ML22104A225
| ML22104A225 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Watts Bar  |
| Issue date: | 04/20/2022 |
| From: | Kimberly Green Plant Licensing Branch II |
| To: | Jim Barstow Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Green K | |
| References | |
| EPID L-2022-LRM-0032 | |
| Download: ML22104A225 (4) | |
Text
April 20, 2022 LICENSEE:
Tennessee Valley Authority FACILITY:
Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 2
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF APRIL 12, 2022, MEETING WITH TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY REGARDING A PROPOSED EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 2 (EPID L-2022-LRM-0032)
On April 12, 2022, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted an observation meeting with representatives of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss TVAs proposed exemption request for Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (Watts Bar), Unit 2.
The meeting notice and agenda, dated April 8, 2022, are available at Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML22098A108. TVAs presentation slides for the meeting are available at ADAMS Accession No. ML22102A303. A list of participants is enclosed.
TVA stated that it plans to request a one-time exemption from certain requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 26, Fitness for Duty Programs, for Watts Bar, Unit 2. Specifically, TVA plans to request an exemption from 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) that would allow the use of less restrictive work hours limitations to support the Watts Bar, Unit 2 steam generator replacement (SGR) outage activities. TVA stated that this exemption would apply to Category A personnel, who are individuals directly performing or supporting SGR project activities. These individuals include pipefitters, boilermakers, operating engineers, and iron workers. TVA also plans to request an exemption from portions of 10 CFR 26.205(d)(6) for Category B personnel, who are personnel that perform normal outage shutdown startup, maintenance, fuel handling, and modification activities that are not related to the SGR project.
TVA explained that Watts Bar, Unit 2 entered an SGR outage on March 1, 2022, and was originally planned to conclude in mid-May 2022. However, due to weather delays, emergent discovery issues, and delays in site access for outage workers, TVA now expects the outage to conclude in early June. TVA stated that the revised outage schedule does not account for any additional weather delays or emergent discovery issues. Therefore, TVA will request a one-time 60-day exemption to permit the reduction of the minimum number of days off for workers, in a manner typically allowed in accordance with 10 CFR 26.205(d)(4) and 10 CFR 26.205(d)(6), to continue beyond the end of the current 60-day period. This exemption period would end no later than June 29, 2022.
The NRC staff asked TVA for additional details about the weather-related delays and site access challenges. TVA clarified that the site experienced high winds, rain, and also snow and ice in the beginning of March. The weather caused approximately 285 hours0.0033 days <br />0.0792 hours <br />4.712302e-4 weeks <br />1.084425e-4 months <br /> in delays. In regard to the site access challenges, TVA stated that it was not able to process all of the site badges prior to March 1st, and as of March 15th, 400+ workers still needed to be granted site access (i.e., get badged).
TVA cited three precedents where the NRC approved exemption requests that are similar:
(1) D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 (ADAMS Accession No. ML092630003), (2) Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1 (ADAMS Accession No. ML101730457), and (3) Fort Calhoun Station, Unit 1 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13274A025). The NRC staff suggested that TVA might also want to review the temporary guidance that the NRC issued for COVID-19-related requests for exemption from the Part 26 work hour control requirements (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML20087P237 and ML20261H515), which may contain additional information that TVA could consider when discussing the technical justification for their request to support the NRC staff in its timely review. However, the NRC staff also cautioned TVA that this guidance was intended to address circumstances related to a declared public health emergency, and that it may not be applicable, in its entirety, to TVAs circumstances. The NRC staff also recommended that TVA consider if an exemption request from 10 CFR 26.205(d)(7) might also be needed.
The NRC staff asked if the exemption request would include security personnel. TVA stated that security personnel are not included in the exemption request because they will remain on a normal work schedule.
TVA plans to submit the request to the NRC by April 15, 2022, and will request approval by April 30, 2022.
No regulatory decisions were made at this meeting.
Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-1627 or by e-mail to Kimberly.Green@nrc.gov.
/RA/
Kimberly J. Green, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch II-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos.
50-391
Enclosure:
List of Participants cc: Listserv
Enclosure LIST OF PARTICIPANTS APRIL 12, 2022, PUBLIC MEETING WITH TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY REGARDING PROPOSED EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 2 Name Affiliation Kim Green U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Brian Green NRC Justin Vazquez NRC Wesley Deschaine NRC Ken Miller NRC Tyler Beck NRC Dave Wrona NRC Russ Wells Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Stuart Rymer TVA Jon Johnson TVA Dean Baker TVA Tony Williams TVA Carol Barajas TVA Beth Jenkins TVA Randy Staggs TVA Roam Bankes TVA David Berkenpas TVA Joan McCullum TVA Beau Eckermann TVA
ML22104A225 OFFICE DORL/LPL2-2/PM DORL/LPL2-2/LA*
DORL/LPL2-2/BC* DORL/LPL2-2/PM NAME KGreen RButler DWrona KGreen DATE 04/14/2022 04/19/2022 04/20/2022 04/20/2022