ML080600001
| ML080600001 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 03/03/2008 |
| From: | Thadani M NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLIV |
| To: | Sheppard J South Texas |
| Thadani, M C, NRR/DORL/LP4, 415-1476 | |
| References | |
| TAC MD6869, TAC MD6870 | |
| Download: ML080600001 (6) | |
Text
March 3, 2008 Mr. James J. Sheppard President and Chief Executive Officer STP Nuclear Operating Company South Texas Project Electric Generating Station P.O. Box 289 Wadsworth, TX 77483
SUBJECT:
SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT, UNITS 1 AND 2 - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RE: REQUEST FOR EXEMPTION FROM REQUIREMENTS OF 10 CFR 50.82(a)(8)(i), DECOMMISSIONING TRUST FUNDS (TAC NOS. MD6869 AND MD6870)
Dear Mr. Sheppard:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is reviewing the STP Nuclear Operating Company (STPNOC) request for Exemption from Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations paragraph 50.82(a)(8)(i), dated September 19, 2007. The NRC staff has determined that additional information is needed to continue the review of your request. The enclosed outlines the NRC staffs request for additional information (RAI).
The need for a prompt response to this RAI was communicated to Mr. Scott Head of your staff on February 28, 2008, with a request that STPNOC provide its response to this RAI within 30 days from the date of this letter. The 30-day response is requested to facilitate NRC staffs timely completion of the review of your request.
If there are any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-1476 or email mct@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Mohan C. Thadani, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-498 and 50-499
Enclosures:
As stated cc w/encls: See next page
ML080600001 OFFICE NRR/LPL4/PM NRR/LPL4/LA NRR/LPL4/BC NAME MThadani JBurkhardt THiltz DATE 2/29/08 2/29/08 3/3/08
South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2 12/5/2007 cc:
Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 289 Wadsworth, TX 77483 C. M. Canady City of Austin Electric Utility Department 721 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 J. J. Nesrsta/R. K. Temple E. Alercon/Kevin Pollo CPS Energy P.O. Box 1771 San Antonio, TX 78296 INPO Records Center 700 Galleria Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339-3064 Regional Administrator, Region IV U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011 Steve Winn/Christie Jacobs Eddy Daniels/Marty Ryan NRC Energy, Inc.
211 Carnegie Center Princeton, NJ 08540 Mr. Nate McDonald County Judge for Matagorda County 1700 7th Street, Room 301 Bay City, TX 77414 A. H. Gutterman, Esq.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004 E. D. Halpin, Site Vice President STP Nuclear Operating Company South Texas Project Electric Generating Station P.O. Box 289 Wadsworth, TX 77483 S. M. Head, Manager, Licensing STP Nuclear Operating Company P.O. Box 289, Mail Code: N5014 Wadsworth, TX 77483 C. T. Bowman, General Manager, Oversight STP Nuclear Operating Company P.O Box 289 Wadsworth, TX 77483 Ms. Marilyn Kistler Senior Staff Specialist, Licensing STP Nuclear Operating Company P.O. Box 289, Mail Code 5014 Wadsworth, TX 77483 Environmental and Natural Resources Policy Director P.O. Box 12428 Austin, TX 78711-3189 Mr. Jon C. Wood Cox, Smith, & Matthews 112 East Pecan, Suite 1800 San Antonio, TX 78205 Director, Division of Compliance & Inspection Bureau of Radiation Control Texas Department of State Health Services 1100 West 49th Street Austin, TX 78756 Mr. Ted Enos 4200 South Hulen Suite 422 Ft. Worth, TX 76109 Mr. Brian Almon Public Utility Commission of Texas P.O. Box 13326 Austin, TX 78711-3326 Ms. Susan M. Jablonski Office of Permitting, Remediation and Registration Texas Commission on Environmental Quality MC-122 P.O. Box 13087 Austin, TX 78711-3087 Mr. Ken Coates, Plant General Manager STP Nuclear Operating Company South Texas Project Electric Generating Station P.O. Box 289 Wadsworth, TX 77483 Mr. Anthony P. Jones, Chief Boiler Inspector Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Boiler Division E.O. Thompson State Office Building P.O. Box 12157 Austin, TX 78711
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION EXEMPTION FROM 10 CFR 50.82(A)(8)(I)
DECOMMISSIONING TRUST FUNDS SOUTH TEXAS NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT, UNITS 1 AND 2 DOCKET NOS. STN 50-498 AND 50-499
- 1.
The STP Nuclear Operating Company (STPNOC, licensee) stated that the cost to construct an on-site storage mausoleum would be $1.4 million. In addition, STPNOC stated that the mausoleum also resulted in an annual cost to maintain it, and the eventual cost to decommission it. These costs are part of the basis for the exemption request. Please provide a detailed cost for the mausoleum as well as the associated maintenance and decommissioning costs.
- 2.
STPNOC stated that the purpose of the exemption request is to permit the use of the decommissioning trust funds, not to exceed $20.0 million per unit, for the prompt disposal of certain major radioactive components (MRCs). Please provide a detailed cost breakdown of the projected cost of decommissioning MRCs, up to $20.0 million per unit, including the type and number of components that would be disposed. If the costs exceed $20.0 million, provide details of how STPNOC will fund any additional costs.
- 3.
The licensee stated that STP currently has eight steam generators currently being stored on site resulting from the 2000 and 2002 steam generators replacements. Please describe in detail the $10,000.00 per year annual costs, and how these steam generators are currently being stored on site. The submittal also stated that STPNOC constructed a separate facility to store these steam generators; please provide a description and the cost of this storage facility. In addition, provide an estimate of the additional annual cost to store the MRCs as a result of replacement of the vessel heads during 2009 and 2010 outages, if the MRCs are not immediately sent for disposal.
- 4.
STPNOC stated that the decommissioning trust balances as of December 31, 2006, totaled $364.9 million for Unit 1 and $445.8 million for Unit 2. This is the amount that STP submitted to the NRC for compliance with 10 CFR 50.75(f) to demonstrate that STP exceeded the NRC minimum requirements for radiological decommissioning. In addition, STP stated that the decommissioning site-specific cost estimates included not only radiological cleanup required by NRC, but the costs of dismantling the facilities and restoring the site, as well as the cost for storage and monitoring the spent fuel until the U.S. Department of Energy takes custody of the fuel. STPNOC needs to identify the source of the funds to support these additional non-radiological activities.