ML16217A455

Summary of July 19, 2016, Teleconference with PSEG Nuclear LLC on the Upgrade of Hope Creek Generating Station'S Power Range Neutron Monitoring System

ML16217A455
Person / Time
Site:	Hope Creek
Issue date:	08/15/2016
From:	Carleen Parker Plant Licensing Branch 1
To:	Public Service Enterprise Group
Parker C, NRR/DORL/LPL1-2
References
CAC MF6768
Download: ML16217A455 (5)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 August 15, 2016 LICENSEE: PSEG Nuclear LLC FACILITY: Hope Creek Generating Station

SUMMARY

OF JULY 19, 2016, TELECONFERENCE WITH PSEG NUCLEAR LLC ON THE UPGRADE OF HOPE CREEK GENERATING STATION'S POWER RANGE NEUTRON MONITORING SYSTEM TO A DIGITAL POWER RANGE NEUTRON MONITORING SYSTEM (CAC NO. MF6768)

On July 19, 2016, a Category 1 public teleconference was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and representatives of PSEG Nuclear LLC (PSEG, the licensee). The purpose of the teleconference was to discuss the license amendment request (LAR) submitted by PSEG on September 21, 2015 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML15265A223), which would allow for the replacement and upgrade of the existing analog Average Power Range Monitor (APRM) subsystem of the Neutron Monitoring System with the General Electric-Hitachi digital Nuclear Measurement Analysis and Control Power Range Neutron Monitoring (PRNM) system at Hope Creek Generating Station (Hope Creek). The PRNM upgrade also includes Oscillation Power Range Monitor capability and will allow full APRM, rod block monitor, Technical Specification Improvement Program implementation, and will include application of Technical Specification Task Force (TSTF) Traveler-493, "Clarify Application of Setpoint Methodology for LSSS Functions," to affected PRNM functions. The teleconference notice and agenda, dated February 5, 2016, is available at ADAMS Accession No. ML16036A154. A list of attendees is enclosed.

The teleconference was one in a series of publicly noticed teleconferences to be held periodically to discuss the issues associated with the NRC staff's LAR review. Preliminary issues that the NRC staff identified during the initial review and the licensee's responses to the preliminary issues, as detailed in the updated Issues List, 1 were discussed during the teleconference. The updated Issues List (DOC-0006-2118 R4) discussed during the teleconference is available in ADAMS at Accession No. ML16202A144. Issues that require a formal docketed response from the licensee will be requested by a future request for additional information (RAI) from the NRC staff; these issues are designated accordingly in the "RAI No."

column of the updated Issues List.

1 The use of an "Open Items List" was discussed in the January 29, 2015, pre-submittal meeting, as documented in the NRC's March 24, 2015, meeting summary (ADAMS Accession No. ML15043A239).

Highlights from the July 19, 2016, teleconference include the following:

• The NRC staff determined that all Instrumentation and Controls Branch (EICB) open items can be closed. New Item No. 29 will become future EICB RAI No. 9, and the current PSEG response to Item No. 29 will be an adequate response to the future RAI. Following the meeting, the NRC staff determined that the clarifying information PSEG already provided is adequate, and EICB RAI No. 9 will not be necessary.

• For Item Nos. 9a and 28, the NRC staff stated they will be looking for information similar to that provided in the response column on June 21, 2016, in a future RAI response.

• Regarding No. 15, the NRC staff reiterated that some of the information provided in the project reading room 2 is difficult to read. Following the call, the NRC staff determined that this item will not become an RAI, since the staff had previously requested the information as part of the acceptance review process (ADAMS Accession No. ML15338A182); therefore, PSEG is already expected to provide the information to the NRC staff on the docket.

• The NRC staff informed PSEG that the draft Phase 2 documents are not opening in the project reading room. It was determined that a separate discussion to address any issues with the project reading room will be beneficial.

• Previous similar requests have used General Electric-Hitachi's (GEH's) topical report and analyzed any gaps. The Hope Creek submittal is different in that the gaps have been addressed through GEH's process. Therefore, the NRC cannot rely on precedent and will perform an audit at GEH's Wilmington, North Carolina, office to evaluate its process. The NRC staff intends to write generic audit and safety evaluation conclusions so that future NUMAC applications using the same process can reference these conclusions. This will reduce the need for duplicate work in the future.

• PSEG raised concerns regarding the audit. Specifically, PSEG is concerned Hope Creek is being treated differently than previous applicants because the NRC staff has not performed a process audit for all sites (e.g., the Columbia Generating Station (Columbia)). The NRC staff explained that the Columbia review still contained analyzed gaps and that the staff evaluated the compensatory measures. The NRC staff stated that this was the first opportunity for the staff to perform an audit of the complete GEH process.

• PSEG also stated that completion of the NRC staff's review of the Hope Creek PRNM application should not be contingent upon generic resolution of issues for future NUMAC applications, if those issues are specifically addressed in the Hope Creek application.

• The NRC staff will develop a draft audit plan, which will be provided to PSEG for discussion at the next scheduled public teleconference. The audit will be reviewing the software development process.

2 PSEG established an Electronic Reading Room portal consistent with the "SharePoint" concept discussed in the January 29, 2015, pre-submittal meeting, as documented in the NRC's March 24, 2015, meeting summary.

• The NRC staff informed PSEG that it is planning to issue the draft RAls the week of July 25, 2016, instead of the previously stated mid-July 2016. The licensee intends to provide the RAI responses with the Phase 2 submittal in September 2016; however, if the NRC is delayed in providing RAls to PSEG, this may not be possible.

• The next scheduled teleconference will be held on August 16, 2016.

Members of the public were not in attendance. Public Meeting Feedback forms were not received.

Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-16°[,;rleen.Parker@nrcf~

Carleen J. Park , reject Manager Plant Licensing nch 1-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-354

Enclosure:

List of Attendees cc w/enclosure: Distribution via Listserv

LIST OF ATTENDEES JULY 19, 2016, TELECONFERENCE WITH PSEG NUCLEAR LLC DIGITAL UPGRADE FOR HOPE CREEK GENERATING STATION DOCKET NO. 354 NAME ORGANIZATION C. Parker U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

R. Alvarado NRC R. Stattel NRC H.Vu NRC G. Thomas NRC P. Duke PSEG Nuclear LLC (PSEG)

R. Hoffman PSEG E. Scott PSEG R. Gallaher PSEG K. Swing PSEG F. Novak General Electric-Hitachi (GEH)

K. Miller GEH E. Joy GEH K. Vikara GEH L. Schichlein GEH R. Merante GEH D. Heinig Sargent and Lundy Enclosure

ML16217A455 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL 1-2/PM NRR/DORL/LPL 1-2/LA NRR/DORL/LPL 1-2/BC NRR/DORL/LPL 1-2/PM NAME CParker LRonewicz DBroaddus CParker DATE 8/9/16 8/8/16 8/12/16 8/15/16