ML18016B079

COL Docs - Acceptance Letter for LAR 17-041 for Vogtle 3 and 4

ML18016B079
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	01/16/2018
From:	NRC
To:	NRC/NRO/DNRL/LB4
References
Download: ML18016B079 (4)

Text

Vogtle PEmails From: Patel, Chandu Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2018 5:04 PM To: Vogtle PEmails

Subject:

Acceptance Letter for LAR 17-041 for Vogtle 3 and 4 Attachments: Acceptance Letter 17-041.docx Please see the attached acceptance letter for LAR 17-041 for Vogtle 3 and 4.

Sincerely, Chandu Patel, Senior Project Manager U.S. NRC, Office of New Reactors NRC/NRO/DNRL/LB4, Washington, DC 20555-0001 301.415.3025 MS T6C20M 1

Hearing Identifier: Vogtle_COL_Docs_Public Email Number: 201 Mail Envelope Properties (BN6PR09MB2259DA369F45A2518C724FB582EA0)

Subject:

Acceptance Letter for LAR 17-041 for Vogtle 3 and 4 Sent Date: 1/16/2018 5:04:26 PM Received Date: 1/16/2018 5:04:29 PM From: Patel, Chandu Created By: Chandu.Patel@nrc.gov Recipients:

"Vogtle PEmails" <Vogtle.PEmails@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None Post Office: BN6PR09MB2259.namprd09.prod.outlook.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 260 1/16/2018 5:04:29 PM Acceptance Letter 17-041.docx 31423 Options Priority: Standard Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date:

Recipients Received:

January 16, 2018 Mr. Brian H. Whitley, Director Regulatory Affairs Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

42 Inverness Center Parkway BIN B237 Birmingham, AL 35242

SUBJECT:

ACCEPTANCE REVIEW OF SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANYS REQUEST FOR LICENSE AMENDMENT (LAR 17-041) FOR THE VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT UNITS 3 AND 4: CHANGES TO NATURAL CIRCULATION AND PASSIVE RESIDUAL HEAT REMOVAL HEAT EXCHANGER STARTUP TEST(EPID NO. L-2017-LLA-0393)

Dear Mr. Whitley:

By letter dated November 17, 2017 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML17321B080, Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC) submitted a request for a license amendment Combined License (COL) Numbers NPF-91 and NPF-92, for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 3 and 4, respectively. The requested amendment proposes changes to COL License Conditions and changes to the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report in the form of departures from the incorporated plant-specific Design Control Document Tier 2* and associated Tier 2 information.

Specifically, the amendment request involves a change to COL License Condition requirements regarding the Natural Circulation (first plant test) using the steam generators and the Passive Residual Heat Removal Heat Exchanger (first plant test). A COL License Condition is proposed to be revised to include an exception that would allow the requirements of a Technical Specification to be suspended during performance of the Natural Circulation (first plant test) using the steam generators. In addition, a revised Passive Residual Heat Removal Heat Exchanger (first plant test) is proposed to be performed as part of the Power Ascension Testing requirements instead of as part of the Initial Criticality and Low-Power Testing requirements as currently specified in a COL License Condition.

The purpose of this letter is to provide the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs acceptance review of these requests. The acceptance review was performed to determine if there is sufficient technical information in scope and depth to allow the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical reviews. The acceptance review is also intended to identify whether the application has any readily apparent information insufficiencies in its characterization of the regulatory requirements or the licensing basis of the plant.

Consistent with Section 50.90 of the 10 CFR, an amendment to the license must fully describe the changes requested, and follow as far as applicable, the form prescribed for original applications. Section 52.79 of the 10 CFR addresses content of technical information required.

This section stipulates that the submittal address the design and operating characteristics, unusual or novel design features, and principal safety considerations.

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 amendment and exemption, 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 staffs ability to complete the detailed technical review are identified despite completion of an adequate acceptance review. You will be advised of any further information needed to support the NRC staffs detailed technical review by separate correspondence.

SNC has requested NRC staff approval of this LAR by November 18, 2018. The staff will attempt to support that date but it will depend on whether supplements to your request are needed. If the change is needed to support construction, please consider submitting a Preliminary Amendment Request.

If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-3025 or Chandu.Patel@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, R/A Chandu Patel, Senior Project Manager Licensing Branch 4 Division of New Reactor Licensing Office of New Reactors Docket No(s): 52-025 52-026