ML21067A213

Summary of March 2, 2021, Teleconference with Tennessee Valley Authority to Discuss a Planned Alternative Request

ML21067A213
Person / Time
Site:	Sequoyah
Issue date:	03/23/2021
From:	Michael Wentzel Plant Licensing Branch II
To:	Jim Barstow Tennessee Valley Authority
Wentzel M J-NRR/DORL 301-415-6459
References
EPID L-2021-LRM-0025
Download: ML21067A213 (4)

Text

March 23, 2021 LICENSEE: Tennessee Valley Authority FACILITY: Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2

SUMMARY

OF MARCH 2, 2021, TELECONFERENCE WITH TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY TO DISCUSS A PLANNED ALTERNATIVE REQUEST (EPID L-2021-LRM-0025)

On March 2, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a teleconference with representatives of Tennessee Valley Authority (the licensee) to discuss a planned alternative request regarding the examination and repair of the control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) canopy seal welds at Sequoyah Nuclear Plant (Sequoyah), Units 1 and 2.

The meeting notice and agenda for this meeting, dated February 24, 2021, are available at Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML21055A550. The licensees slides for the meeting are available at ADAMS Accession No. ML21061A089. A list of attendees is enclosed. No regulatory decisions were made at this meeting.

The licensees presentation described what will be its proposed alternative to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers,Section XI, visual examination and weld repair requirements for the CRDM canopy seal welds. The licensee stated that CRDM inspections are planned for both Units starting with the Unit 1 Spring 2021 refueling outage. The licensee stated that even though they had not detected any indications of flaws in the CRDM canopy welds, they planned to submit the alternative request as a contingency, should any flaws be detected in existing canopy seal welds. The alternative request will also be applicable to new canopy seal welds required if latch assemblies are replaced. The proposed alternative will be for Spring 2021 or subsequent outages. The licensee stated that the request will be submitted pursuant to Paragraph 50.55a(z)(2), Hardship without a compensating increase in quality and safety, of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The licensee indicated that it intends to request a normal, 12-month review time for its alternative request; however, should any flaws be detected during the Spring 2021 outage, the licensee stated that it would request the NRC staff to perform an expedited review.

The NRC staff suggested that the licensees request should fully describe the circumstances that the alternative would be applicable and the duration for which the alternative will be requested. The NRC staff asked the licensee to clarify its expectations regarding an expedited review should one become necessary. The licensee stated that it would likely request verbal authorization of its proposed alternative.

No members of the public were in attendance and no comments or public meeting feedback forms were received.

Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-6459 or Michael.Wentzel@nrc.gov.

/RA/

Michael J. Wentzel, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch II-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-327 and 50-328

Enclosure:

List of Attendees cc: Listserv

LIST OF ATTENDEES MARCH 2, 2021, TELECONFERENCE WITH TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY REGARDING A PLANNED ALTERNATIVE REQUEST FOR SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 Name Organization Jay Collins U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Bob Davis U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Michael Wentzel U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Kimberly Hulvey Tennessee Valley Authority Tracy Orf Tennessee Valley Authority Anne Robinson-Givens Tennessee Valley Authority Kelli Yates Tennessee Valley Authority David Barton Westinghouse Keith Dietrich Westinghouse Gregory Falvo Westinghouse James Haithcox Westinghouse Adam Keyser Westinghouse Mary Kurasch Westinghouse Donald Miller Westinghouse Enclosure

ML21067A213 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL2-2/PM NRR/DORL/LPL2-2/LA NRR/DORL/LPL2-2/BC NRR/DORL/LPL2-2/PM NAME MWentzel RButler UShoop MWentzel DATE 03/17/2021 03/16/2021 03/22/2021 03/23/2021