ML070190558
| ML070190558 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Comanche Peak, PROJ0754  |
| Issue date: | 01/19/2007 |
| From: | Lesser M NRC/RGN-II/DCI |
| To: | Blevins M TXU Power |
| References | |
| Download: ML070190558 (7) | |
Text
January 19, 2007 Mr. Mike Blevins, Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer TXU Power ATTN: Regulatory Affairs Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station P.O. Box 1002 Glen Rose, TX 76043
SUBJECT:
SITE VISIT TO COMANCHE PEAK NUCLEAR PLANT SITE TO OBSERVE COMBINED LICENSE PRE-APPLICATION SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES (PROJECT NO. 754)
Dear Mr. Blevins:
On December 12 - 13, 2006, a Region II Inspector conducted a site visit to the Comanche Peak Nuclear Plant site accompanied by members of the Office of New Reactors (NRO) staff. The purpose of the visit was to observe Combined License (COL) pre-application subsurface investigation activities being conducted to obtain geotechnical/seismic data to support a COL application for new nuclear power plants. These observations will provide background information for NRCs future review of the expected COL application for the Comanche Peak site.
Enclosed is a summary of the site visit, that includes a list of NRC participants and persons with whom discussions were held.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Mark S. Lesser, Chief Construction Inspection Branch 1 Division of Construction Inspection Project No. 754
Enclosure:
As stated cc w/encl: (See next page)
TXU 2
cc w/encl:
Mr. Charles Brinkman Westinghouse Electric Co.
Washington Operations 12300 Twinbrook Pkwy., Suite 330 Rockville, MD 20852 Mr. David Lochbaum, Nuclear Safety Engineer Union of Concerned Scientists 1707 H Street, NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20006-3919 Mr. Paul Gunter Nuclear Information & Resource Service 1424 16th Street, NW, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20036 Mr. James Riccio Greenpeace 702 H Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 Mr. Adrian Heymer Nuclear Energy Institute Suite 400 1776 I Street, NW Washington, DC 20006-3708 Mr. George Alan Zinke Project Manager Nuclear Business Development Entergy Nuclear M-ECH-683 1340 Echelon Parkway Jackson, MS 39213 Ms. Marilyn Kray Vice President, Special Projects Exelon Generation 200 Exelon Way, KSA3-E Kennett Square, PA 19348 Mr. Laurence Parme Manager, GT-MHR Safety & Licensing General Atomics Company P.O. Box 85608 San Diego, CA 92186-5608 Mr. Joseph D. Hegner Lead Engineer - Licensing Dominion Generation Early Site Permitting Project 5000 Dominion Boulevard Glen Allen, VA 23060 Mr. Edward L. Quinn Longenecker and Associates Utility Operations Division 23292 Pompeii Drive Dana Point, CA 92629 Mr. Paul Leventhal Nuclear Control Institute 1000 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 410 Washington, DC 20036 Mr. Jay M. Gutierrez Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004 Mr. W. Edward Cummins AP600 and AP1000 Projects Westinghouse Electric Company P.O. Box 355 Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0355 Mr. Gary Wright, Manager Office of Nuclear Facility Safety Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety 1035 Outer Park Drive Springfield, IL 62704 Mr. Brendan Hoffman Research Associate on Nuclear Energy Public Citizens Critical Mass Energy and Environmental Program 215 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003 Mr. Lionel Batty Nuclear Business Team Graftech 12300 Snow Road Parma, OH 44130 cc w/encl contd - See next page
TXU 3
cc w/encl contd:
Mr. Ian M. Grant Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission 280 Slater Street, Station B P.O. Box 1046 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5S9 Mr. Glenn H. Archinoff AECL Technologies 481 North Frederick Avenue Suite 405 Gaithersburg, MD 20877 Dr. Regis A. Matzie Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Westinghouse Electric Company 2000 Day Hill Road Windsor, CT 06095-0500 Mr. Ed Wallace, General Manager Projects PBMR Pty LTD PO Box 9396 Centurion 0046 Republic of South Africa Mr. Dobie McArthur Director, Washington Operations General Atomics 1899 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006 Mr. Russell Bell Nuclear Energy Institute Suite 400 1776 I Street, NW Washington, DC 20006-3708 Ms. Vanessa E. Quinn, Chief Radiological Emergency Preparedness Branch Nuclear and Chemical Preparedness and Protection Division Department of Homeland Security 1800 South Bell Street, Room 837 Crystal City-Arlington, VA 22202-3546 Mr. Ron Simard 6170 Masters Club Drive Suwanee, GA 30024 Ms. Sandra Sloan Areva NP, Inc.
3315 Old Forest Road P.O. Box 10935 Lynchburg, VA 24506-0935 Ms. Anne W. Cottingham Assistant General Counsel Nuclear Energy Institute 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006 Mr. David Repka Winston & Strawn LLP 1700 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006-3817 Mr. Robert E. Sweeney IBEX ESI 4641 Montgomery Avenue Suite 350 Bethesda, MD 20814 Mr. Eugene S. Grecheck Vice President, Nuclear Support Services Dominion Energy, Inc.
5000 Dominion Blvd.
Glen Allen, VA 23060
ML070190558 OFFICE RII:CIB1 HQ:NRO SIGNATURE CAJ via e-mail forCAJ NAME CJulian SCoffin DATE 1/18/07 1/18/07 E-MAIL COPY?
YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO
Enclosure SITE VISIT TO COMANCHE PEAK SITE TO OBSERVE COMBINED LICENSE (COL) PRE-APPLICATION SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES PROJECT NUMBER 754 Purpose of Visit:
This site visit was conducted on December 12-13, 2006, by staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Region II and the Office of New Reactors (NRO). Region II inspectors observed combined license (COL) pre-application subsurface investigation activities being conducted to obtain geotechnical and seismic data at the proposed siting location of two new nuclear power plants. Although this visit was not an official NRC inspection the inspectors utilized the following documents for guidance:
NRC Inspection Manual Chapter 2502, Construction Inspection Program: Pre-Combined License (PRE-COL) Phase NRC Inspection Procedure 45051, Geotechnical/Foundation Activities Procedure Review NRC Inspection Procedure 35005, Pre-Docketing Combined License Quality Assurance Controls Inspection Principal Persons Contacted:
J. Bachhuber, William Lettis and Associates (WLA)
F. Boniadi, FUGRO D. Buschbaum, TXU T. Crisco, ENERCON W. Dam, ENERCON M. Hamby, ENERCON P. Manning, ENERCON R. Ortiz, WLA R. Schoenewe, ENERCON D. Woodlan, TXU NRC Inspectors:
C. Julian, Senior Project Manager, RII NRC Accompanying Personnel:
J. Starefos, Senior Project Manager, NRO C. Munson, NRO S. Gonzalez, NRO W. Wang, NRO
2 Enclosure
Background:
By letters of June 27 and September 7, 2006, TXU informed the NRC staff that it had selected the Comanche Peak site to be the subject for a COL application, with the intent of submitting the application prior to the end of 2008. A COL is a combined construction permit and operating license with conditions for a nuclear power facility pursuant to 10 CFR Part 52 Subpart C. TXU has contracted Enercon Services, Inc. as a nuclear services provider to construct the COL application, to provide quality assurance (QA) oversight for geotechnical investigation activities, and to be a managing interface with the site owner TXU Power. Enercon has subcontracted William Lettis and Associates (WLA) to provide overall technical direction for geological, geotechnical, and seismological studies. Enercon has subcontracted FUGRO for implementation of site characterization activities, i.e., drilling, well installation, laboratory testing, and geotechnical engineering services.
Overview of subsurface investigation activities discussed and/or observed:
TXU plans to use the subsurface investigations described below to provide data to determine site suitability for a COL. TXUs current subsurface investigation activities included areas which would be the site of two new reactors of a technology yet to be decided. The scope of the site characterization activities includes the following:
Field Exploration Methods Standard Penetration Testing (SPT)
Rock coring Borehole pressuremeter testing Seismic downhole and P-S suspension velocity measurements (P-S logging)
Borehole televiewer profiles Gamma and Caliper profiles Seismic refraction and gravity Spectral analysis of surface waves Cone Penetration Test (CPT)
Groundwater monitoring wells Geologic mapping Test pit excavation and mapping Laboratory Testing Geotechnical index testing Geotechnical strength testing Dynamic testing Drilling and sampling observations - On December 12 - 13, 2006, members of NRO and Region II team toured the locations where approximately 22 borings were being drilled within the site characterization boundary. The team confirmed that NRC Regulatory Guide 1.132, Site Investigations for Foundations of Nuclear Power Plants, was being used as guidance for site investigation activities. The boreholes were being drilled under direction of a WLA Site Coordinator using rotary drill rig equipment and drilled to various depths appropriate to the borehole location.
3 Enclosure The inspector observed the boring operations in progress at two locations. Borehole Televiewer Profile testing was observed being performed at a third location during the site visit. Calibration records were also reviewed for the testing equipment. The locations of various other additional borings were also visited.
The inspector also reviewed applicable procedures, and discussed technical aspects of the site investigation with individuals from WLA. The inspector inspected the sample storage facility that had been established in a equipment storage warehouse within the owner controlled area and found samples being adequately stored. Disturbed samples were being collected from this operation using a split-barrel sampler. The team observed that jar samples were being collected, and stored in accordance with ASTM D4220-95, Standard Practices for Preserving and Transporting Soil Samples. Undisturbed sampling operations were not witnessed. The inspector examined warehouse storage location sample log and samples of the Rig Geologists field boring logs and found them adequate.
The inspector inquired about the quality assurance (QA) measures being applied to the current work. TXU representatives explained that they have contracted Enercon Services to perform the COL application development under the Enercon Services QA program. Geotechnical field investigation, laboratory testing, and engineering analysis being performed by WLA and FUGRO is performed under the Enercon Quality Assurance Project Plan. The inspector examined the Enercon Quality Assurance Project Plan document TXUT-001, Rev.1, December 6, 2006 and found it thorough and comprehensive. The inspector examined the detailed work instruction document Project Instruction for Combined License Application Project TXUT-001-PI-02, Rev.
1, November 1, 2006 and found it adequate. The inspector was told that a revision 2 to this document was issued the day before to update attachment 4 to include the latest procedures for P-S suspension logging. The inspector was told that there have been a recent personnel change for the Enercon site QA representatives. As a result they are preparing a revision 3 to this procedure to include new enhancements for records control and other current practices.
The inspector reviewed examples of self-audits and nonconformance reports which had been performed prior to the NRC visit. The inspector reviewed documentation of a TXU Power Supplemental Audit of Enercon Services, QAA-06-095, 10/16-19/06. Two deficiencies and one observation were identified. A response had been provided and corrective actions taken. The inspector reviewed documentation of one Enercon corporate QA surveillance TXUT-SURV-2006-01, November 7-8, 2006. Two CAR corrective action documents resulted, the most significant being not having established a sample log in the warehouse. The inspector observed earlier that the CAR had been corrected and a sample log had been established in the warehouse. The inspector examined the documented results of previous Enercon QA surveillances CPSES-06-001 through 012 performed between November 4, 2006 through December 3, 2006. Observations included numerous instances of minor logging errors which were later corrected. From these observations the inspector concluded that quality assurance measures were being applied to the on site geotechnical investigation activities.
All testing activities appeared to be controlled by adequate procedures and standards, with an appropriate level of supervisory and quality assurance oversight. The inspector considered all observations of work adequate.