NRC to review VY license application

A spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission acknowledged it is
currently reviewing Vermont Yankee's license renewal application, which
Entergy submitted in 2006, to determine if all the information contained in
it was complete and accurate.

"We are going back to check what was in the scope as far as
underground piping is concerned," said Neil Sheehan.

The NRC's decision followed the news that information submitted to the
Vermont Public Service Board was not complete.

The state learned that it hadn't received all the information about
underground and buried piping at Yankee after the power plant informed it
that a monitoring well had shown signs of elevated levels of tritium in
groundwater.

Entergy has applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to extend the
operating license of Yankee for another 20 years, from 2012 to 2032. In
addition to NRC approval, Entergy must also receive a certificate of public
good from the Public Service Board and the OK from the Vermont Legislature.

Sheehan said the NRC has no comment on the controversy over
underground piping because, at this point, it is a state matter.

Nonetheless, the NRC is "keeping tabs on what is going on," he said.

During the license renewal review for Yankee, the NRC looked at, among
other things, the plant's aging management program to determine how it
intends to maintain and replace systems, components and piping.

"These are large industrial complexes with miles of piping," said
Sheehan. "If they're not vigilant they can develop leaks."

However, he said, "Not every system was within the scope of license
renewal.

Because the NRC can't inspect every inch of pipe, it relies on plant
operators to create an aging management plan that must be approved by the
agency.

Pipe schematics are kept by the plant's operator, not the NRC, he
said, adding there are two types of piping at nuclear power plants --
underground and buried.

Buried piping is piping that is actually in the ground covered by
earth, he said, while underground piping is piping that is below ground but
is part of the plant's structure and is enclosed in concrete "vaults."

The NRC staff has concluded that Yankee is safe to operate another 20
years.

But the Commission of the NRC needs to rule on two appeals related to
the relicensing, one filed by the New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution
and the other by the NRC staff itself.

Once it rules on those two appeals, it will decide whether to allow
the relicensing of the plant.

Sheehan said it was unlikely that the Commission would put its
decision on hold due to the piping issue. The NRC could however, fine
Entergy or subject it to increased oversight, he said.

During hearings before the Public Service Board last spring, Jay
Thayer, vice president of Entergy Nuclear, said that he didn't believe that
there were underground pipes in active service and promised to follow up
with the board on the issue.

Thayer did tell the PSB that there was an old underground piping
system, but said it was no longer in use.

"Other company personnel in other communications also mistakenly
indicated that there were no underground pipes carrying radionuclides,"
stated Yankee spokesman Rob Williams, in an e-mail to the media.

Last week, the Department of Public Service issued a letter in which
it stated it was putting on hold its approval of the spinoff of the plant
into a new company because of its concern that Entergy hadn't supplied all
the necessary information to the PSB.

"The company's senior management has fully acknowledged the DPS
concerns and is directing a comprehensive review to determine what
information was provided, what caused the errors, and to set the record
straight," stated Williams.

Thayer has also publicly apologized for failing to provide full and
complete information about the presence of underground pipes at the plant.

"I sincerely regret that discovery difficulties have interfered with
the ability of the parties to review the proposal and present their
viewpoints," he stated.

In October 2008, Yankee officials told Nuclear Safety Associates and
the Public Oversight Panel tasked with reviewing NSA's assessment of the
plant that there were no underground pipes at the plant.

But panel member Arnie Gundersen identified underground piping at the
power plant in the summer of 2009. His assertion was denied by an Entergy
engineer, said Gundersen, in an e-mail to the media.

Bill Sherman, another member of the oversight panel backed up
Gundersen's claim.

In an e-mail dated October 2008, Sherman said Yankee told him there
was no active underground radioactive piping at the plant.

"I specifically quizzed (Yankee nuclear engineer David McElwee) about
this piping," wrote Sherman. "He said ... the line was abandoned and the
current drain is no longer buried piping. Therefore, I was satisfied there
was no buried radioactive piping."

Bob Audette can be reached at [email protected], or at
802-254-2311, ext. 273.