ML20093A741
| ML20093A741 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/10/2020 |
| From: | Geoffrey Miller Plant Licensing Branch II |
| To: | Markley M Plant Licensing Branch II |
| Miller G | |
| References | |
| Download: ML20093A741 (5) | |
Text
April 10, 2020 MEMORANDUM TO: Michael T. Markley, Chief Plant Licensing Branch II-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM: G. Edward Miller, Project Manager /RA/
Plant Licensing Branch II-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF MARCH 26, 2020, PUBLIC MEETING WITH NUCLEAR INDUSTRY TO DISCUSS COVID-19 REGULATORY IMPACTS On March 26, 2020, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a public teleconference with representatives from the nuclear industry, including the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), NextEra, and Entergy. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss regulatory impacts resultant from the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically focus on Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Section 50.55a codes and standards requirements, steam generator materials inspections and other materials-related requirements. The meeting notice can be found in Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) at Accession No. ML20084J283.
At the start of the meeting, the NRC staff reinforced that the meeting was an information gathering dialogue only and as always for NRC public meetings, no regulatory decisions will be made. Additionally, it was reinforced that none of the information provided in the meeting was to be taken to be a request by any licensee or a decision by the NRC. The staff stated that actual licensing requests should still be submitted in the normal fashion and coordinated with the assigned Project Manager.
After Robert Taylor, Deputy Director of New Reactors, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, made opening remarks, the meeting was turned over to Messrs. Thomas Basso of NEI, Ron Gaston of Entergy, and Steve Catron of NextEra to make opening remarks.
NEI led a discussion with the NRC staff regarding identification of regulatory issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Items for discussion included:
As refueling outages continue, activities may be adjusted to reduce staffing to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Certain outage activities identified at address this concern include: inservice inspections, steam generator inspections, and American Society of Enclosure
M. Markley Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code requirement administrative reporting. The below priorities were noted from high to low:
o Inservice inspections - either in last outage or current interval, or last outage of current period. In these cases, a station may be seeking extensions for one refueling outage. Repeated low-risk inspections may be sought to be extended.
o Steam generator inspections - may require license amendment requests to seek frequency extensions, or if certain staffing specialty areas be affected.
o ASME Code administrative reporting requirements day reports after outages, require multiple interactions of multiple disciplines, extending these requirements.
o Inservice testing - personnel working in close proximity, or specialty staffing.
NEI stated that each utility would need to identify its needs and will engage the NRC.
NEI asked questions to the NRC related to the following:
Options NRC has considered for 10 CFR 50.55a and what are the potential verbal or enforcement options.
NRCs position on pre-applications for contingency licensing actions.
Enforcement discretion regarding general ASEM Code reporting administrative requirements.
If the NRC considers an enforcement guidance memorandum, what are the criteria related to entry and exit and hardship.
NRC position on contingency license amendments, in lieu of waiting until plants is impacted and have personnel issues due to COVID-19.
The NRC asked what is being done by industry to make sure consistency of requested licensing actions among the industry.
The Entergy representative commented about the priority of the 50.55a rulemaking.
No regulatory decisions were made in the meeting.
During the public question-and-answer session of the meeting, NRC staff addressed questions on the following topics:
References to licensees as utilities in NRCs public meetings Input from State regulatory bodies in response to to the PHE Mobile outage teams could spread COVID-19.
M. Markley Safety impact of scaling back refueling outages and critical activities not being performed.
Sudden increases in licensing caseload from inspection deferral of relief requests.
Licensees staffing for refueling outage-related work and contingencies of there is a COVID-19 blossom in the outage work force.
Possible NRC relaxation of the requirement for 90-day refueling outage report.
The accident at Three Mile Island and steam generator tube rupture at Indian Point including NRCs Inspector General report on Indian Point steam generator tub rupture.
Concern for public due process in NRC review of COVID-19 licensing actions.
Consideration of additional license conditions for licensees hardship requests.
Challenge of plant-specific inspections and the timing of generic guidance to support relief requests.
Enclosure:
List of Attendees
List of Attendees March 26, 2020, Public Meeting with the Nuclear Industry Regarding COVID-19 Regulatory Impacts Name Organization Robert Taylor NRC Ho Nieh NRC Scott Burnell NRC Ed Miller NRC Michael Markley NRC Michael Mahoney NRC Mohamed Shams NRC Paul Peduzzi NRC David Rudland NRC Steve Bloom NRC Bob Bowen NRC Juan Peralta NRC Greg Makar NRC Jonathan Rowley NRC Ali Rezai NRC Al Butvacage NRC John Lamb NRC Rob Krsek NRC Janise Stoliarova FEMA Thomas Basso NEI James Slider NEI Stephen Geier NEI Ron Gaston Entergy Steve Catron NextEra Russel Cipolla Intertek Mark Ferlisi GSE TrueNorth Bill Trappet Energy Northwest Alyse Peterson NYSERDA Shannon Rafferty-Czincila Exelon Eric Epstein Individual Tim Judson Individual Bill Friedman Individual Barbara Warren Citizens Environmental Coalition Tom Lumis Exelon Marvin Lewis Individual Paul Gunter Beyond Nuclear Ed Lyman Individual Mark Mantalarus Individual Larry Nicholson Certrec Enclosure
ML20093A741 Meeting Notice: ML20084J283 *via e-mail OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL2-1/PM* NRR/DORL/LPL2-1/LA* NRR/DORL/LPL2-1/BC*
NAME GEMiller KGoldstein (JBurkhardt for) MMarkley DATE 04/02/2020 04/03/2020 04/10/2020 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL2-1/PM*
NAME GEMiller DATE 04/10/2020