UNITED STATES 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 

Mr. Joseph W. Shea 

Vice President, Nuclear Licensing 

Tennessee Valley Authority 

3R Lookout Place 

1101 Market Street 

Chattanooga, TN 37 402-2801 

November 17, 2014 

SUBJECT: SEQUOYAH 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" (TAC NOS. MC4717 AND MC4718) 

Dear Mr. Shea: 

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory (NRC) issued Generic Letter (GL) 2004-02, "Potential Impact of 

Debris Blockage on Emergency Recirculation During Design Basis Accidents at PressurizedWater Reactors" (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) 

Accession No. ML042360586) dated September 13, 2004, requesting that licensees address 

the issues raised by Generic Safety Issue - 191, "Assessment of Debris Accumulation on 

Pressurized Water Reactor Sump Performance." 

The stated purpose of GL 2004-02 was focused on demonstrating compliance with Title 1 0 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 addressees to perform an evaluation of the emergency core cooling system (ECCS) 

and containment spray system (CSS) recirculation and, if necessary, take additional action to 

ensure system function in light of the potential susceptibility of pressurized-water reactor sump 

screens to blockage during a design-basis accident requiring recirculation operation of the 

ECCS or CSS and in consideration of potential adverse effects due to debris blockage of 

flowpaths necessary for ECCS and CSS recirculation and containment drainage. 

By letters dated March 7, 2005 (ADAMS Accession No. ML050700255), July 21, 2005 (ADAMS 

Accession No. ML0052080065), September 1, 2005 (ADAMS Accession No. ML052500298), 

and September 30, 2005 (ADAMS Accession No. ML052850352), Tennessee Valley Authority 

(TVA, the licensee) provided responses to GL-2004-02 for the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Units 1 

and 2. In order for the NRC staff to complete its review, by letter dated February 10, 2006 

(ADAMS Accession No. ML060370480), the NRC issued a request for additional information 

(RAI). 

By letter dated April 11, 2006 (ADAMS Accession No. ML061 020313), the licensee provided 

responses to the RAis. In addition, by letters dated November 28, 2007 (ADAMS Accession 

No. ML073370317), and February 29, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML080640205) the 

licensee provided supplemental responses to GL 2004-02. The NRC staff reviewed the 

supplemental information and RAI responses and concluded that additional information was still 
J. Shea - 2-

required. By letter dated November 25, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML083230823) the NRC 

issued a second set of RAis. 

By letter dated February 23, 2009 (ADAMS Accession No. ML090540857), the licensee 

provided responses to the second set of RAis. The NRC staff reviewed the RAI responses and 

supplemental information, concluded again that additional information was required. By letter 

dated October 14, 2009 (ADAMS Accession No. ML092780335), the NRC issued a third set of 

RAis. 

By letters dated April 1, 2010 (ADAMs Accession No. ML 1 00960020), June 2, 2011 (ADAMS 

Accession No. ML 11158A045), and June 27, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML 14182A576), the 

licensee responded to the third set of RAis, and provided supplemental information. 

The NRC staff performed a thorough review of all TVA responses and RAI supplements to 

GL 2004-02. The NRC staff conclusions have been documented (ADAMS Accession No. 

ML 14283A513). Based on the NRC staff conclusions, the NRC staff finds that TVA has 

provided adequate information as requested by GL 2004-02. The NRC staff finds 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 to assure adequate long term core 

cooling following a design-basis accident. Therefore, the NRC staff finds the licensee's 

responses to GL 2004-04 are adequate and considers GL 2004-02 closed for the Sequoyah 

Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2. No further information or action is requested of the licensee. 

If you have any questions, please call me at 301-415-8480. 

Docket Nos. 50-327 and 50-328 

cc: Distribution via Listserv 

Sincerely, 

Andrew 

AJ--

Hon, Project 

~ Manager 

Plant Licensing Branch 11-2 

Division of Operating Reactor Licensing 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 
J.Shea - 2-

required. By letter dated November 25, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML083230823) the NRC 

issued a second set of RAis. 

By letter dated February 23, 2009 (ADAMS Accession No. ML090540857), the licensee 

provided responses to the second set of RAis. The NRC staff reviewed the RAI responses and 

supplemental information, concluded again that additional information was required. By letter 

dated October 14, 2009 (ADAMS Accession No. ML092780335), the NRC issued a third set of 

RAis. 

By letters dated April 1, 2010 (ADAMs Accession No. ML 1 00960020), June 2, 2011 (ADAMS 

Accession No. ML 11158A045), and June 27, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML 14182A576), the 

licensee responded to the third set of RAis, and provided supplemental information. 

The NRC staff performed a thorough review of all TVA responses and RAI supplements to 

GL 2004-02. The NRC staff conclusions have been documented (ADAMS Accession No. 

ML 14283A513). Based on the NRC staff conclusions, the NRC staff finds that TVA has 

provided adequate information as requested by GL 2004-02. The NRC staff finds the 

information provided demonstrates that debris will not inhibit the ECCS or CSS performance of 

its intended function in accordance with 1 0 CFR 50.46 to assure adequate long term core 

cooling following a design-basis accident. Therefore, the NRC staff finds the licensee's 

responses to GL 2004-04 are adequate and considers GL 2004-02 closed for the Sequoyah 

Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2. No further information or action is requested of the licensee. 

If you have any questions, please call me at 301-415-8480. 

Sincerely, 

IRA! 

Andrew Hon, Project Manager 

Plant Licensing Branch 11-2 

Division of Operating Reactor Licensing 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

Docket Nos. 50-327 and 50-328 

cc: Distribution via Listserv 

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DATE 11/05/14 

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11/14/14 11/17/14 

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 

RidsNrrPMSequoyah Resource 

RidsRgn2MaiiCenter Resource 

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SSanders, NRR 

Report ML 1 4 28 3 A 1 5 3 

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11/05/14