ML14024A041

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station - Request for Additional Information Regarding Entergy Request for Rescission of and Scheduler Relief from Order EA-13-109 on Reliable Hardened Containment Vents (TAC No. MF3225)

ML14024A041
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	01/29/2014
From:	Pickett D V Plant Licensing Branch 1
To:	Entergy Nuclear Operations
Pickett D V
References
EA-13-109, TAC MF3225
Download: ML14024A041 (3)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 Vice President, Operations Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station P.O. Box 250 Governor Hunt Road Vernon, VT 05354 January 29, 2014

SUBJECT:

VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION-REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING ENTERGY REQUEST FOR RESCISSION OF AND SCHEDULER RELIEF FROM ORDER EA-13-109 ON RELIABLE HARDENED CONTAINMENT VENTS (TAC NO. MF3225)

Dear Sir or Madam:

On November 22, 2013, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. submitted an application for rescission of and scheduler relief from Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Order EA-13-1 09, "Issuance of Order to Modify Licenses with Regard to Reliable Hardened Containment Vents Capable of Operation Under Severe Accident Conditions (Effective Immediately)."

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is reviewing the submittal and has determined that additional information is needed to complete its review. The specific questions are found in the enclosed request for additional information (RAI). Based on our discussions, we understand that a response to the RAI will be provided within 30 days of the date of this letter. Please contact me at (301) 415-1364 if you have any questions on this issue. Docket Nos. 50-271

Enclosure:

Request for Additional Information cc w/encl: Distribution via Listserv Sincerely, v

Douglas V. Pickett, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 1-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING RELIEF FROM ORDER EA-13-109 ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS.

INC. VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION DOCKET NOS. 50-271 On November 22, 2013, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Entergy),

submitted an application (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML 13330A861) for rescission of and scheduler relief from Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Order EA-13-109, "Order Modifying Licenses with Regard to Reliable Hardened Containment Vents Capable of Operation Under Severe Accident Conditions (Effective Immediately)."

The NRC staff is reviewing the submittal and has the following question:

Question 1 Order EA-13-109 (ADAMS Accession No. ML 13130A067) requires that Vermont Yankee submit an overall integrated plan by June 30, 2014, that describes how compliance with the Phase 1 requirements of the Order will be achieved.

Your letter dated November 22, 2013, requested that this schedule be modified such that the Vermont Yankee overall integrated plan would be submitted

" ... no later than startup from the first refueling outage that begins after June 30, 2014 .... " The justification for this request is that plans are in place for the permanent shutdown of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in late 2014 and that the function of primary containment will cease once you submit the 10 CFR 50.82 certifications that fuel has been permanently removed from the reactor vessel and that the plant will not be permitted to restart.

While the NRC staff fully understands your intentions to permanently shut down the Vermont Yankee facility, the staff also understands that Entergy is under no legal obligation to shut down the facility and, furthermore, your application specifically states that resources will not be expended to perform the required analysis to prepare the overall integrated plan. The staff is concerned that if your current plans change and you decide to enter an extended shutdown period as opposed to submitting the 10 CFR 50.82 certifications, Vermont Yankee would not be prepared to meet the requirements of the Order on schedule.

Therefore, the staff requests that you modify your request to state that the Vermont Yankee overall integrated plan will be submitted no later than startup from the first refueling outage that begins after June 30, 2014, or a fixed date, whichever is earlier.

Enclosure January 29, 2014 Vice President, Operations Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station P.O. Box 250 Governor Hunt Road Vernon, VT 05354

SUBJECT:

VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION-REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING ENTERGY REQUEST FOR RESCISSION OF AND SCHEDULER RELIEF FROM ORDER EA-13-109 ON RELIABLE HARDENED CONTAINMENT VENTS (TAC NO. MF3225)

Dear Sir or Madam:

On November 22, 2013, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. submitted an application for rescission of and scheduler relief from Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Order EA-13-1 09, "Issuance of Order to Modify Licenses with Regard to Reliable Hardened Containment Vents Capable of Operation Under Severe Accident Conditions (Effective Immediately)."

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is reviewing the submittal and has determined that additional information is needed to complete its review. The specific questions are found in the enclosed request for additional information (RAI). Based on our discussions, we understand that a response to the RAI will be provided within 30 days of the date of this letter. Please contact me at (301) 415-1364 if you have any questions on this issue. Docket Nos. 50-271

Enclosure:

Request for Additional Information cc w/encl: Distribution via Listserv DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC LPL 1-1 R/F RidsNrrDoriDpr MMitchell, JLD RidsNrrDoriLpl1-1 RidsNrrLAKGoldstein

RidsRgn1 MaiiCenter RidsN rrDorl Lpl4-2 ADAMS ACCESSION NO.: ML 14024A041 OFFICE LPL 1-1/PM LPL 1-1/LA NAME DPickett KGoldstein Sincerely, Ira/ Douglas V. Pickett, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 1-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation RidsNrrPMVermontYankee RidsAcrsAcnw_MaiiCTR

WReckley, JLD JLD/BC LPL1-1/BC WReckley BBeasley DATE 01/28/2014 01/28/2014 01/29/ 2014 01/29/2014 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY