ML25157A010
| ML25157A010 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hatch  |
| Issue date: | 06/13/2025 |
| From: | Harris B, Alissa Neuhausen NRC/NRR/DNRL/NLRP |
| To: | Coleman J Southern Nuclear Operating Co |
| References | |
| EPID L-2025-SLR-0002 | |
| Download: ML25157A010 (1) | |
Text
Jamie M. Coleman Regulatory Affairs Director Southern Nuclear Operating Co., Inc.
3535 Colonnade Parkway Birmingham, AL 35243
SUBJECT:
EDWIN I. HATCH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2-AGING MANAGEMENT AUDIT PLAN REGARDING THE SUBSEQUENT LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REVIEW (EPID NO. L-2025-SLR-0002)
Dear Jamie Coleman:
By letter dated May 15, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession Package No. ML25135A390), Southern Nuclear Operating Company submitted an application for subsequent license renewal of Facility Operating License No. DPR-57 and NPF-5 for Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 and 2 (Hatch) to the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
The NRC plans to conduct an Aging Management Audit from June 16, 2025 - September 26, 2025, in accordance with the enclosed regulatory audit plan. The Aging Management Audit will be conducted at NRC Headquarters and at Hatch, as appropriate. If you have any questions, please contact Brian Harris at Brian.Harris2@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Alissa Neuhausen, Acting Chief License Renewal Projects Branch Division of New and Renewed Licenses Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos: 50-321 & 50-366
Enclosure:
Aging Management Audit Plan June 13, 2025 Signed by Neuhausen, Alissa on 06/13/25
ML25157A010 via* e-concurrence NRR-106 OFFICE PM: NLRP: DNRL LA: NLRP: DNRL BC: NLRP: DNRL NAME BHarris KBratcher ANeuhausen DATE 6/09/25 6/10/25
Enclosure Audit Plan Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 Subsequent License Renewal Application Aging Management Regulatory Audit June 16, 2025 - September 26, 2025 Division of New and Renewed Licenses Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Audit Plan Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Units1 and 2 Subsequent License Renewal Application Aging Management Regulatory Audit
===1.
Background===
By letter dated May 15, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML25135A390), Southern Nuclear Operating Company submitted an application for subsequent license renewal (SLR) of Facility Operating License No. DPR-57 and NPF-5 for Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 and 2 (Hatch) to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The staff is reviewing this application in accordance with the guidance in NUREG-2192, Standard Review Plan for Review of Subsequent License Renewal Applications for Nuclear Power Plants, (SRP-SLR).
In accordance with the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR)
Part 54, Requirements for Renewal of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants, the NRC will perform an aging management regulatory audit to gain a better understanding of (1) the applicants methodology to identify the systems, structures, and components (SSCs) to be included within the scope of SLR and subject to an aging management review (AMR),
and (2) the applicants aging management programs (AMPs), AMR items, time-limited aging analyses (TLAAs), and associated bases and documentation as applicable.
2.
Regulatory Audit Bases License renewal (LR) requirements are specified in 10 CFR Part 54. Guidance is provided in the SRP-SLR and NUREG-2191, Revision 0, Generic Aging Lessons Learned for Subsequent License Renewal (GALL-SLR) Report, dated July 2017.
3.
Regulatory Audit Scope of Review Scoping and Screening Review The purpose of the scoping and screening review is to evaluate the applicants scoping and screening methodology used to identify SSCs within the scope of LR and subject to AMR, as well as the results of the implementation of the methodology. The review is performed by evaluating the scoping and screening process and results, as documented in the subsequent license renewal application (SLRA), implementing procedures, reports, and drawings, such that the NRC staff:
Obtains an understanding of the process used to identify the SSCs within the scope of LR and to identify the structures and components subject to an AMR; and Has sufficient docketed information to allow the NRC staff to reach a conclusion on the adequacy of the scoping and screening methodology and results, as documented in the SLRA.
AMP, AMR, and TLAA Review The scope of the AMP, AMR, and TLAA review is to: (a) examine the applicants AMPs, AMR items, and TLAAs; (b) verify the applicants claims of consistency with the corresponding GALL-SLR Report AMPs, and AMR items; and (c) assess the adequacy of the TLAAs.
Enhancements and exceptions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with the results documented in the safety evaluation (SE).
The NRC staff will audit Program Elements 1 - 10 (scope of program, preventive actions, parameters monitored or inspected, detection of aging effects, monitoring and trending, acceptance criteria, corrective actions, confirmation process, administrative controls, and operating experience (OE)) of the AMPs against the elements of the associated AMP described in the GALL-SLR Report. In addition, the NRC staff will verify that the conditions at the plant are bounded by the conditions for which the GALL-SLR Report program was evaluated.
The NRC staff will also examine the applicants program bases documents and related references for AMPs, AMR items, and TLAAs, and interview applicant representatives to obtain additional clarification.
The NRC staff will use risk insights to inform the prioritization of its review of documentation associated with AMPs, AMR items, and TLAAs and to focus on the breadth and depth of its review of plant-specific operating procedures and OE. However, the NRC staffs review is not limited to risk-significant systems and components because 10 CFR Part 54 is a deterministic rule and the NRC staff must conclude that there is reasonable assurance that activities will continue to be conducted in accordance with the current licensing basis and the effects of aging will be managed during the subsequent period of extended operation for all structures and components within the scope of 10 CFR Part 54.
The NRC staff has reviewed the list of risk-significant systems and components provided by the applicant to inform the establishment of priorities for the performance of the scoping and screening review.
4.
Audit Activities The Aging Management Audit will consist of three parts, to be scheduled by the License Renewal Projects Branch (NLRP) safety project manager in coordination with the applicant.
Following completion of the Aging Management Audit, an Aging Management Audit report will be issued.
The three Aging Management Audit parts include:
Part #1 - In-Office Technical Review Audit During the In-Office Technical Review Audit, technical staff will review the SLRA documentation on the applicants electronic portal (ePortal) and conduct an OE review.
The staff will have discipline-specific discussions with the applicant to gain context on the SLRA to support the staffs review.
Part #2 - On-Site Audit The On-Site Audit is performed, in part, by an integrated review team, to conduct observations of areas, equipment conditions, and configurations, and an OE review, as needed. For additional information on whether activities will be performed on-site, see On-Site Audit (Aging Management Audit Part #2), below.
Part #3 - In-Office Breakout Sessions The In-Office Breakout Sessions provide the opportunity for the technical staff to ask questions and have detailed technical discussions to identify and obtain information to complete the safety review.
Each of the three parts of the Aging Management Audit provides the staff with the opportunity to have technical discussions with the applicant to gain clarity and information regarding the SLRA.
The audit is coordinated to support the development of the reviewers reasonable assurance for the safety finding to be documented in the SE. The staff may require additional information from the applicant for some technical areas, while finding that information on the ePortal is sufficient for other technical areas. Accordingly, some technical areas may not require inclusion in Part
- 2, the On-Site Audit.
The NLRP safety project manager will coordinate all communications with the applicant. Staff requests for communication with the applicant will require approval of their respective technical branch chief and the NLRP branch chief.
In-Office Technical Review Audit (Aging Management Audit Part #1)
The purpose of the In-Office Technical Review Audit is for the staff to review the information contained in the SLRA and the applicants ePortal, including the LR drawings.
Using telecommunications and the ePortal, the in-office technical review portion of the Aging Management Audit allows the applicant to describe the ePortals contents and configuration, and to provide on the ePortal the methods used to develop the SLRA, the corresponding results, and any areas unique to the SLRA.
The staff will have the opportunity to have discipline-specific discussions with the applicant to discuss the approaches used for evaluation and development of AMPs, TLAAs, and AMR items, with the consideration of OE. In addition, the staff may identify specific technical areas where the staff would benefit from a presentation or discussion to provide additional context to support the staffs review.
The staff will review the information needed to perform the safety review and use the information, to the extent possible, to begin developing draft input for the SE (resulting in an SE with holes).
The staff will audit areas related to OE:
(1) Applicants Process to Identify OE Used in Development of AMPs. The staff requests that the applicant provide a presentation on the process used to identify and evaluate the pertinent OE that was used to inform the development of the AMPs as discussed in the SLRA and basis documentation.
(2) Use of OE Contained in AMP Report-Out Documents. The staff requests that the applicant discuss how the OE contained in the AMP report-out documents (e.g., reports of inspections, assessments, AMP effectiveness reviews) is in alignment with information contained in the corrective action program (CAP) database and how the process described in (1) along with the use of the report-out information would include any pertinent OE otherwise contained in the CAP database. The applicant should demonstrate that OE identified by the process or included in the report-out documents is bounding of OE that should be considered for developing the SLRA. Additionally, the applicant should provide examples of the report-out documents and corresponding corrective action reports.
(3) Staffs Review of Age-Related OE Contained in the CAP Database. Following the applicants presentations on the process to identify and evaluate OE as well as the information included in the report-out documents, the staff should determine if there are any specific areas of OE that have not been sufficiently addressed or if there is a need to sample the information discussed by the applicant to verify the applicants results. If the staff identifies such a need, the staff will have an opportunity to perform an independent review of age-related OE contained in the CAP database, as necessary, to provide reasonable assurance that the applicant has adequately identified and evaluated pertinent OE in the development of the SLRA in Part #2 of the Aging Management Audit.
At the conclusion of the In-Office Technical Review Audit, the staff must identify any areas requiring inclusion in the On-Site Audit, Part #2 of the Aging Management Audit. The identified areas may include OE that should be further considered and the need for observation of areas, equipment conditions, or configurations.
On-Site Audit (Aging Management Audit Part #2)
The purpose of the On-Site Audit is to perform visual observations of areas, equipment conditions, and configurations, and conduct an OE review, as needed. The On-Site Audit may be conducted using telecommunications when appropriate.
The staff will perform necessary visual observations of areas, equipment conditions, and configurations, as previously approved by the technical branch chief as having an adequate basis for the need to perform such observations. The NLRP safety project manager shall provide the applicant the information on the areas, equipment conditions, and configurations prior to the On-Site Audit to ensure access and verify that licensee support is available.
On an as needed basis, the staff should perform an independent review of age-related OE contained in the CAP database to provide reasonable assurance that the applicant has adequately identified and evaluated pertinent OE in the development of the SLRA.
In-Office Breakout Sessions (Aging Management Audit Part #3)
During the In-Office Breakout Sessions, the NRC staff will have the opportunity to discuss various basis documents, references, condition/corrective action reports, and to obtain additional clarification related to the SLRA safety review with the applicant.
The In-Office Breakout Sessions will be performed using telecommunications. A schedule will be developed by the NLRP safety project manager along with applicant input to allow for staff and applicant availability.
The technical staff will inform the technical branch chief of the need for an In-Office Breakout Session. After development of the questions for the In-Office Breakout Sessions, the technical staff will request approval of the questions prior to submission to the NLRP branch chief and NLRP safety project manager. In-Office Breakout Session topics and participants will be grouped by discipline, to the greatest and most efficient extent possible.
The NRC project manager will share the technical questions with the applicant prior to a breakout session between the applicant and the NRC staff for technical discussions on the questions shared.
The In-Office Breakout Sessions topics will be sequenced, to the greatest extent possible, to address more complex areas early in the In-Office Breakout Sessions schedule. The sequencing is intended to allow for sufficient time to hold any additional discussions within the timeframe of the audit.
5.
Information and Other Material Necessary for the Regulatory Audit Throughout the Aging Management Audit, the staff will review the SLRA, as supplemented and revised, the AMP basis documents and other applicant supporting documents as appropriate and requested, which have been uploaded to the ePortal.
As introduced in the March 26, 2025, NRC public meeting (ML25106A329), the NRC is improving the efficiency of the safety review by providing supplement schedules to convey the optimal, recommended timeframes of when supplements can be leveraged by the NRC staff for its development and issuance of the SE.
With the projected end date of the aging management audit of September 26, 2025, the recommended supplement schedule for the Hatch SLR review is as follows:
Optimal Date Supplement #1 (October 24, 2025) - 4 weeks after audit date Additional Supplements Communicate with NRC The supplement schedule above is subject to change. It is essential for the applicant to continue ongoing communication with the NRC project manager on the timing of any supplements to support the Hatch SLR review.
The staff may request additional applicant documents to be added to the ePortal over the course of the audit. The staff requests for ePortal additions shall be made, as needed, to the NLRP safety project manager, who will provide the requests to the applicant.
6.
Team Assignments Team Member Branch/Division Naeem Iqbal PRA Licensing B (APLB)/Division of Risk Assessment Daniel Ju APLB/DRA Adakou Foli Long Term Operations & Modernization Branch (ELTB)/Division of Engineering and External Hazards (DEX)
Brian Correll ELTB/DEX Jorge Cintron-Rivera ELTB/DEX Liliana Ramadan ELTB/DEX Kenn Miller ELTB/DEX Mo Sadollah ELTB/DEX Landen Kwan ELTB/DEX Matthew McConnell ELTB/DEX Andrew Prinaris Structural, Civil, Geotech Engineering (ESEB)/DEX Si-Hwan Park ESEB/DEX Shao Lai ESEB/DEX Aaron Galloman ESEB/DEX George Wang ESEB/DEX Dan Hoang ESEB/DEX Andy Johnson Corrosion and Steam Generator (NCSG)/Division of New and Renewed Licenses (DNRL)
Brian Allik NCSG/DNRL Dev Ray NCSG/DNRL Greg Makar NCSG/DNRL James Gavula NCSG/DNRL Joel Jenkins NCSG/DNRL Leslie Terry NCSG/DNRL Lydiana Alvarado NCSG/DNRL Matthew Yoder NCSG/DNRL Miranda McGuire NCSG/DNRL Paul Klein NCSG/DNRL Reena Boruk NCSG/DNRL Tony Gardner NCSG/DNRL Ali Rezai Piping and Head Penetrations (NPHP)/DNRL Bart Fu NPHP/DNRL Karen Sida NPHP/DNRL Seung Min NPHP/DNRL Varoujan Kalikian NPHP/DNRL David Dijamco Vessels and Internals (NVIB)/DNRL Eric Palmer NVIB/DNRL Emma Haywood NVIB/DNRL Team Member Branch/Division John Tsao NVIB/DNRL On Yee NVIB/DNRL Angelo Stubbs Containment and Plant Systems (SCPB)/Division of Safety Systems (DSS)
Hanry Wagage SCPB/DSS David Coy SCPB/DSS Gordon Curran SCPB/DSS Joseph Messina Nuclear Methods and Fuels (SFNB)/DSS Logan Paul Nuclear Systems Performance (SNSB)/DSS Jo Ambrosini SNSB/DSS Chris Tyree License Renewal Projects Branch (NLRP)/DNRL Brian Harris NLRP/DNRL 7.
Logistics The Aging Management Audit will be conducted primarily using telecommunications from June 16, 2025, to September 26, 2025, with potentially a portion of the On-Site Audit (Aging Management Audit Part #2), as determined appropriate, conducted at the applicants facility.
Entrance and exit briefings will be held at the beginning and end of the audit via telecommunications.
8.
Special Requests The NRC staff requests the applicant to make available the SLRA program basis documentation and drawings, and other documents as requested.
9.
Deliverables An audit report should be issued to the applicant within 90 days from the end of the Aging Management Audit.