ML18261A246

2018/09/18 Vogtle COL Docs - Vogtle LAR-18-024 Admin Changes to Align Initial Test Program with Rg 1.68 - Acceptance Letter

ML18261A246
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	09/18/2018
From:	NRC
To:	NRC/NRO/DLSE/LB4
References
Download: ML18261A246 (4)

Text

September 18, 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 COMPANY'S REQUEST FOR LICENSE AMENDMENT AND EXEMPTION FOR THE VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT UNITS 3 AND 4: ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES TO ALIGN INITIAL TEST PROGRAM WITH REGULATORY GUIDE 1.68 (LAR 18-024) (EPID NO. L-2018-LLA-0237)

Dear Mr. Whitley:

By letter dated August 30, 2018, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML18242A039), the Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC/licensee) submitted a license amendment request (LAR) for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) Combined License (COL) Numbers NPF-91 and NPF-92. The requested amendment proposes to depart from AP1000 Design Control Document Tier 2 information that has been incorporated in the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) and involves related changes to plant-specific Tier 1 information, with corresponding changes to the associated COL Appendix C information and changes to license conditions of the COLs. The changes to Tier 1 require an exemption which is included in the LAR.

The purpose of this letter is to provide the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff's acceptance review of the LAR. The acceptance review is a staff process to determine if there is sufficient technical information in scope and depth to allow the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review. 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 Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.90, an amendment to the license must fully describe the changes requested and follow, as closely as applicable, the form prescribed for original applications. Section 52.79 of the 10 CFR addresses the 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 against the regulatory requirements and has concluded that it provides sufficient technical detail to enable the NRC staff to begin its detailed review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed changes 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 completion of an adequate acceptance review. You will be advised of any further information needed to support the NRC staff's detailed technical review by separate correspondence.

You have requested an amendment issuance date of February 28, 2019. The staff intends to complete all actions necessary to support that date. However, if the review requires a different target date we will contact you. The staff estimate to support this review based on this limited acceptance review is approximately 180 hours0.00208 days <br />0.05 hours <br />2.97619e-4 weeks <br />6.849e-5 months <br />, but may change as the review proceeds.

If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-5848 or bill.gleaves@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, /RA/

William (Billy) Gleaves, Senior Project Manager Licensing Branch 4 Division of New Reactor Licensing Office of New Reactors Docket Nos.: 52-025 52-026

cc: Chandu Patel Jennifer Dixon-Herrity Amy Chambelain, SNC Neil Haggerty, SNC Wes Sparkman, SNC Kelli Roberts, SNC