ML15329A225

Interim Staff Response to Reevaluated Seismic Hazard Submitted in Response to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 50.54(f) Information Request

ML15329A225
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia
Issue date:	12/18/2015
From:	Frankie Vega Japan Lessons-Learned Division
To:	Reddemann M Energy Northwest
Vega, Frankie, NRR/JLD 415-1617
References
TAC MF5274
Download: ML15329A225 (3)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 December 18, 2015 Mr. Mark E. Reddemann Chief Executive Officer Energy Northwest MD 1023 76 North Power Plant Loop P.O. Box 968 Richland, WA 99352

SUBJECT:

COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION - INTERIM STAFF RESPONSE TO REEVALUATED SESIMIC HAZARD SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO TITLE 10 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS 50.54(f) INFORMATION REQUEST (TAC NO. MF5274)

Dear Mr. Reddemann:

The purpose of this letter is to inform Energy Northwest (EN, the licensee) of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) preliminary review results that the reevaluated seismic hazard information, submitted in March 2015 for Columbia Generating Station (Columbia), is suitable for use in the development of a seismic probabilistic risk assessment (SPRA) for Columbia Generating Station (Columbia).

On March 12, 2012, the NRC issued a request for information pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50, Section 50.54(f) (hereafter referred to as the 50.54(f) letter). The purpose of the 50.54(f) letter was to gather information concerning, in part, the seismic hazard at operating reactor sites to enable the NRC staff to determine whether licenses should be modified, suspended, or revoked. The "Required Response" section of Enclosure 1 indicated that licensees should provide a seismic hazard evaluation and screening report within 3 years for Western United States (WUS) plants. The 50.54(f) letter, following submittal of the reevaluated hazard, indicated that the NRC would identify sites where an SPRA is warranted to evaluate the higher hazard.

By letter dated March 12, 2015 1 , EN submitted for NRC review. its Seismic Hazard and Screening Report (SHSR), in response to the 50.54(f) letter for Columbia. By letters dated August 18, 20152 and September 16, 2015 3 , the NRC issued requests for additional information (RAls) to the licensee. By letters dated September 24, 20154 and October 14, 2015 5 , EN submitted its responses to the NRC staff's RAls.

1 The Columbia SHSR can be found under Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)

Accession No. ML15078A243.

2 The NRG staff RAI can be found under ADAMS Accession No. ML15215A043.

3 The NRG staff RAI can be found under ADAMS Accession No ML15254A257.

4 Response to the NRG staffs RAI can be found under ADAMS Accession No. ML15267A780.

5 Response to the NRG staffs RAJ can be found under ADAMS Accession No. ML15287A237.

M. Reddemann By letters dated May 13, 2015, 6 and October 27, 2015, 7 the NRC staff determined that Columbia would need to submit a SPRA. The expected submittal date for Columbia is March 31, 2019.

The NRC staff has reviewed the areas that appear to have the most significant impact on the results provided in Columbia's SHSR, as well as information discussed during a public meeting held on June 4, 2015, 8 and the licensee's responses to the NRC's RAls. Based on its review of this information, the NRC staff has no further questions at this time. The staff judges that the reevaluated seismic hazard information, as documented in the SHSR, appear to be of sufficient quality and suitable for use in the development of a SPRA and in other assessments associated with Near-Term Task Force Recommendation 2.1 "Seismic".

This letter serves as a preliminary feedback to the licensee of the NRC's review of the March 2015 SHSR and the hazard's suitability for use in the SPRA. Additional confirmatory sensitivity analyses are still in progress. No further questions are expected, however, if clarification is needed to complete the review, the NRC staff will notify the licensee. The NRC staff plans to issue a staff assessment documenting its review no later than September 2016. Consistent with a letter dated December 10, 2014 9 , the NRC does not plan to re-review the seismic hazard as part of reviewing the SPRA unless significant modifications are made to the seismic hazard inputs following this staff acceptance.

If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact me at 301-415-1617 or via e-mail at Frankie.Vega@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, Frankie G. Vega, Project Manager Hazards Management Branch Japan Lessons-Learned Division Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-397 cc: Distribution via Listserv 6 The letter can be found under ADAMS Accession No. ML151138344.

7 The letter can be found under ADAMS Accession No. ML15194A015.

8 The public meeting summary can be found under ADAMS Accession No. ML15173A273.

9 The letter can be found under ADAMS Accession No. ML 1431 OA033.

ML15329A225 *via email OFFICE NRR/JLD/JHMB/PM NRR/JLD/JHMB/LA NRO/DSEA/RGS1

• NAME FVega Slent DJackson DATE 12/01/2015 11/30/2015 12/11/2015 OFFICE NRR/JLD/JHMB/BC OGC NRR/JLD/JHMB/PM NAME MS hams BHarris FVega DATE 12/18/2015 12/17/2015 12/18/2015