ML25224A250
| ML25224A250 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vogtle  |
| Issue date: | 08/12/2025 |
| From: | John Lamb Plant Licensing Branch II |
| To: | Lowery K Southern Nuclear Operating Co |
| References | |
| L-2025-LLA-0127 | |
| Download: ML25224A250 (5) | |
Text
From:
John Lamb Sent:
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 4:44 PM To:
Lowery, Ken G.
Cc:
Joyce, Ryan M.; Michael Markley; Zach Turner; Jamie Pelton; Jen Whitman; Vic Cusumano; Ahsan Sallman; Summer Sun; Fred Forsaty; Andrea Russell; Steve Smith-DSS; Shivani Mehta; Hanry Wagage; Milton Valentin; Theo Fanelli; Alan Blamey; John Budzynski; Noushin Amini
Subject:
For Your Action - RAIs - Vogtle 4 - Emergency LAR Regarding Core Makeup Tanks (L-2025-LLA-0127)
- Ken, By letter dated August 11, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML25136A392), Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC, the licensee) requested that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) amend Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Vogtle), Unit 4, Combined License (COL) Number NPF-92.
The proposed license amendment request (LAR) revises Technical Specifications (TS) 3.5.2, Core Makeup Tanks (CMTs) - Operating, to add a note to the Limiting Condition for Operation (LCO) and another note in Surveillance Requirement (SR) 3.5.2.4 regarding boron concentration as well as editorial changes. The proposed LAR temporarily revises the TS 3.5.2 to reduce the minimum allowable CMT A boron concentration and to not require performance of SR 3.5.2.4 until startup from the first Vogtle, Unit 4, refueling outage (RFO), which is scheduled for the fall of 2025. The proposed LAR is a one-time temporary change, and the proposed LAR would be effective until startup from the first Vogtle, Unit 4, RFO.
The proposed LAR was submitted under emergency circumstances as described in the provisions of paragraph 50.91(a)(5) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations due to the time critical nature of the LAR.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has determined that additional information is required for the staff to complete its review. The NRC staffs draft request for confirmatory information (RCI) and draft request for additional information (RAI) questions were sent on August 12, 2025. A clarifying call was held on August 12, 2025. SNC said that it would respond to the RCI and RAI questions by noon on August 13, 2025.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
John G. Lamb, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch II-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation REQUEST FOR CONFIRMATORY INFORMATION (RCI) AND REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI) QUESTIONS By letter dated August 11, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML25136A392), Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC, the licensee)
requested that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) amend Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Vogtle), Unit 4, Combined License (COL) Number NPF-92.
The proposed license amendment request (LAR) revises Technical Specifications (TS) 3.5.2, Core Makeup Tanks (CMTs) - Operating, to add a note to the Limiting Condition for Operation (LCO) and another note in Surveillance Requirement (SR) 3.5.2.4 regarding boron concentration as well as editorial changes. The proposed LAR temporarily revises the TS 3.5.2 to reduce the minimum allowable CMT A boron concentration and to not require performance of SR 3.5.2.4 until startup from the first Vogtle, Unit 4, refueling outage (RFO), which is scheduled for the fall of 2025. The proposed LAR is a one-time temporary change, and the proposed LAR would be effective until startup from the first Vogtle, Unit 4, RFO.
The proposed LAR was submitted under emergency circumstances as described in the provisions of paragraph 50.91(a)(5) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations due to the time critical nature of the LAR.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has determined that additional information is required for the staff to complete its review.
RCI #1 The regulation in 10 CFR 50.91(a)(5) state, in part, that:
(5) Where the Commission finds that an emergency situation exists, in that failure to act in a timely way would result in derating or shutdown of a nuclear power plant, or in prevention of either resumption of operation or of increase in power output up to the plant's licensed power level, it may issue a license amendment involving no significant hazards consideration without prior notice and opportunity for a hearing or for public commentThe Commission expects its licensees to apply for license amendments in timely fashionWhenever an emergency situation exists, a licensee requesting an amendment must explain why this emergency situation occurred and why it could not avoid this situation, and the Commission will assess the licensee's reasons for failing to file an application sufficiently in advance of that event.
During the pre-submittal meeting on August 11, 2025, the licensee stated that the leaking valve condition had existed since the summer of 2024 and that a maintenance outage was conducted in March 2025.
Please confirm that the March 2025 outage was of insufficient length and scope for repairs to the leaking valves for CMT A to have been repaired before resuming power operation and that licensee actions could not have avoided the need for an emergency amendment.
RAI #1 On August 8, 2025, sampling analysis indicated less than the 3400 ppm boron concentration required by TS SR 3.5.2.4. During the pre-submittal meeting on August 11, 2025, the licensee told the NRC that CMT A was declared inoperable and actions were taken to address increase the boron concentration such that Vogtle Unit 4 exited the 72-hour LCO Completion Time on August 9, 2025.
Please describe why boron cannot be added in a similar manner to preclude a similar entry into the LCO as boron continues to deplete during the remainder of the operating cycle and coast down to refueling.
RAI #2 During the pre-submittal meeting and the written submittal dated August 11, 2025, the licensee proposes not to perform any boron concentration sampling of the CMT prior to entry into TS 3.5.3, Core Makeup Tanks (CMTs) - Shutdown, Reactor Coolant System (RCS) Intact, for Vogtle, Unit 4, refueling outage.
Please describe the analytical methods used to determine boron concentration to meet proposed TS 3.5.2, Core Makeup Tanks (CMTs) - Operating, for the remainder of the current operating cycle. Also, please provide the results for each monthly test and evaluation since CMT A leakage was first identified in the summer of 2024 including:
- the results of 31-day boron concentration sampling to meet TS SR 3.5.2.4, and
- CMT A leakage rate trending.
Hearing Identifier:
NRR_DRMA Email Number:
2790 Mail Envelope Properties (MN2PR09MB508483D6086E16E10D0881B0FA2BA)
Subject:
For Your Action - RAIs - Vogtle 4 - Emergency LAR Regarding Core Makeup Tanks (L-2025-LLA-0127)
Sent Date:
8/12/2025 4:44:29 PM Received Date:
8/12/2025 4:44:00 PM From:
John Lamb Created By:
John.Lamb@nrc.gov Recipients:
"Joyce, Ryan M." <rmjoyce@southernco.com>
Tracking Status: None "Michael Markley" <Michael.Markley@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Zach Turner" <Zachary.Turner@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Jamie Pelton" <Jamie.Heisserer@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Jen Whitman" <Jennifer.Whitman@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Vic Cusumano" <Victor.Cusumano@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Ahsan Sallman" <Ahsan.Sallman@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Summer Sun" <Summer.Sun@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Fred Forsaty" <Fred.Forsaty@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Andrea Russell" <Andrea.Russell@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Steve Smith-DSS" <Stephen.Smith@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Shivani Mehta" <Shivani.Mehta@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Hanry Wagage" <Hanry.Wagage@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Milton Valentin" <Milton.Valentin-Olmeda@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Theo Fanelli" <Theodore.Fanelli@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Alan Blamey" <Alan.Blamey@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "John Budzynski" <John.Budzynski@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Noushin Amini" <Noushin.Amini@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Lowery, Ken G." <kglowery@southernco.com>
Tracking Status: None Post Office:
MN2PR09MB5084.namprd09.prod.outlook.com
Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 6104 8/12/2025 4:44:00 PM Options Priority:
Normal Return Notification:
No Reply Requested:
No Sensitivity:
Normal Expiration Date: