ML082480100

Acceptance of Requested Licensing Action Relief Request and Supporting Amendment to Extend the Third 10-Year Inservice Inspection Interval for Reactor Vessel Weld Examination

ML082480100
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	09/19/2008
From:	Mahesh Chawla Plant Licensing Branch III
To:	Entergy Nuclear Operations
Chawla M, NRR/DORL, 415-8371
References
TAC MD9265, TAC MD9266
Download: ML082480100 (4)

Text

September 19, 2008 Vice President, Operations Entergy Nuclear Operations Palisades Nuclear Plant 27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway Covert, MI 49043-9530

SUBJECT:

PALISADES PLANT - ACCEPTANCE OF REQUESTED LICENSING ACTION RE: RELIEF REQUEST AND SUPPORTING AMENDMENT TO EXTEND THE THIRD 10-YEAR INSERVICE INSPECTION INTERVAL FOR REACTOR VESSEL WELD EXAMINATION (TAC NOS. MD9265 AND MD9266)

Dear Sir or Madam:

By letters dated July 21, 2008 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML082040342), Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (ENO) submitted a relief request (RR) and a supporting license amendment request (LAR) (ADAMS Accession No.

ML082030796) for the Palisades Plant. The proposed RR would extend the third inservice inspection interval, for reactor vessel pressure retaining welds, examination category B-A and B-D, until December 12, 2015. The supporting LAR would add a new license condition that would direct ENO to submit the information and analyses requested in Section (e) of the final Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.61a (or the proposed 10 CFR 50.61a, given in 72 FR 56275 prior to issuance of the final 10 CFR 50.61a) to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

The purpose of this letter is to provide the results of the NRC staff=s acceptance review of these requests. 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. NRC letter dated August 19, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No.

ML082210210), requested supplemental information needed for acceptance of requested licensing action.

Consistent with Section 50.90 of 10 CFR, an amendment to the license (including the technical specifications) 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.

Pursuant to Sections 50.55a(a)(3)(i) and 50.55a(a)(3)(ii) of 10 CFR, the applicant shall demonstrate that the proposed alternatives would provide an acceptable level of quality and safety, or that compliance with the specified requirements of Section 50.55a would result in hardship or unusual difficulty without a compensating increase in the level of quality or safety.

The NRC staff has reviewed your application and the supplemental information provided in your letter dated August 14, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML082540053), and concluded that it

Vice President, Operations 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 staff to complete its technical review, you will be advised by separate correspondence. If you have any questions, please contact me, at (301) 415-8371.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Mahesh L. Chawla, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch III-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-255 cc: See next page

ML082480100 OFFICE DORL/LPL3-1/PM DORL/LPL3-1/LA NRR/DCI/CVI/BC DORL/LPL3-1/BC NAME MChawla BTully MMitchell LJames DATE 09/ 11 /08 09/ 10 /08 09/ 11 /08 09/ 19 /08

Palisades Plant cc:

Supervisor Senior Vice President and COO Covert Township Entergy Nuclear Operations P. O. Box 35 440 Hamilton Avenue Covert, MI 49043 White Plains, NY 10601 Office of the Governor Assistant General Counsel P. O. Box 30013 Entergy Nuclear Operations Lansing, MI 48909 440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Resident Inspector's Office Manager, Licensing Palisades Plant Entergy Nuclear Operations 27782 Blue Star Memorial Highway Palisades Nuclear Plant Covert, MI 49043 27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway Covert, MI 49043-9530 Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Waste and Hazardous Materials Division Radiological Protection Section Radiological Assessment Unit Constitution Hall, Lower-Level North 525 West Allegan Street P.O. Box 30241 Lansing, MI 48909-7741 Michigan Department of Attorney General Special Litigation Division 525 West Ottawa St.

Sixth Floor, G. Mennen Williams Building Lansing, MI 48913 Senior Vice President Entergy Nuclear Operations P. O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1995 Vice President Oversight Entergy Nuclear Operations P. O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1995 Senior Manager, Nuclear Safety

& Licensing Entergy Nuclear Operations P. O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1995