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Category:Press Release
MONTHYEARML22346A0582022-11-21021 November 2022 News Release-II-22-028: NRC Names New Resident Inspector at Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant ML22097A1292022-04-0505 April 2022 News Release-II-22-006: NRC Schedules Virtual Public Meeting to Discuss Three TVA Nuclear Power Plants 2021 Safety Performance Press Release-II-21-015, NRC Schedules Virtual Meeting to Discuss 2020 Safety Performance of Tva'S Three Nuclear Power Plants2021-05-0606 May 2021 Press Release-II-21-015: NRC Schedules Virtual Meeting to Discuss 2020 Safety Performance of Tva'S Three Nuclear Power Plants Press Release-20-055, NRC Fines TVA More than $900,000 for Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant Violations; Cites Three Individuals for Their Roles in the 2015 Incident2020-11-0606 November 2020 Press Release-20-055: NRC Fines TVA More than $900,000 for Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant Violations; Cites Three Individuals for Their Roles in the 2015 Incident Press Release-20-054, NRC Approves Power Uprate for Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 22020-10-27027 October 2020 Press Release-20-054: NRC Approves Power Uprate for Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 2 Press Release-II-20-011, NRC Schedules Virtual Meeting to Discuss 2019 Safety Performance of Three TVA Nuclear Power Plants2020-04-21021 April 2020 Press Release-II-20-011: NRC Schedules Virtual Meeting to Discuss 2019 Safety Performance of Three TVA Nuclear Power Plants Press Release-II-19-038, NRC Proposes $145,000 Civil Penalty to Tennessee Valley Authority2019-11-20020 November 2019 Press Release-II-19-038: NRC Proposes $145,000 Civil Penalty to Tennessee Valley Authority Press Release-II-19-035, NRC Names New Senior Resident Inspector at Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant2019-09-24024 September 2019 Press Release-II-19-035: NRC Names New Senior Resident Inspector at Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant Press Release-II-19-032, NRC Schedules Meeting to Receive TVA Update on Work Environment Issues2019-08-16016 August 2019 Press Release-II-19-032: NRC Schedules Meeting to Receive TVA Update on Work Environment Issues Press Release-II-19-023, NRC Schedules Open House to Discuss Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant Performance2019-04-22022 April 2019 Press Release-II-19-023: NRC Schedules Open House to Discuss Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant Performance Press Release-19-010, NRC Issues Annual Assessments for Nation'S Nuclear Plants2019-03-0707 March 2019 Press Release-19-010: NRC Issues Annual Assessments for Nation'S Nuclear Plants Press Release-II-19-002, NRC Schedules Meeting to Discuss TVA Confirmatory Orders2019-02-26026 February 2019 Press Release-II-19-002: NRC Schedules Meeting to Discuss TVA Confirmatory Orders Press Release-II-18-034, NRC Schedules Meeting to Receive TVA Update on Work Environment Issues2018-10-10010 October 2018 Press Release-II-18-034: NRC Schedules Meeting to Receive TVA Update on Work Environment Issues Press Release-II-18-027, NRC to Hold Open House to Discuss 2017 Performance of Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant2018-05-30030 May 2018 Press Release-II-18-027: NRC to Hold Open House to Discuss 2017 Performance of Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant Press Release-II-18-021, NRC Launches Special Inspection at Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant2018-04-30030 April 2018 Press Release-II-18-021: NRC Launches Special Inspection at Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant Press Release-II-17-049, NRC Schedules TVA Update Meeting on Watts Bar Work Environment2017-10-24024 October 2017 Press Release-II-17-049: NRC Schedules TVA Update Meeting on Watts Bar Work Environment Press Release-II-17-036, NRC Issues TVA Confirmatory Order to Address Safety Conscious Work Environment Issues2017-07-28028 July 2017 Press Release-II-17-036: NRC Issues TVA Confirmatory Order to Address Safety Conscious Work Environment Issues Press Release-II-17-033, NRC Schedules Meeting to Discuss 2016 Performance of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant2017-05-17017 May 2017 Press Release-II-17-033: NRC Schedules Meeting to Discuss 2016 Performance of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Press Release-II-16-036, NRC Schedules Meeting with TVA to Discuss Work Environment at Watts Bar2016-10-26026 October 2016 Press Release-II-16-036: NRC Schedules Meeting with TVA to Discuss Work Environment at Watts Bar Press Release-II-16-030, NRC Schedules Meeting with TVA to Discuss Watts Bar Work Environment Improvement Plan2016-05-16016 May 2016 Press Release-II-16-030: NRC Schedules Meeting with TVA to Discuss Watts Bar Work Environment Improvement Plan Press Release-II-16-026, NRC Schedules Open House to Discuss 2015 Performance at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant2016-04-27027 April 2016 Press Release-II-16-026: NRC Schedules Open House to Discuss 2015 Performance at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Press Release-II-16-013, NRC Issues Chilling Effect Letter to TVA to Address Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Work Environment Issues2016-03-24024 March 2016 Press Release-II-16-013: NRC Issues Chilling Effect Letter to TVA to Address Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Work Environment Issues Press Release-II-16-009, NRC Schedules Meeting with TVA to Discuss Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Work Environment2016-03-17017 March 2016 Press Release-II-16-009: NRC Schedules Meeting with TVA to Discuss Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Work Environment Press Release-16-011, NRC Issues Annual Assessments for Nation'S Nuclear Plants2016-03-0404 March 2016 Press Release-16-011: NRC Issues Annual Assessments for Nation'S Nuclear Plants Press Release-15-068, NRC Accelerates Schedule for Earthquake Risk Analysis at U.S. Reactors2015-10-27027 October 2015 Press Release-15-068: NRC Accelerates Schedule for Earthquake Risk Analysis at U.S. Reactors Press Release-15-067, NRC Issues Operating License for Watts Bar Unit 2, Oversight Continues2015-10-22022 October 2015 Press Release-15-067: NRC Issues Operating License for Watts Bar Unit 2, Oversight Continues ML15198A3682015-07-17017 July 2015 Press Release II-15-039: NRC Schedules Meeting to Discuss Readiness Inspection of Watts Bar Unit 2 ML15152A4732015-06-0303 June 2015 Public Notice of Application for Amendment to Facility Operating License Press Release-II-15-012, NRC Schedules Open House and Meeting to Discuss Watts Bar Unit 2 Construction2015-03-20020 March 2015 Press Release-II-15-012: NRC Schedules Open House and Meeting to Discuss Watts Bar Unit 2 Construction Press Release-II-15-008, NRC Schedules Open House to Discuss Annual Assessment of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 12015-03-0909 March 2015 Press Release-II-15-008: NRC Schedules Open House to Discuss Annual Assessment of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 1 Press Release-15-001, NRC Meeting Jan. 14 to Discuss Status of Watts Bar Unit 2 Licensing, Construction Schedule2015-01-0505 January 2015 Press Release-15-001: NRC Meeting Jan. 14 to Discuss Status of Watts Bar Unit 2 Licensing, Construction Schedule Press Release-II-14-051, NRC Schedules Oct. 1 Meetings to Discuss Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 2 Construction2014-09-23023 September 2014 Press Release-II-14-051: NRC Schedules Oct. 1 Meetings to Discuss Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 2 Construction Press Release-14-058, NRC Issues Mid-Cycle Assessments for Nation'S Nuclear Plants2014-09-0404 September 2014 Press Release-14-058: NRC Issues Mid-Cycle Assessments for Nation'S Nuclear Plants Press Release-II-14-046, NRC Names New Senior Resident Inspector at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant2014-09-0202 September 2014 Press Release-II-14-046: NRC Names New Senior Resident Inspector at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Press Release-II-14-038, NRC Assigns New Resident Inspector to Farley Nuclear Power Plant2014-07-22022 July 2014 Press Release-II-14-038: NRC Assigns New Resident Inspector to Farley Nuclear Power Plant Press Release-II-14-014, NRC Schedules April 9 Meetings to Discuss Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 2 Construction2014-03-31031 March 2014 Press Release-II-14-014: NRC Schedules April 9 Meetings to Discuss Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 2 Construction Press Release-II-14-013, NRC Schedules Meeting April 3 to Discuss Agency'S Assessment of Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant2014-03-25025 March 2014 Press Release-II-14-013: NRC Schedules Meeting April 3 to Discuss Agency'S Assessment of Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant Press Release-14-016, NRC Issues Annual Assessments for Nation'S Nuclear Plants2014-03-0606 March 2014 Press Release-14-016: NRC Issues Annual Assessments for Nation'S Nuclear Plants Press Release-II-14-004, NRC Schedules Meeting to Discuss Flooding Preparations at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant2014-01-29029 January 2014 Press Release-II-14-004: NRC Schedules Meeting to Discuss Flooding Preparations at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Press Release-13-099, NRC Extends Construction Permit for Watts Bar Unit 22013-11-22022 November 2013 Press Release-13-099: NRC Extends Construction Permit for Watts Bar Unit 2 Press Release-13-073, NRC Issues Mid-Cycle Assessments for Nation'S Nuclear Plants2013-09-0606 September 2013 Press Release-13-073: NRC Issues Mid-Cycle Assessments for Nation'S Nuclear Plants Press Release-II-13-044, NRC Proposes $70,000 Fine for Violations at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 22013-06-19019 June 2013 Press Release-II-13-044: NRC Proposes $70,000 Fine for Violations at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 2 Press Release-13-049, NRC Issues Final Environmental Impact Statement for Watts Bar Unit 2 Operating License2013-06-0707 June 2013 Press Release-13-049: NRC Issues Final Environmental Impact Statement for Watts Bar Unit 2 Operating License Press Release-II-13-041, NRC Increases Oversight of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant for Flood-Related Violations2013-06-0505 June 2013 Press Release-II-13-041: NRC Increases Oversight of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant for Flood-Related Violations Press Release-II-13-029, NRC Schedules Conference to Discuss Commercial Grade Dedication Issues at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 22013-04-29029 April 2013 Press Release-II-13-029: NRC Schedules Conference to Discuss Commercial Grade Dedication Issues at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 2 Press Release-II-13-022, NRC Exits Monitoring and Begins Additional Inspection for Security Incident at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant2013-04-22022 April 2013 Press Release-II-13-022: NRC Exits Monitoring and Begins Additional Inspection for Security Incident at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Press Release-II-13-021, NRC Monitors Security Event at Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant2013-04-21021 April 2013 Press Release-II-13-021: NRC Monitors Security Event at Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant Press Release-II-13-016, NRC Schedules Conference to Discuss Flood-Related Inspection Findings at Watts Bar and Sequoyah Nuclear Plants2013-04-16016 April 2013 Press Release-II-13-016: NRC Schedules Conference to Discuss Flood-Related Inspection Findings at Watts Bar and Sequoyah Nuclear Plants Press Release-II-13-010, NRC Schedules Meetings to Discuss Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 1 Performance and Watts Bar Unit 2 Construction2013-04-0505 April 2013 Press Release-II-13-010: NRC Schedules Meetings to Discuss Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Unit 1 Performance and Watts Bar Unit 2 Construction Press Release-II-13-008, NRC Schedules Meeting with TVA to Discuss Use of Commercial Parts in Its Operating Nuclear Plants2013-03-22022 March 2013 Press Release-II-13-008: NRC Schedules Meeting with TVA to Discuss Use of Commercial Parts in Its Operating Nuclear Plants 2022-04-05
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PUBLIC NOTICE THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION PROPOSES TO AMEND THE FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE FOR THE WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 1 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) has received an application dated May 29, 2015, from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA, the licensee) for an exigent amendment to the facility operating license for the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN),
Unit 1 located in Rhea County, Tennessee.
The proposed exigent amendment would provide a one-time change to Technical Specification (TS) Table 3.3.4-1, Function 4a, RCS Hot Leg Temperature Indication, to permit the temperature indication for Reactor Coolant System (RCS) Loop 4 to be inoperable for the remainder of WBN Unit 1 Operating Cycle 13, the refueling outage for which is scheduled to start in September 2015. Specifically, the proposed exigent amendment would revise Note A at the bottom of TS Table 3.3.4-1, "Remote Shutdown System Instrumentation and Controls," to state: For Function 4a, the temperature indicator for RCS hot leg 4 is not required to be operable for the remainder of Cycle 13. Additionally, should WBN Unit 1 experience a shutdown prior to the WBN Unit 1 Cycle 13 refueling outage, the temperature indicator will be repaired prior to startup.
The request is necessary because on May 16, 2015, TVA discovered that Temperature Indicator (TI) 1-TI-68-65C was not operable. Upon the discovery of this condition, TVA entered TS 3.3.4, Remote Shutdown System, Condition A. Condition A requires restoration of the temperature indicator within 30 days. TVA has isolated the problem to components of the temperature indicator (modifier circuit or thermocouple) that are both located inside the Reactor Building Polar Crane Wall. The 30-day completion time for Condition A of TS 3.3.4 expires on June 15, 2015, at approximately 0448 EDT, at which point a plant shutdown is required.
Accordingly, TVA requested approval of the proposed TS change by June 14, 2015, and that the implementation of the revised TS be effective immediately to avoid the requirement to shutdown WBN Unit 1. The temperature indicator is one of four instruments that provide indication in the Auxiliary Control Room (ACR) for the hot leg temperature of RCS Loop 4. The other three instruments remain operable.
The licensee requested that the proposed amendment be processed on an exigent basis, in accordance with the provisions in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR)
Section 50.91(a)(6). Under 10 CFR 50.91(a)(6)(i)(B), where the Commission finds that exigent circumstances exist, in that a licensee and the Commission must act quickly and that time does not permit the Commission to publish a Federal Register notice allowing 30 days for prior public comment, and it also determines that the amendment involves no significant hazards considerations, the Commission will use local media to provide reasonable notice to the public in the area surrounding a licensee's facility of the licensee's amendment and of its proposed determination that no significant hazards consideration is involved, consulting with the licensee on the proposed media release and on the geographical area of its coverage.
The licensee bases its claim of exigent circumstances on the following considerations.
TVA could not have reasonably anticipated the failure of the instrumentation. Although WBN Unit 1 did experience a failure of the RCS Loop 4 hot leg instrument in 2004, the issues in the 2004 failure resulted in a full scale reading. The issues associated with the current failure (failing low scale) have been isolated to the modifier circuit or the thermocouple. Nothing in the 2004 failure could have led TVA to reasonably anticipate the current failure. The repair of the affected instrumentation precludes repair at power because the affected instrumentation is located inside the Reactor Building Polar Crane Wall, which is a high dose area during power operations. The shutdown of the plant to implement the repairs is not necessary because the
remaining temperature indications available in the ACR are adequate to safely shutdown the unit should an emergency arise.
As required by 10 CFR 50.91(a), the licensee has provided its analysis of the issue of no significant hazards consideration using the standards in 10 CFR 50.92. The licensee and the NRC have evaluated the proposed change with regard to the determination of whether or not a significant hazards consideration is involved.
Operation of WBN Unit 1, in accordance with the proposed amendment will not involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated. The proposed TS change to allow operation with only three of four loop remote shutdown indications for RCS hot leg temperature until the Cycle 13 refueling outage scheduled for September 2015 is only applicable to the following conditions:
A. Fire or smoke in the Main Control Room (MCR).
B. An evacuation of the MCR due to some other (non-fire) unspecified reason.
C. The design basis flood.
The inoperability of the one hot leg temperature indicator does not change the probability of occurrence for these events because the indicator is not an accident initiator. The hot leg temperature indicators on the four RCS loops are used for indication only and have no automatic control functions. During safe shutdown for an MCR evacuation event, design basis flood, or fire related event, no fuel damage is postulated to occur, nor is the integrity of the reactor coolant pressure boundary or containment barriers postulated to be lost. Sufficient redundancy exists with the operational instrumentation to ensure that decay heat removal functions are not adversely affected by this change. Therefore, the proposed change does not
involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated.
The proposed amendment will not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any previously analyzed. The proposed TS change does not alter the function of the Remote Shutdown System, which is to achieve and maintain safe reactor shutdown from outside the MCR. The TS instrumentation and controls required are such that sufficient capability is retained for decay heat removal via the Steam Generators to provide the indication required for safe shutdown capabilities. The proposed change will not result in the installation of any new equipment or system. The hot leg temperature instrument is used for indication only and has no automatic control functions. No new operations procedures will be created by this change. Appropriate operational procedures will be updated to clarify that the RCS Loop 4 hot leg temperature indication in the ACR is not available during the remainder of Cycle 13. No new operating conditions or modes will be created by this proposed change. Therefore, the proposed change does not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any previously evaluated.
The proposed amendment will not involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety.
Sufficient redundancy exists with the operational instrumentation to ensure that decay heat removal functions are not adversely affected by this change. Because the conduit, cables, and equipment that provide hot leg temperature indication in the ACR are routed outside the Control Building, removal of the RCS Loop 4 hot leg temperature indication is acceptable due to the redundant paths not being affected by a Control Building fire. Therefore, the proposed change does not involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety.
Following an initial review of this application, the requested amendment has been evaluated against the standards in 10 CFR 50.92 and the NRC has made a proposed
(preliminary) determination that the requested amendment involves no significant hazards considerations. Operation of WBN Unit 1 in accordance with the proposed amendment would not significantly increase the probability or consequences of any accident previously considered, nor create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident, nor significantly reduce any margin of safety.
If the proposed determination that the requested exigent license amendment involves no significant hazards consideration becomes final, the NRC will issue the amendment without first offering an opportunity for a public hearing. An opportunity for a hearing will be published in the Federal Register at a later date and any hearing request will not delay the effective date of the amendment.
If the NRC decides in its final determination that the requested exigent license amendment does involve a significant hazards consideration, a notice of opportunity for a prior hearing will be published in the Federal Register and, if a hearing is granted, it will be held before the amendment is issued.
Comments on the proposed determination of no significant hazards consideration may be (1) telephoned to Jessie Quichocho, Chief, Watts Bar Special Projects Branch, by collect call to 301-415-0209, or by facsimile to 301-415-1222, (2) e-mailed to Jessie.Quichocho@nrc.gov, or (3) submitted in writing to the Chief, Rules, Announcements and Directives Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office of Administration, Mail Stop: OWFN-12-H08, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. All comments received by 5:00 p.m. on June 11, 2015, will be considered in reaching a final determination. A copy of the application may be examined electronically through the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) in the NRC Library at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html by using the Accession No. ML15149A511 and at the Commission's Public
Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, Public File Area O1-F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS should contact the NRC PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209, or 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr.resource@nrc.gov.