ML092610030

Request for Additional Information (RAI) in Regards to the Vermont Yankee Responses to Generic Letter 2008-01, Managing Gas Accumulation in Emergency Core Cooling, Decay Heat Removal, and Containment Spray Systems.

ML092610030
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	09/23/2009
From:	James Kim Plant Licensing Branch 1
To:	Entergy Nuclear Operations
kim j
References
GL-08-001, TAC MD7891
Download: ML092610030 (4)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 Site Vice President Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station P.O. Box 250 Governor Hunt Road Vernon, VT 05354

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI) IN REGARD TO THE VERMONT YANKEE RESPONSES TO GENERIC LETTER 2008-01, "MANAGING GAS ACCUMULATION IN EMERGENCY CORE COOLING, DECAY HEAT REMOVAL, AND CONTAINMENT SPRAY SYSTEMS" (TAC NO. MD7891)

Dear Sir or Madam:

By letters dated April 10, 2008, October 14, 2008, and January 28, 2009 (References 3-5),

Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., the licensee for Vermont Yankee (VY) Nuclear Power Station, provided responses to Generic Letter (GL) 2008-01. On the basis of the provided information, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has concluded that additional information is required from the licensee to determine that the licensee has acceptably demonstrated "that the subject systems are in compliance with the current licensing and design bases and applicable regulatory requirements, and that suitable design, operational, and testing control measures are in place for maintaining this compliance" as stated in GL 2008-01.

The specific questions are found in the enclosed request for additional information (RAI). A response to this RAI is requested to be provided within 30 calendar days.

Sincerely,

~

~

. ?-

Jam' s Kim, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 1-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-271

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/encl: Distribution via ListServ

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Guidance on NRC staff expectations is provided by Reference 1 which is generally consistent with Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) guidance provided to industry in Reference 2 as clarified in later NEI communications. The NRC staff recommends that the licensee consult Reference 1 when responding to the following RAls:

1. In Reference 4, Vermont Yankee states that the periodicity of venting of the High Pressure Coolant Injection (HPCI) suction and discharge piping and the Core Spray (CS) and Residual Heat Removal (RHR) suction piping will be established based on the results of venting operations.

What venting operations will be done, and what criteria will determine the venting periodicity?

2. Do the Technical Specification Surveillance Requirements for venting include piping associated with all modes of RHR, specifically Shutdown Cooling, Suppression Pool Cooling, and Containment Spray Cooling? If not, what process will be used to determine if voids exist in this piping, and with what periodicity will this process be performed?

3. The gas concern covers all conditions where operability is necessary to maintain safe operation. It is not limited to design-basis accidents or maintaining safe shutdown.

Therefore, address all conditions where operability is necessary to maintain safe operation. Note this includes shutdown operation.

4. Describe the method(s) used to determine void volume. Will voids be sized prior to venting? If so, how will these data be recorded and tracked?

5. What testing is done after venting to verify gas was removed and to ensure gas was not transported into a high point that was previously found to be gas-free?

6. What measures are in place to guard against inadvertent draining or incorrect maintenance procedures that could result in gas intrusion? What measures are in place to guard against gas intrusion during system realignments or other evolutions?

7. How do you control and revise work packages because of changes in maintenance work scope, including review and reauthorization of the packages and any new temporary procedures, to ensure that gas intrusion issues are considered?

8. Training was not identified in the GL but is considered to be a necessary part of applying procedures and other activities when addressing the issues identified in the GL. Briefly discuss training.

Enclosure

-2 REFERENCES

1. Ruland, William H., "Preliminary Assessment of Responses to Generic Letter 2008-01,

'Managing Gas Accumulation in Emergency Core Cooling, Decay Heat Removal, and Containment Spray Systems,' and Future NRC Staff Review Plans," NRC letter to James H.

Riley, Nuclear Energy Institute, ML091390637, May 28, 2009.

2. Riley, James H., "Generic Letter (GL) 2008-01, 'Managing Gas Accumulation in Emergency Core Cooling, Decay Heat Removal, and Contain Spray Systems' Evaluation and 3 Month Response Template," Letter to Administrative Points of Contact from Director, Engineering, Nuclear Generation Division, Nuclear Energy Institute, Enclosure 2, "Generic Letter 2008-01 Response Guidance," March 20, 2008.

3. Sullivan, Ted A., "Vermont Yankee Three Month Response to Generic Letter 2008-01," Site Vice President, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, ML081120227, April 10, 2008.

4. Sullivan, Ted A., "Vermont Yankee Nine-Month Response to Generic Letter 2008-01," Site Vice President, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, ML082910292, October 14, 2008.

5. Colomb, Michael J., "Vermont Yankee Supplemental Response to Generic Letter 2008-01,"

Site Vice President, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, ML090370418, January 28, 2009.

September 23, 2009 Site Vice President Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station P.O. Box 250 Governor Hunt Road Vernon, VT 05354

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI) IN REGARD TO THE VERMONT YANKEE RESPONSES TO GENERIC LETTER 2008-01, "MANAGING GAS ACCUMULATION IN EMERGENCY CORE COOLING, DECAY HEAT REMOVAL, AND CONTAINMENT SPRAY SYSTEMS" (TAC NO. MD7891)

Dear Sir or Madam:

By letters dated April 10, 2008, October 14, 2008, and January 28,2009 (References 3-5),

Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., the licensee for Vermont Yankee (VY) Nuclear Power Station, provided responses to Generic Letter (GL) 2008-01. On the basis of the provided information, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has concluded that additional information is required from the licensee to determine that the licensee has acceptably demonstrated "that the subject systems are in compliance with the current licensing and design bases and applicable regulatory requirements, and that suitable design, operational, and testing control measures are in place for maintaining this compliance" as stated in GL 2008-01.

The specific questions are found in the enclosed request for additional information (RAI). A response to this RAI is requested to be provided within 30 calendar days.

Sincerely, IRA!

James Kim, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 1-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-271

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/encl: Distribution via ListServ DISTRIBUTION:

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