Press Release-11-124, NRC Issues Supplemental Safety Evaluation for Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant License Renewal

Press Release-11-124: NRC Issues Supplemental Safety Evaluation for Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant License Renewal

ML11187A264
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Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	07/06/2011
From:	Office of Public Affairs
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Press Release-11-124
Download: ML11187A264 (2)

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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 E-mail: opa.resource@nrc.gov Site: www.nrc.gov Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov No.11-124 July 6, 2011 NRC ISSUES SUPPLEMENTAL SAFETY EVALUATION FOR PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER PLANT LICENSE RENEWAL The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a supplemental safety evaluation report (SER) for the license renewal application of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station near Plymouth, Mass., about 38 miles from Boston. The Supplement did not change the staffs original conclusion that the applicant has identified actions that have been or will be taken to manage the effects of aging in the appropriate safety systems, structures and components of the plant, and that their functions will be maintained during the period of extended operation.

This supplement addresses information submitted by Entergy Nuclear Operations subsequent to the issuance of the original SER in November 2007. The information reviewed includes annual updates of license renewal information (required by 10 CFR 54.21(b) of NRC regulations) and updated information and commitments in response to industry operating experience since 2007. The NRC staff reviewed plant modifications that removed components from the scope of license renewal, as well as updates that pertain to the following management programs:

the inaccessible power cables not subject to the environmental qualification requirements; the aging management of socket and butt welds that join pipes; the larger sample sizes of the one-time inspection program; the larger sample sizes of the selective leaching program (This program ensures the integrity of components made of certain metals that are susceptible to loss of material and can lead to failures.);

the new coating assessment program, which ensures operability of the plants reactor emergency core cooling system; and the plants increased number of inspections of its underground piping and tanks.

The supplemental safety evaluation report does not identify new open items. There are no new license conditions resulting from this supplement. The license renewal of the Pilgrim plant has taken several years due to ongoing hearing proceedings.

The lessons being learned from events at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station have prompted a comprehensive NRC review of our regulations and practices. The NRC will apply the recommendations from this review, as appropriate, for any changes deemed necessary

to improve the safety of operating plants, regardless of whether the plants have been issued renewed operating licenses. Pilgrim, therefore, like all operating plants, will be subject to any rule or policy changes the NRC may make as a result of our post-Fukushima review. The task force reviewing lessons learned from the events in Japan expects to deliver its near-term report and recommendations to the Commission on July 12; a longer-term report is expected within approximately six months.

The supplement will be available on the NRCs website on the Pilgrim license renewal page; more information is available on the license renewal process Web page.

News releases are available through a free listserv subscription at the following Web address:

http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRCs website.