ML12005A228

Status of Operating License Application Review Regarding Fire Protection Program

ML12005A228
Person / Time
Site:	Watts Bar
Issue date:	01/18/2012
From:	Raghavan L Watts Bar Special Projects Branch
To:	Skaggs M Tennessee Valley Authority
Milano P
References
TAC ME2731
Download: ML12005A228 (3)

Text

UNITED NUCLEAR REGULATORY WASHINGTON, D.C.

January 18, 2012 Mr. Michael D. Skaggs Senior Vice President Nuclear Generation Development and Construction Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 2 -SUBMITTAL ISSUES WITH OPERATING LICENSE APPLICATION REVIEW REGARDING FIRE PROTECTION PROGRAM (TAC NO. ME2731)

Dear Mr. Skaggs:

I am writing to followup on recent discussions between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and representatives from your staff regarding the resolution of issues arising from the NRC staff's review of your operating license (OL) application for Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN), Unit 2, Specifically, the staff is currently reviewing Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA's) submittals relating to Section 9.5,1, "Fire Protection Program," of the WBN Unit 2 Final Safety Analysis Report. As part of its review process, the staff identified several issues and held numerous meetings and telephone discussions to resolve the identified issues. The staff continues to identify additional issues with your submittals.

During a meeting on December 21, 2011, we discussed a number of comments that the staff has raised about the latest revision of the as-designed fire protection report, which TVA submitted on November 30, 2011. In this revision to the report, TVA incorporated changes to implement its responses to a series of requests for additional information from the NRC staff, During the discussions, the staff presented concerns it had with inconsistencies in the information presented in several areas of the report. Further, the staff noted that TVA must specifically describe any deviations from the requirements for fire protection of safe shutdown capability in the report rather than rely only on a proposed method for evaluating the capability of installed fire protection features.

As a result of the staffs issues and concerns, TVA stated that it would determine the specific elements in the program requiring revision and the schedule for providing a revised fire protection report. TVA stated that these actions would be completed by the first week of January 2012. TVA has since stated during a teleconference that the revised fire protection report will be submitted by February 24, 2012. The accuracy of this assessment and completion of any ensuing revisions to the fire protection documentation supporting the OL review is critical for the NRC staff to complete its review. In particular, it has already impacted the ability for the staff to present the results of its findings to M. Skaggs -2 the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS). Based on TVA's date of February 24, 2012, the ACRS meeting scheduled in April 2012 has been moved to June 2012. Therefore, you need to keep the NRC staff informed on the progress so that any further changes to the ACRS schedule can be accommodated.

Please be advised that depending on the outcome of your activities in this matter, the NRC staff's review schedule will be revised and may impact the project milestones.

We request your continued attention to ensure that these actions are completed in a timely and thorough manner for the NRC staff to complete its licensing reviews and inspections consistent with your overall project schedule.

Sincerely, L. Raghavan, Senior Project Manager Watts Bar Special Projects Branch Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-391 cc: Distribution via Listserv M. Skaggs -the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS). Based on TVA's date of February 24, 2012, the ACRS meeting scheduled in April 2012 has been moved to June 2012. Therefore, you need to keep the NRC staff informed on the progress so that any further changes to the ACRS schedule can be accommodated.

Please be advised that depending on the outcome of your activities in this matter, the NRC staff's review schedule will be revised and may impact the project milestones.

We request your continued attention to ensure that these actions are completed in a timely and thorough manner for the NRC staff to complete its licensing reviews and inspections consistent with your overall project schedule.

Sincerely, IRA by P. Milano fori L. Raghavan, Senior Project Manager Watts Bar Special Projects Branch Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-391 cc: Distribution via Listserv DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC LPWB Reading File RidsNrrDorlLpwb Resource RidsNrrLABClayton Resource RidsNrrPMWatlsBar2 Resource RidsNrrDraAfpb Resource RidsRgn2MailCenter Resource RidsOgcRp Resource RidsOpaMailCenter RHaag. R-II TNazario.

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• via email OFFICE:1 LPWB/PM LPWB/LA AFPB/BC OGC NLO LPWB/BC LPWB/PM NAME PMilano BClayton AKlein (wI comments)

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• DATE 01110/12 01/06/12 01/09/12 01/17/12 01/18/12 12130111 OFFICIAL AGENCY RECORD