ML23079A125
| ML23079A125 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vogtle  (NPF-091) |
| Issue date: | 04/17/2023 |
| From: | Gleaves W NRC/NRR/VPOB |
| To: | Durand P - No Known Affiliation |
| Gleaves W | |
| References | |
| Download: ML23079A125 (2) | |
Text
Ms. Patty Durand Atlanta, GA 30307
Dear Ms. Durand:
On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff, I am responding to your comments relating to the Federal Register Notice (FRN) dated February 2, 2023 (88 FR 7112),
regarding the issuance of license amendment No. 189 to Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC) for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Unit 3. This FRN announced, in part, an opportunity for public comment on the no significant hazards consideration.
On March 6, 2023, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession Number ML23067A004) you submitted comments in response to the FRN. Your comments are in two parts and summarized here: (1) that there be an investigation as to the root cause of the missing interface plates and whether this root cause led to other nonconformances, with the results of the investigation being disclosed to the public, and (2) the relaxing of the Limiting Condition for Operation (LCO) and Technical Specifications (TS) adds risk and is a non-conformance with the approved design.
Regarding your first comment, the NRC staff is following its regular licensing and oversight processes to assure public health and safety. In the TS amendment, the NRC staff has specifically evaluated the safety of the plant hardware with regard to the reactor operating mode affected and conformance with requirements and regulations, and notes that the specific change was requested to accommodate the rework of two piping supports located on two automatic depressurization system stage 4 lines at Unit 3. In addition to reviewing the specific TS change to accommodate the rework of these piping supports, the NRC staff continues to evaluate plant construction, operation, and training and notes that SNC has completed rework for these piping supports and has reviewed the same supports in Unit 4.
Regarding your concern that the amendment to the plant TS adds risk by relaxing the LCOs, I note two things regarding the safety evaluation related to the amendment: (1) that the NRC staff approved the license amendment because the hazard to the public was extremely low due to the state of the new, unirradiated fuel, and (2) that the plant TS, as written, prevented the licensee from making the repair without unnecessarily requiring a change in operating mode.
The NRC staff would agree with your comment if the change had been proposed post-criticality or during reactor April 17, 2023
P. Durand 2
operation; however, please note that this particular change to the TS applies prior to initial criticality only. Following startup of the reactor, this change is no longer an option available to be used by the licensee.
Sincerely, William (Billy) Gleaves Senior Project Manager Vogtle Project Office Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, NRC Signed by Gleaves, William on 04/17/23
Ltr ML23079A125 OFFICE NRR/VPO/VPOB NRR/VPO/VPOB R-II/DCO/CIB2 OGC/GCHA
/AGCNRP/NLO*
NAME WGleaves RButler BDavis MSpencer DATE Mar 21, 2023 Mar 22, 2023 Mar 22, 2023 Apr 5, 2023 OFFICE NRR/DRO/IOLB NRR/VPO/VPOB NAME LNist WGleaves DATE Apr 17, 2023 Apr 17, 2023