ML20238F408

Informs That Requirement to Pay Fee Under 10CFR170 for Review of Licensee Pilot Plant Application for Use of Risk Informed Inservice Insp Methodologies for Vermont Yankee Plant,Waived

ML20238F408
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	09/01/1998
From:	Funches J NRC OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER
To:	Maret G VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP.
References
TAC-M99389, NUDOCS 9809030341
Download: ML20238F408 (3)

Text

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y 4 UNITED STATES j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION A" WAsHINoToN, o.C. 2066H001

\.,+/ 4 September 1, 1998 Mr. Gregory A. Maret Director of Operations Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation 185 Old Ferry Road Brattleboro, VT 05301

Dear Mr. Maret:

This letter is to inform you that the requirement to pay a fee under 10 CFR Part 170 for the review of your pilot plant application for the use of Risk Informed Inservice inspection (RI-ISI) methodologies for the Vermont Yankee plant (TAC M99389) has been waived. For the reasons stated below, an exemption from the 10 CFR Part 170 fee for the review of the August 6,1997, submittal (and the responses to Requests for Additional Information (RAI)), is granted in accordance with 10 CFR 170.11(b)(1).

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has encouraged licensees to submit applications for the RI-lSI pilot programs under one umbrella sponsoring organization, e.g., the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), for demonstrating risk-informed methodologies to be used for piping segment and piping structural element selection in systems scheduled for inservice inspections. To provide a permanent approach to RI-lSI, the staff intends to utilize the experience gained through the pilot plant applications in order to propose changes to 10 CFR 50.55a and related regulatory guidance documents. The nuclear industry has submitted two methodologies for implementing RI-ISI.

One methodology has been jointly developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Research and Westinghouse Owners Group (WOG) and the other methodology is being sponsored by the Electric Power Research lastitute (EPRI). In addition, the ASME developed Code Case N-560 which provides attemative examination requirements for Class 1, Category B-J piping welds. Code Case N-560 is applicable only to ASME Class 1 piping systems.

The August 6,1997, application (M99389) submitted by Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation utilizes the ASME Code Case N-560 method, for the Vermont Yankee NPP. The O staff will review the EPRI methodology applied to Arkansas Nuclear One (ANO) Unit 2 as well as the pilot applications of Code Case N-560 for Vermont Yankee and ANO Unit 1.

The development of the RI-ISI programs will provide guidance to power reactor licensees and the NRC staff on an acceptable approach for utilizing risk information to support plant specific changes to the licensing basis for inservice inspection programs. The program has the potential to optimize the use of NRC and industry resources while continuing to assure adequate protection of the public health and safety.

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Mr. Gregory A. Maret Based on the foregoing, I have determined that exemption from the 10 CFR Part 170 fee requirement

- for the review of the application from Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation, dated August 6, 1997, and the review of the responses to the RAI is appropriate. This exemption is authorized by law

. and is granted in accordance with 10 CFR 170.11(b)(1).

The 890,718 paid to date for the review of the Vermont Yankee RI-ISI submittal (TAC M99389) will be refunded. You should receive the refund in approximately 30 days. You have received an invoice dated July 20,1998, (RLO615-98) with costs for the review of the RI-Isis (TAC M99389) for the time frame March 29,1998, through June 20,1998. The additional amount of $11,564 will be refunded, if paid prior to receipt of this letter.

If you have any questions, please contact Ellen.Potest of my staff at 301-415-6392.

Sincerely, Original signed by; Peter J. Rabideau for:

Jesse L. Funches Chief Financial Officer Docket No. 50-271

. cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION:

Docket File PDR PDI-3 r/f RCroteau,NRR JStrosnider, NRR .OGC. ACRS TClark, NRR Glaines, NRR GBagchi,NRR NUDOC (ML-61)

BBoger,NRR BSheron, NRR OCFO/DAF/LFARB R/F OCFO/DAF R/F(DAF-8-000)

~OCFO/DAF SF(AR-1.17)OCFO R/F LTremper, OCFO invoice File RLO11198 -$15,458 SHudson, OCFO/RF LHerr, DCFO/RF NUDOC (ML-61) Invoice File RLO261-98 -$26,331 Invoice File RLO457-98 -$48,929 Inv ice File RLO615-98 -$11,564

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t' G. M aret Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station cc:

Regional Administrator, Region i Mr. Raymond N. McCandless U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Vermont Division of Occupational 475 Allendale Road and Radiological Health King of Prussia, PA 19406 Administration Building Montpelier,VT 05602 Mr. David R. Lewis Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge Mr. Gautam Sen

. 2300 N Street, N.W. Licensing Manager Washington, DC 20037-1128 Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation Mr. Richard P. Sedano, Commissioner 185 Old Ferry Road Vermont Department of Public Service Brattleboro,VT 05301 120 State Street,3rd Floor Montpelier, VT 05602 - Resident inspector Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Public Service Board U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission State of Vermont P.O. Box 176 120 State Street Vemon, VT 05354 Montpelier, VT 05602 Mr. Peter LaPorte, Director Chairman Board of Selectmen ATTN: James Muckerheide Town of Vemon Massachusetts Emergency Management P.O. Box 116 Agency Vemon,VT 05354-0116 400 Worcester Rd.

P.O. Box 1496 Mr. Richard E. McCullough Framingham, MA 01701-0317 Operating Experience Coordinator Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Jonathan M. Block, Esq. '

P.O. Box 157 - >

Main Street Govemor Hunt Road P. O. Box 566 -

Vemon, VT 05354 Putney, VT 05346-0566 G. Dana Bisbee, Esq. Mr. Michael J. Daley Deputy Attomey General Trustee and Legislative Representative 33 Capitol Street New England Coalition on Nuclear Concord, NH 03301-6g37 Pollution, Inc.

Box 545 -

Chief, Safety Unit Brattleboro,VT 05301 J Office of the Attomey General One Ashburton Place,19th Floor Boston, MA 02108 Ms. Deborah B. Katz Box 83 Shelbume Falls, MA 01370 t

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