NRC ISSUES SUPPLEMENTAL SAFETY EVALUATION FORINDIAN POINT NUCLEAR POWER PLANT LICENSE RENEWALThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a supplemental safety evaluation report (SER) for the license renewal application of the Indian Point Nuclear Generating plant Units 2 and 3, in Buchanan, N.Y., about 24 miles north of New York City. The Supplement did not change the staff’s original conclusion that the applicant has identified actions that have been or will be taken tomanage the effects of aging in the appropriate safety systems, structures and components of theplant, and that their functions will be maintained during the period of extended operation. This supplement addresses information submitted by Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.subsequent to the issuance of the original SER in November 2009. The information reviewed includes annual updates of license renewal information (required by 10 CFR 54.21(b) of NRCregulations) and updated information and commitments in response to industry operating experiencesince 2009. The NRC staff reviewed updates that pertain to the following management programs:inaccessible power cables not subject to environmental qualification requirements;the applicant’s plans for incorporating plant-specific and industry operatingexperience in its aging management programs to include aging management of socket and butt welds that join pipes, neutron-absorbing panels in the spent fuel pool, steam generators and reactor vessel internals;the larger sample sizes of the one-time inspection program;the frequency of inspections of masonry walls;the acceptance standards for inspections of structures; the plant’s increased number of inspections of its underground piping and tanks; andthe evaluation of metal fatigue for components in a reactor water environment.The supplemental safety evaluation report does not identify new open items. There are no new license conditions resulting from this supplement. The license renewal of the Indian Point plants has taken several years due to ongoing hearing proceedings.NRC NEWSU.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONOffice of Public AffairsTelephone: 301/415-8200Washington, D.C. 20555-0001E-mail: opa.resource@nrc.gov Site: www.nrc.govBlog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.govNo. 11-163August 30, 2011
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The lessons being learned from events at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station haveprompted a comprehensive NRC review of our regulations and practices. The NRC will apply the recommendations from this review, as appropriate, for any changes deemed necessary to improvethe safety of operating plants, regardless of whether the plants have been issued renewed operatinglicenses. Indian Point, therefore, like all operating plants, will be subject to any rule or policychanges the NRC may make as a result of our post-Fukushima review. The supplement will be available on the NRC’s website on the Indian Point license renewal page; more information is available on the license renewal process Web page.###