ML093380046
| ML093380046 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry, Watts Bar, Sequoyah  |
| Issue date: | 12/10/2009 |
| From: | Ellen Brown Plant Licensing Branch II |
| To: | Swafford P Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Brown E, NRR/DORL, 415-2315 | |
| References | |
| TAC ME0491, TAC ME0492, TAC ME0493, TAC ME0571, TAC ME0572, TAC ME0587 | |
| Download: ML093380046 (3) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 December 10, 2009 Mr. Preston D. Swafford Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 SUB~IECT:
BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3; SEOUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2; WADS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 1 STATUS OF DECOMMISSIONING FUNDING ASSURANCE (TAC NOS.
ME0491, ME0492, ME0493, ME0571, ME0572, AND ME0587)
Dear Mr. Swafford:
On March 31,2009, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA, the licensee) submitted biennial decommissioning funding reports for Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (BFN) Units 1, 2, and 3, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant (SON) Units 1 and 2, and Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) Unit 1.
Based on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs analysis of the biennial decommissioning funding report submitted on March 31, 2009, the NRC staff estimated the following projected shortfall in decommissioning funding assurance for the TVA operating nuclear units:
BFN SON WBN Unit 1 $117.1 million.
Unit 1 $84.6 million Unit 1 $92.8 million Unit 2 $125.4 million Unit 2 $85 million Unit 3 $125.4 million In a letter dated July 30, 2009, as supplemented by letters dated September 4, 2009 and November 13, 2009, TVA proposed a plan of action to cover identified shortfalls in providing decommissioning funding assurance and/or decommissioning funding realized in the BFN, SON, and WBN biennial decommissioning funding reports. In the September 4, 2009 letter, TVA stated that its Board of Directors approved contributions to each operating unit's decommissioning trust fund in the following amounts:
BFN SON Unit 1 $2.0 million/yr until 2033 Unit 1 $4.5 million/yr until 2020 Unit 2 $2.1 million/yr until 2034 Unit 2 $4.0 million/yr until 2021 Unit 3 $1.9 million/yr until 2036 WBN Unit 1 $1.4 million/yr until 2035 The year indicated above coincides with the end of the authorized operating period for the unit.
A schedule of contributions and minimum fund balances necessary to meet the NRC decommissioning funding assurance requirement was included.
P. Swafford
- 2 On November 13, 2009, TVA stated that the schedule of contributions approved by its Board of Directors translated into a rate change. The November 13 letter stated that TVA will annually review and update the projected fund balances. TVA stated that, in accordance with Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Sections 50.75(b)(2) and (f)(1), it will monitor the decommissioning fund balance annually by comparing the fund balance to the certification amount required to be provided for decommissioning funding assurance under 10 CFR 50.75(c). TVA stated that, when necessary, it would contribute to the fund or use other methods of financial assurance to meet or exceed the minimum required fund balance, consistent with the "reasonable amount of time" standard of Regulatory Guide 1.159, Assuring the Availability of Funds for Decommissioning Nuclear Reactors, Revision 1. TVA stated that it would not make a recommendation to its Board of Directors to rely on market recovery as an option for providing financial assurance.
The NRC staff has reviewed the licensee's plan and determined that the licensee provides reasonable assurance of adequate decommissioning funding at the time permanent termination of operations is expected. Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that no further action is required at this time to demonstrate adequate decommissioning funding assurance, according to NRC standards, for the BFN, SON, and WBN operating nuclear units.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at (301) 415-2315.
Sincerely, va A. Brown, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 11-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-259, 50-260, 50-296 50-327, 50-328, and 50-390 cc: Distribution via Listserv
P. Swafford
- 2 On November 13, 2009, TVA stated that the schedule of contributions approved by its Board of Directors translated into a rate change. The November 13 letter stated that TVA will annually review and update the projected fund balances. TVA stated that, in accordance with Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Sections 50.75(b)(2) and (f)(1), it will monitor the decommissioning fund balance annually by comparing the fund balance to the certification amount required to be provided for decommissioning funding assurance under 10 CFR 50.75(c). TVA stated that, when necessary, it would contribute to the fund or use other methods of financial assurance to meet or exceed the minimum required fund balance, consistent with the "reasonable amount of time" standard of Regulatory Guide 1.159, Assuring the Availability of Funds for Decommissioning Nuclear Reactors, Revision 1. TVA stated that it would not make a recommendation to its Board of Directors to rely on market recovery as an option for providing financial assurance.
The NRC staff has reviewed the licensee's plan and determined that the licensee provides reasonable assurance of adequate decommissioning funding at the time permanent termination of operations is expected. Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that no further action is required at this time to demonstrate adequate decommissioning funding assurance, according to NRC standards, for the BFN, SON, and WBN operating nuclear units.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at (301) 415-2315.
Sincerely, IRA!
Eva A. Brown, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 11-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-259, 50-260, 50-296 50-327, 50-328, and 50-390 cc: Distribution via Listserv DISTRIBUTION:
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