ML081650217

Request for Additional Information, Review of License Renewal Application

ML081650217
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	06/23/2008
From:	Gettys E NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR
To:	Mckinney B Susquehanna
Gettys Evelyn, NRR/DLR/RLRA 415-4029
References
Download: ML081650217 (7)

Text

June 23, 2008 Mr. Britt T. McKinney Sr. Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 Berwick, PA 18603-0467

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE REVIEW OF THE SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION

Dear Mr. McKinney:

By letter dated September 13, 2006, PPL Susquehanna, LLC submitted an application pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 54 (10 CFR Part 54), to renew the operating licenses for Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2, for review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the staff). The staff is reviewing the information contained in the license renewal application and has identified, in the enclosure, areas where additional information is needed to complete the review. Further requests for additional information may be issued in the future.

Items in the enclosure were discussed with Duane Filchner, and a mutually agreeable date for the response is within 30 days from the date of this letter. If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-4029 or e-mail evelyn.gettys@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

\RA\

Evelyn Gettys, Project Manager Project Branch 1 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-387 and 50-388

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/encl: See next page

June 23, 2008 Mr. Britt T. McKinney Sr. Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 Berwick, PA 18603-0467

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE REVIEW OF THE SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION

Dear Mr. McKinney:

By letter dated September 13, 2006, PPL Susquehanna, LLC submitted an application pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 54 (10 CFR Part 54), to renew the operating licenses for Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2, for review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the staff). The staff is reviewing the information contained in the license renewal application and has identified, in the enclosure, areas where additional information is needed to complete the review. Further requests for additional information may be issued in the future.

Items in the enclosure were discussed with Duane Filchner, and a mutually agreeable date for the response is within 30 days from the date of this letter. If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-4029 or e-mail evelyn.gettys@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

\RA\

Evelyn Gettys, Project Manager Project Branch 1 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-387 and 50-388

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/encl: See next page DISTRIBUTION: See next page ADAMS Accession Number: ML081650217 OFFICE LA:DLR PM:RPB1:DLR PM:RER1:DLR BC: RPB1:DLR NAME SFigueora EGettys KChang BPham (JMedoff for)

DATE 6/16/08 6/17/08 6/19/08 6/23/08 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RAI B.2.2B01:

The LRA states that AMP B.2.2, BWR Water Chemistry, is an existing program that is consistent with the GALL Report. However, on-site documentation identifies the following differences from recommendations in (Electric Power Research Institute) EPRI TR-103515, BWR Water Chemistry Guidelines, which is a basis for the GALL Report AMP XI.M2, Water Chemistry:

1) EPRI TR-103515 recommends continuous monitoring of local electrochemical corrosion potential (ECP) during reactor power operation (>10% rated power). However, in lieu of monitoring for ECP, SSES currently relies on monitoring of dissolved oxygen for indication of relevant conditions for corrosion.

2) EPRI TR-103515 recommends weekly monitoring of conductivity, chlorides, and sulfate in the Condensate Storage Tank (CST). However, SSES currently measures conductivity, chlorides and sulfate in the CST on a monthly basis.

Please provide a technical justification as to why these deviations from recommendations in EPRI TR-103515 are acceptable. Also, please provide an explanation of why these deviations are not considered to be exceptions to the recommendations in the GALL Report.

RAI B.2.2-02:

In review of on-site documentation related to water chemistry operating experience, the staff noted that SSES has a history of corrective action reports and actions related to high sulfate levels in reactor water following refueling outages. Please provide a discussion of SSESs activities related to understanding and mitigating this chemistry program issue and include the cause of the problem, corrective actions taken and comparison of SSES performance with other BWRs having similar condensate demineralizers. Please include how long the high sulfate levels were in affect before the level was reduced to acceptable concentrations.

RAI B.2.20B01:

The LRA takes an exception to recommendations in the GALL Report for AMP XI.M30, Fuel Oil Chemistry program element, monitoring and trending, which recommends that water and biological activity or particulate contamination concentrations be monitored and trended in accordance with the plants technical specifications or at least quarterly. The exception is that SSES uses an annual frequency to sample fuel oil for biological activity. SSES technical specifications for the Diesel Fuel Oil Testing Program state that the program shall include sampling and testing requirements and acceptance criteria, following the guidelines of the applicable American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standards.

a) What ASTM standard is used by SSES to establish the frequency for monitoring fuel oil for biological activity?

b) If there is no applicable ASTM standard or the applicable standard is not being used, then please provide the basis for the current sampling frequency and provide a technical justification that the current sampling schedule for biological activity in the fuel oil, which is less frequent than recommended in the GALL Report, provides adequate aging management during the period of extended operation.

RAI B.2.22B01:

In the LRAs description of the monitoring and trending program element for the AMP B.2.22 Chemistry Program Effectiveness Inspection, reference is made to future engineering evaluations to determine sample size and components to be examined by this one-time inspection program.

a) Please describe the methodology that will be used to select sample sizes and sample locations for various components included in the Chemistry Program Effectiveness Inspection.

b) Please explain what methodology or basis will be used to determine the sample size if unanticipated aging effects are found.

RAI B.22-02:

In the acceptance criteria of the GALL Report AMP XI.M32 states that any indication or relevant conditions of degradation detected are evaluated. LRA Selection B.2.22 states that the acceptance criterion of the Chemistry Program Effectiveness Inspection will be no unacceptable loss of material or cracking of stainless steel exposed to temperatures above 140 deg-F, that could result in a loss of component intended function during the period of extended operation, as determined by engineering evaluation. Please explain why the acceptance criteria for B.2.22 differ from the recommendations of the GALL Report and clarify what no unacceptable loss of material or cracking means.

Susquehanna Steam Electric Units 1 and 2 cc:

Cornelius J. Gannon Michael H. Rose Vice President - Nuclear Operations Manager - Quality Assurance PPL Susquehanna, LLC PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB2 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Robert M. Paley Joseph J. Scopelliti General Manager - Plant Support Community Relations Manager, PPL Susquehanna, LLC Susquehanna 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB2 PPL Susquehanna, LLC Berwick, PA 18603-0467 634 Salem Blvd., SSO Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Rocco R. Sgarro Manager - Nuclear Regulatory Affairs Bryan A. Snapp, Esq.

PPL Susquehanna, LLC Associate General Counsel Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 PPL Services Corporation Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Two North Ninth Street, GENTW3 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Supervisor - Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC Document Control Services 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSA4 PPL Susquehanna, LLC Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Michael H. Crowthers Supervisor - Nuclear Regulatory Affairs Richard W. Osborne PPL Susquehanna, LLC Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 212 Locust Street Allentown, PA 18101-1179 P.O. Box 1266 Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266 Ronald E. Smith General Manager - Site Preparedness Director, Bureau of Radiation Protection and Services Pennsylvania Department of PPL Susquehanna, LLC Environmental Protection 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSA4 Rachel Carson State Office Building Berwick, PA 18603-0467 P.O. Box 8469 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8469 Regional Administrator, Region 1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Senior Resident Inspector 475 Allendale Road U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission King of Prussia, PA 19406 P.O. Box 35, NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0035

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Units 1 and 2 cc:

Board of Supervisors Salem Township P.O. Box 405 Berwick, PA 18603-0035 Dr. Judith Johnsrud National Energy Committee Sierra Club 443 Orlando Avenue State College, PA 16803

Letter to B. McKinney from E. Gettys, dated June 23, 2008 DISTRIBUTION:

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE REVIEW OF THE SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2, LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION HARD COPY:

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