ML14140A212
| ML14140A212 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/30/2014 |
| From: | Leeds E Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Walters D Nuclear Energy Institute |
| Robert Hardies 3014-415-5802 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML14140A212 (3) | |
Text
May 30, 2014 Mr. Douglas J. Walters Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Nuclear Energy Institute 1201 F Street, NW., Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20004
Dear Mr. Walters,
Thank you for your letter dated May 5, 2014, providing the industrys semiannual report on implementation status, operating experience, and developments in nondestructive examination technology for the Underground Piping and Tanks Initiative. The agency noted that all plants were on schedule for implementation of the identified program milestones, with the exception of several plants that are transitioning to decommissioned status. The agency is interested in learning more details about the industry process you discussed in your letter regarding the transfer of licensee jurisdiction of the underground components from the underground piping and tanks initiative to the decommissioning transition plan.
Since 2009, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff members have been interacting with industry to evaluate progress on buried and underground piping and tanks degradation and leakage issues. The NRC has hosted a series of public meetings on these topics with the Nuclear Energy Institute, the Electric Power Research Institute and the Buried Piping Integrity Group. The agency has scheduled the next such meeting for June 11, 2014, at NRC headquarters in Rockville, MD. The agency has also interacted with individual licensees through inspections performed by NRC regional inspectors under Temporary Instruction TI-2515/182, Review of the Implementation of the Industry Initiative to Control Degradation of Underground Piping and Tanks. These inspections, which are scheduled to be completed by the end of June 2014, have, in general, demonstrated that plants are addressing the issue of degradation of buried and underground piping in a committed fashion.
Although it may be too early to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the industry initiative in reducing the number of leakage events, it is apparent that the initiative has focused the industrys attention on assuring the integrity of these components. The initiative has resulted in a large number of excavations, direct and indirect inspections, the repair or replacement of some degraded material, and the prevention of leaks. The NRC staff has also observed that industry is increasingly attentive to cathodic protection systems in preventing corrosion of buried and underground piping and tanks.
Under Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 50, Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities, the NRCs objective related to buried and underground piping and tanks at operating nuclear power plants is to assure continued protection of public health and safety. The industry underground piping and tanks initiative continues to contribute to this NRC objective.
D. Walters 2 The NRC looks forward to continued interaction in this area. If you have any questions, please contact me by phone at (301) 415-1270 or by e-mail at Eric.Leeds@nrc.gov. You may also contact Robert Hardies, Senior Advisor for Materials Engineering, of my staff by phone at (301) 415-5802 or by e-mail at Robert.hardies@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Eric J. Leeds, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: M. Richter, NEI M. Korsnick, CENG
D. Walters 2 The NRC looks forward to continued interaction in this area. If you have any questions, please contact me by phone at (301) 415-1270 or by e-mail at Eric.Leeds@nrc.gov. You may also contact Robert Hardies, Senior Advisor for Materials Engineering, of my staff by phone at (301) 415-5802 or by e-mail at Robert.hardies@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Eric J. Leeds, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: M. Richter, NEI M. Korsnick, CENG DISTRIBUTION: DE R/F DAlley WHolston TLupold RConatser RidsNrrOd ADAMS ACCESSION NO.: ML14140A212 OFFICE NRR/DE NRR/DE OGC NRR NAME RHardies PHiland BMizuno ELeeds DATE 05/20/2014 05/21/2014 05/27/2014 05/30/2014 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY