View source for NRC-2014-0137, Comment (17) of Kevin Kamps on Behalf of Beyond Nuclear on Draft Guidance Regarding the Alternate Pressurized Thermal Shock Rule

{{Adams
| number = ML15146A057
| issue date = 05/12/2015
| title = Comment (17) of Kevin Kamps on Behalf of Beyond Nuclear on Draft Guidance Regarding the Alternate Pressurized Thermal Shock Rule
| author name = Kamps K
| author affiliation = Beyond Nuclear
| addressee name = 
| addressee affiliation = NRC/ADM/DAS
| docket = 05000255
| license number = 
| contact person = SECY RAS
| case reference number = 80FR13449 000017, NRC-2014-0137
| document type = General FR Notice Comment Letter type:NRC
| page count = 24
}}

=Text=
{{#Wiki_filter:Page 1 of3 PUBLIC SUBMISSION As of: 5/13/15 12:13 PM Received:
May 12, 2015 Status: PendingPost Tracking No. ljz-8itf-vlfd Comments Due: May 12, 2015 Submission Type: Web Docket: NRC-2014-0137 Technical Basis for Regulatory Guidance on the Alternate PTS Rule Comment On: NRC-2014-0137-0001 Draft Guidance Regarding the Alternate Pressurized Thermal Shock Rule Document:
NRC-2014-0137-DRAFT-0016 Comment on FR Doc # 2015-05754
,-&#xfd;hol2ol-, r, -Submitter Information Name: Kevin Kamps Address: Beyond Nuclear 6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 400 Takoma Park, MD, 20912 Email: kevin@beyondnuclear.org
'U ri--17&#xfd;General Comment FT-NO U-,~ri-- -1 m1-f 7-1 

==Dear NRC,==
Please see attached file: Spring 2006: Consumers Energy power point presentation to the Michigan Public Service Commission, highlighting "Reactor vessel embrittlement concerns" at Palisades.
Please note that the DG- 1299 and NUREG-2163 proceedings are part and parcel of a long line of broken promises made at Palisades, the worst embrittled RPV in the U.S., and the only one currently applying for I OCFR5 0.61 a regulatory relief.In addition to such broken promises as the 1970 ACRS assurance to AEC that should RPV embrittlement reach a dangerous enough point, annealing would take place, there is this spring 2006 promise by Palisades' previous owner, Consumers Energy, that should the Michigan Public Service Commission approve the sale of Palisades to Entergy, the much larger new owner, with vastly more nuclear power experience as well as economy of scale and expertise, would solve the problem of "Reactor vessel embrittlement concerns." Far from fulfilling that false promise, Entergy has instead applied for an LAR for regulatory relief under 1OCFR50.61a. 
.---https://www.
fdms.gov/fdms-web-agency/component/contentstreamer?objectld=090000648 1 add054&for...
05/13/2015 Page 2 of 3 DG- 1299 and NUREG-2163 should be withdrawn.
They are unacceptable on their face, for being part and parcel of a long history of broken promises, and weakening of safety regulations, at Palisades in particular.
But equally objectionable is the fact that bad precedents set at Palisades, as under the DG-1299/NUREG-2163/1 OCFR50.61 a proposed, weakened regulatory regime, would then be applied at other dangerously embrittled atomic RPVs across the U.S. As mentioned in our previous comments in this proceeding, this could include Point Beach Unit 2 in WI, on the other side of Lake Michigan.However, to the best of our knowledge, it would appear that Point Beach Unit 2 has missed its three-years-in-advance deadline to make LAR application for 1OCFR50.61 a regulatory relief For, in March/April 2013, specifically, orally during a Palisades PTS risk Webinar conducted by NRC Region 3 staff on March 19, 2013, as documented in an April 18, 2013 NRC document (point #4, page 2, or page 5 of 15 on PDF counter -- see attached here), NRC listed Point Beach Unit 2 as violating 1OCFR50.61 screening criteria by 2017, just like Palisades.
Regarding this, our comment, in this DG- 1299 and NUREG-2163 proceeding, is that any atomic reactor that misses such a deadline, must simply permanently shutdown when the I 0CFR50.61 screening criteria are surpassed.
After all, as environmental intervenors were chastised in early 2006 by the ASLBP in the Palisades' license extension proceeding, when the ASLBP rejected the intervention petition, NRC's regulations are "strict by design" -- or at least they should be, when it comes to enforcing PTS risk standards at dangerously embrittled RPVs.Along those same lines, we, and others before us, have long called for Palisades' permanent shutdown for surpassing 1OCFR50.61 screening criteria as early as 1995.In fact, Michael Keegan of Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes, as well as Don't Waste MI, called for Palisades' permanent shutdown in 1993. See his attached document "Pressurized Thermal Shock Potential at Palisades," dated July 8, 1993. In it, he pointed out that Palisades' first violated RPV embrittlement safety standards, as then extant, as early as 1981, just ten short years into its operations.
In fact, it is very likely that Palisades' embrittlement problems contributed significantly to the promulgation of 1 OCFR50.61 in the first place, in the mid- 1 980s, as it has long been among the worst, and even the very worst, embrittled RPV in the entire country.This long history, spanning several decades, of Palisades' dangerously embrittled RPV being accommodated by NRC, through the weakening of safety standards 
-- as is now proposed under 1 OCFR50.61 a, DG- 1299, and NUREG-2163, must stop. DG-1299 and NUREG-2163 must be withdrawn, just as Entergy's LAR for 1OCFR50.61 a regulatory relief must be rejected.Thank you for considering these public comments.Sincerely, Kevin Kamps, Beyond Nuclear (and board member, Don't Waste MI, representing the Kalamazoo chapter)Attachments spring 2006 broken promises https://www.fdms.gov/fdms-web-agency/component/contentstreamer?obj ectld=0900006481 add054&for...
05/13/2015 Page 3 of 3 3 19 2013 PTS risk webinar 071805pressurizedthermalshockpotentialpalisades https://www.fdms.gov/fdms-web-agency/component/contentstreamer?objectld=0900006481 add054&for...
05/13/2015 Page 1 of 1 The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Highlights of Palisades include: " Commenced commercial operation in 197; eurrent NRC operating license expires in 2011.* License renewal application filed in March 2005; license renewal, anticipated early 2007, would extend the to 2031,* Qualified workforce of approximately 470 persons." Currently operated on behalf of Colsutmers by the Nuclear Management Coinmpany (NMC)." Required significant future capital expenditnres required above the routine $20M per year, ircituding:
B Reactor vessel head replacement 
'b ,* Steam generator replacement J, t i -,* Reactor vessel er=brftdemcnt concerns* Increasing NRC fees and fire protection requirements
* Conainnment coatings and sump strament http://www.nirs.org/reactorwatch/licensing/pg2.jpg 0/821 05/18/2015 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 4% REGION III 2443 WARRENVILLE ROAD, SUITE 210 LISLE, IL 60532-4352 April 18, 2013 LICENSEE:
Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.FACILITY:
Palisades Nuclear Plant 

==SUBJECT:==

==SUMMARY==
OF THE MARCH 19, 2013, PUBLIC MEETING WEBINAR REGARDING PALISADES NUCLEAR PLANT On March 19, 2013, the U S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held a two part Public Meeting webinar to discuss NRC's perspectives on pressurized thermal shock (PTS). During the first part of the meeting, the NRC staff presented an overall discussion regarding the basics of embrittlement and PTS, and the regulatory requirements that apply to PTS. Enclosure 1 is a list of attendees at the meeting. Copies of the slides used by the NRC staff during the meeting can be accessed through the NRC's Agency wide Document Access and Management System: ADAMS (ML13077A156).
The NRC staff stated in the opening remarks that the second part of the meeting was geared towards answering follow up questions from the public about PTS. There were 118 meeting participants that had the opportunity to submit questions to the NRC staff about PTS issues through the Webinar process. There is one clarification for information provided during the Webinar. During the presentation it was stated that there were two capsules left to determine properties of neutron irradiation based on the Safety Evaluation Report for license renewal of the Palisades Plant. However, since license renewal approval, Palisades requested and the NRC approved a schedule change which left an additional capsule in the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) which would have been removed in 2007. Therefore there are three capsules in the RPV which can be used to determine properties of neutron irradiation.
One capsule is scheduled to be removed during the period of extended operation, and this is tentatively scheduled around 2019. In addition to the capsules used to determine properties of neutron irradiation, one thermal capsule is also in the vessel which can measure thermal exposure effects on the metal, and is available for future use. So there are currently a total of four capsules in the RPV.
Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.-2-In addition to answering questions from members of the public on March 19, NRC representatives agreed to provide an answer to technical questions regarding the topic of PTS that were submitted during the meeting, but were not answered during the allocated meeting time. The answers to these questions and the follow- up to two questions answered during the webinar are included in this meeting summary (Enclosure 2). Availability of a recording of the webinar will be addressed by separate correspondence.
Sincerely, IRA!John B. Giessner, Chief Branch 4 Division of Reactor Projects Docket Nos. 50-255 and 72-007 License No. DPR-20 

==Enclosures:==

As Stated cc w/encls: Distribution via ListServTM Enclosure 1 PUBLIC MEETING PRINCIPAL ATTENDEES March 19, 2013 NRC Attendees C. Pederson, Deputy Regional Administrator, Rill J. Giessner, Chief, Division of Reactor Projects, Branch 4 M. Kirk, Senior Materials Engineer, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research M. Holmberg, Senior Reactor Inspector, Rill Enclosure 2.Questions for the NRC Meeting on March 19, 2013 1. Does the public need to fear Palisades continued operation?
No, the NRC's oversight of Palisades continues to show that the plant is operating safely. If at any point the NRC deemed Palisades to be unsafe, the NRC would take action to shut down the plant 2. On September 14, 2011, during the loss of power to half the control room at Palisades, the emergency core cooling system was inadvertently activated.
If it had operated as instructed, albeit inadvertently, could the pressurized thermal shock on the 100 percent power level and heat level Palisades RPV have fractured under the sudden temperature plunge, coupled with the high pressure level?No, had both systems actuated and injected as designed, a pressurized thermal shock would not have occurred and the vessel would not have fractured.
During the September 14, 2011, event the 'A' train of emergency core cooling system was activated due to a Safety Injection Actuation Signal being present. The two pumps that comprise the 'A' train (the 'A' low pressure safety injection and 'A' high pressure safety injection pumps) did not inject into the vessel due to the primary coolant system (PCS) pressure being higher that the pumps shut off head. Even in the event of lowering PCS pressure due to a loss of coolant accident (LOCA), if an additional fault occurred, the possibility of developing a crack through the vessel wall as a result of PTS would be extremely low.Additional information on this event is located in NRC Inspection Report 05000255/2011014 (ML1 13330802).
: 3. Given the badly embrittled status of the Palisades RPV, might this not lead Palisades control room operators and senior management hesitating before activating the emergency core cooling system, for fear of fracturing the RPV?Might this not significantly increase the risks of an overheating accident, and even a meltdown?As stated during the webinar, Palisades currently remains compliant with the PTS rule contained in 10 CFR 50.61. By being compliant with this rule the probability of developing a crack through the vessel wall as a result of PTS remains extremely low.Regarding operator actions, the NRC requires, through the site's Technical Specifications, that the emergency core cooling systems be able to operate automatically if called upon during an accident.
In the case that existing conditions merit initiation of the emergency core cooling systems (i.e. low pressurizer pressure) the emergency operating procedures instruct the operators to start the safety pumps, if not already running. Operators are highly trained individuals that are licensed by the NRC to respond to such events. In the case of an event they will follow their emergency procedures.
1
: 4. Which are the other most embrittled plants in the U.S.? How many PWRs will reach their screening criteria in the next 10 years?The NRC currently estimates that the following plants will exceed the PTS screening criteria of 10 CFR 50.61 during their 20-year period of operation beyond their original 40 year licenses.
Updated fluence calculations, capacity factors changes, power uprate, new surveillance data, and improved material property information (i.e., the use of direct rather than correlative measurements of the vessel material's resistance to fracture) can change these estimates.
For example, Point Beach has made a recent licensing submittal that seeks to use improved material property information to re-evaluate the level of embrittlement in the vessel. If approved, it is estimated that Point Beach would not exceed the screening criteria of 10 CFR 50.61 during their 20-year license extension period.1. Point Beach 2 (2017)2. Palisades (2017)3. Diablo Canyon 1 (2033)4. Indian Point 3 (2025)5. Beaver Valley 1 (2033)Another method by which nuclear power plants that are projected to exceed the screening criteria of 10 CFR 50.61 may justify their continued safe operation is to prepare a submittal following the requirements of the alternative PTS rule, 10 CFR 50.61a. Such a submittal would employ improved screening criteria that are based on updated and more accurate PTS analyses that were performed by the staff over a 10 year period.To use these improved screening criteria, licensees would need to provide the NRC with evidence that key assumptions regarding embrittlement and flaws that underlie the staffs PTS analysis are satisfied by the nuclear power plant. To date, the licensees for Beaver Valley Unit 1, Palisades, and Diablo Canyon Unit 1 have expressed their intention to submit updated PTS evaluations using 10 CFR 50.61a.5. I would like to see the calculations supporting the statement that Palisades is the most brittle During the March 19 webinar, it was stated that Palisades is "one of the most embrittled plants," not "the most brittle." One example of these calculations can be found in NUREG-1 874 "Recommended Screening Limits for Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS)" (http://www.nrc.qov/readinQ-rm/doc-collections/nureqs/staff/srl874/).
Tables 3.3 and 3.4 of this document provide calculations of embrittlement levels made in accordance with 10 CFR 50.61 a. These calculations show that after 48 effective full-power years (EFPY)of operation Palisades is the fourth closest plant to the 10 CFR 50.61 a screening limits.Similar calculations provided in a different document (Table 1 in ML070570141) show Palisades to be the third closest plant to the 10 CFR 50.61 screening limits. The specific ordering of a plant relative to other plants can change over time as new information becomes available, and differs slightly between 10 CFR 50.61 and 10 CFR 50.61a because of differences in the estimation procedures used in the different rules.2 It should be noted that the lists provided in these two documents compare the estimated level of embrittlement in operating reactors for identical operational durations (e.g., 48 EFPY in the case of the first document).
Because different reactors began producing power on different dates these comparisons are not the same as a comparison made at a fixed date. Finally, these lists show that the estimated magnitude of embrittlement is quite similar between the leading plants, making the distinction between "the most embrittled plant" and, for example, "the fourth most embrittled plant" insignificant.
: 6. My question is, didn't Palisades first violate NRC's PTS safety standards 10 short years into its operation, by 1981? This was documented in the following document:
July 8, 1983: "Pressurized Thermal Shock Potential at Palisades:
History of Embrittlement of Reactor Pressure Vessels in Pressurized Water Reactors," prepared by Michael J. Keegan, Coalition for a Nuclear Free Great Lakes, Monroe, Michigan (re-published August 3, 2005).In the referenced 1983 document by M. Keegan (Coalition for a Nuclear Free Great Lakes) it is stated that: "Embrittlement at Palisades in 1981 was reported to occur at temperatures of between 190 and 220 degrees F. As noted earlier the NRC had originally set reference temperature for nil ductility transition (RTNDT) at 200 degrees F. As early as 1981 Palisades had exceeded these original RTNDT limits." Note: The RTNDT term refers to a metric that the NRC uses to quantitatively assess brittleness and can roughly be described as the temperature below which the material transitions from ductile to brittle behavior.These statements are not accurate in several respects.
First and foremost, Palisades did not violate the NRC's PTS safety standards in 1981 since the NRC did not have any regulations pertaining to PTS until June 26, 1984, when 10 CFR 50.61 was first promulgated.
The RTNDT limit of 200 OF incorrectly attributed to PTS in the article appeared in Regulatory Guide 1.99 "Radiation Embrittlement of Reactor Vessel Materials", Revision 1, which was adopted in 1977. This document states: "For new plants, the reactor vessel beltline materials should have the content of residual elements such as copper, phosphorus, sulfur, and vanadium controlled to low levels. The levels should be such that the predicted adjusted reference temperature at the X T position in the vessel wall at end of life is less than 200 cF.[These] recommendations 
... will be issued in evaluating construction permits docketed on or after June 1, 1977." Regulatory Guides do not contain requirements, only recommendations.
This recommendation amounted to good practice guidance that new plants should limit copper content in their reactor vessels which, by 1977, was known to promote embrittlement.
In any event, this recommendation did not apply to thePalisades plant which received its construction permit on March 14, 1967.In conclusion, there was no violation of NRC requirements concerning PTS at Palisades.
Had Palisades ever violated PTS requirements the NRC would have shut down the plant.The plant is operating safely in compliance with 10 CFR 50.61.3 In addition, the Associated Press's Jeff Donn pointed to NRC's weakening of PTS safety regulations as his top example of NRC weakening safety regulations in order to allow dangerously degraded old reactors to continue operating despite the worsening breakdown phase risks, in his four part series "Aging Nukes," dated June 2011 As far as weakening NRC safety regulations by approving the alternate rule, 10 CFR 50.61a: as was mentioned during the webinar, this alternate rule is justified by an improved state of both theoretical and practical knowledge, more accurate models, and model validation.
There was no weakening of regulations.
These developments were made with great deliberation over the 10 year period preceding adoption of 10 CFR 50.61a in 2010. Moreover, the new rule was reviewed extensively, and approved, by the NRC's Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (see ML090710128), as well as by an external panel of independent experts (see Appendix B of NUREG-1806) and the Commission.
: 7. The NRC has classified Palisades as "one of the most embrittled" plants. If Palisades follows the NRC regulations is the probability of fracture still extremely low? If 10 CFR 50.61a is used by Palisades would the NRC consider Palisades"safe to operate" or would the NRC shut it down?Yes, as stated during the webinar, as long as operating reactors remain compliant with 10 CFR 50.61 or, if elected and approved, 10 CFR 50.61 a, the probability of developing a crack through the vessel wall as a result of PTS remains extremely low. If Palisades elects to use 10 CFR 50.61 a, and if the staff approves the submittal justifying this election, then Palisades fulfills NRC regulations with regards to PTS, is safe to operate, and there would be no basis for a shutdown.8. The critical weld heat at Palisades is from the same heat as materials at Robinson and Indian Point. How does the amount of brittleness compare? Is this different that the reference temperature?
Palisades recently performed an evaluation of Charpy V-notch data (i.e., a test that measures the energy absorbed by a material during fracture) from all surveillance programs in which the limiting weld wire heat (W5214) for Palisades was exposed (ML1 10060694).
As noted in the question, these surveillance specimens were exposed to radiation not only in the Palisades reactor, but also in HB Robinson (Unit 2)as well as Indian Point (Units 2 and 3). These surveillance data showed a scatter (uncertainty) well within the bounds anticipated by the NRC's prediction formula (see Regulatory Guide 1.99, "Radiation Embrittlement of Reactor Vessel Materials," Revision 2 (http://pbadupws.nrc..qov/docs/ML0037/MLOO3740284.pdf).
The embrittlement data from specimens exposed in the Palisades reactor were somewhat below the mean trend for this weld wire heat, indicating that, if anything, the brittleness from the Palisades exposure was somewhat less than in HB Robinson and Indian Point (see ML13093A191).
However, it should be noted that because these differences are all within the expected scatter they are not regarded as being statistically significant.
Reference temperature is the metric that the NRC uses to quantitatively assess brittleness, so these terms may be regarded as synonymous.
Steel having a high"reference temperature" also has a higher degree of brittleness than steel with a low reference temperature.
4
: 9. Did the Palisades power uprate which the NRC so readily approved worsen the neutron flux on the reactor pressure walls? Did NRC even consider the embrittlement and pressurized thermal shock risks of approving the power uprate?The NRC explicitly considered embrittlement and pressurized thermal shock in evaluating Palisades' power uprate. In 2004 the NRC issued Palisades a license amendment authorizing a 1.4 percent power uprate (see ML040970622, "Palisades Plant -Issuance of Amendment Regarding Measurement Uncertainty Recapture Power Uprate').
This power uprate demonstrated to the NRC the licensee's instrumentation met the accuracy requirements to monitor reactor power to allow the uprate. As can be seen in the following excerpt, taken from the previously mentioned document, the NRC considered both embrittlement and pressurized thermal shock in its assessment of Palisades' power uprate request.With respect to PTS events, the NRC staff previously approved revised neutron fluence values and the PTS assessment for Palisades by letter dated November 14, 2000. The licensee's measurement uncertainty recapture (MUR) .Power Uprate Analysis Report assesses the impact of the power uprate on the neutron fluence values for the reactor vessel (RV) materials as a function of the impact the increase in fluence values will have on the effective full power days for the unit. This assessment indicates that the fluence values used in latest PTS assessment bounds the slight increase to the fluence values assumed for the MUR power uprate. Therefore, the most up-to-date PTS evaluation for Palisades is still valid even for the uprated conditions for the plant.(page 32)As can be seen in the highlighted section, the slight increase in the radiation (fluence)exposure that would result from the power uprate had already been accounted for in the regulatory estimate of embrittlement.
: 10. When did 10 CFR 50, Appendix H become a rule? Was this before or after Palisades was licensed?
What impact does this have on the requirements for Palisades to use surveillance capsules?
Did Palisades use capsule surveillance data for its reference temperature calculations?
If no, what impact did this have on the results?The requirement to implement a surveillance program to monitor the effect of embrittlement on the steels from which the reactor pressure vessel beltline is constructed is made in 10 CFR 50 Appendix H, which was issued in 1973 (Federal Register, Vol. 38, No. 136, July 17, 1973). Palisades received its operating license on February 21, 1971.Nevertheless Palisades implemented a surveillance program consistent with then-standard industry practice (i.e., implementation of the requirements of ASTM E185,"Standard Practice for Design of Surveillance Programs for Light-Water Moderated Nuclear Power Reactor Vessels".
ASTM E185 has since been required by 10 CFR 50, Appendix H. Thus, even though Palisades entered service two years before 10 CFR 50, Appendix H, was adopted, Palisades' surveillance program was designed in accordance with ASTM E185 and it is effectively compliant with 10 CFR 50, Appendix H. As detailed in (ML1 10060694, "Revised Pressurized Thermal Shock Evaluation for the Palisades Reactor Pressure Vessel'), Palisades has used surveillance data as part of its reference temperature calculations.
The use of ASTM E185 is part of the plant's licensing basis.5
: 11. But how long has it been since the last capsule was removed? Since the last capsule was analyzed?
What if the embrittlement has taken place at a much more accelerated rate than NRC's modeling would predict?The last two capsules removed from Palisades were capsule SA-240-1 (removed in 2000) and capsule W-100 (removed in 2003). Capsule SA-240-1 contained the limiting (i.e., most embrittlement sensitive) weld from Palisades.
Neither these, nor any other, surveillance data from Palisades provides any indication to the NRC of embrittlement occurring at a "much more accelerated rate," than is expected in Palisades, (see ML13093A191).
: 12. If capsules were removed in the mid-1 990s and 2000s, as NRC just said, that's a decade or two ago. Has the NRC simply extrapolated to predict the severity of embrittlement?
What if NRC's understanding is flawed? What if the extrapolation is non-conservative?
How can NRC speak with any confidence, if the last data collected 
-and very few data points at that -are over a decade old? This is not science. This is guesswork.
The safety risks are too high for this lack of science.Following the requirements of ASTM E185 the surveillance capsules are designed to accumulate irradiation damage at a rate faster than that experienced by the wall of the reactor pressure vessel, which lies further away from the active core than do the surveillance capsules.
Consequently the surveillance program provides measurements of embrittlement, or reference temperature, corresponding to a number of years of operation that is well in advance of the actual years of operation of the reactor pressure vessel. The practice is adopted with the specific aim of ensuring that regulatory decisions are based on embrittlement data that is interpolated, not extrapolated.
The surveillance information that has been submitted to the NRC for Palisades is summarized in (ML1 10060694).
This document demonstrates that data for the limiting weld wire heat (W5214) is available for a level of radiation exposure that exceeds by a factor of two that which is expected to occur in the Palisades vessel on the date in 2031 at which its extended license will expire. In summary, the important factor is not the date of surveillance capsule removal, but the total radiation exposure to which the specimens in these capsules are subjected.
For Palisades, some data have twice the radiation exposure that the plant will experience in its extended lifetime (see ML13093A191).
The surveillance data allows the NRC to make licensing decisions with regards to PTS that are based on interpolations within the available data, not extrapolations beyond the data. Moreover, the greater body of evidence that is available from other operating reactors having steels of similar copper and nickel contents indicates that the limiting weld in Palisades is embrittling in a manner that is fully consistent with both physical expectations and empirical evidence.
To provide further assurance that the NRC's predictive formulae are appropriate, the NRC staff participates in relevant codes and standards bodies (ASTM), as well as in national and international scientific conferences on these topics. Based on these experiences it is possible to state that there is no evidence available suggesting that the predictions of embrittlement trends for Palisades are incorrect.
Finally, as a practical measure, NRC regulations require that Palisades, and indeed all operating plants, use an intentional over-estimate of the expected embrittlement trends when calculations are made to support the plants' licensing bases.6
: 13. Could you please explain how PRA is relied as a frequency of occurrence instead of as a predictor of occurrence?
Currently, the NRC relies on PRA as a predictor 
-PRA is not.In a sense the terms "predictor" and "frequency" as described in the question refer to the same concept. PRA includes a "predictor" (frequency) of an occurrence of some event.The frequency term is a numerical quantity that represents how likely it is that an event will occur in the future. The frequency question is one part of the PRA process. More specifically, in the context of evaluating risk, PRA is commonly expressed as a "risk triplet" in that it attempts to answer these three questions:
: 1. What can go wrong (accident scenario)?
: 2. How likely is it (frequency on a per reactor year basis)?3. What are the consequences (impact on the plant or on people)?The NRC uses PRA models to look at the frequency and the consequences of NOT achieving safe shutdown conditions.
: 14. Please provide duration under which 200 degrees sudden cool down criteria.
Need a time frame.The statement was made during the webinar that a sudden cooldown, from operating temperature, in excess of 200 OF is needed to generate any non-zero risk of through wall cracking.
This statement was based on an examination of all cooldown transients modeled in NUREG-1806 (http://www.nrc.gov/readinq-rm/doc-collections/nureqs/staff/srl 806/ ). This study addressed a wide spectrum of potential PTS events, including large diameter pipe breaks on both the primary and secondary side. For these large diameter breaks a 200 OF temperature drop would occur within 2 to 4 minutes.15. How much does it reverse the effects of embrittlement 
-annealing?
The magnitude by which annealing reverses the effect of embrittlement is referred to as"recovery." Recovery depends on the annealing temperature and time, with temperature being the dominant factor. Two different procedures can be used to anneal a RPV, a wet anneal or a dry anneal. A wet anneal is performed with cooling water remaining in the RPV and it cannot be performed above the RPV design temperature of 650 IF.Annealing near this temperature results in low recovery; a reduction of the radiation-induced reference temperature of 10-30 percent is typical. A dry anneal requires removal of the cooling water and internal components along with application of heat to the inside of the vessel; it would be performed at temperatures in the range of 800-930 OF. A dry anneal would result in a recovery of approximately 80 percent of the radiation-induced reference temperature shift. Data shows that re-embrittlement after annealing occurs at a slower rate than occurred prior to annealing.
However, the NRC regulatory guide on annealing (Regulatory Guide 1.162, "Format and Content of Report for Thermal Annealing of Reactor Pressure Vessels')
conservatively assumes that embrittlement occurs at the same rate after annealing as it did before annealing.
7
: 16. Are you going to be able to make pertinent measurements at those reactor vessels that are not in service anymore, such as Crystal River Unit 3 for example?The NRC has no regulatory requirements for embrittlement measurements on vessels that are no longer in service. In February 2013 the Duke Energy Company announced that it will not return Crystal River Unit 3 to service. No decision has been made to test samples removed from decommissioned reactors for embrittlement.
However, the nuclear industry in Europe has pursued projects where small samples of ex-service vessels (e.g., Gundremmingen-A in Germany, Chooz-A in France, and Griefswald in the former East Germany) were removed and tested to measure embrittlement so that these measurements can be compared to the results of predictive formulae.
These comparisons typically show that the predictions are accurate to within the scatter associated with the experimental measurements.
While these experiments have all been conducted on European reactors, the embrittlement comparisons are appropriate to reactors in the USA. Also, the NRC participated in the Gundremmingen study, see NUREG/CR-5201, "Experimental Assessments of Gundremmingen RPV Archive Material for Fluence Rate Effects Studies," ADAMS ML1 11310052.17. How are the neutron flux predictions codes benchmarked for accuracy?Neutron fluence codes are qualified in accordance with Regulatory Guide 1.190,"Calculational and Dosimetry Methods for Determining Pressure Vessel Neutron Fluence." Benchmarking is a three step process. The codes are benchmarked against operating reactor measurements using in-vessel surveillance capsule dosimetry, measurements made external to the vessel, or both. Although specific benchmarking to a plant of interest is preferred, it is acceptable to the NRC to use benchmarking from a plant of similar design. Next, the codes are usually benchmarked against a pressure vessel simulator benchmark (scale mock-up experiment), such as the Pool Critical Assembly at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Finally, the codes are usually qualified using a fluence calculation benchmark problem. An example of a benchmark problem appears in NUREG/CR-6115, "PWR and BWR Pressure Vessel Fluence Calculation Benchmark Problems and Solutions." This three-pronged approach ensures that uncertainties and errors associated with nuclear data, numerical methods, and plant-specific considerations, such as specific geometric representation of the reactor and vessel, are all thoroughly investigated.
: 18. Can you discuss the primary difference between fracture toughness limits in 50.61 versus alternate requirements in 50.61a?As was stated during the webinar, 10 CFR 50.61a was developed as one option by which licensees could choose to show vessel integrity and safety should the level of embrittlement be projected to exceed that required by 10 CFR 50.61 within the plant's licensed lifetime.
The limits on embrittlement, reference temperature, and fracture toughness (all -of these terms may be regarded as synonyms) in 10 CFR 50.61a are less restrictive than those in 10 CFR 50.61; this being justified by greater accuracy in the models on which the 10 CFR 50.61a limits are based, by much greater and improved knowledge of both plant embrittlement data and plant operating procedures, and by benchmarking and validation of the models relative to scale experiments.
The major factors that differentiate the fracture toughness model in 10 CFR 50.61a and 10 CFR 50.61 are summarized in the table below; the factors listed at the top of the table have the greatest quantitative effect of the difference between the reference temperature limits in 10 CFR 50.61 and 10 CFR 50.61 a.8 Component 10 CFR 50.61 10 CFR 50.61a of Model RTNDT plus correction, which is based Unirradiated RTNDT: an intentionally on data, to account for the reference c r conservative difference between temperature conservative representation RTNDT and directly measured fracture toughness data* Flaws sized to be more representative of those found in service, based on both destructive Flaws intentionally larger and non-destructive evidence.than found in service, and
* Flaws assumed to mostly be Flaws all assumed to be found on embedded in the reactor vessel the inner-diameter surface wall, again based on evidence from of the reactor vessel, service.e Number of flaws significantly over-estimated (a conservatism) relative to what is found in service.The fluence associated with beltline All materials in the reactor materials is the actual fluence to vessel beltline assumed to which they are subjected.
Fluence Fluence experience the peak fluence variation in the beltline is significant; that occurs anywhere on the it depends (primarily) on the water inner diameter of the vessel, gap between the core and the inner diameter.Effect of Uses equation from 10 CFR 50.61a.radiation on Uses equation from Reg. This equation is based on over four rfradiainc o usdes e n fRom R. times more embrittlement data from temperature operating plants than Reg. Guide 1.99 Revision 2.Taken together, these factors justify the less restrictive embrittlement limits in 10 CFR 50.61a provided that the licensee demonstrates that their data in consistent with the underlying principles of the NRC model used to develop 10 CFR 50.61a. These assumptions include (a) that small defects in the reactor vessel in question are accurately represented by the NRC's technical basis calculations, and (b) that the licensee demonstrates that the embrittlement trends in the reactor vessel in question are also accurately represented by the NRC's technical basis calculations.
Further details concerning the technical basis for the 10 CFR 50.61 a embrittlement limits can be found on the NRC's website in NUREG-1 806 ("Technical Basis for Revision of the Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS) Screening Limit in the PTS Rule (10 CFR 50.61)') and NUREG-1 874 ("Recommended Screening Limits for Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS)').19. Have there been any preventative hardware installations to limit neutron exposure in the PWR fleet? If so, can you describe those projects and the extent of their success? And if not, what options are available for preventative hardware installs?Preventative measures against PTS include the following:
9 a) Many plants employ a technique referred to as "inside out fuel loading," which is designed to reduce the neutron flux to which the reactor vessel is exposed and, thus, its degree of embrittlement.
Following this strategy, new fuel assembles are first placed in the middle of the core with low power assemblies on the core periphery.
As the assemblies are used (or "burned")
they are moved, in subsequent refueling outages, toward the outside of the core and, thus, closer to the inner diameter of the reactor vessel. The partially spent fuel provides shielding to the vessel wall. This technique is used by Palisades.
b) Neutron shield assemblies made of stainless steel are placed on the outside of the core. These also provide shielding for the reactor vessel, lowering the number of neutrons that escape the core and, thus, are available to embrittle the vessel steel. This technique is used by many plants, including Palisades.
10 Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.-2-In addition to answering questions from members of the public on March 19, NRC representatives agreed to provide an answer to technical questions regarding the topic of PTS that were submitted during the meeting, but were not answered during the allocated meeting time. The answers to these questions and the follow- up to two questions answered during the webinar are included in this meeting summary (Enclosure 2). Availability of a recording of the webinar will be addressed by separate correspondence.
Sincerely, IRA/John B. Giessner, Chief Branch 4 Division of Reactor Projects Docket Nos. 50-255 and 72-007 License No. DPR-20 

==Enclosures:==

As Stated cc w/encls: Distribution via ListServTM DOCUMENT NAME: Palisades Meeting Summary March 19 2013 H Publicly Available
[: Non-Publicly Available El Sensitive
[ Non-Sensitive To receive a copy of this document, indicate In the concurrence box "C" = Copy without attachlenci "E" = Copy with attachlenci "N" = No copy OFFICE Rill RillI NAME DBetancourt-JGiessner Roldan:dp/rj DATE 04/18/13 04/18/13 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Letter to Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. from J. Giessner dated April 18, 2013 

==SUBJECT:==

==SUMMARY==
OF THE MARCH 19, 2013, PUBLIC MEETING WEBINAR REGARDING PALISADES NUCLEAR PLANT DISTRIBUTION:
Doug Huyck RidsNrrPMPalisades Resource RidsNrrDorlLpl3-1 Resource RidsNrrDirslrib Resource Chuck Casto Cynthia Pederson Steven Orth Allan Barker Christine Lipa Carole Ariano Linda Linn DRPIII DRSIII Patricia Buckley Tammy Tomczak ROPreoorts.
Resource(@nrc.aov Pressurized Thermal Shock Potential at Palisades Prepared by Michael J. Keegan Coalition for a Nuclear Free Great Lakes (July 8, 1993, Rekeyed August 3, 2005)History of Embrittlement of Reactor Pressure Vessels in Pressurized Water Reactors Irradiation embrittlement of the reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) may be the single most important factor in determining the operating life of a PWR. PWR vessels are generally constructed from eight inch thick steel plates, formed and welded to create the vessel structure.
The major age-related mechanism associated with this component is embrittlement.
Embrittlement is the loss of ductility, i.e., the ability to withstand stress without cracking, in the metals which make up the reactor pressure vessel. Embrittlement is caused by neutron bombardment of the vessel metals and is contingent upon the amount of copper and nickel in the metal and the extent of neutron exposure or fluence.In an unirradiated vessel the metal loses its ductility at about 40 degrees F. As the vessel becomes embrittled, the temperature at which it loses its ductility rises. This change in the mechanical properties of the metal from ductile to brittle is characterized as the reference temperature for nil ductility transition or Rtndt. Thus as the reactor ages and RPV is exposed to more radiation the Rtndt can shift from its original 40 degrees F to as much as 280-290 degrees F or more in extreme cases. (Server, Odette, Ritchie,"Pressurized Water Reactor Pressure Vessels" Vol. 1, NUREG/CR-473 1)Embritllement is of even greater concern to those plants constructed prior to 1972. The reason for this is that there is copper in the walls of older vessels. The use of copper was also extensive in the welds of the vessel walls in older reactors.
Copper coated wire was routinely used to weld together the large plates which make up the RPV. Palisades began construction in 1967 and went commercial in 1972. (Edelson, "Thermal Shock-New Nuclear Reactor Safety Hazard?", Popular Science, June 1983, p.55-63)The significance of reactor pressure vessel embrittlement is the increased susceptibility to Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS). Pressurized Thermal Shock occurs when the reactor pressure vessel is severely overcooled.
As the PRV is overcooled, there is a drop in the pressure of the primary coolant loop. This rapid decrease in the pressure of the primary coolant causes the high pressure injection pumps in the emergency core cooling system to automatically inject coolant into the primary loop. As the injection of coolant I repressurizes the RPV, the vessel is subjected to pressure stresses.
The stresses placed on the reactor pressure vessel by overcooling and repressurization causes Pressurized Thermal Shock. (Sholly, "Pressurized Thermal Shock Screening Criteria", Report prepared for Nuclear Information and Resource Service, January 1984)Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS) can be initiated by a host of mishaps including:
instrumentation and control system malfunctions; small-break loss-of-coolant accidents; mainsteam line breaks; feed water pipe breaks; and steam generator tub ruptures.
Any of these incidents can initiate a PTS event. If the fracture resistance of the RPV is reduced through neutron bombardment, severe overcooling accompanied by repressurization could cause flaws in inner surface of the RPV to propagate into a crack which breaches the vessel wall. (Thadani, NRC Memorandum RE: Frequency of Excessive Cooldown Events Challenging Vessel Integrity, April 21, 1981)Without the reactor pressure vessel surrounding the radioactive fuel it would be impossible to sufficiently cool the reactor core and a meltdown would ensue. (Ibid, Thadani) Pressurized Thermal Shock is a safety issue for every pressurized water reactor.(ibid, NUREG/CR-4731
: p. 105)The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has vacillated on the issue of Pressurized Thermal Shock for over twenty five years now. Rtndt limits had been originally set at 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
These limits were reached in the early to mid 1980's, the NRC began developing new limits within the framework of the PTS rule. In 1982, the NRC considered Rtndt limits of 230 and 250 degrees F for longitudinal and circumferential welds respectively.
By 1985, the NRC sought to amend its regulations on Pressurized Thermal Shock. New reference temperatures established limits of 270 degrees F for plate materials and axial welds and 300 degrees F for circumferential welds.(Ibid, Edelson)The Commission (NRC) attempted to gloss over the fact that an increase in the Rtndt translated into a decreased margin of safety. An NRC press release said the rule constituted "further protection from Pressurized Thermal Shock". (Demetrios L.Basdekas, Letter to New York Times, 1985) To cope with the most severely embrittled reactors the NRC has allowed some plants to redesign the configuration of the fuel rods so that fewer neutrons bombard the RPV wall.(The above text has been excerpted from Chapter IV of: "The Aging of Nuclear Power Plants: A Citizens Guide to Causes and Effects" Nuclear Information and Resource Service, August 1988 authored by James Riccio and Stephanie Murphy. Use granted by James Riccio.)2 Embrittlement at Palisades As early as July of 1981 the NRC identified the Palisades reactor as one of fourteen pressurized water reactors (PWR) with serious embrittlement problems.
These fourteen embrittled plants are especially troublesome at high pressures and low temperatures, and can cause the pressure vessel to crack like hot glass dunked in cold water. At normal operating temperatures embrittlement poses no problem. But with a rapid drop in coolant temperature, caused by a very common scram or transient, the pressure vessel's insides try to contract.
The outside of the vessel is still very hot and the temperature differential creates enormous tensile stresses. (Excerpts from Not Man Apart, Nov. 1981, published by Friends of the Earth)According to Public Citizen Nuclear Lemons report (July 8, 1993) Palisades has experienced nine scrams in the previous three years ranking it the tenth worst in the nation (1993). As noted above these are precisely the conditions which can lead to pressure vessel rupture if embrittlement is present. Embrittlement at Palisades in 1981 was reported to occur at temperatures of between 190 and 220 degrees F. (Ibid, excerpts from Not Man Apart) As noted earlier the NRC had originally set reference temperature for nil ductility transition (Rtndt) at 200 degrees F. As early as 1981 Palisades had exceeded these original Rtndt limits.Very little can be done to forestall or avoid the problem; it is a process of aging. A number of fuel rods can be reconfigured and operating temperatures reduced; this simply slows the rate of embrittlement and substantially reduces the output of the reactor. This reduces the efficiency or capacity factor of the reactor. (Ibid, excerpts from Not Man Apart) Redesign of the configuration of the fuel rods at the Palisades plant is precisely what has been done in attempts to mitigate the ever increasing embrittlement of the Palisades reactor pressure vessel.The following is a synopsis of a Consumers Power Company document dated May, 1990 entitled: "Analysis of theReactor Pressure Vessel Fast Neutron Fluence and Pressurized Thermal Shock Reference Temperatures for the Palisades Nuclear Plant" authored by the Reactor Engineering Department at Palisades.
In a cover letter dated May 17, 1990 discussing the May report it is concluded that the Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS) screening criteria will be exceeded at the axial welds (vertical welds) in September of 2001. Also, "that the flux reductions achieved in the Cycle 8 and 9 core loading patterns are, by themselves, insufficient to allow plant operation to the current expected end of life in (the year) 2011 "... "Further measures, eg, greater flux reduction, Regulatory Guide 1. 154 analysis, vessel shielding etc, are necessary to allow plant operation to the nominal end of plant life and beyond." Initiated with fuel cycle 1 and continuing through fuel cycle 7 core loading patterns were typical of out-in fuel management, in that fresh fuel was placed on the core periphery.
This approach results in the maximum overall core neutron leakage and flux to the 3 reactor pressure vessel. This is the neutron bombardment which leads to embrittlement, this took place from 1971 through approximately 1987. Beginning with fuel cycle 8 thrice used fuel assemblies with stainless steel shielding rods were located near the axial weld locations on the core periphery.
These are the locations where embrittlement is of the most concern. With the fuel cycle 8 reconfiguration flux reduction of a factor of two were reported at the axial weld locations.
Similar measures will be incorporated in fuel cycle 9. (Ibid, May 1990 p.1) However as noted in July of 1981 the Palisades plant was already experiencing embrittlement problems. (Ibid., Not Man Apart)The old adage "like closing the barn door after the horse is out" comes to mind.Operation beyond the end of cycle 8 (September 1990) was assumed to occur at 75%capacity.
With no flux reduction utilized, the PTS screening criteria would be exceeded at the axial welds in 1995. With flux reduction incorporated in cycle 9 and beyond, the PTS limit would be exceeded at the axial welds in September, 2001. These predicted dates are far short of the assumed nominal plant operating license expiration date of March, 2011.(Ibid, May 1990 p. 4) In order to get to the year 2001 before exceeding PTS limits it is assumed that the plant will not exceed 75% capacity factor after cycle 8. (Ibid. May 1990 p. 12)The models for determining vessel flux and fluence calculations are extrapolations.
The last actual measurement data (from the suspect axial welds) that was taken for comparison from an analysis of radiometric dosimeters irradiated in the W-290 vessel wall surveillance capsule was removed at the end of cycle 5. (ibid, May 1990 p. 8) There are methodological uncertainties with the reliance on proxy indicators of energy generation data, and reactor power history to determine the level of vessel embrittlement.
The computer models employed to estimate the level of flux and fluence and ultimately vessel embrittlement are subject to "GIGO". That is garbage in, garbage out, they are at best estimates based on many assumptions, they are not actual analysis of the metal.Specifically the problem axial welds identified which would limit the life of the Palisades reactor are located at 0 degrees and 30 degrees. It is not clear if these are the only axial welds that are suspect. In the methodology section 3.3 Geometry it is stated that the Palisades reactor exhibits 1/8 th core symmetry, thus only a zero to 45 degree sector has been included in the DOT model. Are there suspect axial welds in the remaining 7/8 th's of the vessel? Are there suspect circumference welds?Consumers Power Company (Now CMS) acknowledges a calculational uncertainty of+ /-25% is estimated in the calculated vessel wall fluence, this is said to be typical of current neutron transport methodology uncertainties.
Considering the consequences of a core meltdown the + / -25% margin of error is not acceptable.
Consumers Power Company goes on to discuss other means to maximize vessel lifetime including areas of greater flux reduction; waiting for the NRC to again relax PTS standards; data manipulation and use of other estimating models; vessel annealing (artificially overheating the vessel to bring back the ductility);
and shielding actions to 4 reduce the accumulated vessel embrittlement rate. (Ibid, May 1990 p. 45) These are all measures that were never considered or conceived when the promise of "too cheap to meter" was the talk of the day.As it stands the outside limit on the life of Palisades is the year 2001, running at a 75%capacity factor with a + / -25% margin of error on neutron bombardment.
These are serious economic constraints.
All of this with the perpetual threat of loss of the containment due to Pressurized Thermal Shock coupled with the danger of storage of High Level Nuclear Waste on the shore of Lake Michigan.
Consider the risk: The NRC commissioned a study from the Sandia Labs which was tho provide an assessment of a worst case accident at each U.S. nuclear power plant. The 1982 study concluded that there would be 52.6 billion dollars (1980 dollars) of damage at Palisades.
13,000 deaths due to cancer would occur. This study does not consider the loss of 20% of the world's surface fresh water.Continued operation of the Palisades nuclear power plant constitutes poor economics and poor public poli cy. The day has come to shut down Palisades for economic, environmental, and safety reasons. The Coalition for a Nuclear Free Great Lakes calls on the Michigan Public Service Commission to hold public hearings concerning the viability of the Palisades plant and to place the onus upon Consumers Power Company to show cause as to why the plant should not be removed from operation.
5}}