ML19135A113

Acceptance Letter for Vogtle Units 3 and 4, LAR 19-006, Crediting ADS Blowdown First Three Plant Test

ML19135A113
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	05/15/2019
From:	Chandu Patel NRC/NRO/DLSE/LB2
To:	Whitley B Southern Nuclear Operating Co
patel c/nro
References
EPID L-2019-LLA-0096, LAR-19-006
Download: ML19135A113 (2)

Text

May 15, 2019 Mr. Brian H. Whitley, Director Regulatory Affairs Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

3535 Colonnade Parkway BIN B237 Birmingham, AL 35243

SUBJECT:

ACCEPTANCE REVIEW OF SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANYS REQUEST FOR LICENSE AMENDMENT FOR CREDITING PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED ADS BLOWDOWN FIRST THREE PLANT TESTS FOR THE VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT UNITS 3 AND 4 (LAR-19-006)(EPID NO. L-2019-LLA-0096)

Dear Mr. Whitley:

By letter dated April 26, 2019 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML19119A249), Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC) submitted a request for a license amendment to Combined License (COL) Numbers NPF-91 and NPF-92, for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 3 and 4, respectively. The requested amendment proposes changes to the COL Conditions and Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) in the form of departures from the incorporated plant-specific Design Control Document Tier 2* and Tier 2 information related to the design-specific pre-operational Automatic Depressurization System (ADS) Blowdown Test, listed in COL Condition 2.D.(2)(a)2 and described in UFSAR Subsections 14.2.5 and 14.2.9.1.3 as a first three plant only test. Specifically, the proposed change would revise the COL, License Condition 2.D.(2)(a)2, by removing the requirement to perform the ADS Blowdown first three plant test during preoperational testing.

The purpose of this letter is to provide the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staffs acceptance review of this request. The acceptance review was performed to determine if there is sufficient technical information in scope and depth to allow the staff to complete its detailed technical reviews. 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 the 10 CFR, an amendment to the license must fully describe the changes requested, and follow as far as applicable, the form prescribed for original applications. Section 52.79 of the 10 CFR addresses content of technical information required.

This section stipulates that the submittal addresses the design and operating characteristics, unusual or novel design features, and principal safety considerations.

The NRC staff has reviewed your application and concluded that it does provide technical information in sufficient detail to enable the staff to complete 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. Given the lesser scope and depth of the acceptance review as compared to the detailed technical review, there may be instances in which issues that impact the staffs ability to complete the detailed technical review are identified despite completion of an adequate

B. Whitley acceptance review. You will be advised of any further information needed to support the staffs detailed technical review by separate correspondence.

SNC has requested staff approval of this license amendment request by October 30, 2019. As we discussed the NRC staff intends to complete this action by October 30, 2019, unless we agree to a different date at a later time due to circumstances beyond our control. The staff estimates that it may take 360 hours15 days <br />2.143 weeks <br />0.493 months <br /> to complete this licensing action.

If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-3025 or Chandu.Patel@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Chandu Patel, Senior Project Manager Licensing Branch 2 Division of Licensing, Siting, and Environmental Analysis Office of New Reactors Docket No(s): 52-025 52-026