ML25167A226
| ML25167A226 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vogtle  |
| Issue date: | 06/16/2025 |
| From: | Bryant J Plant Licensing Branch II |
| To: | Jeanne Johnston Southern Nuclear Operating Co |
| References | |
| EPID L-2025-LLA-0080 | |
| Download: ML25167A226 (1) | |
Text
From:
Jack Minzer Bryant To:
Johnston, Jeanne D.
Cc:
John Lamb; Joyce, Ryan M.; btrothsc@southernco.com
Subject:
LAR Acceptance Review - Vogtle 1 and 2 - Adoption of Regulatory Guide 1.183 Revision 1 Date:
Monday, June 16, 2025 1:06:10 PM
- Jeanne,
By letter dated May 12, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML25132A313), Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC, the licensee) submitted a license amendment request (LAR) for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Vogtle), Units 1 and 2. The proposed LAR would revise the Vogtle, Unit 1 and 2, licensing basis to support a full scope application of an Alternate Source Term (AST) methodology following the guidance in Regulatory Guide 1.183 Revision 1.
The purpose of this email is to provide the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs acceptance review of this LAR. The acceptance review was performed to determine if there is sufficient technical information in scope and depth to allow the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review. The acceptance review is also intended to identify whether the application has any readily apparent information insufficiencies in its characterization of the regulatory requirements or the licensing basis of the plant.
Consistent with Section 50.90 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10CFR), an application for an amendment to a license (including the technical specifications) must fully describe the changes requested, and following as far as applicable, the form prescribed for original applications. Section 50.34 of 10 CFR addresses the content of technical information required. This section stipulates that the submittal address the design and operating characteristics, unusual or novel design features, and principal safety considerations.
The NRC staff has reviewed your application and concluded that it does provide technical information in sufficient detail to enable the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review and make and independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed LAR in terms of regulatory requirements and the protection of public health and safety and the environment. Given the lesser scope and depth of the acceptance review as compared to the detailed technical review, there may be instances in which issues that impact the NRC staffs ability to complete the detailed technical review are identified despite completion of an adequate acceptance review. If additional information is needed, you will be advised by separate correspondence.
The staff has evaluated precedence related to RG 1.183 Revision 0, and determined that on average, the reviews have required 1288 hours0.0149 days <br />0.358 hours <br />0.00213 weeks <br />4.90084e-4 months <br /> and 14.6 months. The Vogtle 1 and 2, RG 1.183 Revision 0, took 1022 hours0.0118 days <br />0.284 hours <br />0.00169 weeks <br />3.88871e-4 months <br /> and about 12 months to complete. To support a more efficient process, the NRC is setting a goal of achieving a 15% improvement in both resources and schedule. Based on that and our evaluation of your RG 1.183 Revision 1 submittal, our
estimate for this first-of-a-kind review is 695 hours0.00804 days <br />0.193 hours <br />0.00115 weeks <br />2.644475e-4 months <br /> and 10.8 months. The NRC staff expects to complete the review by May 12, 2026.
If there are emergent complexities or challenges in our review that would cause changes to the initial forecasted completion date or significant changes in the forecasted hours, the reason for the changes, along with the new estimates, will be communicated during the routine interactions with the assigned project manager. These estimates are based on the NRC staffs initial review of the LAR and they could change, due to several factors including requests for additional information unanticipated addition of scope to the review, and review by the NRC advisory committees or hearing-related activities. Additional delay may occur if the submittal is provided to the NRC in advance or in parallel with industry program initiatives or pilot applications.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-0610, or via email at Jack.Minzerbryant@nrc.gov
Very Respectfully,
Jack Minzer Bryant, Project Manager Nuclear Regulatory Commission Division of Operating Reactor Licensing NRR/DORL/LPL2-1 (301) 415-0610
Docket Nos.
50-424, 50-425
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