ML16092A304

State of New York Notice of Subsequent Event Concerning Pending Appeal of Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Decision LBP-15-26 and License Amendment for Entergy Indian Point Unit 2 to Delay the Containment Leak Rate Test for Five Years

ML16092A304
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	04/01/2016
From:	Lusignan B, Sipos J State of NY, Office of the Attorney General
To:	Jeff Baran, Stephen Burns, Ostendorff W, Kristine Svinicki NRC/OCM
SECY RAS
References
50-247-LA, ASLBP 15-942-06-LA-BD01, RAS 51046
Download: ML16092A304 (7)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BEFORE COMMISSIONERS KRISTINE L. SVINICKI, WILLIAM C. OSTENDORFF, JEFF BARAN AND CHAIRMAN STEPHEN G. BURNS In the Matter of Docket No. 50-247-LA ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC. ASLBP No. 15-042-06-LA-BD01 (Indian Point Nuclear Generating Station, April 1, 2016 Unit 2)

STATE OF NEW YORK NOTICE OF SUBSEQUENT EVENT CONCERNING PENDING APPEAL OF ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD DECISION LBP-15-26 AND LICENSE AMENDMENT FOR ENTERGY INDIAN POINT UNIT 2 TO DELAY THE CONTAINMENT LEAK RATE TEST FOR FIVE YEARS Office of the Attorney General for the State of New York The Capitol State Street Albany, New York 12224

The State of New York (State) provides notice of a recent occurrence that the State submits could affect this proceeding and pending appeal:

1. At approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday March 29, 2016, Entergy announced that an inspection during Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit No. 2s (IP2) current refueling outage identified indications for various baffle-former-assembly bolts. Entergy further announced that IP2 would not return to service as initially scheduled but, instead, would remain off line for an additional period of time to address this situation. 1

2. The State understands that NRC Staff subsequently informed various senior assistants to the Commissioners of this development.2

3. This development may be relevant to Entergys License Amendment Request, because Entergy stated in its amendment application that conducting a Type A integrated leak rate testing could increase cost and critical path time during refueling outages.3 The State submits that the previously-unplanned extension of the current outage by several weeks provides an opportunity to conduct the Type A integrated leak rate testing at IP2 during this outage.

1 March 29, 2016 Licensee Event Report Number 51829, Baffle Bolt Indications Identified During Inservice Inspection, (available on NRC website); March 29, 2016 Entergy News Release, Hundreds of Inspections Completed on Indian Point Unit 2, Replacement of Reactor Liner Bolts Planned, at 2 (The issues identified with the reactor vessel insert liner bolts did not have an impact on public health or safety and will be corrected prior to returning Indian Point Unit 2 to operation.This work is expected to add cost and several weeks duration to the refueling and maintenance outage.) [Attachment 1 hereto].

2 March 30, 2016 Letter from NRC Staff Counsel to Atomic Safety and Licensing Board in in Docket Nos.

50-247-LR/286-LR (license renewal proceeding) enclosing Talking Points on Indian Point Unit 2 Reactor Internals Inspection) ML16090A165.

3 Entergy Letter NL-14-128 Operating Licensing Amendment Request and Attachments (Dec. 9, 2014),

ML14353A015 at PDF frame 6 (The performance of fewer ILRTs would result in significant savings in radiation exposure to personnel, cost, and critical path time during future refueling outages.).

1

Dated: April 1, 2016 Respectfully submitted, Signed (electronically) by John J. Sipos Brian Lusignan Assistant Attorneys General Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York The Capitol Albany, New York 12224 (518) 776-2380 (518) 776-2399 2

Attachment 1 March 29, 2016 Entergy Press Release

Indian Point Energy Center 450 Broadway Buchanan, N.Y. 10511 Date: March 29, 2016 News For Release: Immediately

Contact:

Jerry Nappi Release (914) 254-7132 - office (914) 489-6077 - cell jnappi@entergy.com Hundreds of Inspections Completed on Indian Point Unit 2, Replacement of Reactor Liner Bolts Planned BUCHANAN, NY - Comprehensive inspections completed during a planned outage at the Indian Point nuclear power plant show critical components at Unit 2 continue to perform safely and as intended, with maintenance required in one area before the plant can be restarted, Entergy Corp. announced today.

"Safety is always our first priority, and the hundreds of inspections performed over the last few weeks demonstrate these programs work as designed," said Larry Coyle, site vice president and Entergys top official at Indian Point. "Safeguards and automatic detection equipment are in place to alert plant operators of impacts on safe operations.

Indian Point Unit 2s Aging Management Program -- implemented in connection with license renewal -- calls for an in-depth inspection of the reactor vessel every ten years. The first such inspection took place during a scheduled refueling and maintenance outage that began March 7, and used visual and where possible, ultrasonic inspections. Inspections of more than 2,000 bolts in the reactors removable insert liner revealed issues with approximately 11 percent that require further analysis. Issues were identified on bolts on the face of the removable liner, not on bolts along the liners edges. Engineers identified missing bolts, and bars meant to hold them in place, and other degradation requiring replacement of the bolts. Each bolt, about two inches long and made of stainless steel, holds plate inserts together inside the reactor.

-more-

Replacement of Reactor Liner Bolts Planned for Entergys Indian Point Unit 2 Page 2 March 29, 2016 The issues identified with the reactor vessel insert liner bolts did not have an impact on public health or safety and will be corrected prior to returning Indian Point Unit 2 to operation.

With comprehensive inspections on the entire reactor vessel finished, once a full engineering assessment of the issue is also completed and corrective actions taken, the unit can safely operate in the period of extended operation. This work is expected to add cost and several weeks duration to the refueling and maintenance outage.

Entergy has informed the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other appropriate regulatory authorities of the issues with the bolts, in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

Hundreds of Inspections Performed During Refueling Outage The inspections are part of Indian Points comprehensive and expanded inspection program implemented in accordance with the plants license renewal application, going beyond normal inspections performed during each refueling outage.

In all, the refueling and maintenance outage of Unit 2 involves testing and inspection of the reactor containment area, the reactor vessel, the control rod mechanism, coolant pump motors and steam generators. In addition, inspections were performed outside the containment area, on dozens of valves, turbine rotors, condensate storage tanks and other equipment. Equipment replacement includes some of the mechanisms for the control rods, pipes, heat exchangers, steam condensers and reactor coolant pump motors.

Engineers have conducted more than 350 inspections of critical equipment, using industry best practices to ensure that even the slightest variation in equipment was identified, analyzed, and if necessary, repaired.

About Indian Point and Entergy Indian Point Energy Center, in Buchanan, N.Y., is home to two operating nuclear power

-more-

Replacement of Reactor Liner Bolts Planned for Entergys Indian Point Unit 2 Page 3 March 29, 2016 plants, unit 2 and unit 3, which generate approximately 2000 megawatts of electricity for homes, business and public facilities in New York City and Westchester County. Since acquiring Indian Point, Entergy has invested over $1 billion in plant equipment.

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of approximately $11.5 billion and more than 13,000 employees.

Indian Point Energy Centers online address is www.safesecurevital.com.

Entergys online address is www.entergy.com.

Twitter: @Indian_Point Facebook: Facebook.com/IndianPointEnergy

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BEFORE COMMISSIONERS KRISTINE L. SVINICKI, WILLIAM C. OSTENDORFF, JEFF BARAN AND CHAIRMAN STEPHEN G. BURNS In the Matter of Docket No. 50-247-LA ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC. ASLBP No. 15-042-06-LA-BD01 (Indian Point Nuclear Generating Station, April 1, 2016 Unit 2)

STATE OF NEW YORK NOTICE OF SUBSEQUENT EVENT CONCERNING PENDING APPEAL OF ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD DECISION LBP-15-26 AND LICENSE AMENDMENT FOR ENTERGY INDIAN POINT UNIT 2 TO DELAY THE CONTAINMENT LEAK RATE TEST FOR FIVE YEARS Office of the Attorney General for the State of New York The Capitol State Street Albany, New York 12224

The State of New York (State) provides notice of a recent occurrence that the State submits could affect this proceeding and pending appeal:

1. At approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday March 29, 2016, Entergy announced that an inspection during Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit No. 2s (IP2) current refueling outage identified indications for various baffle-former-assembly bolts. Entergy further announced that IP2 would not return to service as initially scheduled but, instead, would remain off line for an additional period of time to address this situation. 1

2. The State understands that NRC Staff subsequently informed various senior assistants to the Commissioners of this development.2

3. This development may be relevant to Entergys License Amendment Request, because Entergy stated in its amendment application that conducting a Type A integrated leak rate testing could increase cost and critical path time during refueling outages.3 The State submits that the previously-unplanned extension of the current outage by several weeks provides an opportunity to conduct the Type A integrated leak rate testing at IP2 during this outage.

1 March 29, 2016 Licensee Event Report Number 51829, Baffle Bolt Indications Identified During Inservice Inspection, (available on NRC website); March 29, 2016 Entergy News Release, Hundreds of Inspections Completed on Indian Point Unit 2, Replacement of Reactor Liner Bolts Planned, at 2 (The issues identified with the reactor vessel insert liner bolts did not have an impact on public health or safety and will be corrected prior to returning Indian Point Unit 2 to operation.This work is expected to add cost and several weeks duration to the refueling and maintenance outage.) [Attachment 1 hereto].

2 March 30, 2016 Letter from NRC Staff Counsel to Atomic Safety and Licensing Board in in Docket Nos.

50-247-LR/286-LR (license renewal proceeding) enclosing Talking Points on Indian Point Unit 2 Reactor Internals Inspection) ML16090A165.

3 Entergy Letter NL-14-128 Operating Licensing Amendment Request and Attachments (Dec. 9, 2014),

ML14353A015 at PDF frame 6 (The performance of fewer ILRTs would result in significant savings in radiation exposure to personnel, cost, and critical path time during future refueling outages.).

1

Dated: April 1, 2016 Respectfully submitted, Signed (electronically) by John J. Sipos Brian Lusignan Assistant Attorneys General Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York The Capitol Albany, New York 12224 (518) 776-2380 (518) 776-2399 2

Attachment 1 March 29, 2016 Entergy Press Release

Indian Point Energy Center 450 Broadway Buchanan, N.Y. 10511 Date: March 29, 2016 News For Release: Immediately

Contact:

Jerry Nappi Release (914) 254-7132 - office (914) 489-6077 - cell jnappi@entergy.com Hundreds of Inspections Completed on Indian Point Unit 2, Replacement of Reactor Liner Bolts Planned BUCHANAN, NY - Comprehensive inspections completed during a planned outage at the Indian Point nuclear power plant show critical components at Unit 2 continue to perform safely and as intended, with maintenance required in one area before the plant can be restarted, Entergy Corp. announced today.

"Safety is always our first priority, and the hundreds of inspections performed over the last few weeks demonstrate these programs work as designed," said Larry Coyle, site vice president and Entergys top official at Indian Point. "Safeguards and automatic detection equipment are in place to alert plant operators of impacts on safe operations.

Indian Point Unit 2s Aging Management Program -- implemented in connection with license renewal -- calls for an in-depth inspection of the reactor vessel every ten years. The first such inspection took place during a scheduled refueling and maintenance outage that began March 7, and used visual and where possible, ultrasonic inspections. Inspections of more than 2,000 bolts in the reactors removable insert liner revealed issues with approximately 11 percent that require further analysis. Issues were identified on bolts on the face of the removable liner, not on bolts along the liners edges. Engineers identified missing bolts, and bars meant to hold them in place, and other degradation requiring replacement of the bolts. Each bolt, about two inches long and made of stainless steel, holds plate inserts together inside the reactor.

-more-

Replacement of Reactor Liner Bolts Planned for Entergys Indian Point Unit 2 Page 2 March 29, 2016 The issues identified with the reactor vessel insert liner bolts did not have an impact on public health or safety and will be corrected prior to returning Indian Point Unit 2 to operation.

With comprehensive inspections on the entire reactor vessel finished, once a full engineering assessment of the issue is also completed and corrective actions taken, the unit can safely operate in the period of extended operation. This work is expected to add cost and several weeks duration to the refueling and maintenance outage.

Entergy has informed the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other appropriate regulatory authorities of the issues with the bolts, in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

Hundreds of Inspections Performed During Refueling Outage The inspections are part of Indian Points comprehensive and expanded inspection program implemented in accordance with the plants license renewal application, going beyond normal inspections performed during each refueling outage.

In all, the refueling and maintenance outage of Unit 2 involves testing and inspection of the reactor containment area, the reactor vessel, the control rod mechanism, coolant pump motors and steam generators. In addition, inspections were performed outside the containment area, on dozens of valves, turbine rotors, condensate storage tanks and other equipment. Equipment replacement includes some of the mechanisms for the control rods, pipes, heat exchangers, steam condensers and reactor coolant pump motors.

Engineers have conducted more than 350 inspections of critical equipment, using industry best practices to ensure that even the slightest variation in equipment was identified, analyzed, and if necessary, repaired.

About Indian Point and Entergy Indian Point Energy Center, in Buchanan, N.Y., is home to two operating nuclear power

-more-

Replacement of Reactor Liner Bolts Planned for Entergys Indian Point Unit 2 Page 3 March 29, 2016 plants, unit 2 and unit 3, which generate approximately 2000 megawatts of electricity for homes, business and public facilities in New York City and Westchester County. Since acquiring Indian Point, Entergy has invested over $1 billion in plant equipment.

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of approximately $11.5 billion and more than 13,000 employees.

Indian Point Energy Centers online address is www.safesecurevital.com.

Entergys online address is www.entergy.com.

Twitter: @Indian_Point Facebook: Facebook.com/IndianPointEnergy