ML13284A075

Columbia Generating Station, Energy Northwest'S Request for NRC Assistance to Obtain Information from the Us Army Corps of Engineers (Usace) Related to Dam Failure Analysis

ML13284A075
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia
Issue date:	10/04/2013
From:	Swank D A Energy Northwest
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
G02-13-141
Download: ML13284A075 (2)

Text

ENERGYNORTHWEST October 4, 2013G02-13-141 David A. SwankColumbia Generating StationP.O. Box 968, PE04Richland, WA 99352-0968 Ph. 509-377-2309 1 F. 509-377-2354 daswank @ energy-northwest.com 10 CFR 50.54(f)U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk11555 Rockville PikeRockville, MD 20852

Subject:

COLUMBIA GENERATING

STATION, DOCKET NO. 50-397ENERGY NORTHWEST'S REQUEST FOR NRC ASSISTANCE TOOBTAIN INFORMATION FROM THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (USACE) RELATED TO DAM FAILURE ANALYSIS

References:

1. Letter dated March 12, 2012, from EJ Leeds (NRC) to All Power ReactorLicensees and Holders of Construction Permits in Active or Deferred Status,"Request for Information Pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 50.54(f)

Regarding Recommendations 2.1, 2.3 and 9.3 of the Near-Term TaskForce Review of Insights from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Accident"

2. NRC Interim Staff Guidance JLD-ISG-2013-01, "Guidance for Assessment ofFlooding Hazards Due to Dam Failure,"

Revision 0, July 29, 2013

Dear Sir or Madam:

In Reference 1, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued the request forinformation associated with Near-Term Task Force (NTTF) Recommendation 2.1 forFlooding.

In Reference 2, the NRC staff issued guidance for assessing floodinghazards due to dam failure.

Section 1.3 of this document provides the framework forestimating dam failure flood hazards, which consists of screening and detailedanalyses.

Columbia Generating Station (Columbia) is located on the Hanford Site within BentonCounty, Washington, approximately 3 miles west of the Columbia River at river mile(RM) 352, 10 miles north of Richland and 45 miles downstream from Grant County PUDPriest Rapids Dam. The site coordinates are approximately 460 28' North Latitude and119' 20' West Longitude.

The Columbia River is the predominant hydrologic feature ofthe area and provides principal drainage for the surrounding area. The Columbia Riverdrains an area of approximately 258,000 square miles, lying to the west of theContinental Divide in the northwestern part of the U.S. (85%) and southwestern part ofCanada (15%). Major tributaries are the Kootenay, Snake, Pend Oreille, Spokane,Okanogan, Yakima, and Willamette Rivers. bo(

ENERGY NORTHWEST'S REQUEST FOR NRC ASSISTANCE TO OBTAININFORMATION FROM THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (USACE) RELATEDTO DAM FAILURE ANALYSISPage 2 of 2Section 2.4 of the Columbia Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR) documents the currentflooding hazard licensing basis. The Columbia River is regulated by dams andreservoirs.

There are seven dams upstream and four dams downstream of the site onthe main stream of the Columbia River within the U.S. These dams are listed in FSARTable 2.4-1. In order to support initial licensing activities, analyses of floods resulting from potential dam failures were investigated by the USACE for the Columbia River.The NRC Staff Position in Section 1.5.3 of Reference 2 states: "In the case of dams andlevees owned or operated by U.S. Federal agencies, the Federal agency responsible for(owner or operator of) the dam should be involved in any discussions, including possiblyreviewing any analysis performed.

.... It is critical for the owner or operator of the dam toassist the NRC or its licensees when modifying the assumptions or methods used todevelop the inundation maps for a specific area. If a Federally owned dam is identified as critical to the flooding reanalysis, the licensee should contact the NRC promptly.

TheNRC will act as the interface between these agencies and licensees."

Energy Northwest requests that the NRC interface with the USACE in order to supportEnergy Northwest's flooding hazard re-evaluation, which is required by Reference 1.Specifically, Energy Northwest requests the USACE perform a dam failure analysis forthe Columbia River watershed, including both the screening and detailed

analyses, inaccordance with Reference 2.There are no new regulatory commitments as a result of this letter. If you have anyquestions or require additional information, please contact Ms. L. L. Williams at (509) 377-8148.I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed onthe date of this letter.Respectfully, D. A. SwankAssistant Vice President, Engineering cc: NRC Region IV Administrator NRC NRR Project ManagerNRC Senior Resident Inspector/988C AJ Rapacz -BPA/1 399