ML20206L362
ML20206L362 | |
Person / Time | |
---|---|
Issue date: | 07/24/2020 |
From: | Anna Bradford Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
To: | |
Betancourt L, NRR, 415-6146 | |
Shared Package | |
ML20206L360 | List: |
References | |
Download: ML20206L362 (17) | |
Text
2018 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants Subsequent License Renewal:
Is 80 the new 60?
Anna Bradford, Director Division of New and Renewed Licenses Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- License renewal principles continue to be effective:
- Regulatory process ensures the CLB provides and maintains an acceptable level of safety
- Each plants licensing basis must be maintained
- Identification of aging management needs for the 60 to 80 year operating period
- Technical reviews ensure effective aging management 2
SLR Review Process and Inputs into NRC Licensing Decision Environmental Review (10 CFR 51)
SLR NRC Renewal Application Hearings* Decision Accepted 10 CFR 2 (10 CFR 50.29)
Safety ACRS Review Recommendation (10 CFR 54) (10 CFR54.25)
- If a Request for Hearing is Granted 3
SLR Guidance
- GALL-SLR Report (NUREG-2191):
Provides acceptable methods to manage aging effects Plant-specific alternatives may be proposed
- SRP-SLR (NUREG-2192):
Provides guidance to NRC staff reviewers to perform safety reviews of SLR applications 4
Technical Issues for Operations Beyond 60 Years
- Reactor pressure vessel neutron embrittlement at high fluence
- Irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking of reactor internals and primary system components
- Concrete and containment degradation
- Electrical cable qualification, condition monitoring and assessment 5
SLR Applications Turkey Point Units 3 & 4 (FL) Peach Bottom Units 2 & 3 (PA) Surry Units 1 & 2 (VA)
Renewed License Issued Renewed License Issued Current expiration 2032 & 2033 December 2019 March 2020 Under review
- If approved, SLR adds an additional 20 years for up to a total operating life of 80 years.
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SLR Prospective Applications 49 more units forecasted 7
SLR Continuous Improvement
- Lessons learned so far:
- Reviews can be completed in 18-months
- Pre-submittal meetings improve coordination
- Use of technology helped with effectiveness of audits
- More effective use of audits reduced requests for additional information
- Need for on-site audits minimized
- Maintained flexibility with milestones 8
SLR Risk-Informing Activities
- Identify in pre-submittal meetings areas that will require additional review resources
- Conduct acceptance reviews with an integrated team
- Eliminate the on-site operating experience audit 9
SLR Risk-Informing Activities
- Capture audit activities in a single Aging Management Audit
- Part 1: In-Office Technical Review
- Part 2: On-Site Audit
- Part 3: In-Office Audit Breakout Sessions 10
SLR Path Forward
- Assess electrical, mechanical and structural GALL-SLR ISGs public comments
- Implement lessons learned and risk-informing activities in upcoming SLRAs reviews
- Continue public meetings on lessons learned and guidance updates 11
What Limits License Renewal to 20 Years?
- Atomic Energy Act limits licenses to 40 years
- Remaining time on current license plus license renewal period
- 10 CFR § 54.31(b) caps the additional period covered by renewed licenses at 20 years
- Statement of Considerations in 1991 contemplated revisiting as experience with licensee performance in managing age-related degradation during the renewal term is gained
- 94 licenses have been renewed with more than 320 reactor-years operation beyond their initial 40-year licenses
- 4 units with licenses to 80 years 12
Why License Renewal for 40 Years?
- 6 units have initial 40-year licenses
- Guidance in place to manage aging effects to 80 years
- 87 units have 60-year licenses
- 43 units beyond 40 years and eligible to apply for SLR
- Efficiencies:
- Applicants prepare one application for 40 years Promotes continuity in plant implementation of AMPs for 40 years
- NRC review of one application for 40 years Can focus on oversight of AMP implementation 13
What is Needed for 40-Year License Renewal?
- Staff at initial stages of identifying changes and challenges
- Legal/regulatory: 20-year license renewal limit, 40-year license limit
- Environmental review: GEIS covers 20 years
- Safety review: identification of aging effects and management programs currently for 80 years only (e.g., GALL-SLR)
- Inspections/oversight: need for additional oversight with elimination of 20-year LR application review?
- Possible public meeting in late 2020 to seek stakeholder input 14
Questions?
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- AMP - Aging Management Program
- CLB - Current Licensing Basis
- GALL - Generic Aging Lessons Learned
- GEIS - Generic Environmental Impact Statement
- ISGs - Interim Staff Guidance
- NEI - Nuclear Energy Institute
- PWR - Pressurized Water Reactor
- SER - Safety Evaluation Report
- SRP - Standard Review Plan 16
Contact Information
- Anna Bradford, Director Division of New and Renewed Licenses Office Nuclear Reactor Regulation
- Address:
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mailstop O-11F1, Washington, DC 20555
- Email: Anna.Bradford@nrc.gov
- Phone: 1-301-415-1560 17