ML080220508

01/08/2008 Summary of Meeting Between the NRC Staff and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. to Discuss the Response to a Request for Additional Information Pertaining to the Vermont Yankee License Renewal

ML080220508
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	01/31/2008
From:	Rowley J NRC/NRR/ADRO/DLR/REBB
To:
Rowley J, NRR/DLR/RLRB, 415-4053
Shared Package
ML08022519	List: ML080220508
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Download: ML080220508 (10)

Text

January 31, 2008 LICENSEE: Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

FACILITY: Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station

SUMMARY

OF MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 8, 2008, BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF AND ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC., REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS THE RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION On January 8, 2008, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff (the staff) met with members of Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., (the applicant) in a public meeting to discuss the response to a request for additional information (RAI) made by the staff pertaining to the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VYNPS) license renewal application. The applicant had an opportunity to comment on this summary.

A list of attendees is provided in Enclosure 1. The meeting agenda is provided in Enclosure 2.

Comments made by the public during the meeting are provided in Enclosure 3. A copy of the slides presented by the applicant is provided as Enclosure 4. A summary of the meeting follows:

Background

In a letter dated November 27, 2007, the staff issued RAI 4.3.3-2 to the applicant. The purpose of the request was to gather additional information on the calculations used at VYNPS to reanalyze their time-limited aging analysis (TLAA) that addresses environmentally-assisted fatigue. In a letter dated December 11, 2007, the applicant provided its response to RAI 4.3.3-2 to the staff. The staff reviewed the response and further questioned the methodology described in the submittal, including the statement that shear stresses are negligible, during a conference call with the applicant on December 18, 2007.

During the call, the applicant indicated that some terminology misunderstanding may exist between the staff and Entergy. The applicant requested a face-to-face meeting to ensure that this highly technical issue could be properly and effectively communicated.

Discussion During the meeting, the applicant made a slide presentation on the revised environmental fatigue analyses of reactor vessel nozzles for license renewal at VYNPS. The applicant reiterated its response to RAI 4.3.3-2 in an attempt to clarify the terminology used and to explain the methodology that was followed. The applicant presented the analyzed vessel nozzle configurations to identify where the shear stresses in the nozzles were negligible, where they were not, and the effects on the fatigue analysis at the locations where shear stresses were not negligible.

The applicant explained that they used nozzle corner, blend radius, and inner radius interchangeably for locations with geometrical discontinuities. The applicant explained that the methodology employed incorporates the use of axisymmetric model configurations rather than an exact 3-dimensional (3-D) or 2-dimensional (2-D) modeling. They explained that axisymmetric modeling is virtually a 3-D model except that the nozzle/vessel interface is modeled as a sphere with a multiplier to the radius to account for stress effects. With the aid of colored graphs, the applicant demonstrated that for VYNPS, some shearing stresses do not need to be considered at some nozzles. The applicant also discussed the various conservatisms used in their analysis.

Conclusion Based on the interaction during the meeting, the applicant agreed to perform additional confirmatory analyses and submit the results to the staff for review. The analyses will include:

1) Performing benchmarking calculations on the VYNPS feedwater nozzle, which is the most limiting component, using the axisymmetric finite element model (FEM), taking fully into account all stress components on the nozzle and using the ANSYS FEM computer code to model all defined transients;

2) Demonstrating that the Vermont Yankee specific benchmarking calculations bound the results for the Core Spray and Recirculation outlet nozzles;

3) Calculating fatigue cumulative usage factors (CUFs) using the NRC-approved ASME Section III NB-3200 methodology; and

4) Comparing the resulting CUFs to the previous environmental assisted fatigue calculations to establish whether the previous calculations are adequate.

/RA/

Jonathan G. Rowley, Project Manager Projects Branch 2 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-271

Enclosures:

As stated cc w/encls: See next page

Pkg ML080220519; Ltr&Encl 1&2: ML080220508; Encl 3: ML080290250; Encl 4: ML080100282 OFFICE LA:DLR PM:RPB2:DLR BC:RPB2:DLR NAME SFigueroa JRowley RFranovich DATE 01/24/08/ 01/31/08 01/31/08

Memorandum to Entergy from J. Rowley, dated January 31, 2008 DISTRIBUTION:

SUMMARY

OF MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 8, 2008, BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF AND ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC., REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS THE RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION HARD COPY:

DLR RF E-MAIL:

PUBLIC SSmith (srs3)

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JRowley RLaufer JShea RPowell, RI DScrenci, RI MModes, RI DPelton, SRI MYoung RidsOpaMail

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station cc:

Regional Administrator, Region I Ms. Carla A. White, RRPT, CHP U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Radiological Health 475 Allendale Road Vermont Department of Health King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415 P.O. Box 70, Drawer #43 108 Cherry Street Mr. David R. Lewis Burlington, VT 05402-0070 Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman, LLP 2300 N Street, N.W. Mr. David Mannai Washington, DC 20037-1128 Manager, Licensing Entergy Nuclear Operations Mr. David OBrien, Commissioner Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Vermont Department of Public Service P.O. Box 500 112 State Street 185 Old Ferry Road Montpelier, VT 05620-2601 Brattleboro, VT 05302-0500 Mr. James Volz, Chairman Resident Inspector Public Service Board Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station State of Vermont U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 112 State Street P.O. Box 176 Montpelier, VT 05620-2701 Vernon, VT 05354 Chairman, Board of Selectmen Director, Massachusetts Emergency Town of Vernon Management Agency P.O. Box 116 ATTN: James Muckerheide Vernon, VT 05354-0116 400 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01702-5399 Operating Experience Coordinator Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Jonathan M. Block, Esq.

320 Governor Hunt Road Main Street Vernon, VT 05354 P.O. Box 566 Putney, VT 05346-0566 G. Dana Bisbee, Esq.

Deputy Attorney General Mr. John F. McCann 33 Capitol Street Director, Licensing Concord, NH 03301-6937 Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

440 Hamilton Avenue Chief, Safety Unit White Plains, NY 10601 Office of the Attorney General One Ashburton Place, 19th Floor Mr. John T. Herron Boston, MA 02108 Sr. Vice President Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

1340 Echelon Parkway Jackson, MS 39213

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station cc:

Mr. Oscar Limpias Mr. Norman L. Rademacher Vice President, Engineering Director, NSA Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station 1340 Echelon Parkway P.O. Box 0500 185 Old Ferry Road Jackson, MS 39213 Brattleboro, VT 05302-0500 Mr. Christopher Schwartz Vice President, Operations Support Mr. Raymond Shadis Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. New England Coalition 440 Hamilton Avenue Post Office Box 98 White Plains, NY 10601 Edgecomb, ME 04556 Mr. Michael J. Colomb Mr. James P. Matteau Director of Oversight Executive Director Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. Windham Regional Commission 440 Hamilton Avenue 139 Main Street, Suite 505 White Plains, NY 10601 Brattleboro, VT 05301 Mr. William C. Dennis Mr. William K. Sherman Assistant General Counsel Vermont Department of Public Service Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. 112 State Street 440 Hamilton Avenue Drawer 20 White Plains, NY 10601 Montpelier, VT 05620-2601 Mr. Theodore Sullivan Mr. Michael D. Lyster Site Vice President 5931 Barclay Lane Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. Naples, FL 34110-7306 Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station P.O. Box 500 Diane Curran, Esq.

185 Old Ferry Road Harmon, Curran, Spielberg &

Brattleboro, VT 05302-0500 Eisenberg, L.L.P 1726 M Street, NW, Suite 600 Mr. James H. Sniezek Washington, DC 20036 5486 Nithsdale Drive Salisbury, MD 21801 Ronald A. Shems, Esq.

Shems, Dunkiel, Kassel & Saunders, PLLC Mr. Garrett D. Edwards 91 College Street 814 Waverly Road Burlington, VT 05401 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Karen Tyler, Esq.

Ms. Stacey M. Lousteau Shems, Dunkiel, Kassel & Saunders, PLLC Treasury Department 91 College Street Entergy Services, Inc. Burlington, VT 05401 639 Loyola Avenue New Orleans, LA 70113

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station cc:

Sarah Hofmann, Esq.

Director of Public Advocacy Department of Public Service 112 State Street - Drawer 20 Montpelier, VT 05620-2601 Jennifer J. Patterson, Esq.

Office of the New Hampshire Attorney General 33 Capitol Street Concord, NH 03301 Matias F. Travieso-Diaz, Esq.

Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman, LLP 2300 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20037-1128 Matthew Brock, Esq.

Assistant Attorney General Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General Environmental Protection Division One Ashburton Place, Room 1813 Boston, MA 02108-1598 Anthony Z. Roisman, Esq.

National Legal Scholars Law Firm 84 East Thetford Road Lyme, NH 03768 John Sipos, Assistant Attorney General Office of the Attorney General The Capitol State Street Albany, NY 12224

MEETING BETWEEN THE NRC STAFF AND ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC.

VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION 6003 EXECUTIVE BOULEVARD ROOM EBB1B15 ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND MEETING ATTENDANCE LIST JANUARY 8, 2008 PARTICIPANTS AFFILIATIONS Jonathan Rowley U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Samson Lee NRC John Fair NRC Kenneth Chang NRC PT Kuo NRC Rani Franovich NRC Robert Sun NRC Qi Gan NRC Kaihwa Hsu NRC Ricardo Rodriguez NRC Mary Baty NRC Perry Buckberg NRC Evelyn Gettys NRC Yeon-Ki Chung NRC Peter Wen NRC On Yee NRC Gary Hammer NRC David Mannai Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Entergy)

John McCann Entergy Jay Thayer Entergy Matias Travieso-Diaz Entergy Michael Metell Entergy Garry Young Entergy Enclosure 1

PARTICIPANTS AFFILIATIONS Norm Rademacher Entergy Alan Cox Entergy James Fitzpatrick Entergy Scott Goodwin Entergy John Dreyfuss Entergy Joe Hopenfeld New England Coalition (NEC)

David Lochbaum Union of concerned Scientist THE FOLLOWING PARTICIPATED VIA TELEPHONE BRIDGELINE Sarah Hoffman Vermont Department of Public Service John Sipos New York Office of the Attorney General Paul Eddy New York Office of the Attorney General Joan Leary Matthews New York Office of the Attorney General Blaise Constantakes New York Office of the Attorney General Rudolf Hausler New York Office of the Attorney General Raymond Shadis NEC Claire Chang NEC Ulrich Witte NEC Ed Anthes Nuclear Free Vermont Rich Schaller Strategic Teaming and Resource Sharing Chalmer Myer Southern Nuclear Operating Company Bob Audette The Brattleboro Reformer Susan Smallheer The Rutland Herald Sally Shaw Fred Mogolesko Entergy

MEETING BETWEEN THE NRC STAFF AND ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC.

VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION 6003 EXECUTIVE BOULEVARD ROOM EBB1B15 ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND AGENDA JANUARY 8, 2008 I. Introduction and Opening Remarks 10 minutes II. Discussion of Response to Request for Additional Information 80 minutes (Response to RAI 4.3.3-2)

III. Public Comments 30 minutes IV. Adjourn Enclosure 2