ML072570319

Possible Completion of Construction Activities

ML072570319
Person / Time
Site:	Watts Bar
Issue date:	10/22/2007
From:	Dyer J E Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	McCollum W R Tennessee Valley Authority
Chernoff M H, NRR/DORL, 415-4041
References
TAC MD6310
Download: ML072570319 (4)

Text

October 22, 2007Mr. William R. McCollum, Jr.Chief Operating Officer Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801

SUBJECT:

WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT UNIT 2 - RESUMPTION OF CONSTRUCTIONACTIVITIES (TAC NO. MD6310)

Dear Mr. McCollum:

This letter is in response to your letter dated August 3, 2007, in which you informed the NuclearRegulatory Commission (NRC) staff of Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA's) intention to complete construction activities at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) Unit 2. Your letter indicated that TVA plans to resume unrestricted construction activities under the existing constructionpermit on December 3, 2007, and to request an operating license (OL) pursuant to Title10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 50, "Domestic Licensing of Production andUtilization Facilities," prior to April 1, 2012. You further indicated that you plan to submit by January 31, 2008, a regulatory framework document to reference key correspondence and describe open issues or commitments that need to be resolved to obtain an OL for WBN Unit 2. In Generic Letter (GL) 87-15, "Policy Statement on Deferred Plants," the NRC provided theagency's position regarding quality assurance requirements, specifically the maintenance, preservation and documentation requirements for deferred plants, and how new regulatory requirements will be applied to deferred plants upon reactivation. This policy statement was published in the Federal Register on October 14, 1987 (52 FR 38077). In your letter, youprovided information regarding the reactivation of WBN Unit 2 in accordance with this policy statement. The NRC staff has determined that your letter satisfies the information requirements of GL 87-15.Upon resumption of construction and consistent with the policy statement, the NRC will begin todetermine the acceptability of structures, systems and components (SSCs) important to safety (see 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix A, General Design Criterion 1). The staff will take the following actions to determine acceptability:

1.Review the preservation and maintenance program for WBN Unit 2, as implemented,and determine whether any SSCs require special attention. 2.Verify that design changes, modifications, and required corrective actions have beenimplemented and documented in accordance with established quality control requirements, and W. R. McCollum-2-3.Review the results of any inspections and determine whether quality and performancerequirements originally specified in the Final Safety Analysis Report have been implemented.In addition, consistent with Commission direction in a staff requirements memorandum datedJuly 25, 2007, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML072060688) the staff will use the current licensing basis for Unit 1 as the reference basis for the review and licensing of Unit 2. Significant changes to this licensing approach would beallowed where the existing backfit rule would be met or as necessary to support dual unit operation. Consistent with the Commission's direction, we expect TVA to review any exemptions, reliefs, and other actions which were specifically granted for Unit 1, to determine whether the same allowance is appropriate for Unit 2 and submit such requests to the NRC for its review and approval as necessary. We encourage TVA to adopt updated standards for Unit 2 where it would not significantly detract from design and operational consistency between Units 1 and 2. We also expect TVA to look for opportunities to resolve issues such as generic safety issues where the unirradiated state of Unit 2 makes the issue easier to resolve before plant operation.The NRC staff is developing plans and implementing actions for the technical review andinspection activities necessary to support licensing of WBN Unit 2. Currently, we are determining the status of licensing and inspection issues related to WBN Unit 2. In accordance with the Commission's direction, the NRC will issue a notice of opportunity forhearing on the WBN Unit 2 OL application. The staff will issue this notice following receipt and review of your regulatory framework document. At that time, the staff also will establish a review schedule with anticipated milestones. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact L. Raghavan at 301-415-2429.Sincerely,/RA/J. E. Dyer, DirectorOffice of Nuclear Reactor RegulationDocket No. 50-391 cc: See next page W. R. McCollumOctober 22, 2007-2-3.Review the results of any inspections and determine whether quality and performancerequirements originally specified in the Final Safety Analysis Report have been implemented.In addition, consistent with Commission direction in a staff requirements memorandum datedJuly 25, 2007, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML072060688) the staff will use the current licensing basis for Unit 1 as the reference basis for the review and licensing of Unit 2. Significant changes to this licensing approach would beallowed where the existing backfit rule would be met or as necessary to support dual unit operation. Consistent with the Commission's direction, we expect TVA to review any exemptions, reliefs, and other actions which were specifically granted for Unit 1, to determine whether the same allowance is appropriate for Unit 2 and submit such requests to the NRC for its review and approval as necessary. We encourage TVA to adopt updated standards for Unit 2 where it would not significantly detract from design and operational consistency between Units 1 and 2. We also expect TVA to look for opportunities to resolve issues such as generic safety issues where the unirradiated state of Unit 2 makes the issue easier to resolve before plant operation.The NRC staff is developing plans and implementing actions for the technical review andinspection activities necessary to support licensing of WBN Unit 2. Currently, we are determining the status of licensing and inspection issues related to WBN Unit 2. In accordance with the Commission's direction, the NRC will issue a notice of opportunity forhearing on the WBN Unit 2 OL application. The staff will issue this notice following receipt and review of your regulatory framework document. At that time, the staff also will establish a review schedule with anticipated milestones. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact L. Raghavan at 301-415-2429.Sincerely,/RA/J. E. Dyer, DirectorOffice of Nuclear Reactor RegulationDocket No. 50-391 cc: See next page Distribution:PUBLICRidsNrrDorl RidsNrrAdro RidsNrrDorlLpl3-1 RidsNrrAcrsAcnwMailCenter RidsNrrPMJWilliams RidsNrrPMMChernoff RidsNrrLABClayton (Hard Copy) RidsOgcRp RidsRgn2MailCenter RidsNrrOdAccession No. ML072570319OFFICELPL/PMLPL/PMLPL/LAOGC/NLOTech EditorLPL/BCDORL/DRII/RANRR/ODNAMEJWilliamsMChernoffBClaytonSTurkHChangvia e-mailLRaghavanCHaneyWTraversvia e-mailJDyerDATE10 /12 /0710 / 12 /0710 / 6 /0710/16 /0710/10/07 9 /27 /07 10/ 17 /0710 / 15 /0710/ 22 /07OFFICIAL RECORD COPY W. R. McCollumTennessee Valley AuthorityWATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT cc:Mr. William R. Campbell, Jr.

Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Ashok S. BhatnagarSenior Vice President Nuclear Generation Development and Construction Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801Mr. James R. Douet Senior Vice President Nuclear Support Tennessee Valley Authority 3R Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. H. Rick Rogers Vice President Nuclear Engineering & Technical Services Tennessee Valley Authority 3R Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801Mr. Michael D. Skaggs, Site Vice PresidentWatts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Spring City, TN 37381General CounselTennessee Valley Authority 6A West Tower 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902Mr. John C. Fornicola, ManagerNuclear Assurance Tennessee Valley Authority 3R Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801Mr. Larry E. Nicholson, General ManagerLicensing and Industry Affairs Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801Ms. Beth A. Wetzel, ManagerCorporate Nuclear Licensing and Industry Affairs Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801Mr. Masoud Bajestani, Vice PresidentWatts Bar Unit 2 Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000, EQB 1B Spring City, TN 37381Mr. James D. Smith, Acting ManagerLicensing and Industry Affairs Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Spring City, TN 37381Mr. Michael J. Lorek, Plant ManagerWatts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Spring City, TN 37381Senior Resident InspectorWatts Bar Nuclear Plant U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1260 Nuclear Plant Road Spring City, TN 37381County Executive375 Church Street

Suite 215 Dayton, TN 37321County Mayor P. O. Box 156 Decatur, TN 37322Mr. Lawrence E. Nanney, DirectorDivision of Radiological Health Dept. of Environment & Conservation Third Floor, L and C Annex 401 Church Street Nashville, TN 37243-1532Ms. Ann P. Harris341 Swing Loop Road Rockwood, TN 37854