ML17132A363

Acceptance of Requested Licensing Action License Amendment Request for the Transition to Westinghouse Core Design and Safety Analyses in Addition to Adopting of Alternative Source Term

ML17132A363
Person / Time
Site:	Wolf Creek
Issue date:	05/15/2017
From:	Balwant Singal Plant Licensing Branch IV
To:	Heflin A Wolf Creek
Singal B, NRR/DORL/LPL4-1
References
CAC Mf9307
Download: ML17132A363 (3)

Text

UNITED ST ATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 May 15, 2017 Mr. Adam C. Heflin President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Nuclear Officer Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation P.O. Box 411 Burlington, KS 66839

SUBJECT:

WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION-ACCEPTANCE OF REQUESTED LICENSING ACTION RE: LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST FOR THE TRANSITION TO WESTINGHOUSE CORE DESIGN AND SAFETY ANALYSES AND TO ADOPT ALTERNATIVE SOURCE TERM (CAC NO. MF9307)

Dear Mr. Heflin:

By letter dated January 17, 2017 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML17054C103), Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (WCNOC, the licensee), submitted a license amendment for Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS). The proposed license amendment request (LAR) would replace the existing WCNOC methodology for performing core design, non-loss-of-coolant-accident (non-LOCA) and LOCA safety analyses to the standard Westinghouse U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)-approved methodologies for performing these analyses and associated technical specification changes at WCGS. In addition, the LAR proposes to revise WCGS licensing basis for adopting the alternative source term radiological analysis methodology in accordance with the Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.67, "Accident source term."

Consistent with 10 CFR 50.90, an amendment to the license (including the technical specifications) must fully describe the changes requested. 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 acceptance review was performed to determine if there is sufficient technical information in scope and depth to allow the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review. The acceptance review is also intended to identify whether the application has any readily apparent information insufficiencies in its characterization of the regulatory requirements or the licensing basis of the plant.

Based on the initial review by the NRC staff, by letter dated April 18, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No. ML 171 OOA266), the staff requested for supplemental information necessary for the staff to make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed LAR for review.

By letter dated May 4, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No. ML17130A915), the licensee provided the requested information.

The NRC staff has reviewed your application dated January 17, 2017, as supplemented by letter dated May 4, 2017, and concluded that it does provide technical information in sufficient detail to enable the staff to complete its detailed technical review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed amendment in terms of regulatory

A. Heflin 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. If additional information is needed, you will be advised by separate correspondence.

Based on the information provided in your submittal, the NRC staff has estimated that this licensing request will take approximately 2355 hours98.125 days <br />14.018 weeks <br />3.226 months <br /> to complete. The NRC staff expects to complete this review in approximately 12 months, which is January 2018. If there are emergent complexities or challenges in our review that would cause changes to the initial forecasted completion date or significant changes in the forecasted hours, the reasons for the changes, along with the new estimates, will be communicated during the routine interactions with the assigned project manager.

These estimates are based on the NRC staff's initial review of the application and they could change, due to several factors including requests for additional information, unanticipated addition of scope to the review, and review by NRC advisory committees or hearing-related activities.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-3016 or via e-mail at Balwant.Singal@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

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Balwant K. Singal, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-482 cc: Distribution via Listserv

A. Heflin

SUBJECT:

WOLF CREEK GENERATING STATION-ACCEPTANCE OF REQUESTED LICENSING ACTION RE: LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST FOR THE TRANSITION TO WESTINGHOUSE CORE DESIGN AND SAFETY ANALYSES AND TO ADOPT ALTERNATIVE SOURCE TERM (CAC NO. MF9307) DATED MAY 15, 2017 DISTRIBUTION:

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. ema1*1 d ae t d May 10 2017 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM NRR/DORL/LPL4/LA NRR/DRA/ARCB/BC (A)*

NAME BSingal PBlechman GStevens DATE 5/15/2017 5/15/2017 5/10/2017 OFFICE NRR/DSS/STSB/BC (A)* NRR/DORL/LPL4/BC NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM NAME JWhitman RPascarelli BSingal DATE 5/10/2017 5/15/2017 5/15/2017 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY