ML16158A062

Acceptance of Requested Licensing Action Following Supplement, License Amendment Request to Revise Technical Specification 5.3.2 to Allow Operation with 56 Full-Length Control Rod Assemblies

ML16158A062
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	06/06/2016
From:	Lisa Regner Plant Licensing Branch IV
To:	Koehl D South Texas
Regner L
References
CAC MF7577
Download: ML16158A062 (3)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 June 6, 2016 Mr. Dennis L. Koehl President and CEO/CNO STP Nuclear Operating Company South Texas Project P.O. Box 289 VVadsworth, TX 77483

SUBJECT:

SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT, UNIT 1 -ACCEPTANCE OF REQUESTED LICENSING ACTION FOLLOVVING SUPPLEMENT RE: LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST TO OPERATE VVITH 56 CONTROL RODS (CAC NO. MF7577)

Dear Mr. Koehl:

By letter dated April 7, 2016 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML 1611 OA297), as supplemented by letter dated May 25, 2016, 1 STP Nuclear Operating Company (STPNOC, the licensee) submitted a license amendment request for the South Texas Project (STP) Unit 1. The proposed amendment request would allow STP Unit 1 to operate permanently with 56 control rods. By letter dated May 12, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16127A452), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff notified you that it would not be able to begin its detailed review until additional information was provided. This information was described in the enclosure to the letter. You responded to the NRC staff's request by letter dated May 25, 2016. The purpose of this letter is to provide the results of the NRC staff's acceptance review of this amendment request following your submittal of additional information.

Consistent with Section 50.90 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), an amendment to the license (including the technical specifications) must fully describe the changes requested, and following as far as applicable, the form prescribed for original applications. Section 50.34 of 10 CFR addresses the content of technical information required.

This section stipulates that the submittal address the design and operating characteristics, unusual or novel design features, and principal safety considerations.

The NRC staff has reviewed your application and concludes that it does provide technical information in sufficient detail to enable the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed amendment in terms of regulatory requirements and the protection of public health and safety and the environment. Given the lesser scope and depth of the acceptance review as compared to the detailed technical review, there may be instances in which issues that impact the NRC staff's ability to complete the detailed technical review are identified despite completion of an adequate acceptance review. You will be advised of any further information needed to support the NRC staff's detailed technical review by separate correspondence.

1 The letter had not been added to ADAMS by the issuance date of this letter.

D. Koehl If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-1906.

Lisa M. Regner, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch IV-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-498 cc: Distribution via Listserv

ML16158A062 OFFICE NRR/DORULPL4-1/PM NRR/DORULPL4-1 /LA NRR/DORULPL4-1/BC NRR/DORULPL4-1/PM NAME LRegner JBurkhardt RPascarelli LRegner DATE 6/6/16 6/6/16 6/6/16 6/6/16