Phase I 11 evaluation based on the Seabrook plant design including 3-hour rated fire barriers 12 (NRC 2010a). NextEra responded with a review of the fire risk by plant location and explained 13 that it is not physically possible to install additional fire barriers in the control room, which 14 contribute 52 percent of the fire CDF. Additionally, NextEra stated that additional fire barriers in 15 the essential SWGR rooms, which contribute 41 percent of the fire CDF, would have no impact 16 on the fire risk since these rooms are already separated (NextEra 2011a). Other lower risk fire 17 areas were also similarly evaluated with similar conclusions. In a response to a followup NRC 18 staff RAI, NextEra further clarified that additional fire barriers were not considered for the 19 essential SWGR rooms because a review of fire scenarios in these rooms did not identify 20 impacts to any redundant safety train cables (NextEra 2011b). The NRC staff concludes that 21 the applicants rationale for eliminating fire barrier enhancements from further consideration is 22 reasonable.
23 Based on the licensees IPEEE, the review of the results of the Seabrook PRA, which includes 24 seismic and fire events, and the expected cost associated with further risk analysis and potential 25 plant modifications, the NRC staff concludes that the opportunity for seismic and fire-related 26 SAMAs has been adequately explored, and it is unlikely that there are any additional 27 cost-beneficial seismic or fire-related SAMA candidates.
28 As stated earlier, other external hazards (i.e., high winds, external floods, transportation and 29 nearby facility accidents, and chemical releases) are below the IPEEE threshold screening 30 frequency, or met the 1975 SRP design criteria, and are not expected to represent opportunities 31 for cost-beneficial SAMA candidates. Nevertheless, NextEra reviewed the IPEEE results and 32 identified no additional Phase I SAMAs to reduce HFO risk (NextEra 2010).
33 For many of the Phase II SAMAs listed in the ER, the information provided did not sufficiently 34 describe the proposed modification. Therefore, the NRC staff asked the applicant to provide 35 more detailed descriptions of the modifications for several of the Phase II SAMA candidates 36 (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, NextEra provided the requested information on the 37 modifications for SAMAs 44, 59, 94, 112, 114, 163, 186, and 187 (NextEra 2011a).
38 The NRC staff questioned NextEra about lower cost alternatives to some of the SAMAs 39 evaluated (NRC 2010a) to include using a portable generator to extend the coping time in loss 40 of AC power events (to power selected instrumentation and DC power to the turbine-driven 41 auxiliary feedwater (TDAFW) pump provide alternate DC feeds (using a portable generator) to 42 panels supplied only by DC bus and purchasing or manufacturing a gagging device that could 43 be used to close a stuck-open SG safety valve for a SGTR event prior to core damage.
44 In response to the RAIs, NextEra clarified that the first alternative to use a portable 45 generator was already represented by SAMA 157, provide independent AC power F-30
Appendix F 1 source for battery chargers; for example, provide portable generator to charge station 2 battery (NextEra 2011a). The second alternative was addressed in the 2012 SAMA 3 supplement (NextEra 2012a) as SAMA 194, purchase or manufacture of a gagging 4 device that could be used to close a stuck-open steam generator safety valve. Both of 5 these SAMAs were assessed in the Phase II cost-benefit evaluation. The NRC staff 6 concludes that these alternatives have been adequately addressed.
7 The NRC staff requested NextEra to clarify the Phase I screening criteria, which was described 8 in the ER as including two criteria that appear to not have been used(1) excessive 9 implementation cost, and (2) very low benefit (NRC 2010a). NextEra responded that these 10 criteria, while they could have been used in the Phase I evaluation, were not used in the Phase I 11 screening evaluation in order to force evaluation of more SAMA candidates into the Phase II 12 evaluation so that the merit of each could be judged based on associated costs and benefits 13 (NextEra 2011a).
14 The NRC staff asked NextEra to provide justification for the screening of SAMA 29, provide 15 capability for alternate injection via diesel-driven fire pump, in the Phase I evaluation on the 16 basis that it has already been implemented through an existing alternate mitigation strategy 17 (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, NextEra responded that Seabrook has the capability to 18 use its diesel-driven fire pump to provide injection to the SGs through implementation of existing 19 SAMGs (NextEra 2011a). NextEra also stated that two portable diesel-driven pumps are also 20 available to provide injection using suction from the fire protection system, the cooling tower 21 basin, and the Browns River. Based on this clarification, the NRC staff considers NextEras 22 basis for screening SAMA 29 reasonable.
23 The NRC staff noted that SAMA 64, implement procedure and hardware modification for a 24 CCW header cross-tie, was screened in the Phase I evaluation because a cross-tie already 25 exists to support a maintenance activity. The staff asked NextEra to clarify if the cross-tie 26 between divisions A and B of the PCCW system is already provided for in existing plant 27 procedures (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, NextEra clarified that the Seabrook operating 28 procedures do provide explicit instructions for alignment of the PCCW division A and B 29 cross-tie. Additionally, while the cross-tie is primarily used during maintenance activities, it 30 could be used during an off-normal event involving a failure of heat sink in one division with 31 failure of frontline components in the opposite division, provided that adequate time is available 32 (NextEra 2011a). Based on this clarification, the NRC staff considers NextEras basis for 33 screening SAMA 64 reasonable.
34 The NRC staff questioned why SAMA 79, install bigger pilot operated relief valve so only one is 35 required, was screened in the Phase I evaluation based on the intent of the SAMA having 36 already been implemented when the success criterion is two of two PORVs needed for 37 intermediate head SI (NRC 2010a). NextEra responded that the context of SAMA 79 was to 38 increase the capacity of the pressurizer PORVs such that opening of only one PORV would 39 satisfy the feed and bleed success criteria for all loss of feedwater-type sequences, which is all 40 that is needed at Seabrook if feed and bleed is provided by one of two high head charging 41 pumps (NextEra 2010). However, since opening of two PORVs is needed if feed is provided by 42 one of two SI pumps, NextEra provided a Phase II evaluation of this SAMA, the results of which 43 are further discussed in Section F.6.2.
44 The NRC staff asked NextEra to provide justification for the screening of SAMA 82, stage 45 backup fans in switchgear rooms, and SAMA 84, switch for emergency feedwater room fan 46 power supply to station batteries, in the Phase I evaluation on the basis that they are not F-31
Appendix F 1 applicable to Seabrook (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, NextEra explained that the 2 context of SAMA 82 was to enhance the availability and reliability of ventilation to the essential 3 SWGR rooms in the event of a loss of SWGR room ventilation. Additionally, this SAMA is more 4 accurately screened as its intent having been already implemented at Seabrook since 5 procedures already exist for maintaining acceptable SWGR room temperatures when ventilation 6 becomes unavailable, which includes opening doors and setting up portable fans 7 (NextEra 2011a). The NRC staff considers NextEras basis for screening SAMA 82 8 reasonable.
9 Regarding SAMA 84, NextEra explained that the context of this SAMA was to enhance the 10 availability and reliability of ventilation to the EFW pump house, in the event of a loss of pump 11 house ventilation, by switching the pump house ventilation fan(s) power supply to station 12 batteries. NextEra further stated that the initial screening of not applicable is incorrect 13 (NextEra 2011a). NextEra explained that since procedures already exist for maintaining 14 acceptable EFW pump house room temperatures when ventilation becomes unavailable, failure 15 of the already reliable ventilation system is not a significant contributor to CDF. Nevertheless, 16 NextEra provided a Phase II evaluation of this SAMA, the results of which are further discussed 17 in Section F.6.2.
18 The NRC staff noted that SAMA 92, use a fire water system as a backup source for the 19 containment spray system, was screened in the Phase I evaluation because the containment 20 spray function is not important early, yet basic events RCPCV456A.FC and RCPCV456B.FC, 21 spray valves fail to open on demand, appear on the LERF importance list (NRC 2010a). In 22 response to the RAI, NextEra explained that these two basic events refer to modeling of the 23 PORVs and not the containment spray valves, that descriptions of these two events in the ER 24 inadvertently referred to the PORVs as PORV spray valves, that the PORV function is unrelated 25 to the containment spray function, and that, therefore, no SAMA is necessary. The NRC staff 26 considers NextEras basis for screening SAMA 92 reasonable.
27 The NRC staff also asked NextEra to provide justification for the screening of SAMA 105, delay 28 containment spray actuation after a large LOCA, and SAMA 191, remove the 135 °F 29 temperature trip of the PCCW pumps, in the Phase I evaluation on the basis that they would 30 violate the CLB for Seabrook (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, NextEra provided a 31 Phase II evaluation of these SAMAs, the results of which are further discussed in Section F.6.2 32 (NextEra 2011a).
33 The NRC staff requested that NextEra clarify the basis for screening SAMA 127, revise 34 emergency operating procedures (EOPs) to direct isolation of a faulted steam generator, in the 35 Phase I evaluation on the basis that it is already implemented (NRC 2010a). NextEra 36 responded that the context of SAMA 127 was to have specific EOPs for isolation of the SG for 37 the purpose of reducing the consequences of a SGTR, and existing EOPs direct specific 38 operator actions to diagnose a SGTR and to perform its isolation. Additionally, existing plant 39 EOPs also specifically provide actions for the identification and isolation of a faulted SG 40 (NextEra 2011a). The NRC staff considers NextEras basis for screening SAMA 127 41 reasonable.
42 The NRC staff asked NextEra to clarify the screening of SAMA 188, containment flooding 43 modify the containment integrated leak rate test (ILRT) 10-in. test flange to include a 5-in.
44 adapter with isolation valve based on the statement that flange and procedures exist 45 (NRC 2010a). NextEra responded that the 10-in. flange with fire hose adapter has been 46 pre-fabricated, is stored in a designated and controlled area, and is available for attaching to the F-32
Appendix F 1 10-in. ILRT flange to provide containment flooding via Severe Accident Guideline instructions 2 (NextEra 2011a). NextEra further explained that pre-installation of the flange adapter will 3 provide no significant time savings in light of the containment flooding scenario evolution via the 4 fire hose connection which takes several days. The NRC staff considers NextEras basis for 5 screening SAMA 188 reasonable.
6 The NRC staff notes that the set of SAMAs submitted is not all-inclusive since additional, 7 possibly even less expensive, design alternatives can always be postulated. However, the NRC 8 staff concludes that the benefits of any additional modifications are unlikely to exceed the 9 benefits of the modifications evaluated and that the alternative improvements would be unlikely 10 to cost less than the least expensive alternatives evaluated, when the subsidiary costs 11 associated with maintenance, procedures, and training are considered.
12 The NRC staff concludes that NextEra used a systematic and comprehensive process for 13 identifying potential plant improvements for Seabrook, and the set of SAMAs evaluated in the 14 ER and 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a), together with those evaluated in response 15 to NRC staff inquiries, is reasonably comprehensive and, therefore, acceptable. This search 16 included reviewing insights from the plant-specific risk studies and reviewing plant 17 improvements considered in previous SAMA analyses.
18 F.4 Risk Reduction Potential of Plant Improvements 19 NextEra evaluated the risk-reduction potential of the 78 SAMAs retained for the Phase II 20 evaluation in the ER and the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a). NextEra also 21 evaluated the risk-reduction potential of the additional SAMAs discussed in Section F.3 22 that were identified in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a) and in response to 23 NRC staff RAIs (NextEra 2012b). The majority of the SAMA evaluations were performed in a 24 bounding fashion in that the SAMA was assumed to eliminate the risk associated with the 25 proposed enhancement. On balance, such calculations overestimate the benefit and are 26 conservative.
27 NextEra used model re-quantification to determine the potential benefits. The CDF, population 28 dose, and offsite economic cost reductions were estimated using the SSPSS-2011 PRA model 29 with a truncation level of 110-14 per year. The changes made to the model to quantify the 30 impact of SAMAs are detailed in Tables 1 and 2 of the 2012 SAMA supplement 31 (NextEra 2012a) and in Tables 3-2, 3-3 and 4-1 of the response to NRC staff RAIs on the 32 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012b). Tables F-6 and F-7 list the assumptions 33 considered to estimate the risk reduction for each of the evaluated SAMA analysis cases, the 34 estimated risk reduction in terms of percent reduction in CDF and population dose, the 35 estimated total benefit (present value) of the averted risk, and the Phase II SAMAs evaluated for 36 each analysis case. The estimated benefits reported in Tables F-6 and F-7 reflect the combined 37 benefit in both internal and external events. The Phase II SAMAs included in Table F-4 are the 38 78 Phase II SAMAs identified from industry sources, plant experts, or the IPE or IPEEE.
39 The Phase II SAMAs included in Table F-5 are from plant-specific importance analyses.
40 The determination of the benefits for the various SAMAs is further discussed in Section F.6.
41 The NRC staff questioned the assumptions used in evaluating the benefits or risk reduction 42 estimates of certain SAMAs (NRC 2012a). For example, Table 1 of the 2012 SAMA 43 supplement (NextEra 2012a) presents SAMA case CONTX1, which eliminates AC, DC, and 44 PCCW support for one division of CBS. The NRC staff asked how eliminating these 45 support system failures bounds the hardware improvement SAMAs represented by this F-33
Appendix F 1 case (i.e., SAMA 91-Install Passive Containment Spray System, SAMA 94-Install Filtered 2 Containment Vent System, SAMA 99-Strengthen Containment, SAMA 102-Construct 3 Containment Ventilation System, and SAMA 107-Install Redundant Containment Spray 4 System). In response to the RAI (NextEra 2012b), NextEra provided a revised evaluation 5 of these SAMAs using more differentiated SAMA analysis cases (i.e., CBSP, FVENT, 6 CONST, and CBSR). Descriptions of these SAMA analysis cases and revised results for 7 the corresponding SAMAs are provided in Table F-6. The NRC staff also asked NextEra 8 to explain the basis for using SAMA analysis case NOATWS to evaluate the risk 9 reduction of potential modifications addressing initiating events (IE) #23, #24, #25, #26, 10 #27, and #28. Initiating events #23 through IE #27 are seismic initiators of different 11 seismic acceleration levels (0.7 g, 1.0 g, 1.4 g, 1.8 g, and 2.5 g) which lead to ATWS while 12 IE #28 is loss of main feedwater (MFW) that also leads to ATWS. In response to the RAI, 13 NextEra clarified (NextEra 2012b) that SAMA analysis case NOATWS assumes all ATWS 14 initiating events (both seismic and non-seismic initiators) are eliminated; therefore, it is a 15 conservative evaluation for all of these initiating events. NextEra further clarified that the 16 description of IE #28 is incorrect and should be ATWS with loss of MFW initially 17 available, which provides further support for the assessment that the use of the SAMA 18 analysis case NOATWS for this initiating event is conservative. The NRC staff considers 19 NextEras explanations reasonable.
20 The NRC staff has reviewed NextEras bases for calculating the risk reduction for the various 21 plant improvements and concludes that the rationale and assumptions for estimating risk 22 reduction are reasonable and generally conservative (i.e., the estimated risk reduction is higher 23 than what would actually be realized). Accordingly, the NRC staff based its estimates of averted 24 risk for the various SAMAs on NextEras risk reduction estimates.
25 Table F-46. SAMA cost and benefit screening analysis for Seabrook(a)
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(j)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty NOSBO1 Eliminate failure of 22 27 6 12 220K 525K >1.75M(w) the EDGs (470K) 160K (1.1M) 300K 2Replace lead-acid (330K2 (620K >1M batteries with fuel cells 14(m)Install a gas >2M(w) 1M turbine generator 16(m)Improve >2M(w) 1M uninterruptable power supplies 20Add a new backup >2M(w) 1M source of diesel cooling F-34
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(j)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty 161Modify EDG jacket >2M(w) 1M heat exchanger SW supply & return to allow timely alignment of alternate cooling water source (supply & drain) from firewater, reactor makeup water, dewatering, etc.
190Add >1M6.4M(w) synchronization on capability to SEPS diesel NOLOSP Eliminate LOOP 18 42 1736 530K 1.2M >3(w) 2.4M(l events (1.2M) 340K (2.7M)640K 13Install an additional (700K (1.3M) buried offsite power source 24Bury offsite >3M(l) powerlines 156Install alternate >7M(l) offsite power source that bypasses the switchyard; for example, use campus power source to energize Bus E5 or E6 BREAKER Eliminate failure of 1 <1 8K 15K Screened(n) the 4 KV bus (17K) (32K) 21Develop procedures infeed breakers to repair or replace failed 4 kV breakers CSBX LOCA02 Eliminate failure of 2268 3452 1.1M 2.5M 8.8M(w) the HPI system (2.3M) 470K (5.3M) 890K >5M(l 25Install an (980K (1.9M independent active or passive HPI system 26Provide an 8.8M(lw) additional HPI pump with >5M(l independent diesel 39Replace two of the >5M(l) four electric SI pumps with diesel-powered pumps LOCA03 Eliminate failure of 2 11 2 29 68K 160K >1M the low- pressure (140K) 160K (340K) 300K 28Add a diverse injection system (340K (640K low-pressure injection system F-35
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(j)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty LOCA04 Eliminate RWST 13 28 10 12 310K 730K >3M(w) running out of (655K) 160K (1.5M) 300K >1M(l 35Throttle low- water (330K (630K) pressure injection pumps either in medium or large-break LOCAs to maintain RWST inventory 106Install automatic >3M(w) 1M(l containment spray pump header throttle valves DSIPP Eliminate <1 0 <1K <1K >5M(l) dependency of (<1K) (<1K) 39Replace two of the the existing four electric SI pumps intermediate head with diesel-powered SI pump trains on pumps AC power LOCA01 Eliminate all small 27 12 27K 64K >1M LOCA events (57K) 33K 63K (130K) 41Create a reactor (70K coolant depressurization system SW01 Eliminate the <2 1 01 11K 26K >100K dependency of the (24K) 10K (55K) 19K 43Add redundant DC SW pumps on DC (21K (40K control power for SW power pumps CCW01 Eliminate failure of 14 25 31 23 920K 2.15M >6M(w) 4M(l the component (1.9M) 180K (4.6M) 350K 44Replace ECCS cooling water (380K (730K pump motors with air- (CCW) pumps cooled motors PCCABCD Eliminates CCW 4 11 335K 785K >6.1M(lw) pump failure (700K) (1.7M) 59Install a digital feed when AC & DC water upgrade power support is available CSBX Eliminate failures 28 11 34 12 1.0M 2.45M >6.4M(w) of support (2.2M) 92K (5.2M) 180K >1M 55Install an systems (e.g., AC (170K (370K independent RCP seal & DC power, injection system with cooling) for dedicated diesel division B of high- pressure injection 56(b)Install an >6.4M(w) independent RCP seal 3M injection system without dedicated diesel F-36
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(j)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty 167Install independent >6.4M(w) seal injection pump (low 1M volume pump) with automatic start 168Install independent >6.4M(w) seal injection pump (low 1M volume pump) with manual start 169Install independent >6.4M(w) charging pump (high 500K volume pump) with manual start 170Replace the >6.4M(w) positive displacement 500K pump (PDP) with a 3rd centrifugal pump; consider low volume &
cooling water independence MAB(r) Eliminate all plant 100 100 3.05M 7.15M risk (6.4M) (15M) 65Install digital feed >30M water upgrade 77Provide a passive, >15M(w) 1M secondary-side heat-rejection loop consisting of a condenser & heat sink PORV FW01 Eliminate all PORV <1 12 07 1.7K 4.1K >2.7M(w) failures (4K) 73K (9K) 140K 1M(l 79(d)Install bigger pilot (150K (290K operated relief valve so only one is required HVAC2 Eliminate the 38 51 150K 360K >1M(w) dependency of the (320K) 32K (750K) 61K 500K 80Provide a redundant CS, SI, RHR, & (67K (130K train or means of CBS pumps on ventilation HVAC OEFWVS Eliminate loss of <1 0 <1 <1K <2K >250K (e) EFW ventilation (<1K2K) (<4K)<1K 84 Switch for EFW (<2K) room fan power supply to station batteries F-37
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(j)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty CBSP CONT01 Eliminate CBS 0 58 36 1.7M 4.0M >10M(w) power, signal, (3.5M) 160K (8.3M) 310K >3-6M 91(b)(g)Install a passive and& cooling (340K (650K containment spray support system system failures, and&
common cause failure among similar components for one division of CBS 102(b)(g)(v)Construct a >56.7M 3M building to be connected to primary &
& maintained at a vacuum FVENT Eliminate release 0 69 2.0M 4.6M >20M(w) category LL3 (4.1M) (9.7M) 5M(l 94(g)Install a filtered (containment containment vent to vent) and&
remove decay heat; prevents 80 Option 1: Gravel Bed percent of release Filter; Option 2: Multiple category LL5 Venturi Scrubber (basemat melt-through)
CONST Reduce by a 0 4 120K 270K 11.5M(w) factor of 10 the (245K) (570K) >10M 99(b))(g)Strengthen non-recovery of primary & secondary off-site power containment (e.g., add before late ribbing to containment containment shell) pressure failure occurs CBSR Add redundant 0 1 29K 69K >10M(w) train of CBS (62K) (140K) 107(b)(g)Install a redundant containment spray system XOVNTS Eliminate failure 0 1 39K 92K >3M 3-4M (b) of the human (82K) (190K) 93 Install a action to vent redundantan unfiltered containment(u) hardened containment vent H2Burn Eliminate all 0 1 0(g) 18K 43K hydrogen ignition & (39K) <1K (90K) <1K 96Provide post- burns (<1K (<1K >100K accident containment inerting capability F-38
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(j)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty 108Install an >100K independent power supply to the hydrogen control system using either new batteries, a nonsafety grade portable generator, existing station batteries, or existing AC/DC independent power supplies, such as the security system diesel 109Install a passive >100K hydrogen control system OLRP(t) Eliminate the 32 0 <1 12K 27K >100K (f) human failure to (25K) 7.2K (58K) 14K 105 Delay complete & ensure (15K (29K containment spray the RHR &
actuation after a large low-head safety LOCA injection (LHSI) transfer to long-t-term recirculation during large LOCA events HPME Eliminate high- 0 0 <1K 1K >10M pressure core (<1K) (2K) 110Erect a barrier ejection that would provide occurrences enhanced protection of the containment walls (shell) from ejected core debris following a core melt scenario at high pressure CONT02(p) Eliminate CIV 0 6 19 115K 270K >1M(w) failures (240K) 100K (570K) 200K >500K 112Add redundant & (220K (420K diverse limit switches to each CIV 114Install >2M(w) self-actuating CIVs 500K LOCA06(q) Eliminate ISLOCA <1 3 48K 110K >1M(w) contribution (100K) 14K (240K) 27K >100K 113Increase leak (30K (60K testing of valves in ISLOCA paths 115Locate RHR inside 2 7 28K 53K >1M containment (60K) (110K) 187Install RHR >500K(w) isolation valve leakage 190K monitoring system F-39
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(j)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty NOSGTR Eliminate all SGTR 53 2 17 67K 160K events (140K) 86K (330K) 345K 119Institute a (180K >500K maintenance practice to perform a 100%
inspection of SG tubes during each refueling outage 121Increase the >500K pressure capacity of the secondary side so that a SGTR would not cause the relief valves to lift 125Route the >500K discharge from the main steam safety valves (MSSVs) through a structure where a water spray would condense the steam & remove most of the fission products 126Install a highly >15M(w) reliable (closed loop) SG 500K shell-side heat removal system that relies on natural circulation &
stored water sources 129Vent MSSVs in >500K containment NOATWS Eliminate all ATWS 4 3 2 11 60K 140K events (130K) 70K (290K) 130Add an (150K >500K independent boron injection system 131Add a system of >500K relief valves to prevent equipment damage from pressure spikes during an ATWS 133Install an ATWS >500K sized filtered containment vent to remove decay heat 174Provide alternate >500K scram button to remove power from MG sets to CR drives F-40
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(j)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty LOCA05 Eliminate all piping 9 10 2 12 77K 180K >500K failure LOCAs (160K) 100K (380K) 200K 147Install digital large (220K (410K break LOCA protection system NOSLB Eliminate all steam <1 0 0 <1 5K 11K >500K line break events (11K) 3K (24K) 6K 153Install secondary (7K (13K side guard pipes up to the main steam isolation valves OSEPALL Eliminate failure of 8 Not 2 Not 64K 150K >750K (k) all operator actions Provided Provided (135K) 33K (320K) 62K 154 Modify SEPS to align & load the (68K (130K design to accommodate SEPS DGs automatic bus loading &
automatic bus alignment Case INDEPAC Eliminate failure <2 4 12 34K 80K of operator action (72K) 23K (170K) 45K 157Provide to shed DC loads (48K (95K 30K independent AC power to extend source for battery batteries to 12 chargers; for example, hours. Also, provide portable eliminate failure generator to charge to recover offsite station battery power for plant-related, grid-related, &
weather-related
.(h)
LOOP events 159Install additional >1M batteries CST01 Eliminate CST <2 1 1 35K 81K >2.5M(w) running out of (73K) 9K (170K) 16K 100K 162Increase the water (18K (34K capacity margin of the CST 164Modify 10" >40K condensate filter flange to have a 21/2" female fire hose adapter with isolation valve TDAFW Eliminate failure of 5 19 12 9 360K 835K >2M(l) the TDAFW train (750K) 100K (1.8M) 190K 163Install third EFW (210K (400K pump (steam-driven)
F-41
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(j)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty NORMW Guaranteed 5 10 28 57K 130K 50K success of RWST (120K) 75K (280K) 165RWST fill from makeup for long- (160K 120K firewater during term sequences (300K containment injection where modify 6" RWST flush recirculation is flange to have a 21/2" not available female fire hose adapter with isolation valve RCPL Eliminate loss of 34 49 1.5M 2.5M >2M(l)
RCP seal cooling (3.2M) (7.4M) 172Evaluate initiating event &
installation of a RCP seal failures shutdown seal in the subsequent to a RCPs being developed plant transient by Westinghouse FIRE2 175Improve fire This SAMA has been implemented (NextEra, 2011b).
detection in turbine building relay room FIRE1A Eliminate operator 0 1 0 <1 <1K <1K >20K(l) failure to close (<1K) 4K (<2K) 7K 179Fire-induced LOCA PORV block valve (8K (15K response procedure from during a control alternate shutdown panel room fire SEISMIC01 Eliminate all 12 9 3 12 87K 204K >600K(l) seismic relay (180K) 100K (470K) 200K 181Improve relay chatter failures (210K (410K chatter fragility SEISMIC02 Eliminate all <1 0 0 2.4K 5.6K >500K seismic failures of (6K) <1K (12K) <1K 182Improve seismic EDGs or turbine- (<1K (<1K capacity of EDGs & driven emergency steam-driven EFW pump feedwater (TDEFW)
COP Eliminate 0 0 <1K <1K >20K possibility of (<1K) (<2K) 184Control & reduce containment purge time that the containment valves being open purge valves are in open at the time of an position event CISPRE Eliminate all CDF 0 Not 0 Not 4.4K 10K >500K (o) contribution from Provided Provided (12K) 11K (27K) 20K 186 Install pre-existing (23K (43K containment leakage containment monitoring system leakage F-42
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(j)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty SEPS Modify fault tree so 6 7 21 63K 150K >2M(w) that one of two (130K) 30K (310K) 60K 300K 189Modify or analyze SEPS DGs are (60K (120K SEPS capability; one of required rather two SEPS for LOOP non- than both SEPS SI loads, two of two for DGs being required LOOP SI loads PCTES Eliminate <1 0 <1 <1K <1K >100K (f) inadvertent failure (<1K) (<2K 1K) 191 Remove the of the redundant 135 °F temperature trip TE/logic of the of the PCCW pumps associated PCC division for both loss of PCCW initiating events &
loss of PCCW mitigative function NOCBFLD Eliminate control 24 25 11 6 470K 1.1M 370K(w) building fire (990K) (2.3M) 310K 200K 192(i)Install a globe protection 160K (640K valve or flow limiting flooding initiators (340K orifice upstream in the fire protection system CSV167 Eliminate 0 5 35 86K 200K 300K (c) operator failure to (180K) (420K) 193 Hardware close CIV CS-V- 190K 365K change to eliminate 167 (400K (770K MOV AC power locallyEliminate dependency MOV AC power dependency by replacing the MOV with a fail-closed AOV MSSVRS Eliminate failure 0 0 <1K <1K >30K of MSSVs to (<1K) (<2K) 194Purchase or reseat manufacture a gagging device that could be used to close a stuck-open SG safety valve CCTE1 Eliminate failure 3 5 140K 340K 300K (s) of temperature (300K) (710K) 195 Make control &
improvements to modulation for PCCW temperature PCC Trains A & B control reliability that could fail PCCW (a)
SAMAs in bold are potentially cost beneficial. This table summarizes the results of the revised SAMA analysis provided in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a), which revised all results reported for % Risk reduction and Total benefit ($), and included changes to Analysis case & applicable SAMAs, Modeling assumptions, and Cost
($).
F-43
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(j)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty (b)
This is retained as a quantitatively evaluated Phase II SAMA in response to NRC staff RAI 3.g (NextEra 2011a).
(c)
This is a new SAMA identified in response to NRC staff RAI 2.f (NextEra 2011a) and conference call clarification #7 (NRC 2011a).
(d)
Evaluation of this SAMA is provided in response to NRC staff RAIs 5.g (NextEra 2011a) and conference call clarification #14 (NRC 2011a), and it was subsequently updated in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a).
(e)
Evaluation of this SAMA is provided in response to NRC staff RAI 5.j (NextEra 2011a) and was subsequently updated in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a).
(f)
Evaluation of these SAMAs is provided in response to NRC staff RAI 5.n (NextEra 2011a) and conference call clarification #15 (NRC 2011a), and it was subsequently updated in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a).
(g)
In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra subdivided previous SAMA analysis case, CONTX1, into separate SAMA analysis cases CBSP (SAMA s 91 and 102), FVENT (SAMA 94), CONST (SAMA 99), and CBSR (SAMA 107) given the potentially high benefits (NextEra 2012b). NextEra refers to these as sensitivity cases.
(h)
Information is provided for SAMA157 in response to NRC staff RAI 6.h (NextEra 2011a), and it subsequently updated in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a).
(i)
This is a new SAMA (#192) identified and evaluated in response to NRC staff RAI 1.a (NextEra 2011a) and conference call clarification #1 (NRC 2011a) and subsequently updated in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a).
(j)
Values in parenthesis are the results of the sensitivity analysis applying a multiplier of 2.1 to account for the additional risk of seismic events (NextEra 2011b).
(k)
The analysis case for SAMA 154 changed from NOSBO to OSEPALL in response to followup NRC staff RAI 4 (NextEra 2011b).
(l)
Cost updated in supplement to response to followup NRC staff RAI 4 (NextEra 2011c).
(m)
The analysis case for SAMAs 14 and 16 changed from NOLOSP to NOSBO in response to followup NRC staff RAI 4 (NextEra 2011b).
(n)
In response to followup NRC staff RAI 4, NextEra determined that detailed procedures already exist for inspection and repair of the Seabrook 4 kV breakers, and this SAMA was, therefore, screened from further consideration (NextEra 2011b).
(o)
The analysis case for SAMA 186 changed from CONT01 to CISPRE in response to followup NRC staff RAI 4 (NextEra 2011b).
(p)
NextEra notes (NextEra 2010) that although calculated as eliminating all CIV failures, the limit switches actually contribute no more than 50 percent to the containment isolation function; thus, the upper bound benefit is more accurately $566*0.5 = $283K (NextEra 2012a).
(q)
NextEra notes (NextEra 2010) that although calculated as eliminating all ISLOCAs pressure isolation valve testing could be assumed to reduce ISLOCA by half, thus the upper bound benefit is more accurately $240K
- 0.5 = $120K (NextEra 2012a).
(r)
In response to NRC staff RAI 4, NextEra clarified that the analysis case for SAMAs designated MAB are evaluated using the MACR (NextEra 2012b).
(s)
In response to an NRC staff, NextEra clarified that SAMA analysis case CCTE1 addresses both the reliability of PCCW and loss of CCW as an initiator (NextEra 2012b).
(t)
Although the name of this SAMA analysis case was changed from OLPRS in the 2012 SAMA supplement to OLPR in the ER, the modeling assumptions are unchanged (NextEra 2012a).
(u)
Description of analysis case provided in response to NRC staff RAI 2f (NextEra , 2011b).
(v)
The analysis case CBSR was used to represent this SAMA because CBSP would prevent containment overpressure (NextEra 2012b).
(w)
Cost updated in 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a).
1 F.5 Cost Impacts of Candidate Plant Improvements 2 NextEra developed plant-specific costs of implementing the 78 Phase II candidate SAMAs 3 evaluated in the ER and the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a). This SAMA group 4 consisted of SAMAs identified from industry, by plant experts, by identifying important F-44
Appendix F 1 failures, and by plant improvements identified in the Seabrook IPE and IPEEE. NextEra 2 also developed implementation cost for the additional SAMAs discussed in Section F.3 3 that were identified in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a) and in response to 4 NRC staff RAIs (NextEra 2012b). An expert panelcomposed of senior plant staff from the 5 PRA group, the design group, operations, and license renewaldeveloped the cost estimates 6 based on their experience with developing and implementing modifications at Seabrook. The 7 NRC staff requested that NextEra describe the level of detail used to develop the cost estimates 8 (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, NextEra explained that the cost estimates were based on 9 the experience and judgment of the plant staff serving on the expert panel and that, in most 10 cases, detailed cost estimates were not developed because of the large margin between the 11 estimated SAMA benefits and the estimated implementation costs (NextEra 2011a). The cost 12 estimates conservatively did not specifically account for inflation, contingencies, implementation 13 obstacles, or replacement power costs (RPC).
14 The NRC staff reviewed the bases for the applicants cost estimates provided in the ER 15 (presented in Section F.7.2 and Table F.7-1 of Attachment F to the ER). For certain 16 improvements, the NRC staff also compared the cost estimates to estimates developed 17 elsewhere for similar improvements, including estimates developed as part of other applicants 18 analyses of SAMAs for operating reactors and advanced light-water reactors. In response to an 19 RAI requesting a more detailed description of the changes associated with Phase II SAMAs 44, 20 59, 94, 112, 114, 163, 186, and 187, NextEra provided additional information detailing the 21 analysis and plant modifications included in the cost estimate of each improvement 22 (NextEra 2011a). The staff reviewed the costs and found them to be reasonable and generally 23 consistent with estimates provided in support of other plants analyses. In many cases, the 24 cost estimates and their descriptions were superseded by the estimates performed for 25 the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012b), and they were generally higher than the 26 cost estimates provided in the ER and associated RAI responses. Based on its review of 27 this supplement, the NRC staff requested more detailed justification of the cost estimates 28 for Phase II SAMAs 162 and 189 (NRC 2012a). In response to the RAI, NextEra provided 29 additional justification as to why the cost estimates increased for these SAMAs 30 (NextEra 2012b). For SAMA 162, NextEra explained that the original cost estimate of 31 greater than $100,000 was made to represent a non-complex hardware change because a 32 detailed estimate was not needed due to the low benefit estimated for the SAMA, but that 33 the higher benefit estimated in the 2012 SAMA supplement necessitated reassessing the 34 implementation cost to reflect the expected scope of the modification. Similarly, for 35 SAMA 189, NextEra explained that the original cost estimate of greater than $300,000 was 36 a conservative minimum estimate made based on the assumption that the SAMA would 37 primarily be an analytical task, while the higher benefit estimate in the 2012 SAMA 38 supplement for this SAMA necessitated the development of a more detailed cost 39 estimate of the expected scope of the modification, which includes engineering analysis, 40 hardware modifications, and testing.
41 The NRC staff also asked NextEra to provide the basis for the implementation cost 42 estimates for the plant modifications to address IE #23, #24, #25, #26, #27, and #28.
43 Initiating events #23 through IE #27 are seismic initiators of different seismic 44 acceleration levels (0.7 g, 1.0 g, 1.4 g, 1.8 g, and 2.5 g), which lead to ATWS while IE #28 45 is loss of MFW that also leads to ATWS. In response to the RAI, NextEra clarified 46 (NextEra 2012b) that modifications to reduce risk from IE #23 through IE #27 all include 47 structural upgrades to the reactor internals to increase seismic capacity, which would be 48 expected to significantly exceed the $500,000 cost estimate for this SAMA case.
49 Additionally, NextEra clarified that IE #28 is dominated by failure of control rods to insert F-45
Appendix F 1 and failure to initiate emergency boration of RCS and that a hardware modification to 2 upgrade reactor internals and emergency boration system are expected to significantly 3 exceed $500,000. The NRC staff considers NextEras clarification reasonable.
4 The NRC staff noted that Phase I SAMA 65, install a digital feed water upgrade, has an 5 estimated implementation cost of $30 million, which is much larger than the estimated 6 implementation cost of more than $500,000 for Phase II SAMA 147, install digital large break 7 LOCA protection system. The NRC staff asked NextEra to explain the reason for this 8 difference between what appear to be similar modifications (NRC 2010a). NextEra responded 9 that the estimated implementation cost of $30 million for Phase I SAMA 65 was based on a 10 detailed assessment of the costs associated with the Seabrook long-range plan for a digital 11 upgrade of the feedwater control system, while the estimated cost of more than $500,000 for 12 SAMA 147 was based on the judgment of the expert panel (NextEra 2011a). NextEra also 13 noted that since the conservatively estimated benefit for SAMA 147 was much less than the 14 estimated implementation cost, developing a more detailed cost estimate for this SAMA was not 15 necessary. The NRC staff considers NextEras clarification reasonable.
16 The NRC staff also requested additional clarification on the estimated cost of $30,000 for 17 implementation of Phase II SAMA 157, provide independent AC power source for battery 18 chargers, which seems low for what is described as a hardware change (NRC 2010a). In 19 response to the RAI, NextEra explained that the cost estimate is based on expert panel 20 judgment and includes procurement of a small portable, nonsafety-related 480 V generator and 21 associated connection cables, operation guideline development, and storage onsite in a 22 convenient location for ease in moving into position/connected if ever needed during an 23 extended SBO event (NextEra 2011a). The NRC staff considers NextEras clarification 24 reasonable.
25 As discussed in Section F.2.2, NextEra provided the results of a sensitivity analysis that applied 26 a multiplier of 2.1 to account for the additional risk reduction from seismic events 27 (NextEra 2011b, 2012a). In these analyses, NextEra revised the implementation costs for 28 several SAMAs in which the estimated costs were determined to be overly conservative. The 29 revised implementation costs are reflected in Tables F-6 and F-7. The staff reviewed the basis 30 for each of the revised costs and found them to be reasonable and, generally, consistent with 31 estimates provided in support of other plants analyses.
32 The NRC staff concludes that the cost estimates provided by NextEra are sufficient and 33 appropriate for use in the SAMA evaluation.
34 F.6 Cost-Benefit Comparison 35 NextEras cost-benefit analysis and the NRC staffs review are described in the following 36 sections.
37 F.6.1 NextEras Evaluation 38 The methodology used by NextEra was based primarily on NRCs guidance for performing 39 cost-benefit analysis (i.e., NUREG/BR-0184, Regulatory Analysis Technical Evaluation 40 Handbook (NRC 1997a)). The guidance involves determining the net value for each SAMA 41 according to the following formula:
42 Net Value = (APE + AOC + AOE + AOSC) - COE where, F-46
Appendix F 1 APE = present value of averted public exposure ($)
2 AOC = present value of averted offsite property damage costs ($)
3 AOE = present value of averted occupational exposure costs ($)
4 AOSC = present value of averted onsite costs ($)
5 COE = cost of enhancement ($)
6 If the net value of a SAMA is negative, the cost of implementing the SAMA is larger than the 7 benefit associated with the SAMA, and it is not considered cost beneficial. NextEras derivation 8 of each of the associated costs is summarized below, which reflects updated values 9 provided in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a).
10 NUREG/BR-0058 has recently been revised to reflect the NRCs policy on discount rates.
11 Revision 4 of NUREG/BR-0058 states that two sets of estimates should be developed, one at 12 3 percent and one at 7 percent (NRC 2004). NextEra provided a base set of results using the 13 7 percent discount rate and a sensitivity study using the 3 percent discount rate 14 (NextEra 2012a).
15 Averted Public Exposure (APE) Costs 16 The APE costs were calculated using the following formula:
17 APE = Annual reduction in public exposure (person-rem/year) 18 x monetary equivalent of unit dose ($2,000 per person-rem) 19 x present value conversion factor (10.76 based on a 20-year period with a 20 7 percent discount rate) 21 As stated in NUREG/BR-0184 (NRC 1997a), the monetary value of the public health risk after 22 discounting does not represent the expected reduction in public health risk due to a single 23 accident. Rather, it is the present value of a stream of potential losses extending over the 24 remaining lifetime (in this case, the renewal period) of the facility. Thus, it reflects the expected 25 annual loss due to a single accident, the possibility that such an accident could occur at any 26 time over the renewal period, and the effect of discounting these potential future losses to 27 present value. For the purposes of initial screening, which assumes elimination of all severe 28 accidents caused by internal and external events, NextEra calculated an APE of approximately 29 $815,100 230,400 for the 20-year license renewal period (NextEra 2012b).
30 Averted Offsite Property Damage Costs (AOC) 31 The AOCs were calculated using the following formula:
32 AOC = Annual CDF reduction 33 x offsite economic costs associated with a severe accident (on a per-34 event basis) 35 x present value conversion factor 36 This term represents the sum of the frequency-weighted offsite economic costs for each release 37 category, as obtained for the Level 3 risk analysis. For the purposes of initial screening, which 38 assumes elimination of all severe accidents caused by internal events, NextEra calculated an F-47
Appendix F 1 annual offsite economic cost of about $23,500 based on the Level 3 risk analysis 2 (NextEra 2011a). This results in a 7 percent-discounted value of approximately $1,950,600 3 253,300 for the 20-year license renewal period (NextEra 2012b).
4 Averted Occupational Exposure (AOE) Costs 5 The AOE costs were calculated using the following formula:
6 AOE = Annual CDF reduction 7 x occupational exposure per core damage event 8 x monetary equivalent of unit dose 9 x present value conversion factor 10 NextEra derived the values for AOE from information provided in Section 5.7.3 of the Regulatory 11 Analysis Technical Evaluation Handbook (NRC 1997a). Best estimate values provided for 12 immediate occupational dose (3,300 person-rem) and long-term occupational dose 13 (20,000 person-rem over a 10-year cleanup period) were used. The present value of these 14 doses was calculated using the equations provided in the handbook in conjunction with a 15 monetary equivalent of unit dose of $2,000 per person-rem, a real discount rate of 7 percent, 16 and a time period of 20 years to represent the license renewal period. For the purposes of initial 17 screening, which assumes elimination of all severe accidents caused by internal events, 18 NextEra calculated an AOE of approximately $4,600 5,500 for the 20-year license renewal 19 period (NextEra 2012b).
20 Averted Onsite Costs (AOSC) 21 AOSC include averted cleanup and decontamination costs (ACC) and averted power 22 replacement costs. Repair and refurbishment costs are considered for recoverable accidents 23 only and not for severe accidents. NextEra derived the values for AOSC based on information 24 provided in Section 5.7.6 of NUREG/BR-0184, the Regulatory Analysis Technical Evaluation 25 Handbook (NRC 1997a).
26 NextEra divided this cost element into two partsthe onsite cleanup and decontamination cost, 27 also commonly referred to as ACC, and the RPC.
28 ACC were calculated using the following formula:
29 ACC = Annual CDF reduction 30 x present value of cleanup costs per core damage event 31 x present value conversion factor 32 The total cost of cleanup and decontamination subsequent to a severe accident is estimated in 33 NUREG/BR-0184 to be $1.5x109 (undiscounted). This value was converted to present costs 34 over a 10-year cleanup period and integrated over the term of the proposed license extension.
35 For the purposes of initial screening, which assumes elimination of all severe accidents caused 36 by internal events, NextEra calculated an ACC of approximately $141,700 167,200 for the 37 20-year license renewal period.
38 Long-term RPC were calculated using the following formula:
F-48
Appendix F 1 RPC = Annual CDF reduction 2 x present value of replacement power for a single event 3 x factor to account for remaining service years for which replacement 4 power is required 5 x reactor power scaling factor 6 NextEra based its calculations on the rated Seabrook gross electric output of 1,290 MWe and 7 scaled up from the 910 MWe reference plant in NUREG/BR-0184 (NRC 1997a). Therefore, 8 NextEra applied a power scaling factor of 1,290/910 to determine the RPC. For the purposes of 9 initial screening, which assumes elimination of all severe accidents caused by internal events, 10 NextEra calculated an RPC of approximately $136,500 and an AOSC (AOSC = ACC + RPC) of 11 approximately $278,200 and RPC of $162,300) for the 20-year license renewal period 12 (NextEra 2012b).
13 Using the above equations, NextEra estimated the total present dollar value equivalent 14 associated with eliminating severe accidents from internal and external events at Seabrook to 15 be about $3,048,500. Use of a multiplier of 2.1 to account for the additional risk from seismic 16 events in the sensitivity analysis increases the value, as estimated by the NRC staff, to 17 $6.4 million. This represents the dollar value associated with completely eliminating all 18 internal and external event severe accident risk at Seabrook, and it is also referred to as 19 the maximum averted cost risk (MACR). NextEra explained (NRC 2012b) that the value of 20 $3,048,500, reported in a response to an RAI (NextEra 2012b), was slightly updated from 21 the value of $3,051,800 reported in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a). The 22 value was updated because of refinements in the calculation that were made related to 23 time used to declare a general emergency. The small reduction had negligible impact on 24 the SAMA cost benefit analysis. The NRC staff agrees that this change would have 25 negligible impact on the SAMA cost benefit analysis.
26 NextEras Results 27 If the implementation costs for a candidate SAMA exceeded the calculated benefit, the SAMA 28 was considered not to be cost beneficial. In the baseline analysis contained in the 2012 SAMA 29 supplement (NextEra 2012a), using a 7 percent discount rate, NextEra identified threeone 30 potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs (SAMAs 157, 165, and 192). Based on the consideration of 31 analysis uncertainties, NextEra identified three additional potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs 32 (SAMAs 164, 172, and 195). In addition, as a result of the sensitivity analysis using a 33 multiplier of 2.1 to account for the additional risk from seismic events, NextEra identified 34 one additional cost-beneficial SAMA (SAMA 193). The potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs for 35 Seabrook are listed below:
36 SAMA 157provide independent AC power source for battery chargers, 37 SAMA 164modify condensate filter flange to incorporate a 2.5-in female hose 38 adapter and isolation valve, 39 SAMA 165RWST fill from firewater during containment injectionmodify 6-in. RWST 40 flush flange to have a 21/2-in. female fire hose adapter with isolation valve, 41 SAMA 172evaluate installation of a RCP shutdown seal being developed by 42 Westinghouse, F-49
Appendix F 1 SAMA 192install a globe valve or flow limiting orifice upstream in the fire protection 2 system, 3 SAMA 193hardware change to eliminate MOV AC power dependency, and 4 SAMA 195make improvement to PCCW temperature control.
5 The potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs, and NextEras plans for further evaluation of these 6 SAMAs, are discussed in more detail in Section F.6.2.
7 F.6.2 Review of NextEras Cost-Benefit Evaluation 8 The cost-benefit analysis performed by NextEra was based primarily on NUREG/BR-0184 9 (NRC 1997a) and discount rate guidelines in NUREG/BR-0058 (NRC 2004), and it was 10 executed consistently with this guidance. Three SAMAs were determined to be cost beneficial 11 in NextEras baseline analysis in the 2012 SAMA supplement (SAMAs 157, 165, and 192, as 12 described above). NextEra stated that these SAMAs would be entered into the Seabrook long-13 range plan development process for further implementation consideration (NextEra 2012a).
14 NextEra considered the impact that possible increases in benefits from analysis uncertainties 15 would have on the results of the SAMA assessment. In the 2012 SAMA supplement 16 (NextEra 2012a), NextEra presents an uncertainty multiplier of 2.35 based on the ratio of the 17 CDF mean value of 1.23x10-5 per year to the 95th percentile value of 2.86x10-5 per year.
18 Since none of the Phase I SAMAs were screened based on excessive cost or very low benefit, 19 a reexamination of the Phase I SAMAs based on the 95th percent upper bound benefits was 20 not necessary. NextEra examined the Phase II SAMAs to determine if any would be potentially 21 cost beneficial if the baseline benefits were increased by a factor of 2.35. As a result, three 22 SAMAs became cost beneficial (SAMAs 164, 172, and 195, as described above). Although not 23 cost beneficial in the baseline analysis, NextEra stated that these SAMAs would be entered 24 into the Seabrook long-range plan development process for further implementation 25 consideration (NextEra 2012a).
26 The NRC staff asked NextEra to describe how the uncertainty distribution was developed to 27 derive the 95th percentile CDF value and how the distribution is different for internal, fire, and 28 seismic CDF (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, NextEra explained that the uncertainty 29 distribution was developed using a Monte Carlo sample size of 10,000 and a sequence bin 30 cutoff of 110-9, that the distribution included the integrated contribution from both internal and 31 external events, and that individual contributions for internal, fire, and seismic events were not 32 developed (NextEra 2011a). In response to a followup RAI, NextEra further clarified that the 33 uncertainty analysis included uncertainty distributions for fire-initiating events, seismic-initiating 34 events, component seismic fragilities, operator actions, and component random failures 35 (NRC 2011b). NextEra also noted that, while uncertainty distributions were not specifically 36 considered for hot short probabilities and non-suppression probabilities, numerous sensitivity 37 studies were performed to support the fire events and seismic events models to ensure the 38 reasonableness of key input parameters. The results of these sensitivity studies indicate that 39 the baseline fire and seismic results are relatively insensitive to reasonable variations in key 40 input parameters. Based on the results of these studies and the level of uncertainty applied in 41 the fire and seismic events analyses, NextEra concluded that the uncertainty distribution used 42 for the SAMA evaluation adequately reflects the uncertainty for both internal and external 43 events.
F-50
Appendix F 1 NextEra provided the results of additional sensitivity analyses in the ER, including the use of 2 3 percent and 8.5 percent discount rates, variations in MACCS2 input parameters (as discussed 3 in Section F.2.2), and a 41-year analysis period representing the remaining operating life of the 4 plant accounting for the expected 20-year period of extended operation. Cost benefits are 5 determined using the 3 percent discount rate, as clarified in an RAI response, and the 6 41-year extended period are bounded by the cost benefits determined using 95 percent 7 upper bound MACR. These analyses did not identify any additional potentially cost-beneficial 8 SAMAs.
9 SAMAs identified primarily on the basis of the internal events analysis could provide benefits in 10 certain external events, in addition to their benefits in internal events. Since the SSPSS-2011 11 PRA model is an integrated internal and external events model, NextEras evaluation accounted 12 for the potential risk reduction benefits associated with both internal and external events. The 13 NRC staff asked NextEra to assess the impact of updated 2008 seismic hazard curves by the 14 USGS on the Seabrook SAMA analysis (NRC 2010a). As indicated in Section F.2.2, NextEra 15 responded with a sensitivity analysis in which a 2.1 multiplier is applied to the estimated benefits 16 for internal and external events to account for the higher seismic CDF developed from the 17 2008 USGS seismic hazard curves (NextEra 2011a). This same multiplier was subsequently 18 used in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a). Since no SAMAs were screened in 19 the Phase I analysis on very low benefit or excessive implementation cost, NextEra did not 20 reexamine the Phase I SAMAs.
21 However, NextEra did provide a sensitivity analysis that reexamined the Phase II SAMAs to 22 determine if any would be potentially cost beneficial if the baseline (7 percent real discount 23 rate), uncertainty benefits (95th uncertainty percentile), and a 2.1 seismic multiplier were 24 considered together (NextEra 2012a). As a result of this sensitivity analysis, one 25 additional SAMA (SAMA 193) became cost beneficial. Although not cost beneficial in the 26 baseline analysis, NextEra stated that this SAMA would be entered into the Seabrook 27 long-range plan development process for further implementation consideration 28 (NextEra 2012a).
29 As indicated in Section F.3.2, in response to NRC staff RAIs and followup RAIs related to the 30 ER (NextEra 2010) and 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a), NextEra performed cost-31 benefit analyses on risk-significant Level 1 and Level 2 basic events, including human error 32 basic events and risk-significant initiating events. The additional SAMAs and NextEras 33 evaluation of each is summarized in Table F-7 (NextEra 2012a, 2012b). This table also 34 provides the results of the sensitivity analysis applying the multiplier of 2.1 to account for the 35 additional risk of seismic events (NextEra 2012a, 2012b). While these analyses did not 36 identify any additional potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs, two of the SAMAs were 37 determined to be cost beneficial but were already identified as such in the baseline SAMA 38 analyses after accounting for uncertainties (SAMA 195) and after accounting for the 39 seismic multiplier of 2.1 (SAMA 193).
F-51
Appendix F 1 Table F-57. SAMAs identified and evaluated for risk-significant basic events and 2 initiating events(a)
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(b)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty OALTO Eliminate failure 4 11 340K 800K >2.4M of operator to (710K) (1.7M)
Provide automatic align alternate alignment of alternate cooling cooling based on applicable signals PCCABCD Eliminate CCW 4 11 335K 785K >6M pump failure if AC (700K) (1.65M)
Install a diverse & & DC power are independent CCW available pump, reduce to reduce potential for common mode failure SWG11AB Eliminate bus 3 10 290K 680K >1.8M failures that could (610K) (1.4M)
Improve Bus 11A/B fail associated reliability to reduce division during common mode failure mission XOINEO Eliminate all <1 10 290K 680K >1.5M failures of (610K) (1.4M)
Implement hardware operators to change to improve perform early reliability of injection during containment injection AC power for sequences where scenarios containment pressure is low Implement hardware >1.5M change in support of automatic initiation of containment injection gravity drain OHSBO Eliminate all 4 5 140K 335K >1.5M(c) operator failures (300K) (705K)
Implement hardware related to change to improve maintaining ability to maintain stable hot stable primary & standby secondary conditions conditions for with plant in hot extended cooling standby using the SG ZZSY12 Eliminate LOOP 7 5 140K 340K >2M events that occur (300K) (710K)
Provide power system subsequent to a upgrades that would plant trip significantly reduce or prevent consequential LOOP events F-52
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(b)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty CCTE1 Eliminate PCCW 3 5 140K 340K >300K temperature (300K) (710K)
Install hardware to element failures improve the reliability towards the of the CCW to reduce temperature the potential for loss of control function CCW initiators (SAMA 195)(f)
CCE17 The Intent of this SAMA has already been implemented (NextEra 2012a)
Improve Primary Closed Cooling (PCC) heat exchanger reliability related to tube leakage ORHP10 Eliminate failure 2 4 110K 260K >5M of all actions to (230K) (550K)
Improve reliability or restore high capability of the pressure for long operator to restore RCS term makeup after support systems are made available SWAFN Eliminate failures 1 3 91K 210K >480K related to (190K) (445K)
Improve reliability of ventilation fan SW Cooling Tower FN-64 &
SWGR Room associated Ventilation fans damper &
temperature switch when support systems are available Eliminate failures 1 2 74K 170K >1M related to (160K) (340K) ventilation fan FN-51A &
associated damper &
temperature switch Eliminate failures 1 2 91K 210K >480K related to (190K) (445K) ventilation fan FN-64 &
associated damper &
temperature switch when support systems are available F-53
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(b)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty XOSMPO Eliminate <1 3 61K 140K >1.5M operator failure to (130K) (230K)
Implement hardware align containment modification for sump automatic control of recirculation after containment sump core melt given recirculation after core recovery of CBS melt CISPRE Eliminate all pre- 0 <1 4K 10K 50K to existing small & (12K) (27K) 100K Install containment large containment leakage monitoring leakage events system NOSBO1 Elimination of all 22 6 220K 525K >2M SBO events (470K) (1.1M)
Install additional DG to improve overall reliability of onsite emergency power OSEPS Eliminate 8 2 64K 151K >750K operator failures (135K) (320K)
Implement hardware associated with change in support of align & load the auto closure of SEPS DGs supplemental electrical power system (SEPS) breaker to replace operator action SEPS Eliminate SEPS 6 2 63K 148K >2M DG hardware (130K) (310K)
Install or modify a failures SEPS DG to substantially improve reliability of DG start &
run failures OC12 This SAMA is address by SAMA 193 and SAMA analysis case CSV167 (NextEra 2012a)
Implement hardware modification (additional signals or remote capability) to allow closure of MOV CS-V-167 CSV167 Eliminate 0 5 86K 200K >300K operator failure to (180K) (420K)
Implement hardware close CIV CS-V-change to eliminate 167 locally.
MOV AC power dependencies (SAMA 193)
F-54
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(b)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty TDAFW Eliminates all 5.3 12 360K 835K >2M failures of the (750K) (1.75M)
Install additional steam motor-driven EFW driven EFW pump independent of AC power OTS10 Eliminate 3 1 26K 61K >300K operator failure to (55K) (130K)
Implement hardware terminate SI change to improve reliability of SGTR control to eliminate or reduce operator failure to terminate safety injection (SI)
OLPR Eliminate 3 0 12K 27K >100K operator failure to (25K) (58K)
Implement hardware complete transfer change to improve of RHR/LHSI to reliability of ECCS long-term transfer to long-term recirculation recirculation following a LOCA OHSB670 Eliminate 3 1 29K 68K >420K operator failures (61K) (140K)
Implement hardware related to change to improve evacuation &
ability to maintain control at the stable & secondary remote safe conditions with SG shutdown panel cooling with plant in after fire-induced hot standby during CR transients &
fire events LOCAs OSGLC0 Eliminate 2 1 29K 68K >500K operator failures (62K) (140K)
Implement hardware related to change to improve controlling SG operator reliability or level via a EFW provide automatic SUFP and EFW feature to control SG with the EFW levels using the EFW discharge & SUFP discharge pathway with the MFW discharge SWGE561 Eliminate Bus 5 6 3 100K 240K >1.2M and 6 random (220K) (510K)
Improve 4 KV failures in the emergency Bus E6 initiating event reliability to eliminate model or potential for bus fault eliminate associated power division failure or both (d)
F-55
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(b)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty XOEFW Eliminate 0 1 21K 50K >500K operator failures (44K) (100K)
Implement hardware related to feeding change to improve the SG to back operator reliability to pressure the leak feed a failed SG during a SGTR ORWMZ Eliminate 2 0 15K 35K >500K operator failure to (32K) (74K)
Implement hardware throttle ECCS change to improve flow for scenarios operator reliability or where the provide automatic containment feature to throttle ECCS sump Is not RCS to minimize leak available during for small break LOCA SLOCA or (SLOCA) and ISLOCA ISLOCA sequences ORWCD1 Eliminate <1 0 5.3K 12K >500K operator failure (11K) (26K)
Implement hardware control RCS change to improve cooldown &
operator reliability or depressurization provide automatic in scenarios features to cool & where the depressurize the RCS containment to minimize leak for sump is not SLOCA and ISLOCA available during sequences SLOCA & ISLOCA ORWLT1 Eliminate <1 0 5.3K 11K >500K operator failure to (11K) (24K)
Implement hardware maintain stable change to improve primary &
operator reliability or secondary provide automatic conditions to features to maintain extend SG stable plant conditions cooling following for extended SG SLOCA, ISLOCA, cooling after a LOCA or or ISLOCA(e)
SGTR ORWIN Eliminate <1 0 4K 9.3K >500K operator failure to (8.4K) (20K)
Implement hardware initiate makeup to change to improve the RWST to operator reliability or extend ECCS provide automatic injection during feature to initiate RWST SLOCA & ISLOCA makeup with recirculation failed F-56
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(b)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty PS40XA Eliminate failure 2 0 9K 21K >500K of Train A & B (20K) (44K)
Implement hardware low-pressure change to improve permissive reliability of the signals low-pressure permissive signal need to align RHR suction RCVR Eliminate failures <1 2 24K 55K >500K of both RHR (50K) (120K)
Implement hardware Train A relief change to improve RHR valves to open &
Train A suction relief reclose valve opening on demand CST01 Eliminate failures 1 1 35K 81K >500K of condensate (73K) (170K)
Implement hardware & storage tank procedural changes to (CST) source for improve reliability of EFW makeup to CST for long-term SG cooling SWOC6 Eliminate failure <1 1 28K 66K >1.5M to transfer SW (59K) (140K)
Implement hardware & from the ocean to procedural changes to the cooling tower improve reliability of transferring SW from the ocean to the cooling tower SWA6 Eliminate failure <1 1 22K 52K >240K to transfer SW (46K) (110K)
Implement hardware from the ocean to changes to improve the cooling tower reliability of the SW cooling tower SWGR ventilation OFCR0 Eliminate failure <1 1 27K 62K >200K to restore PCCW (56K) (130K)
Implement hardware at the remote and procedural shutdown panel changes to improve operator capacity to restore PCCW at the remote shutdown panel SW64 Reduces to a low <1 1 25K 58K >300K probability that (52K) (120K)
Implement hardware SW intake return changes to reduce the valve spuriously probability of spurious opens SW intake return valve opening F-57
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(b)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty SW7071C Eliminate failure 1 3 84K 200K >480K of CW cooling (180K) (410K)
Implement hardware tower pump or changes to improve SWGR room reliability of SW cooling ventilation fans tower pump or SWGR when support room ventilation fans systems are to reduce potential for available common mode failure EA180C Eliminate failure 1 2 58K 140K >480K of emergency air (120K) (285K)
Implement hardware handing changes to improve ventilation fans reliability of the when support emergency air handing systems are ventilation fans by available eliminating potential for common mode failure SW51C Eliminate failure 1 3 87K 205K >1M of SW cooling (180K) (430K)
Implement hardware tower fans when changes to improve support systems reliability of SW cooling are available tower fans to reduce potential for common mode failure E7T Eliminate the 8 2 77K 180K >500K 0.7 g seismic (160K) (380K)
Implement hardware initiator changes to reduce or eliminate impact of 0.7 g seismic events NOLOSP Eliminate the 18 17 530K 1.2M >3M LOSP initiator (1.2M) (2.7M)
Implement hardware changes to reduce the risk of weather-related loss of system pressure (LOSP)
F4TREL Eliminate the 5 1 46K 110K >300K HELB flooding (97K) (225K)
Provide analysis & initiator in the hardware changes to turbine bay protect relay room structure from postulated turbine bay flooding due to an HELB F-58
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(b)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty NOSGTR Eliminate the 5 2 67K 160K >500K SGTR initiator in (140K) (330K)
Install upgrades that addition to would reduce or pressure and eliminate SGTR thermo-induced tube rupture RXT1 Eliminate the 4 7 205K 480K >19M plant trip initiator (430K) (1.0M)
Improve overall Seabrook reliability by installing digital control systems to reduce plant trip initiating frequency LOCA05 Eliminate all 9 2 77K 180K >500K small, medium, & (160K) (380K)
Implement hardware large pipe break changes to reduce or LOCA events eliminate pipe break LOCA events F1SWCY Eliminate the SW 3 9 260K 620K >5M common return (550K) (1.3M)
Implement hardware line rupture event changes to reduce the risk of SW common return line rupture event FIRE1 Eliminate 3 0 14K 34K >100K spurious or (31K) (71K)
Implement hardware fire-induced change to reduce actuation of the potential for PORV PORV LOCA caused by fire in the control room FSGBE6 Eliminate fire 3 1 28K 65K >500K initiating events (58K) (140K)
Implement hardware in SWGR room B change to reduce that result in loss potential for loss of of electrical Bus electrical Bus E6 E6 caused by fire in SWGR room B Implement hardware change to reduce potential for loss of electrical Bus E6 caused by fire in SWGR room A F-59
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(b)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty LACPA Eliminate the loss 3 1 44K 100K >3M of the Train A (92K) (220K)
Improve Bus E5 essential 4 KV reliability & eliminate or power (Bus 5E) reduce bus faults initiator contributing LOCA06 Eliminate ISLOCA <1 3 48K 110K >500K events (101K) (240K)
Implement hardware changes to reduce or eliminate ISLOCA risk in the RHR injection path LOCA05 Eliminates pipe 9 2 77K 180K >500K break LOCAs (160K) (380K)
Implement hardware changes to reduce or eliminate impact of 2.5 g seismically induced LOCA (by installing digital large break LOCA protection system)
E18T Eliminate the <1 3 48K 110K >500K 1.8 g seismic (100K) (240K)
Implement hardware transient initiator changes to reduce or eliminate impact of 1.8 g seismic transient event NOATWS Eliminate the 4 2 60K 140K >500K(g)
ATWS initiator (130K) (290K)
Implement seismic upgrades to the ATWS system to withstand up to a 2.5 g seismic event Implement hardware >500K upgrades to ATWS to reduce potential for ATWS with loss of MFW NOSLB Eliminate steam <1 0 5K 11K >500K line breaks (11K) (24K)
Install secondary side guard pipes to up to the main steam isolation valves MSSVO Eliminate stuck <1 0 1K 2K >500K open MSSV (2K) (4.5K)
Install gagging initiator device to close a stuck open MSSV F-60
Appendix F
% Risk reduction Total benefit ($)(b)
Analysis case & Modeling Baseline Baseline Population Cost ($)
applicable SAMAs assumptions CDF (internal + with dose external) uncertainty LOSPP Eliminate all plant 2 2 80K 190K >7M centered LOSP (170K) (395K)
Implement hardware events upgrades to reduce LOSP F4TFPB Eliminate all 1 0 14K 33K >100K(h) flooding (30K) (70K)
Implement hardware scenarios due to changes to provide rupture of fire flood and spray protection piping protection of non- in the turbine bay safety bus duct in impacting offsite turbine bay power FCRAC Eliminate all 1 0 15K 35K >100K(h) scenarios where (31K) (70K)
Implement hardware fire in the Main changes to provide fire Control Room protection features to leads to AC eliminate or reduce the power loss potential for fire on the Main Control Room panel LOC1LG Eliminate all large 1 0 15K 35K >100K(h)
LOCAs (31K) (70K)
Implement hardware changes to eliminate or reduce the potential for large LOCA events (a)
SAMAs in bold are potentially cost beneficial. This table summarizes the results of the revised SAMA analysis provided in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a).
(b)
Values in parenthesis are the results of the sensitivity analysis applying a multiplier of 2.1 to account for the additional risk of seismic events (NextEra 2011a).
(c)
In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra clarified that the cost reported in the Expected Cost column of the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a) was incorrect, but it was reported correctly (i.e., $1.5M) in the Evaluation column (NextEra 2012b).
(d)
In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra clarified that PRA case SWGE61 eliminated both the initiating and basic events associated with 4 kV essential buses E5 and E6 (NextEra 2012b).
(e)
In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra clarified that PRA case ORWLT1 applied to small LOCA, interfacing LOCA, and SGTR (NextEra 2012b).
(f)
In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra clarified that PRA case CCTE1 addresses both the reliability of PCCW and loss of CCW as an initiator (NextEra 2012b).
(g)
In response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra clarified that the cost of PRA case NOATWS reflects structural upgrades to reactor internals to reduce seismic capacity as well as non-seismically related reactor internals and emergency boration system upgrades (NextEra 2012b).
(h)
NextEra explained in a telephone clarification meeting (NRC 2012b) that $100K is a nominal value used because of the very low calculated benefit. This value reflects the minimum cost of a hardware change.
1 As indicated in Section F.3.2, in response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra identified and evaluated 2 a SAMA to make seismic upgrades to the CST (NextEra 2011a). This SAMA was estimated to 3 have an implementation cost of more than $100,000. NextEra performed a bounding analysis 4 of the benefit of this SAMA by assuming that it eliminated structural failures of the CST during F-61
Appendix F 1 all seismic-initiating events. The total baseline benefit (using a 7 percent real discount rate) was 2 estimated to be $1,000 and, after accounting for uncertainties, to be $2,000. Based on this 3 result, NextEra concluded that this SAMA was not cost beneficial in either the baseline or the 4 uncertainty analysis. This SAMA was not re-evaluated in the 2012 SAMA supplement 5 (NextEra 2012a). However, based on the very low potential benefit for this SAMA, the 6 NRC staff concludes that this SAMA would not be cost beneficial even after accounting for 7 the higher MACR in the 2012 SAMA supplement, which is about a factor 3.7 increase over 8 the MACR presented in the ER, and after applying the multiplier of 2.1 to account for the 9 additional risk from seismic events.
10 Also, in response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra provided a Phase II evaluation of the following 11 SAMAs, which were originally screened in the Phase I evaluation (NextEra 2011a, 2011b):
12 SAMA 79install bigger pilot operated relief valve so only one is required, 13 SAMA 84switch for EFW room fan power supply to station batteries, 14 SAMA 105delay containment spray actuation after a large LOCA, and 15 SAMA 191remove the 135 °F temperature trip of the PCCW pumps.
16 The 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a) evaluated these SAMAs (in Table F-6), and 17 determined them to not be cost beneficial in either the baseline or uncertainty analysis or in the 18 sensitivity analysis applying the seismic multiplier of 2.1.
19 As indicated in Section F.3.2, in response to an NRC staff RAI, NextEra provided an evaluation 20 of the following two SAMAs identified as a result of its review of the cost-beneficial SAMAs from 21 prior SAMA analyses for five Westinghouse four-loop PWR sites (NextEra 2011a):
22 SAMA procedure change to ensure that the RCS cold leg water seals are not cleared 23 has an estimated implementation cost of $15,000 to $20,000. NextEra performed a 24 bounding analysis of the benefit of this SAMA by assuming that it eliminated all thermally 25 induced SGTR events (Analysis Case XSGTIS). The total baseline benefit (using a 26 7 percent real discount rate) was estimated to be less than $1,000 and, after accounting 27 for uncertainties, to be less than $1,000. Based on this result, NextEra concluded that 28 this SAMA was not cost beneficial in either the baseline or the uncertainty analysis.
29 NextEra also concluded that this SAMA would not be cost beneficial after applying the 30 multiplier of 2.1 to account for the additional risk from seismic events (NextEra 2011b).
31 This SAMA was not re-evaluated in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a).
32 However, based on the very low potential benefit for this SAMA, the NRC staff 33 concludes that this SAMA would not be cost beneficial even after accounting for 34 the higher MACR in the 2012 SAMA supplement, which is about a factor 3.7 35 increase over the MACR presented in the ER.
36 SAMA installation of redundant parallel service water valves to the EDGs was 37 estimated to have an implementation cost similar to SAMA 161 (NextEra 2011b), or 38 $2 million (NextEra 2012a). In response to RAIs on the ER, NextEra performed a 39 bounding analysis of the benefit of this SAMA by assuming that it eliminated all SBO 40 events (SAMA analysis case NOSBO1). It concluded that this SAMA was not cost 41 beneficial either in the baseline (using a 7 percent real discount rate) nor after 42 accounting for uncertainties and the seismic risk multiplier of 2.1 43 (NextEra 2011a, 2011b). This SAMA was not re-evaluated in the 2012 SAMA 44 supplement (NextEra 2012a). However, using the benefit results for SAMA 45 analysis case NOSBO1 provided in Table F-6, the NRC staff estimates total baseline 46 benefit (using a 7 percent real discount rate and the seismic multiplier of 2.1) to be F-62
Appendix F 1 $470,000 and, after accounting for uncertainties, to be $1.1 million. The NRC staff 2 concludes that this SAMA is not cost beneficial.
3 Based on review of the ER (NextEra 2010), the NRC staff noted that the evaluation of 4 SAMA 80, provide a redundant train or means of ventilation, assumes removal of HVAC 5 dependence for CS, SI, RHR, and CBS pumps. The NRC staff asked NextEra to provide an 6 evaluation of a SAMA to remove the HVAC dependency for just the highest risk system 7 (NRC 2010a). In response to the RAI, NextEra explained that the estimated implementation 8 cost to install a redundant HVAC train to either a single ECCS pump/system or multiple 9 ECCS pumps and systems was estimated to be greater than $500,000. NextEra further 10 noted that this cost estimate is significantly greater than the estimated benefit, after 11 accounting for uncertainties and the seismic multiplier of 2.1, and which conservatively 12 assumes elimination of 100 percent of the ECCS dependency on HVAC during long-term 13 recirculation sequences. The analysis of this SAMA was updated in the 2012 SAMA 14 supplement (NextEra 2012a), which shows a maximum benefit of $750,000, after 15 accounting for uncertainties and the seismic multiplier of 2.1) and an updated cost 16 estimate of greater than $1 million. NextEra points out (NextEra 2012a) that this cost is 17 judged to be comparable to other plants that do not have this redundancy. The NRC staff 18 concludes that this SAMA has been adequately addressed.
19 The NRC staff notes that all of the potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs (SAMAs 157, 164, 165, 20 172, 192, 193, and 195) identified in the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a) are 21 included within the set of SAMAs that NextEra plans to enter into the Seabrook long-range plan 22 development process for further implementation consideration. The NRC staff concludes that, 23 with the exception of the potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs discussed above, the costs of the 24 other SAMAs evaluated would be higher than the associated benefits.
25 F.7 Conclusions 26 NextEra compiled a list of 191 SAMAs in the ER (NextEra 2010) and 4 additional SAMAs in 27 the 2012 SAMA supplement (NextEra 2012a) based on a review of the most significant basic 28 events from the plant-specific PRA, insights from the plant-specific IPE and IPEEE, review of 29 other industry documentation, and insights from Seabrook personnel. A qualitative screening 30 removed SAMA candidates that had modified features not applicable to Seabrook due to design 31 differences, that were determined to have already been implemented at Seabrook or Seabrook 32 meets the intent of the SAMA, or that could be combined with another similar SAMA under 33 consideration. Based on this screening, 117 SAMAs were eliminated, leaving 78 74 candidate 34 SAMAs for evaluation.
35 For the remaining SAMA candidates, more detailed design and cost estimates were developed, 36 as shown in Table F-4. The cost-benefit analyses showed that twothree of the SAMA 37 candidates were potentially cost beneficial in the baseline analysis (SAMAs 157, 165, and 192).
38 NextEra performed additional analyses to evaluate the impact of parameter choices and 39 uncertainties on the results of the SAMA assessment. As a result, nothree additional SAMAs 40 were identified as potentially cost beneficial in the 2012 SAMA supplement (SAMAs 164, 172, 41 and 195). In addition, NextEra performed a sensitivity analysis accounting for the 42 additional risk of seismic events and identified one additional SAMA (SAMA 193) as being 43 potentially cost beneficial. NextEra has indicated that all fourseven potentially cost-beneficial 44 SAMAs would be entered into the Seabrook long-range plan development process for further 45 implementation consideration.
F-63
Appendix F 1 The NRC staff reviewed the NextEra analysis and concludes that the methods used and their 2 implementation were sound. In reviewing insights from plant-specific risk studies, the 3 SAMA evaluation included explicit consideration of external as well as internal hazards.
4 The treatment of SAMA benefits and costs support the general conclusion that the SAMA 5 evaluations performed by NextEra are reasonable and sufficient for the license renewal 6 submittal. Although the treatment of SAMAs for external events was somewhat limited, the 7 likelihood of there being cost beneficial enhancements in this area was minimized by 8 improvements that have been realized as a result of the IPEEE process and inclusion of a 9 multiplier to account for the additional risk of seismic events.
10 The NRC staff agrees with NextEras identification of areas in which risk can be further 11 reduced in a cost-beneficial manner through the implementation of the identified, 12 potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs. Given the potential for cost beneficial risk reduction, the 13 NRC staff agrees that further evaluation of these SAMAs by NextEra is warranted. However, 14 the applicant stated that the sevenfour potentially cost-beneficial SAMAs are not aging-related 15 in that they do not involve aging management of passive, long-lived systems, structures, and 16 components during the period of extended operation. Therefore, the NRC staff concludes 17 that the potential cost beneficial SAMAs are not aging related and they need not be 18 implemented as part of license renewal pursuant to 10 CFR Part 54.
19 F.8 References 20 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), 2003, Addenda to ASME RA-S-2002, 21 Standard for Probabilistic Risk Assessment for Nuclear Power Plant Applications, 22 ASME RA-Sa-2003, December 5, 2003.
23 ASME, 2009, Addenda to ASME RA-S-2008, Standard for Level 1/Large Early Release 24 Frequency Probabilistic Risk Assessment for Nuclear Power Plant Applications, ASME 25 RA-Sa-2009, February 2, 2009.
26 Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), 1988, A Methodology for Assessment of Nuclear 27 Power Plant Seismic Margin, EPRI NP-6041, Revision 0, Palo Alto, CA, August 1988.
28 EPRI, 1992, Fire-Induced Vulnerability Evaluation (FIVE), EPRI TR-100370, Revision 0, Palo 29 Alto, CA, April 1992.
30 New Hampshire Yankee (NHY), 1991, Individual Plant Examination Report for Seabrook 31 Station, March 1, 1991.
32 NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC. (NextEra), 2010, Seabrook StationLicense Renewal 33 Application, Applicants Environmental Report, Operating License Renewal Stage, 34 May 25, 2010, ADAMS Accession Nos. ML101590092 and ML101590089.
35 NextEra, 2011a, Letter from Paul O. Freeman, NextEra, to U.S. NRC Document Control Desk.
36
Subject:
Seabrook Station, Response to Request for Additional Information, NextEra Energy 37 Seabrook License Renewal Application, Seabrook, NH, January 13, 2011, ADAMS Accession 38 No. ML110140810.
39 NextEra, 2011b, Letter from Paul O. Freeman, NextEra, to U.S. NRC Document Control Desk.
40
Subject:
Seabrook Station, Response to Request for Additional Information, NextEra Energy 41 Seabrook License Renewal Application, Seabrook, NH, April 18, 2011, ADAMS Accession 42 No. ML11122A075.
F-64
Appendix F 1 NextEra, 2011c, Letter from Paul O. Freeman, NextEra, to U.S. NRC Document Control Desk.
2
Subject:
Seabrook Station, Supplement to Response to Request for Additional Information, 3 NextEra Energy Seabrook License Renewal Application, Seabrook, NH, June 10, 2011, 4 ADAMS Accession No. ML11166A255.
5 NextEra, 2012a, Letter from Paul O. Freeman, NextEra, to U.S. NRC Document Control 6 Desk.
Subject:
Seabrook Station, Supplement 2 to Severe Accident Mitigation 7 Alternatives Analysis, NextEra Energy Seabrook License Renewal Application, 8 Seabrook, NH, March 19, 2012, ADAMS Accession No. ML12080A137.
9 NextEra, 2012b, Letter from Kevin T. Walsh, NextEra, to U.S. NRC Document Control 10 Desk.
Subject:
Seabrook Station, Supplement 3 to Severe Accident Mitigation 11 Alternatives Analysis, Response to RAI Request dated July 16, 2012, NextEra Energy 12 Seabrook License Renewal Application, Seabrook, NH, September 13, 2012, ADAMS 13 Accession No. ML12262A513.
14 North Atlantic Energy Service Corp. (NAESC), 1992, Individual Plant Examination External 15 Events Report for Seabrook Station, October 2, 1992, ADAMS Accession No. ML080100029.
16 Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), 2005, Severe Accident Mitigation Alternative (SAMA) Analysis 17 Guidance Document, NEI 05-01 (Revision A), Washington, D.C., November 2005.
18 Pickard, Lowe, and Garrick, Inc. (PLG), 1983, Seabrook Station Probabilistic Safety 19 Assessment, prepared for the Public Service Company of New Hampshire and Yankee Atomic 20 Electric Company, PLG-0300, December 1982.
21 U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS), 2008, 2008 NSHM Gridded Data, Peak Ground Acceleration, 22 Available URL: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/products/conterminous/2008/data/.
23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), 1975, Standard Review Plan for the Review of 24 Safety Analysis Report for Nuclear Power Plants, NUREG-0800, Washington, D.C.,
25 November 1975.
26 NRC, 1983, PRA Procedure Guide, NUREG/CR-2300, Washington, D.C., January 1983.
27 NRC, 1988, GL 88-20, Individual Plant Examination for Severe Accident Vulnerabilities, 28 November 23, 1988.
29 NRC, 1990, Severe Accident Risks: An Assessment for Five U.S. Nuclear Power Plants, 30 NUREG-1150, Washington, D.C., December 1990.
31 NRC, 1991, GL No. 88-20, Individual Plant Examination of External Events for Severe Accident 32 Vulnerabilities, NUREG-1407, Washington, D.C., Supplement 4, June 28, 1991.
33 NRC, 1992, Letter from Gordon E. Edison, U.S. NRC, to Ted C. Feigenbaum, NHY,
Subject:
34 Staff Evaluation of Seabrook Individual Plant Examination (IPE)Internal Events, GL 88-20 35 (TAC No. M74466), Washington, D.C., February 28, 1992.
36 NRC, 1997a, Regulatory Analysis Technical Evaluation Handbook, NUREG/BR-0184, 37 Washington, D.C., January 1997.
38 NRC, 1997b, Individual Plant Examination Program: Perspectives on Reactor Safety and Plant 39 Performance, NUREG-1560, Washington, D.C., December 1997.
F-65
Appendix F 1 NRC, 1998, Code Manual for MACCS2: Volume 1, Users Guide, NUREG/CR-6613, 2 Washington, D.C., May 1998.
3 NRC, 2001, Letter from Victor Nerses, U.S. NRC, to Ted C. Feigenbaum, NAESC.
Subject:
4 Seabrook Station, Unit No. 1Individual Plant Examination of External Events (IPEEE) (TAC 5 No. M83673), Washington, D.C., May 2, 2001, ADAMS Accession No. ML010320252.
6 NRC, 2003, Sector Population, Land Fraction, and Economic Estimation Program, SECPOP:
7 NUREG/CR-6525, Washington D.C., April 2003 8 NRC, 2004, Regulatory Analysis Guidelines of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 9 NUREG/BR-0058, Washington, D.C., Revision 4, September 2004.
10 NRC, 2010a, Letter from Michael Wentzel, U.S. NRC, to Paul Freeman, NextEra.
Subject:
11 Request for Additional Information for the Review of the Seabrook Station License Renewal 12 Application-SAMA Review (TAC No. ME3959), Washington, D.C., November 16, 2010, 13 ADAMS Accession No. ML103090215.
14 NRC, 2010b, NRC Information Notice 2010-18: GI-199, Implications of Updated Probabilistic 15 Seismic Hazard Estimates in Central and Eastern United States on Existing Plants, 16 Washington, D.C., September 2, 2010, ADAMS Accession No. ML101970221.
17 NRC, 2011a, Memorandum to NextEra from Michael J. Wentzel, U.S. NRC.
Subject:
Summary 18 of Telephone Conference Calls held on February 15, 2011, between the U.S. Nuclear 19 Regulatory Commission and NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC, to Clarify the Responses to the 20 Requests for Additional Information Pertaining to the Severe Accident Mitigation Alternatives 21 Review of the Seabrook Station License Renewal Application (TAC No. ME3959),
22 Washington, D.C., February 28, 2011, ADAMS Accession No. ML110490165.
23 NRC, 2011b, Letter from Bo Pham, U.S. NRC, to Paul Freeman, NextEra.
Subject:
Schedule 24 Revision and Request for Additional Information for the Review of the Seabrook Station License 25 Renewal Application Environmental Review (TAC Number ME3959), Washington, D.C.,
26 March 4, 2011, ADAMS Accession No. ML110590638.
27 NRC, 2012a, Letter from Micheal Wentzel, U.S. NRC, to Kevin Walsh, NextEra.
Subject:
28 Request for Additional Information for the Review of the Seabrook Station License 29 Renewal Application Environmental ReviewSAMA Review (TAC Number ME3959),
30 Washington, D.C., July 16, 2012, ADAMS Accession No. ML12180A355.
31 NRC, 2012b, Memorandum to File.
Subject:
Summary of Telephone Conference Call 32 held on October 3, 2012, between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and NextEra 33 Energy Seabrook, LLC, Clarifying Responses to Requests for Additional Information 34 Pertaining to the Seabrook Station License Renewal Application Environmental Review 35 (TAC. No. ME3959), dated November 1, 2012, ADAMS Accession No. ML12278A2536 F-66
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20555-0001
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
NUREG-1437 Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants April 2013 Supplement 46 Regarding Seabrook Station Second Draft