ML13198A101

Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, Request for Additional Information (TAC Nos. ME7105 and ME7106)

ML13198A101
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	07/24/2013
From:	Martin R E Plant Licensing Branch II
To:	Pierce C R Southern Nuclear Operating Co
Martin R E, NRR/DORL/LPLII-1, 415-1493
References
TAC ME7105, TAC ME7106
Download: ML13198A101 (3)

Text

UNITED NUCLEAR REGULATORY WASHINGTON. D.C. 20555*0001 July 24, 2013 Mr. C. R. Pierce Regulatory Affairs Director Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. Post Office Box 1295, Bin -038 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 -REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (TAC NOS. ME7105 AND ME7106) Dsar Mr. Pierce: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is performing a review of the License Amendment Request (LAR) dated September 1, 2011, and its supplements for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) to revise Technical Specification 3.7.9, Ultimate Heat Sink. Based on our detailed review of the LAR, please find enclosed one Request for Additional Information (RAI). The licensee's response to this RAI is needed to clarify the VEGP licensing basis for tornado missile effects on the nuclear service cooling water (NSCW) towers. Please provide the additional information at the earliest practical time but no later than thirty (30) days from the date of this letter. Sincerely, O ..Martfn, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 11-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-424 and Request for Additional cc w/encl: Distribution via REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VOTGLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 (VEGP) SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY DOCKET NOS. 50-424 AND 50-425 By letter dated September 1, 2011, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML 112450171), Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC or the licensee), submitted a license amendment request (LAR) to change the Technical Specifications (TS) for the VEGP. The amendment would revise the TS Limiting Condition for Operations for Operation 3.7.9 "Ultimate Heat Sink (UHS)." The proposed changes involve revising the criteria for the Nuclear Service Cooling Water (NSCW) tower three and four fan operation. These proposed changes include an increase in the wet bulb temperature limit for three fan operation and addition of a Condition that allows a seven-day Completion Time for a specified situation. Background Updated Final Safety Analysis (UFSAR, FSAR) Section 1.9.117.2 states that the NSCW tower fans are not missile protected. FSAR Section 3.5.3 states that tornado missile protection is not required for the NSCW tower fans. FSAR Section 9.2.5.2.4 assumes one fan is lost as a result of a tornado missile strike during hot standby. The licensee's application dated September 1, 2011, states that NUREG 1137, the safety evaluation report for the VEGP, refers to a study using site-specific Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) methodology that demonstrated that the frequency of tornado missiles disabling the UHS (2 or more fans) has a low probability of causing radiological exposure in excess of 10 CFR Part 100 guidelines. The licensee used loss of one fan due to a tornado missile strike in the supplemental letters to the license amendment request. Sections of the FSAR conflict and are not clear regarding the licensing basis for tornado missile effect on the NSCW cooling towers. The Technical Specification Bases do not state the licensing basis although the proposed license amendment accounts for loss of one fan in the operable tower due to for tornado missile effects. Request Provide FSAR and TS Bases updates that clearly defines the licensing basis for tornado missile protection and tornado missile effects on the NSCW cooling towers. Enclosure Mr. C. R. Pierce Regulatory Affairs Director Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. Post Office Box 1295, Bin -038 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 -REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (TAC NOS. ME7105 AND ME7106) Dear Mr. Pierce: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is performing a review of the License Amendment Request (LAR) dated September 1, 2011, and its supplements for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) to revise Technical Specification 3.7.9, Ultimate Heat Sink. Based on our detailed review of the LAR, please find enclosed one Request for Additional Information (RAI). The licensee's response to this RAI is needed to clarify the VEGP licensing basis for tornado missile effects on the nuclear service cooling water (NSCW) towers. Please provide the additional information at the earliest practical time but no later than thirty (30) days from the date of this letter. Sincerely, Robert E. Martin, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 11-1 Division of Operating Reactor licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-424 and 50-425 Enclosure: Request for Additional Information cc w/encl: Distribution via Listserv DISTRIBUTION PUBLIC LPL2-1 RtF RidsNrrDorlLpl2-1 Resource RidsAcrsAcnw MailCTR Resource RidsNrrDorlDpr Resource RidsRgn2MailCenter Resource RidsNrrLASFigueroa Resource RidsNrrDssStsb Resource RidsNrrPMVogtie Resource GPurciarelio NRR *B DSS/SBPB/BC GCasto