ML23243A910

Closeout of Generic Letter 2004-02, Potential Impact of Debris Blockage on Emergency Recirculation During Design Basis Accidents at Pressurized-Water Reactors

ML23243A910
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach
Issue date:	09/06/2023
From:	Scott Wall Plant Licensing Branch III
To:	Coffey B Point Beach
Wall, S P
References
EPID L-2017-LRC-0000
Download: ML23243A910 (1)

Text

September 6, 2023 Mr. Bob Coffey Executive Vice President, Nuclear Division and Chief Nuclear Officer Florida Power & Light Company Mail Stop: EX/JB 700 Universe Blvd.

Juno Beach, FL 33408

SUBJECT:

POINT BEACH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 - CLOSEOUT OF GENERIC LETTER 2004-02, POTENTIAL IMPACT OF DEBRIS BLOCKAGE ON EMERGENCY RECIRCULATION DURING DESIGN BASIS ACCIDENTS AT PRESSURIZED-WATER REACTORS (EPID L-2017-LRC-0000)

Dear Mr. Coffey:

By letter dated September 13, 2004, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Generic Letter (GL) 2004-02, Potential Impact of Debris Blockage on Emergency Recirculation During Design Basis Accidents at Pressurized-Water Reactors (Agencywide Documents Access Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML042360586) requesting that licensees address the issues raised by Generic Safety Issue (GSI)-191, Assessment of Debris Accumulation on Pressurized Water Reactor Sump Performance.

The purpose of GL 2004-02 was to demonstrate compliance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) part 50, section 50.46, Acceptance criteria for emergency core cooling systems for light-water nuclear power reactors. Specifically, the GL requested licensees to perform an evaluation of the emergency core cooling system (ECCS) and containment spray system (CSS) recirculation systems and, if necessary, take additional action to ensure that the thermal insulation and other materials from broken pipes do not block the ECCS sump strainers or flow paths and prevent coolant from entering the reactor core. Lack of coolant in the core could cause core damage and containment failure.

By letter dated July 29, 2022 (ML22210A086), as supplemented by letter dated June 9, 2023 (ML23163A022), NextEra Energy Point Beach, LLC (NextEra, the licensee) submitted a license amendment request (LAR), exemption request, and an updated response to GL 2004-02, for the Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 (Point Beach). The amendments would revise the licensing basis described in the Point Beach Final Safety Analysis Report (ML22284A074) to allow the use of a risk-informed approach to address safety issues discussed in NRC GSI-191.

The letter dated July 29, 2022, as supplemented, constitutes the licensees final response to GL 2004-02.

In addition to the LAR, the licensee requested an exemption pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, Specific exemptions, from certain requirements of 10 CFR 50.46, Acceptance criteria for emergency core cooling systems for light-water nuclear power reactors, to allow the use of a

risk-informed methodology instead of the traditional deterministic methodology to resolve the concerns associated with GSI-191 and to respond to GL 2004-02 for Point Beach.

The NRC staff performed a thorough review of all responses provided by the licensee and finds that the licensee provided adequate information as requested by GL 2004-02. The NRC staff conclusions have been documented (Amendment: ML23208A095; Exemptions: ML23208A226 and ML23208A242). The NRC staff finds that the information provided demonstrates that debris will not inhibit the ECCS or CSS performance of its intended function in accordance with 10 CFR 50.46. Therefore, the NRC staff finds that the licensees responses to GL 2004-04 are adequate and considers GL 2004-02 closed for Point Beach. No further information or action is requested of the licensee.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-2855 or at Scott.Wall@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Scott P. Wall, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch III Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301 cc: Listserv

ML23243A910 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL3/PM NRR/DORL/LPL3/LA NRR/DSS/STSB/BC(A)

NAME SWall SRohrer MJardaneh DATE 08/31/2023 08/31/2023 09/05/2023 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL3/BC NRR/DORL/LPL3/PM NAME JWhited SWall DATE 09/05/2023 09/06/2023