ML032970522

Determination of Acceptability and Sufficiency for Docketing, and Proposed Review Schedule, Regarding the Application from Southern Nuclear Operating Company for Renewal of the Operating Licenses for Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2

ML032970522
Person / Time
Site:	Farley
Issue date:	10/24/2003
From:	Kuo P NRC/NRR/DRIP/RLEP
To:	Beasley J Southern Nuclear Operating Co
Kuo PT, NRR/DRIP/RLEP, 415-1183
References
Download: ML032970522 (8)

Text

October 24, 2003 Mr. J. B. Beasley, Jr.

Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company Post Office Box 1295 Birmingham, Alabama 35201

SUBJECT:

DETERMINATION OF ACCEPTABILITY AND SUFFICIENCY FOR DOCKETING, AND PROPOSED REVIEW SCHEDULE, REGARDING THE APPLICATION FROM SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY FOR RENEWAL OF THE OPERATING LICENSES FOR FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2

Dear Mr. Beasley:

On September 15, 2003, the staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) received the application for renewal of Operating Licenses NPF-2 and NPF-8 for Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, respectively. Notice of receipt and availability of this application was published in the Federal Register on October 6, 2003 (68 FR 57715).

The NRC staff has determined that the Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC) has submitted sufficient information that is acceptable for docketing, in accordance with 10 CFR 54.19, 54.21, 54.22, 54.23, and 51.53(c). However, the staffs determination does not preclude requests for additional information as the review proceeds.

This letter forwards the staffs safety and environmental review schedule for the subject application (Enclosure 1). The NRC staff will follow established review procedures and the enclosed schedule to complete the safety and environmental reviews required by 10 CFR Parts 54 and 51, respectively. This schedule has been established in accordance with a 30-month review plan, which includes time to conduct a hearing should a hearing be requested and granted. Milestones for hearing activities are not included in the enclosed schedule because these dates are established by the Commission and the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.

I would like to stress that this is a very ambitious schedule. Nevertheless, the NRC staff will make every effort to meet the goal of schedule. We request that you inform the staff as early as possible should potential delays arise in your support of the schedule.

Finally, we have also enclosed, for your information, a copy of the notice relating to your application that is being sent to the Office of the Federal Register for publication (Enclosure 2).

We will publish a separate notice at a later date, in accordance with the provisions of 10 CFR 2.105, regarding the opportunity to request a hearing and to file a petition for leave to intervene.

October 24, 2003 If you have any questions on this matter, please contact Tilda Liu, License Renewal Project Manager for Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant application, at 301-415-1315 or e-mail tyl1@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, Samson Lee for /RA/

Pao-Tsin Kuo, Program Director License Renewal and Environmental Impacts Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-348 and 50-364

Enclosures:

As stated cc w/encls: See next page

October 24, 2003 If you have any questions on this matter, please contact Tilda Liu, License Renewal Project Manager for Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant application, at 301-415-1315 or e-mail tyl1@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, Samson Lee for /RA/

Pao-Tsin Kuo, Program Director License Renewal and Environmental Impacts Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-348 and 50-364

Enclosures:

As stated cc w/encls: See next page DISTRIBUTION:

See next page Accession No: ML032970522 Document Name: C:\ORPCheckout\FileNET\ML032970522.wpd OFFICE LA:RLEP RLEP:Intern PM:RLEP OGC SC:RLEP PD:RLEP NAME MJenkins BLee TLiu MLemoncelli SLee PTKuo /SLee for DATE 10/20/03 10/20/03 10/20/03 10/22/03 10/24/03 10/24/03 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

DISTRIBUTION: Dated: October 24, 2003 Accession No: ML032970522 HARD COPY RLEP RF TLiu (PM)

FRinaldi CHawes E-MAIL:

PUBLIC J. Craig D. Matthews F. Gillespie R. Barrett C. Grimes RidsNrrDe E. Imbro G. Bagchi K. Manoly W. Bateman J. Calvo R. Jenkins P. Shemanski H. Nieh S. Black B. Boger D. Thatcher G. Galletti C. Li J. Moore M. Mayfield A. Murphy S. Smith (srs3)

S. Duraiswamy Y. (Renee) Li RLEP Staff C. Julian (R-II)

T. Johnson (R-II)

D. Cummings (OGC)

J. Cushing OPA B. Jain L. Whitney

7590-01-P UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY (SNC)

JOSEPH M. FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE FOR DOCKETING OF THE APPLICATION REGARDING RENEWAL OF FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NOS. NPF-2 AND NPF-8 FOR AN ADDITIONAL 20-YEAR PERIOD DOCKET NOS. 50-348 AND 50-364 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) is considering an application for the renewal of Operating License Nos. NPF-2 and NPF-8, which authorize the Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC) to operate Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, at 2775 megawatts thermal. The renewed licenses would authorize the applicant to operate Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, for an additional 20-years beyond the period specified in the current licenses. The current operating licenses for Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, will expire on June 25, 2017, and March 31, 2021, respectively.

On September 15, 2003, the Commissions staff received an application from the SNC, filed pursuant to 10 CFR Part 54, to renew the Operating License Nos. NPF-2 and NPF-8 for Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2. A Notice of Receipt and Availability of the license renewal application, Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant; Notice of Receipt and Availability of Application for Renewal of Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-2 and NPF-8 for an Additional 20-Year Period, was published in the Federal Register on October 6, 2003 (68 FR 57715).

The Commissions staff has determined that SNC has submitted information in accordance with 10 CFR 54.19, 54.21, 54.22, 54.23, and 51.53(c) that is sufficiently complete and acceptable for docketing. The current Docket Nos. 50-348 and 50-364 for Operating License Nos. NPF-2 and NPF-8, respectively, will be retained. The Commissions staff will perform a detailed technical review of the application. The docketing of the renewal application does not preclude requesting additional information as the review proceeds, nor does it predict whether the Commission will grant or deny the application.

Before issuance of each requested renewed license, the NRC will have made the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the NRCs rules and regulations. In accordance with 10 CFR 54.29, the NRC will issue a renewed license on the basis of its review if it finds that actions have been identified and have been or will be taken with respect to (1) managing the effects of aging during the period of extended operation on the functionality of structures and components that have been identified as requiring aging management review, and (2) time-limited aging analyses that have been identified as requiring review, such that there is reasonable assurance that the activities authorized by the renewed license will continue to be conducted in accordance with the current licensing basis (CLB), and that any changes made to the plant*s CLB comply with the Act and the Commissions regulations.

Additionally, in accordance with 10 CFR 51.95(c), the NRC will prepare an environmental impact statement that is a supplement to the Commissions NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants, dated May 1996. Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.26, and as part of the environmental scoping process, the staff intends to hold a public scoping meeting. Detailed information regarding this meeting will be included in a future Federal Register notice. The Commission also intends to hold public

meetings to discuss the license renewal process and the schedule for conducting the review.

The Commission will provide prior notice of these meetings.

Finally, the Commission will announce in a future Federal Register notice, in accordance with the provisions of 10 CFR 2.105, the opportunity to request a hearing and to file a petition for leave to intervene.

Detailed information about the license renewal process can be found under the Nuclear Reactors icon on the NRCs Web page at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal.html. A copy of the application to renew the operating licenses for Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, is available for public inspection at the Commission*s Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland, 20855-2738, and on the NRCs Web page at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/farley.html while the application is under review. The NRC maintains an Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS), which provides text and image files of NRCs public documents. A copy of the application to renew the operating licenses for Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, is also available electronically through the NRCs Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html under ADAMS Accession Number ML032721356. Persons who do not have access to ADAMS, or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, should contact the NRC Public Document Room (PDR) Reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737 or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov.

The staff has verified that a copy of the license renewal application for the Joseph M.

Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, is also available to local residents near the Farley Nuclear Plant at the Houston Love Memorial Library, 212 West Burdeshaw Street, Dothan, Alabama 36303-4421.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of October 2003.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

/RA/

Samson S. Lee, Acting Program Director License Renewal and Environmental Impacts Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant cc:

Mr. Don E. Grissette Mr. Charles R. Pierce General Manager - Plant Farley Manager - License Renewal Southern Nuclear Operating Company Southern Nuclear Operating Company Post Office Box 470 Post Office Box 1295 Ashford, Alabama 36312 Birmingham, Alabama 35201 Mr. B. D. McKinney Mr. Fred Emerson Licensing Manager Nuclear Energy Institute Southern Nuclear Operating Company 1776 I Street, N.W., Suite 400 Post Office Box 1295 Washington, DC 20006-3708 Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295 Mr. M. Stanford Blanton Balch and Bingham Law Firm Post Office Box 306 1710 Sixth Avenue North Birmingham, Alabama 35201 Mr. J. D. Woodard Executive Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company Post Office Box 1295 Birmingham, Alabama 35201 State Health Officer Alabama Department of Public Health 434 Monroe Street Montgomery, Alabama 36130-1701 Chairman Houston County Commission Post Office Box 6406 Dothan, Alabama 36302 Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 7388 N. State Highway 95 Columbia, Alabama 36319

Farley License Renewal Application Review Schedule October 24, 2003 Milestone Schedule Actual Receive license renewal application 9/15/03 9/15/03 FRN published for receipt and availability 10/6/03 10/6/03 FRN published for acceptance/rejection 10/30/03 FRN published for opportunity for hearing 11/7/03 Scoping and screening methodology audit complete 11/21/03 FRN published for intent/environmental scoping meeting 12/5/03 Deadline for filing hearing requests and petitions for intervention 12/8/03 Environmental scoping meeting 1/8/04 Environmental scoping period ends 2/6/04 Environmental requests for additional information (RAIs) issued 2/25/04 Environmental RAIs responses received 4/14/04 Draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) issued 8/13/04 Public meeting to discuss draft SEIS 9/23/04 Safety evaluation report (SER) with open items issued 10/15/04 End of draft SEIS comment period 11/5/04 ACRS Subcommittee meeting on SER with open items 12/04 SER open items responses received 12/17/04 Final SEIS issued 3/25/05 SER issued 4/8/05 ACRS Full Committee meeting on SER 6/05 ACRS letter issued 6/05 Staff recommendation to Director, NRR 7/8/05 Decision - Director, NRR (license issued, if approved) 7/15/05 Enclosure 1