ML17054D100
| ML17054D100 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 02/28/2017 |
| From: | John Lamb Special Projects and Process Branch |
| To: | Dent J Entergy Nuclear Operations |
| Lamb J, DORL/LSPB, 415-3100 | |
| References | |
| CAC MF9304 | |
| Download: ML17054D100 (3) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 Mr. John A. Dent, Jr.
Site Vice President Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station 600 Rocky Hill Road Plymouth, MA 02360-5508 February 28, 2017
SUBJECT:
PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION -ACCEPTANCE OF REQUESTED LICENSING ACTION, PROPOSED CHANGES TO ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS SECTION OF THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR PERMANENTLY DEFUELED CONDITION (CAC NO. MF9304)
Dear Mr. Dent:
By letter dated November 10, 2015 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML15328A053), the licensee submitted a Notification of Permanent Cessation of Power Operations for the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (PNPS). In this letter, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Entergy or the licensee), provided notification to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of its intent to permanently cease power operations no later than June 1, 2019. After certifications of permanent cessation of power operations and permanent removal of fuel from the reactor vessel for PNPS are submitted in accordance with Title 1 O of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Part 50, Section 82(a)(1 )(i) and (ii), the 10 CFR Part 50 license will no longer authorize reactor operation or placement or retention of fuel in the reactor vessel. As a result, licensed reactor operators will no longer be required to support plant operating activities. Instead, Entergy intends to have certified fuel handlers perform activities associated with decommissioning and irradiated fuel handling and management.
By letter dated February 14, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No. ML17053A468), Entergy submitted its license amendment request for changes to the PNPS Technical Specifications Sections 1.0, "Definitions"; 4.0, "Design Features"; and 5.0, "Administrative Controls," to reflect the permanently defueled condition. The purpose of this letter is to provide the results of the NRC staff's acceptance review of this amendment request. The acceptance review was performed to determine if there is sufficient technical information in scope and depth to allow the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review. The acceptance review is also intended to identify whether the application has any readily apparent information insufficiencies in its characterization of the regulatory requirements or the licensing basis of the plant.
Consistent with 10 CFR 50.90, an amendment to the license (including the technical specifications) must fully describe the changes requested, and following as far as applicable, the form prescribed for original applications. The regulations under 10 CFR 50.34 address the content of technical information required. This section stipulates that the submittal address the design and operating characteristics, unusual or novel design features, and principal safety considerations.
The NRC staff has reviewed your application and concludes that it does provide technical information in sufficient detail to enable the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed amendment in terms of regulatory requirements and the protection of public health and safety and the environment. Given the lesser scope and depth of the acceptance review as compared to the detailed technical review, there may be instances in which issues that impact the NRC staff's ability to complete the detailed technical review are identified despite completion of an adequate acceptance review. You will be advised of any further information needed to support the NRC staff's detailed technical review by separate correspondence.
Based on the information provided in your submittal, the NRC staff has estimated that this licensing request will take approximately 200 hours0.00231 days <br />0.0556 hours <br />3.306878e-4 weeks <br />7.61e-5 months <br /> to complete. The NRC staff expects to complete this review in approximately 12 months, which is February 2018. If there are emergent complexities or challenges in our review that would cause changes to the initial forecasted completion date or significant changes in the forecasted hours, the reasons for the changes, along with the new estimates, will be communicated during the routine interactions with the assigned project manager.
These estimates are based on the NRC staff's initial review of the application and they could change, due to several factors including requests for additional information, unanticipated addition of scope to the review, and review by NRC advisory committees or hearing-related activities. Additional delay may occur if the submittal is provided to the NRC in advance or in parallel with industry program initiatives or pilot applications.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-3100 or John.Lamb@nrc.gov.
Docket No. 50-293 cc: Listserv G. Lamb, Seni r Project Manager p cial Projects and Process Branch
- ision of Operating Reactor Licensing ice of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
ML17054D100 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LSPB/PM NRR/DORL/LSPB/LA NRR/DORL/LSPB/BC NAME Jlamb JBurkhardt DBroaddus DATE 2/24/17 2/24/17 2/27/17