ML17160A221

OEDO-15-00479 - Email to David Lochbaum Re. 2.206 Petition Regarding Pilgrim Nuclear Power Stations Current Licensing Basis for Flooding 60-Day Status Report

ML17160A221
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	06/08/2017
From:	Booma Venkataraman Plant Licensing Branch 1
To:	Lochbaum D Union of Concerned Scientists
Venkataraman B
Shared Package
ML15187A378	List: ML15187A397 ML17100A304 ML17160A221 ML17220A252 ML17283A335 ML17345A936 ML19303C397
References
CAC MF6460, OEDO-15-00479
Download: ML17160A221 (1)

Text

From: Venkataraman, Booma To: Dave Lochbaum Cc: Danna, James

Banic, Merrilee

Subject:

2.206 Petition Regarding Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station's Current Licensing Basis for Flooding Day Status Report (OEDO-15-00479) (CAC No. MF6460)

Date: Thursday, June 08, 2017 6:43:00 PM Mr. Lochbaum:

In accordance with Management Directive 8.11, "Review Process for 10 CFR 2.206

Petitions," I am writing to provide you a status update on your petition submitted in

accordance with 10 CFR 2.206, dated June 24, 2015, regarding the current licensing basis

on flooding for the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (Pilgrim). This e-mail provides a status

since my last update to you on April 10, 2017.

On August 18, 2016, Entergy (or the licensee) sent a letter (ADAMS Accession No.

ML16250A018) to the NRC, "Request for Deferral of Actions Related to Beyond-Design-Basis

External Events Flooding Actions - Commitment Changes."

The licensee requested that the

remaining activities related to the reevaluation of flooding hazards for Pilgrim associated

with a request for information dated March 12, 2012, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.54(f) (ADAMS

Accession No. ML12073A348), be permanently deferred.

The basis for the deferral included

Entergy's plans to permanently shut down Pilgrim no later than June 1, 2019 as intended by

the licensee in its letter dated November 10, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15328A053).

In an April 17, 2017 letter (ADAMS Accession No. ML16278A313), the NRC staff responded

to Entergy's August 18, 2016, request and deferred the remaining flood assessments until

December 31, 2019.

The petition review board (PRB) met on May 9, 2017, and deliberated on the path forward for your petition.

The PRB noted that the issue of reevaluated flooding hazards raised in

your petition is currently being considered by the Commission as part of SECY-16-0142, the

mitigation of beyond-design-basis event (MBDBE) draft final rule dated December 15, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16301A005).

Given the delay in the closure of the Pilgrim flood

assessments associated with the March 12, 2012, request for information and the

Commission consideration of the issues raised in your petition as part of the MBDBE draft

final rule, the PRB determined that the Commission's decision on the MBDBE draft final rule

would likely disposition your petition.

As such, once the Commission provides direction on

this rule, the staff intends to issue a proposed director's decision reflecting the

Commission's decision.

Sincerely, Booma Booma Venkataraman, P.E.

Project Manager, NRR/DORL/LPL1

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Booma.Venkataraman@nrc.gov 301.415.2934