ML12159A597

Closeout of NRC Bulletin 2011-01, Mitigating Strategies

ML12159A597
Person / Time
Site:	Arkansas Nuclear
Issue date:	06/18/2012
From:	Kalyanam N Plant Licensing Branch IV
To:	Entergy Operations
Kalyanam N
References
TAC ME6398, TAC ME6399, BL-11-001
Download: ML12159A597 (8)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 June 18, 2012 Vice President, Operations Arkansas Nuclear One Entergy Operations, Inc.

1448 S.R. 333 Russellville, AR 72802

SUBJECT:

ARKANSAS NUCLEAR ONE, UNITS 1 AND 2 - NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BULLETIN 2011-01, "MITIGATING STRATEGIES" (TAC NOS. ME6398 AND ME6399)

Dear Sir or Madam:

On May 11, 2011, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Bulletin 2011-01, "Mitigating Strategies" (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)

Accession No. ML111250360), to all holders of operating licenses for nuclear power reactors, except those that have permanently ceased operation and have certified that fuel has been removed from the reactor vessel. The purpose of the bulletin was to obtain a comprehensive verification that licensees' mitigating strategies to maintain or restore core cooling, spent fuel cooling, and containment following a large explosion or fire were compliant with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.54(hh)(2).

The bulletin required two sets of responses pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 50.54(f). By letters dated June 10 and July 8, 2011, and supplemented by letter dated December 14, 2011 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML111610449, ML11193A138, and ML113490433, respectively),

Entergy Operations, Inc., the licensee for Arkansas Nuclear One, Units 1 and 2, provided its responses to the bulletin. Portions of the letter dated July 8, 2011, contain sensitive unclassified non-safeguards information (security-related) and have been withheld from public disclosure.

The NRC staff has reviewed the information submitted by the licensee and concludes that its response to the bulletin is acceptable. As summarized in the enclosure, the NRC staff verified that the licensee provided the information requested in the bulletin and no further information or actions under the bulletin are requested.

-2 If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-1480 or via e-mail at kaly.kalyanam@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, N. Kalyanam, Project Manager Plant licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-313 and 50-368

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/encl: Distribution via listserv

SUMMARY

OF REVIEW OF LICENSEE'S RESPONSES TO NRC BULLETIN 2011-01, "MITIGATING STRATEGIES" ENTERGY OPERATIONS, INC.

ARKANSAS NUCLEAR ONE, UNITS 1 AND 2 DOCKET NOS. 50-313-AND 50-368

1.0 INTRODUCTION

On May 11, 2011, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Bulletin 2011-01, "Mitigating Strategies" (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)

Accession No. ML111250360), to all holders of operating licenses for nuclear power reactors, except those that have permanently ceased operation and have certified that fuel has been removed from the reactor vessel. The bulletin required two sets of responses pursuant to the provisions of with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.54(f). The first responses were due 30 days after issuance of the bulletin. By letter dated June 10,2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML111610449), Entergy Operations Inc., the licensees for Arkansas Nuclear One (ANO), Units 1 and 2, provided its response to this first set of questions (first response). The second responses were due 60 days after issuance of the bulletin. By letter dated July 8, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML11193A138), the licensee provided its response to this second set of questions (second response). In response to an NRC staff request for additional information (RAI) dated November 18, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML113110769),

the licensee, by letter dated December 14, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML113490433),

provided additional information. As summarized below, the NRC staff has verified that the licensee provided the information requested in the bulletin.

2.0 BACKGROUND

On February 25, 2002, the NRC issued EA-02-026, "Order for Interim Safeguards and Security Compensatory Measures" (lCM Order) (ADAMS Accession No. ML020510635). Section B.5.b of the ICM Order required licensees to develop specific guidance and strategies to maintain or restore core cooling, containment, and spent fuel pool cooling capabilities using readily available resources (equipment and personnel) that can be effectively implemented under the circumstances associated with the loss of large areas of the plant due to explosions or fire.

By letter dated July 18, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No. ML071980041), the NRC staff issued its safety evaluation (SE) to document the final disposition of information submitted by the licensee regarding Section B.5.b of the ICM Order. Along with the SE, the staff issued a conforming license condition to incorporate the B.5.b mitigating strategies into the licensing basis.

On March 27,2009, the NRC issued 10 CFR 50.54(hh)(2) as a new rule, in order to capture the B.5.b mitigating strategies and related license conditions as regulatory requirements for both current and future licensees. At that time, licensee compliance with the conforming license Enclosure

-2 conditions was sufficient to demonstrate compliance with 10 CFR 50.54(hh)(2) (74 FR 13926; March 27, 2009) so no further actions were required on the part of current licensees.

3.0 30-DAY REQUEST In order to confirm continued compliance with 10 CFR 50.54(hh)(2), the bulletin requested that licensees address the following two questions within 30 days of issuing the bulletin:

1. Is the equipment necessary to execute the mitigating strategies, as described in your submittals to the NRC, available and capable of performing its intended function?

2. Are the guidance and strategies implemented capable of being executed considering the current configuration of your facility and current staffing and skill levels of the staff?

The NRC staff reviewed the licensee's first response to determine if it had adequately addressed these questions.

3.1 Question 1: Availability and Capability of Equipment In its first response, the licensee confirmed that equipment it needs to execute the 10 CFR 50.54(hh)(2) mitigating strategies is available and capable of performing its intended function. The NRC staff verified that this confirmation covered equipment needed for each of the three phases of B.5.b mitigation strategies. Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that the licensee has adequately responded to Question 1.

3.2 Question 2: Guidance and Strategies Can Be Executed In its first response, the licensee confirmed that the guidance and strategies it has implemented for 10 CFR 50.54(hh)(2) are capable of being executed considering the current facility configuration, staffing levels, and staff skills. Since the licensee has considered its current facility configuration, staffing levels, and staff skills, and confirmed that it can execute its implemented guidance and strategies, the NRC staff concludes that the licensee has adequately responded to Question 2.

4.0 60-DAY REQUEST The bulletin required a response to the following five questions within 60 days of issuing the bulletin:

1. Describe in detail the maintenance of equipment procured to support the strategies and guidance required by 10 CFR 50.54(hh)(2) in order to ensure that it is functional when needed.

2. Describe in detail the testing of equipment procured to support the strategies and guidance required by 10 CFR 50.54(hh)(2) in order to ensure that it will function when needed.

- 3

3. Describe in detail the controls for ensuring that the equipment is available when needed.

4. Describe in detail how configuration and guidance management is ensured so that strategies remain feasible.

5. Describe in detail how you ensure availability of offsite support.

The NRC staff reviewed licensee's submittals to determine if it had adequately addressed these questions. This was accomplished by verifying that the submittals listed equipment, training, and offsite resources that were relied upon to make conclusions in the July 18, 2007, SE or are commonly needed to implement the mitigating strategies.

4.1 Questions 1 and 2: Maintenance and Testing of Equipment Questions 1 and 2 of the 60-day request required licensees to describe in detail the maintenance and testing of equipment procured to support the strategies and guidance required by 10 CFR 50.54(hh)(2) in order to ensure that it is functional when needed. In its second response, the licensee listed the equipment used to support the 10 CFR 50.54(hh)(2) mitigating strategies which receives maintenance or testing. For each item, the licensee described the maintenance and testing performed, including the frequency and basis for the maintenance or testing activity.

The NRC staff verified that the licensee listed equipment that typically requires maintenance or testing which was relied upon to make conclusions in the SE or commonly needed to implement the mitigating strategies. In its second response, the licensee stated that the portable pump, hoses, and communications equipment receive maintenance or testing. In its response to the RAI dated December 14, 2011, the licensee stated that it will include inspection and performance testing of monitor nozzles as part of its annual testing of the B.5.b portable pump.

The NRC staff noted that refueling of the portable pump is a maintenance activity. The licensee also identified other items that support the mitigating strategies that receive maintenance or testing.

The NRC staff verified that the licensee described the process used for corrective actions and listed the testing performed to ensure that the strategies were initially feasible. The licensee stated in its response that its 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B, corrective action program is used to document equipment failure, establish priorities, and perform trending.

Based upon the above, the NRC staff concludes that the licensee has provided the information requested by Questions 1 and 2.

4.2 Question 3: Controls on Equipment Question 3 of the 60-day request required licensees to describe in detail the controls on equipment, such as inventory requirements, to ensure that the equipment is available when needed. A list of inventory deficiencies and associated corrective actions to prevent loss was also requested.

- 4 The NRC staff verified that the licensee described its process for ensuring that B.S.b equipment will be available when needed. In its second response, the licensee identified the equipment included in its inventory, the inventory frequency, storage requirements, and items verified.

Items verified include proper quantity, location, and accessibility of equipment. The licensee also stated that there were no outstanding inventory deficiencies that would render the strategies not viable.

The NRC staff verified that the licensee inventoried equipment which was relied upon to make conclusions in the SE or commonly needed to implement the mitigating strategies. In its second response, the licensee stated that procured non-permanently installed B.S.b equipment is inventoried in accordance with station procedures. The response specifically states that the following items are included in the inventory: portable pump; hoses; communications equipment; monitor nozzles; and adapters. While all the items specifically listed are inventoried quarterly, the licensee did not indicate if there was a minimum inventory frequency for equipment not specifically listed in its response. The NRC staff noted that firefighter turnout gear was not listed in the second response. In its RAI response dated December 14, 2011, the licensee stated that all equipment, tools, and instruments needed for the mitigating strategies were included in the second response. The licensee also described the inventory requirements for firefighter turnout gear in its RAI response. The NRC staff also noted that a vehicle to move the portable pump and other equipment was not listed in licensee's second response. In its RAt response dated December 14, 2011, the licensee stated that ANO has nine vehicles onsite that are capable of moving the portable pump and trailer. The licensee also identified other items that support the mitigating strategies that are inventoried.

Based upon the above, the NRC staff concludes that the licensee has provided the information requested by Question 3.

4.3 Question 4: Configuration and Guidance Management Question 4 of the 60-day request required licensees to describe in detail how configuration and guidance management is assured so that the strategies remain feasible.

The NRC staff verified that licensee described its measures to evaluate plant configuration changes for their effects on the mitigating strategies and to ensure its procedures are current.

In its second response, the licensee stated that plant configuration changes are procedurally required to be evaluated against the licensing basis, which includes the B.S.b mitigating strategies. The licensee stated that the design change process requires a review of affected procedures and that procedure changes are validated to ensure that the B.S.b mitigating strategies remain viable.

The NRC staff verified that the licensee described measures it has taken to validate the procedures or guidelines developed to support the mitigating strategies. In its second response, the licensee identified testing in response to Question 2 that demonstrated the ability to execute some strategies. The licensee also stated that "initially, B.S.b mitigating strategies were validated by walkdowns, engineering evaluations, and/or table top reviews" and they were similarly revalidated in 2011.

-5 The NRC staff verified that the licensee described the training program implemented in support of the mitigating strategies and how its effectiveness is evaluated. In response, the licensee identified the training provided to its operations personnel; emergency response organization, including key decision makers; fire brigade; security personnel; and others. The licensee also identified the frequency with which each type of training is provided and the methods for training evaluating. The description of the fire brigade training in the second response did not appear to be comprehensive since it did not include some training that was relied upon in the SE. In its RAI response dated December 14, 2011, the licensee clarified its fire brigade training and noted that each fire brigade is made up of predominantly operations personnel who receive training on the mitigating strategies.

Based upon the above, the NRC staff concludes that the licensee has provided the information requested by Question 4.

4.4 Question 5: Offsite Support Question 5 of the 60-day request required licensees to describe in detail how offsite support availability is assured.

The NRC staff verified that licensee listed the offsite organizations it relies upon for emergency response, including a description of agreements and related training. The NRC staff compared the list of offsite organizations that the licensee provided in its second response with the information relied upon to make conclusions in the SE. The licensee stated that it maintains letters and other types of agreements with these offsite organizations, which are reviewed biennially, and that these agreements were current at the time of its second response and also described the training and site familiarization it provides to these offsite organizations. The licensee stated that it reviewed its corrective action program back to 2008 and found no issues involving lapsed agreements related to offsite support for B.5.b events.

Based upon the above, the NRC staff concludes that the licensee has provided the information requested by Question 5.

5.0 CONCLUSION

As described above, the NRC staff has verified that Entergy has provided the information requested in Bulletin 2011-01. Specifically, Entergy responded to each of the questions in the bulletin as requested. The NRC staff concludes that Entergy has completed all of the requirements of the bulletin and no further information or actions under the bulletin are needed.

ML12159A597 *SE memo dated OFFICE NRRlLPL4/PM NRR/LPL4/LA NRRlDPR/PGCB/BC NRR/LPL4/BC NRR/LPL4/PM NAME NKalyanam JBurkhardt KMorganButler* MMarkley NKalyanam DATE 6/18/12 6/14/12 5/31/12 6/18/12 6/18/12