ML25262A117
| ML25262A117 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Columbia  |
| Issue date: | 09/18/2025 |
| From: | Mahesh Chawla Plant Licensing Branch IV |
| To: | Collis T Energy Northwest |
| Chawla M | |
| References | |
| EPID L-2025-LLA-0141 | |
| Download: ML25262A117 (1) | |
Text
From:
Mahesh Chawla To:
Collis, Tracey M.
Cc:
Tony Nakanishi; Shivani Mehta; Khadijah West
Subject:
LIC-109 Acceptance - Columbia Generating Station - LAR to revise TS to adopt TSTF - 599 - EPID: L-2025-LLA-0141 Date:
Thursday, September 18, 2025 1:04:00 PM
Dear Ms. Collis,
By letter September 2, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML25245A260), Energy Northwest, (the licensee) submitted license amendment request for the Columbia Generating Station. The proposed amendment requested adoption of Technical Specifications Task Force (TSTF) Traveler, TSTF-599, Revision 1, Eliminate Periodic Surveillance Test of Simultaneous Start of Redundant Diesel Generators. Specifically, the proposed change would delete a surveillance requirement (SR) in TS 3.8.1, AC [alternating current] Sources - Operating, to verify that diesel generators (DGs) achieve a specific frequency and voltage within a specified time period when started simultaneously.
The purpose of this e-mail is to provide the results of the 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. Consistent with 10 CFR 50.90, 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 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 provides technical information in sufficient detail to enable the staff to complete its detailed technical review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the request 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 staffs ability to complete the detailed technical review are identified despite completion of an adequate acceptance review. You will be advised of any further information needed to support the staffs detailed technical review by separate correspondence.
Based on the information provided in your submittal, the NRC staff has not identified any clear precedents. However, 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 50 hours5.787037e-4 days <br />0.0139 hours <br />8.267196e-5 weeks <br />1.9025e-5 months <br /> and 210 days. To support a more efficient process, the NRC is setting a goal of 15% improvement. Accordingly, our estimate for this review is 30 hours3.472222e-4 days <br />0.00833 hours <br />4.960317e-5 weeks <br />1.1415e-5 months <br /> and 160 days. The NRC staff expects to complete this review by February 27, 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 reasons 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 application, and they could change, due to several factors including requests for additional information, unanticipated addition of scope to the review, and review by NRC advisory committees or hearing-related activities.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-8371 or e-mail at Mahesh.Chawla@nrc.gov.
Mahesh (Mac) Chawla, Project Manager Licensing Branch LPL4 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Phone: (301) 415-8371 Email: Mahesh.Chawla@nrc.gov
OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM NRR/DORL/LPL4/BC NAME MChawla TNakanishi DATE 09/18/2025 09/18/2025