4.0 Summary of Major DCISC Review Topics, 17th Annual Report - July 1, 2006 thru June 30, 2007
4.19 Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI)
4.19.1 Overview and Previous Activities
This section of the report describes DCISC reviews of the DCPP Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI).
The DCISC has been following the DCPP ISFSI since it was in the planning stages at PG&E in 1997. The following ISFSI-related topics were reviewed in the previous reporting period:
Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) Update at the following DCISC public meetings:
- ISFSI Status - October 12-13, 2005 Public Meeting
- ISFSI Status - February 15 - 16, 2006 Public Meeting
- ISFSI Status - June 20 - 21, 2006 Public Meeting
In the previous reporting period, PG&E received all approvals and permits for its Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) and has proceeded with construction. (A court challenge resulted in additional reviews of security and terrorist activities affecting spent fuel storage.) PG&E is proceeding with a contingency plan to add temporary spent fuel storage racks in its Spent Fuel Pools, if necessary.
4.19.2 Current Period Activities
The DCISC performed the following reviews of the DCPP ISFSI at each of its three public meetings and two Fact-finding meetings during the current reporting period.
Review of Remaining Schedule for Independent Spent Fuel Storage Facility and Temporary Spent Fuel Storage Rack
At the October 18-19, 2006 DCISC Public Meeting (Volume II, Exhibit B.3) Mr. Jearl Strickland reviewed for the Committee the location of the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) at the plant site. A construction contract was awarded to Granite Construction and mobilization for construction activities began in September 2005. Excavation at the site is essentially complete, with final grading now underway. Rock bolting and gunite placement is occurring on the excavated, cut slopes. Concrete foundations for 2 of the 7 platforms were poured in July and August 2006 and the Cask Transfer Facility is scheduled for completion in October 2006. Completion of construction is on schedule for December 2006.
The next phase of the ISFSI Project involves completion by Site Services of the connection of electrical and communication facilities and installation of the security system, which is comparable to that required for the power plant, during the first quarter of 2007. The ISFSI was specifically configured not to impact access to the overlook site. The Holtec firm which is fabricating components for the ISFSI has made good progress including completion of the transfer cask, as well as completion and receipt at DCPP of 4 of the 8 multipurpose canisters and 2 of the 8 storage over-packs. Rigging equipment has also been received and the cask transporter is expected to be delivered by the end of April 2007.
The DCPP ISFSI employs a multipurpose canister; the racking system in the vessel; a storage over-pack; the inside a storage over-pack which is made from two layers of carbon steel separated by a concrete shielding mechanism which will be mixed off-site with hematite to form a denser aggregate with concrete shielding; an upended over-pack; an over-pack with the lid being positioned in place; and a transfer cask. The over-packs will be bolted to the site then concrete will be poured.
Modifications will be made to the Fuel Handling Building crane to upgrade its capabilities, and a contract has been awarded to Morro Material Handling Company and installation is expected during Summer 2007. Seismic restraints and other miscellaneous modifications are also expected to be completed by Summer 2007.
The loading campaign was deferred from its original implementation date to ensure it would not interfere with the plans for the Steam Generator Replacement Project.
Fabrication for the temporary storage racks to be installed in the DCPP spent fuel pools is complete and the racks were expected to be shipped on October 9, 2006, and to be installed during October-November 2006. The temporary racks will provide interim storage for operation of U-1 through 2010 and U-2 through 2011. DCPP does have the capability to do a full core discharge for either unit and use of the temporary racks will extend that capability for both units.
PG&E currently has two inspectors at Holtec’s facilities and an inspector at the Holtec subcontractor’s facility where the transporter is being fabricated and observed the DCPP transporter will be the first such safety-related transporter. DCPP procedures will define surveillance requirements and he reported loading campaigns will be scheduled every two years and the transporter would be unused in the interim. Holtec will remain under contract to independently verify DCPP’s procedures.
The federal Ninth U.S. Court of Appeals found that the ISFSI Environmental Impact Report, not its security or operational reviews, failed to adequately consider the impact of terrorist activities. PG&E appealed the Ninth Circuit’s decision to the U.S. Supreme Court which declined to hear its appeal. There is no limitation as a result of that decision on construction activities; however, there would be certain risks from the use of the facility without additional consideration of the impact of terrorist activities in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the ISFSI. On May 14, 2007 the NRC issued a Supplemental Environmental analysis for the ISFSI which concluded, “. . . even with the risk of terrorist activities, the ISFSI will not result insignificant environmental effects.”
The ISFSI’s structure is similar to and it meets all and more of the requirements met by other, similar, currently operational, facilities. A decision was expected in 3 to 6 months and, if favorable to PG&E, the appeal might be heard within a year thereafter.
ISFSI Status – January 31 – February 1, 2007 Public Meeting (Volume II, Exhibit B.6)
The base infrastructure for the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation has been completed and PG&E is proceeding to install the passive security barriers and finalize the design of the active security systems and their connection to plant security systems, now scheduled for completion by August 31, 2007. The storage overpacks will be imbedded within the concrete foundation and have class one coating applied, concrete slab surfaces have also been grout-patched and sealed.
Two foundations, each with the ability to each store 20 casks, have now been installed. The completed ISFSI at full capacity would have capability for 138 storage casks on 7 total foundations. The Holtec Company has completed fabrication of the transfer cask and 8 multi-purpose canisters and storage overpacks. Fabrication of rigging is progressing and the nuclear quality grade transporter, the first to be so designated, has finished its NRC performance testing and should be onsite at DCPP within six weeks.
The multi-purpose canisters are not qualified for use at a future federal depository such as that planned for Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The multi-purpose designation refers to their qualification for use as interim storage and for transportation of the spent fuel. A detailed structural analysis of the transporter was performed for rigidity of structure due to its seismic qualification for use at DCPP and he reviewed design changes to the DCPP transporter from the transporter used at the Fitzpatrick nuclear plant, a photo of which was displayed.
Modifications to the existing plant were required to support the ISFSI and its operation including single fireproof capability upgrading of the fuel handling building crane to address issues related to suspended loads, and are scheduled for completion by Fall 2007; and installation of seismic restraints, a rail system and other miscellaneous modifications are scheduled for completion by November 30, 2007. The seismic restraint modifications are required only to the U-2 side of the plant, where the final transfer will take place, the single fuel handling crane being capable of serving both units.
PG&E has filed with the NRC its request for the NRC to delineate the issues and procedures with reference to the Environmental Impact Statement’s (EIS) assessment of the terrorist issue that is required for completion of the EIS, in response to a recent decision by the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal following the U.S. Supreme Court refusal to consider a further appeal of the 9th Circuit’s decision by PG&E.
Installation of the temporary storage racks in the spent fuel pools was completed in December 2006, and provides interim storage of spent fuel for DCPP operations, including full core discharge for both units, through 2010.
ISFSI Status - June 13 – 14, 2007 Public Meeting (Volume II, Exhibit B.9)
The receipt of PG&E of a license for its ISFSI was challenged in the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Court subsequently held the NRC should have considered as a part of the environmental review of the license application, under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the potential risk of terrorism. The license for the ISFSI is now under review by the NRC relevant to that issue. On May 4, 2007, the NRC issued a supplemental environmental analysis. That analysis concluded that, even with the risk of terrorism, the ISFSI will not result in significant environmental effects. The public comment period on the supplemental analysis remained open for 60 days, with comments due by July 2, 2007.
PG&E was proceeding with the construction and would address any modifications required by the NRC when and if they are issued. When the NRC first reviewed PG&E’s license application for the ISFSI, the risk of terrorism was reviewed in context of security to take the ISFSI Project into consideration.
Since the successful challenge in the Ninth Circuit, there has been a subsequent challenge in the federal Third Circuit Court of Appeals concerning a spent fuel storage project at another nuclear facility. The existence of differing opinions between federal circuits might give rise to resolution of the issue by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Tour Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) Construction
The Fact-finding Team met with Bruce Patton, ISFSI Project Engineer, at the October 25-26, 2006 Fact-finding Meeting (Volume II, Exhibit D.3, Section 3.7) to tour the ISFSI construction site.
The DCISC has been following the progress of the ISFSI since its beginnings. The tour included excavations and concrete pours for foundation of the pad which will hold the initial set of casks and the pad for the cask transfer station. Additionally, the hillside above the pads has been stabilized to prevent dirt and rock slides onto the pads. Construction work appeared orderly and well-controlled. Personnel safety was apparent in that all who went on the construction site were required to wear high-visibility vests to assure they were visible to heavy equipment operators. The Team inspected two Holtec casks which will be used to hold the spent fuel when it is placed onto the ISFSI concrete pads.
A tour of construction of the foundation of the pad for the initial spent fuel storage casks of the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) revealed orderly and well-controlled work in-progress.
Tour ISFSI and Status
The DCISC Fact-finding Team met with Jearl Strickland, Manager Used Fuel Storage Project, at the January 17-18, 2007 Fact-finding Meeting (Volume II, Exhibit D.6, Section 3.8) to review the status and for a tour of the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI).
The road to the ISFSI has been completed and the grade change in the area of Patton Cove behind the facility has been completed to protect against the possibility of landslides. Basic infrastructure has been completed for Phase I. The security gate was delivered that week. The transfer cask is complete. Eight of the multi-purpose canisters and the 8 storage over-packs have been received. The transporter is complete and the rigging equipment is being constructed.
Remaining work is
- installation of passive security barriers,
- installation of active security systems, and
- connection to plant security system which is scheduled to be complete by August 31, 2007.
The start up schedule is:
- Facility Operational – November 2007
- Startup Program – 2nd quarter 2008
- NRC-observed Dry-Run – June 2008
- Begin Loading Campaign – 3rd quarter 2008
The above schedule depends on the resolution of regulatory issues. The DCISC Fact-finding Team then toured the ISFSI site. There was a minimum of activity at the ISFSI site as a result of most of the large construction work being complete. The work area seemed orderly and well maintained.
There was a minimum of activity at the ISFSI site as most of the large construction work has been complete. The work area seemed orderly and well maintained.
4.19.3 Conclusions and Recommendations
- Conclusions:
- PG&E has received all approvals and permits for its Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) and has proceeded with construction. (A court challenge resulted in additional reviews of security and terrorist activities affecting spent fuel storage.) PG&E’s license for the ISFSI is now under NRC review. On May 14, 2007 NRC issued a Supplemental Environmental Analysis which concluded that, even with the risk of terrorism, the ISFSI will not result in significant environmental effects. Public comment period concerning the supplemental analysis remains open through July 2, 2007. PG&E is proceeding with a contingency plan to add temporary spent fuel storage racks in its Spent Fuel Pools, if necessary. The DCISC will review these plans and designs as they progress.
- Recommendations: None