ML25262A106
| ML25262A106 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Sequoyah, Watts Bar  |
| Issue date: | 09/16/2025 |
| From: | Kimberly Green NRC/NRR/DORL/LPL2-2 |
| To: | Aboulfaida A Tennessee Valley Authority |
| References | |
| EPID L-2025-LLA-0135 | |
| Download: ML25262A106 (1) | |
Text
From:
Kimberly Green To:
Aboulfaida, Amber Vendel Cc:
Hughes, Shawna; Baron, Jesse Shawn
Subject:
Acceptance Review Results for Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, and Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 - License Amendment Request to Adopt TSTF-599-A (EPID L-2025-LLA-0135)
Date:
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 9:13:00 AM
Dear Ms. Aboulfaida:
By letter dated August 19, 2024 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML25231A300), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) submitted a license amendment request (LAR) for Sequoyah Nuclear Plant (Sequoyah), Units 1 and 2, and Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (Watts Bar), Units 1 and 2.The proposed amendments would revise Sequoyahs and Watts Bars technical specifications to eliminate the periodic Surveillance Requirement to verify that all required diesel generators achieve rated frequency and voltage within the specified time period when started simultaneously, consistent with Technical Specifications Task Force (TSTF)-599-A, Revision 1, "Eliminate Periodic Surveillance Test of Simultaneous Start of Redundant Diesel Generators."
The purpose of this email is to provide the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs acceptance review of the proposed 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 (10 CFR), an amendment to the 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 applications regarding the 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 TVAs LAR and concluded that it does provide technical information in sufficient detail to enable the NRC staff to perform its detailed technical review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed amendments 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.
Due to insufficient precedent to support a schedule or hour estimate, the NRC staff based its estimate on the information provided in your submittal, and the median hours for all CLIIP TSTFs (62.8 hours9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br />) and the maximum duration of 6 months. However, to support a more efficient process, the NRC is setting a goal of achieving at least a 15% improvement over the initial estimates. Based on that target, the goal for this review is 28 hours3.240741e-4 days <br />0.00778 hours <br />4.62963e-5 weeks <br />1.0654e-5 months <br /> and 4.5 months. Accordingly, the NRC staff expects to complete the review by January 30, 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 changesalong with updated estimateswill 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.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-1627.
Sincerely, Kimberly Green, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch II-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation