Holtec International is seeking approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a new quality assurance program for its current and future fleet of nuclear power plants in decommissioning.
The fleet decommissioning quality assurance program (DQAP) from subsidiary Holtec Decommissioning International would replace separate programs in place at the retired Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in New Jersey and the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Massachusetts. It would also be applied to facilities acquired by the New Jersey-based energy technology company going forward.
“The intent of the Fleet DQAP is to describe appropriate and sufficient requirements to establish how the quality assurance program meets 10 CFR 50, Appendix B criteria while allowing flexibility in how QA requirements are met,” Andrea Sterdis, vice president for regulatory an environmental affairs for Holtec Decommissioning International, wrote in an Aug. 27 letter submitting the program document to the federal regulator.
Appendix B of Part 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations addresses criteria for mandatory quality assurance programs at nuclear power plants and fuel reprocessing facilities. It defines quality assurance as “all those planned and systematic actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that a structure, system, or component will perform satisfactorily in service.”
Among the long list of quality assurance measures in the 33-page corporate document, the program lays out the chain of command for quality assurance at Holtec. At the top are Holtec International’s senior vice president and chief nuclear officer and Holtec Decommissioning International’s senior vice president and chief operating officer, followed by the subsidiary’s vice president for quality assurance and nuclear oversight and site vice presidents for each facility.
The document then breaks down the component parts of programs including design control; procurement document control; control of purchased material, equipment, and services; control of special processes; inspection; handling, storage, and shipping; and corrective action.
Holtec is asking that the NRC complete its review and sign off on the quality assurance program by Feb. 28, 2021. That would be followed by a 60-day transition to the new program, Sterdis wrote.
“Our reactor decommissioning branch, assisted by quality assurance specialists in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, will carry out the review,” NRC spokesman Scott Burnell said by email Wednesday. “The decommissioning branch will make the final decision. As long as the request has all the information the staff needs and there are no technical issues requiring additional information, the staff expects the review can be completed as requested.”
