L-2009-189, Issuance of Amendments Regarding Spent Fuel Boraflex Remedy and Request for Delay in Implementation

Issuance of Amendments Regarding Spent Fuel Boraflex Remedy and Request for Delay in Implementation

ML092440802
Person / Time
Site:	Turkey Point
Issue date:	08/14/2009
From:	Kiley M Florida Power & Light Co
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
L-2009-189, TAC MC9740, TAC MC9741
Download: ML092440802 (2)

Text

0 10 CFR 50.4 FPL. L-2009-189 POWERING TODAY.

EMPOWERING TOMORROW." August 14, 2009 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington D.C. 20555-0001 Re: Turkey Point Units 3 and 4 Docket Nos. 50-250 and 50-251 Issuance of Amendments Regarding Spent Fuel Boraflex Remedy (TAC No. MC9740 and MC9741)

Request for Delay in Implementation Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) hereby requests a delay in the implementation of Turkey Point Nuclear Plant Units 3 and 4 License Amendments 234 and 229, respectively. The license amendments concern a spent fuel pool (SFP) storage rack Boraflex Remedy.

Turkey Point requested NRC approval, via FPL letter L-2005-247 dated January 27, 2006, to implement a Boraflex Remedy in the Units 3 and 4 SFPs through the use of Metamic inserts along with Rod Cluster Control Assemblies and enhanced administrative controls related to positioning of fuel assemblies within the SFP storage racks. The license amendments incorporating both welded and formed Metamic inserts, and designs combining these two features was approved by the USNRC July 17, 2007 with a scheduled implementation due date prior to the end of Unit 4 Cycle 24. Currently, Unit 4 Cycle 24 is scheduled to end in October 2009.

While every effort has been (and is continuing to be) made to implement the Boraflex Remedy by the scheduled implementation date, our vendor's inability to successfully fabricate the Metamic inserts to the design requirements for insertion has resulted in FPL's inability to implement the amendments by the scheduled date. Therefore, we will continue to work to implement the approved amendment until both SFPs are configured in accordance with the approved amendment but no later than September 30, 2012. No other chan es are requested by FPL. The September 2012 date reflects the possibility that use of Metamic inserts may be limited and that reliance on transfer of spent fuel to dry storage, beyond that anticipated when FPL initiated the dry storage project, may be needed to ensure implementation.

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an FPL Group company

Request for Delay in Implementation Amendments Regarding Spent Fuel Boraflex Remedy L-2009-189 Page 2 of 2 During this extension period, FPL will continue to rely on the current Turkey Point licensing basis, including the presence of Boraflexa as well as continuing to follow our currently approved monitoring and surveillance program until such time that the Boraflex Remedy license amendment is fully implemented.

Very truly yours, Michael Kiley Vice President Turkey Point cc: Regional Administrator, USNRC Region II USNRC Turkey Point Project Manager Senior Resident Inspector, USNRC, Turkey Point W. A. Passetti, Florida Department of Health