ML24061A237

SNC Email Dated March 1, 2024, Regarding SNC Response to NRC Letter for Vogtle 3 & 4 RES Info

ML24061A237
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	03/01/2024
From:	Lowery K Southern Nuclear Operating Co
To:	John Lamb Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML24061A237 (2)

Text

From: Lowery, Ken G.

To: John Lamb Cc: Coleman, Jamie Marquess; Joyce, Ryan M.; Chamberlain, Amy Christine; Leighty, Steven; Garrett, William; Leonard, Matthew E.

Subject:

[External_Sender] SNC Response to NRC Request: VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 3 AND 4 VOLUNTARY REQUESTS FOR DATA, INFORMATION, AND/OR OBSERVATIONS Date: Friday, March 1, 2024 2:36:01 PM Attachments: image002.png

John,

NRC Letter dated January 17, 2024 (ML23347A209) to SNC requested specific data, information, and/or observations as itemized below. The SNC response follows each item.

NRC Request #1

• The NRC staff requests full core physics data for the first cycle of Vogtle, Unit 3, to validate the NRCs core physics methods.

SNC Response #1

SNC will provide full core physics data for the first cycle of Vogtle Unit 3 following the first refueling outage. The SNC point of contact is Matt Leonard. Telephone 205-992-7608 or email mleonard@southernco.com.

NRC Request #2

• The NRC staff requests a one-day onsite visit for NRC staff and Idaho National Laboratory researchers to observe the simulator training for Vogtle, Units 3 and 4, and meet with the instructors. This would support NRC Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) to design simulator experiments to study operator performance in the use of computerized procedures.

SNC Response #2

SNC cannot meet this request in the foreseeable future as we finish start-up activities and ready ourselves for the first few refueling outages.

Furthermore, SNC is uncertain of their ability to satisfy this request due to it providing NRC access to third-party proprietary/confidential materials, software, etc. outside the purpose of an inspection.

NRC Request #3

• The NRC staff requests thermal-hydraulic test data from first-of-a-kind and third-of-a-kind design verification tests performed in China that supported the deletion of tests from the Vogtle Combined Licenses (COLs). The NRC staff will use the data to validate the NRC thermal hydraulics modelling for the AP1000. In particular, the NRC staff requests test reports that include the plant initial conditions and the sequence of events in the tests, and data (preferably in an easily readable electronic format) for the following tests:

o Passive Residual Heat Removal (PRHR) heat transfer and In-containment Refueling Water Storage Tank (IRWST) heat up, o Coolant Make-up Tank (CMT) recirculation and draindown, o Automatic Depressurization System (ADS) blowdown, and o Reactor Coolant Pump (RCP) trip flow coastdown.

SNC Response #3

SNC is unable to meet this request since we do not own or have access to this data. The FPOT (first plant only testing) series of LARs required commercial agreements between WEC and the Chinese plant owners. SNC had specific commercial agreements in place with each of the Chinese plant owners to have access to testing data and we were permitted to share that data with the NRC for the purposes of licensing activities. Those agreements are no longer in existence and SNC does not possess or have any commercial rights to the data.

Please contact me with any questions.

Thanks,

Ken Lowery, P.E.

Lead Licensing Engineer - Vogtle 3&4 Southern Nuclear - Regulatory Affairs 205-992-6315 (W) or 205-288-0743 (M)