ML25203A279
| ML25203A279 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Grand Gulf  |
| Issue date: | 07/22/2025 |
| From: | Michael Mahoney NRC/NRR/DORL/LPL4 |
| To: | Meister R Entergy Operations |
| Mahoney M, NRR/DORL/LPL4 | |
| References | |
| EPID L-2025-LLR-0068 | |
| Download: ML25203A279 (1) | |
Text
From:
Michael Mahoney To:
Meister, Richard Cc:
cmahan@entergy.com; Couture III, Philip
Subject:
Acceptance Review - Grand Gulf - Alternative GGNS-PT-001 - (L-2025-LLR-0068)
Date:
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 8:37:45 AM Attachments:
image001.png Hi Rich,
By letter CNRO2025-00021 dated June 30, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML25181A776), Entergy Operations, Inc.
(Entergy, the licensee) submitted a proposed alternative pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), 50.55a(z)(2) for the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1 (Grand Gulf). Specifically, the proposed request to for an alternative to the requirements of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code Section XI, IWB-5222(b). The proposed alternative is to visually examine the section of Inboard Feedwater Leakage Control (FWLC) piping that experience Class 2 pressure in lieu of the pressure that corresponds to 100% rated reactor power, as required by ASME Section XI.
The purpose of this e-mail is to provide the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs acceptance review of this amendment request. 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.
Pursuant to Sections 50.55a(z)(1) and 50.55a(z)(2) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), the applicant shall demonstrate that the proposed alternatives would provide an acceptable level of quality and safety, or that compliance with the specified requirements of Section 50.55a would result in hardship or unusual difficulty without a compensating increase in the level of quality or safety.
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 an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed amendment 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.
For the purpose of estimating resources and schedule, the NRC has identified several similar licensing actions. Based on those actions, reviews have historically required an average of 132 hours0.00153 days <br />0.0367 hours <br />2.18254e-4 weeks <br />5.0226e-5 months <br /> and 7 months. To support a more efficient process, the NRC is setting a goal of an approximate 15% improvement in schedule and 25% in hours.
Accordingly, our estimate for this review is 90 hours0.00104 days <br />0.025 hours <br />1.488095e-4 weeks <br />3.4245e-5 months <br /> and approximately 6 months. The NRC staff expects to complete this review by January 9, 2026.
If emergent complexities or challenges arise during the NRC staffs review that affect the
initial forecasted completion date or result in significant changes to the estimated review hours, the reasons for those changes, along with updated estimate, will be communicated during routine interactions with the assigned project manager. These estimates are based on the NRC staffs initial review of the application and may change due to several factors, including requests for additional information, unanticipated expansion of the review scope, or if the submittal is provided to the NRC in advance of or concurrently with industry program initiatives or pilot applications.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Thanks Mike Mahoney Senior Project Manager, LPL4 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Desk: (301)-415-3867 Mobile: (301)-250-0450 Email: Michael.Mahoney@nrc.gov