ML14220A135

2014/08/06 NRR E-mail Capture - Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant Acceptance Review Relief Request RR VR05 (TAC No. MF4544)

ML14220A135
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello
Issue date:	08/06/2014
From:	Beltz T A Plant Licensing Branch III
To:	Loeffler R Northern States Power Co
References
Download: ML14220A135 (2)

Text

1 NRR-PMDAPEm Resource From: Beltz, Terry Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2014 3:41 PM To: Rippy, L. Randal Cc: Loeffler, Richard A.; Farnan, Michael; Pelton, David

Subject:

Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant - A cceptance Review re: Relief Request RR VR05 (TAC No. MF4544)

Dear Mr. Rippy:

By letter dated July 30, 2014 (Agencywide Document s Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML14212A071), Northern States Power Company - Minnesota (NSPM, the licensee), doing business as Xcel Energy, submitted a request to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant (MNGP). The licensee requests authorization of an alternative to testing requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Code for Operations and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants (ASME OM Code) 2004 Edition, with Addenda through OMb Code-2006.

Specifically, the request is to defer quarterly valve exercise testing on the inboard and outboard main steam line drain valves (MO-2373 and MO-2374, respectively) to the spring 2015 refueling outage. The inboard main steam line drain valve is located inside primary containment (i.e., drywell) and has been placed on its back seat to isolate packing leakage. With the inboard main steam line drain valve in the open and back-seated position, the outboard main steam line drain valve was closed and de-energized to prevent opening.

Pursuant to Sections 50.55a(a)(3)(i) and 50.55a(a)(3)(ii) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), the applicant shall demonstrate that the proposed alternatives would provide an acceptable level of quality and safety, or that compliance with the specified requirements of Section 50.55a would result in hardship or unusual difficulty without a compensating increase in the level of quality or safety. NSPM requests deferral of the quarterly valve exercise testing to the spring 2015 refueling outage based on resulting hardship without a compensating increase in the level of quality and safety presented by the temporary configuration of

the main steam line drain valves.

The NRC staff has reviewed your application and concluded that it does provide technical information in sufficient detail to enable the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed relief 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 NRC staff's ability to complete the detailed technical review are identified despite. You will be advised of any further information needed to support the NRC staff's detailed technical review by separate correspondence.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely, TERRY A. BELTZ, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738 Mail Stop: O-8D15 Phone: (301) 415-3049 Terry.Beltz@nrc.gov

Hearing Identifier: NRR_PMDA Email Number: 1482 Mail Envelope Properties (Terry.Beltz@nrc.gov20140806154100)

Subject:

Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant - Acceptance Review re: Relief Request RR VR05 (TAC No. MF4544) Sent Date: 8/6/2014 3:41:04 PM Received Date: 8/6/2014 3:41:00 PM From: Beltz, Terry Created By: Terry.Beltz@nrc.gov Recipients: "Loeffler, Richard A." <Richard.Loeffler@xenuclear.com> Tracking Status: None "Farnan, Michael" <Michael.Farnan@nrc.gov> Tracking Status: None "Pelton, David" <David.Pelton@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Rippy, L. Randal" <Randal.Rippy@xenuclear.com> Tracking Status: None

Post Office: Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 2945 8/6/2014 3:41:00 PM Options Priority: Standard Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date: Recipients Received: