ML101750403
| ML101750403 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Watts Bar  |
| Issue date: | 06/30/2010 |
| From: | John Lamb Watts Bar Special Projects Branch |
| To: | Krich R Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Lamb John G./NRR/DORL, 415-3100 | |
| References | |
| TAC ME3991 | |
| Download: ML101750403 (3) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 June 30, 2010 Mr. R. M. Krich Vice President, Nuclear Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 3R Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801
SUBJECT:
WADS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 1 - ACCEPTANCE REVIEW REGARDING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT REQUEST FOR THE CONTROL ROD ASSEMBLIES (TAC NO. ME3991)
Dear Mr. Krich:
By letter dated May 28, 2010 (Agencywide Document and Access Management System Accession No. ML101540065), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) submitted a license amendment request for Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 1. The proposed amendment request would revise Technical Specification (TS) 4.2.2 "Control Rod Assemblies." The proposed change would include silver-indium-cadmium material in addition to the boron carbide control rod material.
The purpose of this letter is to provide the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff's acceptance review of this amendment request. The acceptance review was performed 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 Section 50.90 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR),
an amendment to the license (including the TSs) must fully describe the changes requested, and following as far as applicable, the form prescribed for original applications. Section 50.34 of 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.
R. M. Krich -2 The NRC staff has reviewed your application and concluded that it does provide technical information in sufficient detail to enable the staff to proceed with its detailed technical review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed amendment in terms of regulatory requirements and the protection of public health and safety and the environment. If additional information is needed for the NRC staff to complete its technical review, you will be advised by separate correspondence.
In the amendment request dated May 28,2010, TVA is requesting NRC to complete its review by March 1,2011. The NRC performance goals for licensing actions is to complete 90-percent in less than 1 year and 100-percent in less than 2 years. This is the second time in the last few months that TVA has requested NRC complete its review in less than 1 year. In TVA amendment request dated February 24,2010, regarding the one-time chiller upgrade project, you requested NRC to complete its review by December 1, 2010. I am concerned that this is becoming a pattern. I recommend that TVA plans its license amendments consistent with the NRC performance goals.
For a variety of reasons, it is very unlikely that NRC will see significant budget growth during fiscal year 2011. This reality will require the NRC staff to exercise greater self-discipline in the way the NRC manages its licensing resources to achieve its performance goals. Operating within a more constrained budget is likely to be a difficult and stressful for the NRC staff. Nonetheless, the NRC staff will endeavor to complete its review consistent with the proposed TVA schedule.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-3100.
Sincerely, t/11JY~~
G. Lamb, Senior Project Manager tts Bar Special Projects Branch Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No.: 50-390 cc: Distribution via Listserv
R. M. Krich -2 The NRC staff has reviewed your application and concluded that it does provide technical information in sufficient detail to enable the staff to proceed with its detailed technical review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed amendment in terms of regulatory requirements and the protection of public health and safety and the environment. If additional information is needed for the NRC staff to complete its technical review, you will be advised by separate correspondence.
In the amendment request dated May 28,2010, TVA is requesting NRC to complete its review by March 1, 2011. The NRC performance goals for licensing actions is to complete 90-percent in less than 1 year and 100-percent in less than 2 years. This is the second time in the last few months that TVA has requested NRC complete its review in less than 1 year. In TVA amendment request dated February 24, 2010, regarding the one-time chiller upgrade project, you requested NRC to complete its review by December 1, 2010. I am concerned that this is becoming a pattern. I recommend that TVA plans its license amendments consistent with the NRC performance goals.
For a variety of reasons, it is very unlikely that NRC will see significant budget growth during fiscal year 2011. This reality will require the NRC staff to exercise greater self-discipline in the way the NRC manages its licensing resources to achieve its performance goals. Operating within a more constrained budget is likely to be a difficult and stressful for the NRC staff. Nonetheless, the NRC staff will endeavor to complete its review consistent with the proposed TVA schedule.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-3100.
Sincerely, IRAI John G. Lamb, Senior Project Manager Watts Bar Special Projects Branch Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No.: 50-390 cc: Distribution via Listserv DISTRI BUTION:
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