ML20140A261

May 5, 2020, Summary of Teleconference with STP Nuclear Operating Company to Discuss a Proposed Exigent License Amendment Request to Revise the Pressure of the Safety Injection Accumulators for South Texas Project, Unit 1

ML20140A261
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	05/27/2020
From:	Dennis Galvin NRC/NRR/DORL/LPL4
To:	South Texas
Dennis Galvin-NRR/DORL 301-415-6256
References
EPID L-2020-LRM-0039
Download: ML20140A261 (4)

Text

May 27, 2020 LICENSEE: STP Nuclear Operating Company FACILITY: South Texas Project, Unit 1

SUMMARY

OF MAY 5, 2020, TELECONFERENCE WITH STP NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY TO DISCUSS A PROPOSED EXIGENT LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST TO REVISE THE PRESSURE OF THE SAFETY INJECTION ACCUMULATORS FOR SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT, UNIT 1 (EPID L-2020-LRM-0039)

On May 5, 2020, a Category 1 public teleconference was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and representatives of the STP Nuclear Operating Company (the licensee). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a proposed license amendment request to modify Technical Specification (TS) 3/4.5.1, Accumulators to allow Unit 1 to operate with all three safety injection accumulators at reduced minimum pressure. The meeting notice and agenda, dated May 1, 2020, are available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) at Accession No. ML20125A194. A list of attendees is enclosed.

The licensee presented informational slides at the meeting, which can be found in ADAMS at Accession No. ML20125A336. During the meeting, the licensee described a problem resulting in the need for the proposed exigent amendment. A leaking valve between the Unit 1 safety injection accumulator and the low head safety injection discharge header is allowing the header to become pressurized and accumulate nitrogen gas. This has required either frequent cycling of safety-related components or isolation of the safety injection accumulator. Fixing the valve would require a plant shutdown. The licensee described the proposed amendment, which would reduce the lower pressure limit for the accumulator nitrogen cover-pressure from 590 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) to 500 psig through the end of the Unit 1 operating cycle. The licensee also described its preliminary technical evaluation and its planned submittal schedule.

The NRC staff and the licensee discussed the above topics. The NRC staff provided feedback on the information needed for a complete application, including a discussion of the impacts on the safety injection system resulting from the TS change and the basis for exigency.

No members of the public called into the meeting. No regulatory decisions or commitments were made at the meeting. Additionally, the NRC staff did not receive Public Meeting Feedback forms.

Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-6256 or by e-mail at Dennis.Galvin@nrc.gov.

/RA/

Dennis J. Galvin, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operator Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-498

Enclosure:

List of Attendees cc: Listserv

ML20140A261 *by e-mail concurrence OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM* NRR/DORL/LPL4/LA* NRR/DSS/SNSB/BC*

NAME DGalvin PBlechman SKrepel DATE 5/20/2020 5/20/2020 5/18/2020 OFFICE NRR/DSS/STSB/BC* NRR/DORL/LPL4/BC* NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM*

NAME VCusumano JDixon-Herrity (TWengert for) DGalvin (SLingam for)

DATE 5/18/2020 5/27/2020 5/27/2020 LIST OF ATTENDEES MAY 5, 2020, PRESUBMITTAL TELECONFERENCE REGARDING PROPOSED EXIGENT LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST TO REVISE THE PRESSURE OF THE SAFETY INJECTION ACCUMULATORS STP NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT, UNIT 1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission J. Dixon-Herrity D. Galvin M. Hamm J. Josey S. Krepel D. Loveless A. Sanchez C. Stott G. Suber D. Woodyatt STP Nuclear Operating Company J. Atkins R. Dunn S. Hafeez A. Richards L. Sterling J. Tomlinson F. Yilmaz Enclosure