ML14300A338

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Public Meeting Summary for Watts Bar Nuclear Unit 2 Construction Project October 1, 2014
ML14300A338
Person / Time
Site: Watts Bar Tennessee Valley Authority icon.png
Issue date: 10/24/2014
From: Haag R
NRC/RGN-II/DCP/CPB3
To:
Tennessee Valley Authority
Michelle Adams
References
Download: ML14300A338 (5)
v • d • e


Text

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Public Meeting Summary October 24, 2014

Title:

Public Meeting Watts Bar Nuclear Unit 2 Construction Project Meeting Identifier: ML14260A495 Date of Meeting: Wednesday, October 1, 2014 Location: Comfort Inn, Athens, TN Type of Meeting: Category 3 Purpose of the Meeting(s):

To discuss the status of the Watts Bar Unit 2 Construction Project, including major milestones, the status of NRC licensing and inspection activities, and potential challenges that may impact the project schedule.

General Details:

The NRC conducted an open house beginning at 4:30 p.m. eastern daylight time (EDT) where members of the public met informally with NRC staff and asked questions related to the Watts Bar Nuclear Unit 2 construction project. A category 1 meeting was scheduled from 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. Fifteen NRC staff members were present. The meeting began with an introduction of NRC staff and a review of meeting ground rules by William Jones, Director, Division of Construction Projects, Region II. This was followed by a presentation on the Watts Bar Unit 2 completion status by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Following the Category 1 meeting, at 5:45 p.m. the NRC began the Category 3 meeting. The NRC gave a presentation focused on the status of NRC licensing and inspection activities. The remaining portion of the meeting was dedicated to answering questions on these activities and on the status of Watts Bar Nuclear Unit 2, as well as receiving comments from members of the public. The meeting ended at approximately 6:45 p.m.

Approximately 50 people participated in the meeting, both in-person and remotely using a teleconference line and webinar. Four participants asked questions and provided comments. In addition to members of the public, meeting participants included representatives of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Tennessee Environmental Council, the nuclear industry, public advocacy groups, and TVA.

Summary of Presentations:

TVA provided a presentation to the NRC during the Category 1 portion of the meeting.

TVAs presentation covered the following areas:

  • project completion status
  • project timeline
  • project risks
  • licensing

2

  • dual-unit readiness
  • special topics (Hydrology, Fukushima, Safety Culture, Outreach)

The NRC presented to the public for the Category 3 meeting. The NRC discussed the overall license review process, highlighting recent accomplishments and remaining licensing activities. The NRC discussed the inspection program which is unique to Watts Bar Unit 2 and gave the current status of inspection activities. The NRC gave an update on the upcoming major milestones for the project related to licensing and inspection activities.

Public Participation Themes:

During the public question and answer session of the meeting, NRC staff received questions on the following topics. The following answers were either provided during the meeting or the questions were researched and the answers provided below:

  • Hydrology o A member of the public inquired about the current status of open licensing items regarding hydrology.

o The NRC has received TVAs hydrology submittal and is in the process of its review.

o The NRC staff has engaged TVA on these issues and is expecting a response by the end of October, which will be made publically available.

  • The use of the term complete when discussing the construction project o A member of the public questioned the meaning of the term complete as it was used in the presentation regarding auxiliary feedwater system alignment.

o The NRC staff explained that when used in the context of this meeting, complete means either (1) NRC staff has completed a technical review and published a safety evaluation report; or (2) the inspection regarding the item has been completed and an inspection report has been issued.

  • Drawing updates o A member of the public referenced problems in the past involving a large backlog of drawing updates. It was asked if this issue is currently being addressed by the NRC.

o NRC inspectors conduct as-built inspections, where inspectors review completed design packages and walk-down as-built systems to verify the as-built matches the design. Because this inspection involves the review of updated drawings, NRC has assessed the adequacy of drawing updates.

  • Fukushima response order requirements o A member of the public asked how the Fukushima Response Order (EA 049) regulatory requirements apply to the licensing of Watts Bar Unit 2.

3 o The NRC explained that the Orders for Spent Fuel Pool instrumentation and Mitigating Strategies must be addressed prior to receiving an operating license. An inspection of TVAs compliance with the orders is planned.

  • TVAs proposed fuel load date o A member of the public inquired about what the impact of TVAs proposed fuel load date of May 14, 2015 is on major milestones.

o The NRC explained that some dates will be affecting since the milestones dates presented by the NRC during the meeting were based on an April fuel load date. The NRC still needs to complete the safety review and inspection of construction, testing, and operational readiness. The dates for the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards meetings are not expected to change.

  • Decommissioning funding o A member of the public inquired about the decommissioning process and expressed a concern over how decommissioning will be funded for two reactors at Watts Bar.

o The funding mechanism for decommissioning is explained on the NRC public website: http://www.nrc.gov/waste/decommissioning/faq.html#20

  • Safety culture o A member of the public asked how TVA is addressing safety culture and the handling of whistle blowers.

o TVA responded by stating that a strong nuclear safety culture is a basic tenet and that retaliation is not tolerated. The NRC staff noted that the NRC takes an independent review of safety culture and is engaged through inspections and the allegation process.

  • Anonymous concerns o A member of the public asked how the NRC handles anonymous concerns that are entered into TVAs corrective action program.

o The NRC routinely reviews problem evaluation reports and regularly communicates with the employee concerns program staff. The staff reviews the information available and looks for trends if applicable. NRC inspectors do not attempt to seek out individuals who submit anonymous concerns within TVAs corrective action program.

  • Seismic regulations o The public inquired about the consideration of updated seismic regulations and how they apply to the licensing of Unit 2.

o The NRC noted that Unit 2 is being built to the same standard as Unit 1, a safe shutdown earthquake of 0.18g ground motion acceleration. As part of the agencys response to Fukushima events, the NRC issued a 50.54(f) letter related to updated seismic hazards. The NRC will review TVAs response to that letter to identify any issues.

  • Insurance liability o A member of the public noted a concern about the adequacy of insurance liability and the amount expected to be covered by the Price-Anderson Act.

4 o Details regarding the Price-Anderson Act and background on nuclear insurance and disaster relief can be found on the NRC public website at:

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/nuclear-insurance.html

  • Concrete o An individual commented on the statement made by TVA during the presentation that the plant is being made like new. The individual disagreed with the statement, and noted that for concrete poured in the 1970s, it is not possible to make like new. The individual stated that a response to the comment was not required.

Action Items/Next Steps:

  • The next public meeting to discuss Watts Bar Nuclear Unit 2 Construction Project will take place at NRC headquarters in Rockville, MD in January 2015.
  • An additional public meeting near Watts Bar will be held with NRC senior management approximately three months before a decision on an operating license is made.

Enclosures:

1. Meeting agenda - ML14260A495
2. NRC staff presentation - ML14297A281
3. TVA presentation - ML14297A246

_ML14300A338_____ _____ SUNSI REVIEW COMPLETE OFFICE RII:DCP RII:DCP RII:DCP RII:DCP RII:DCP RII:DCP RII:DCI SIGNATURE AAW RCH NAME A. Wilson R. Haag DATE 10/24/2014 10/24/2014 E-MAIL COPY? YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO

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