ML022050012

Ltr, Proposed Technical Specification Changes and Exemption Request Regarding Use of Framatome and Advanced Mark-BW Fuel

ML022050012
Person / Time
Site:	North Anna
Issue date:	07/23/2002
From:	Stephen Monarque NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2
To:	Christian D Virginia Electric & Power Co (VEPCO)
References
TAC MB4700, TAC MB4701, TAC MB4714, TAC MB4715
Download: ML022050012 (5)

Text

July 23, 2002 Mr. David A. Christian Senior Vice President - Nuclear Virginia Electric and Power Company Innsbrook Technical Center 5000 Dominion Blvd.

Glen Allen, Virginia 23060

SUBJECT:

NORTH ANNA POWER STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - PROPOSED TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION CHANGES AND EXEMPTION REQUEST REGARDING USE OF FRAMATOME ANP ADVANCED MARK-BW FUEL (TAC NOS. MB4700, MB4701, MB4714, AND MB4715)

Dear Mr. Christian:

The purpose of this letter is to inform you that the NRC staff cannot commit to completing the review of your submittal dated March 28, 2002, by the January 31, 2003, due date you had requested.

During an April 19, 2002, conference call, the NRC staff informed Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO) and Framatome that the requested review completion date of January 31, 2003, would be difficult to meet due to unresolved issues involving the evaluation models for core peaking for loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA), small-break (SB) LOCA noding, and end-of-transient justification. In a May 13, 2002 submittal, VEPCO sought to reduce the scope of the staffs review by proposing to provide large-break (LB) LOCA calculations that were based upon the currently approved Framatome ANP LBLOCA evaluation model and the existing licensing basis of North Anna Power Station, Units 1 and 2. During a second conference call with Framatome and VEPCO on May 22, 2002, the staff stated that there were still outstanding issues such as the end-of-transient justification that might prevent them from successfully completing the review of VEPCOs submittal by January 31, 2003. In addition, the staff expressed concerns about the non-conservative modeling of the downcomer region and downcomer boiling in approved Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 50, Appendix K LOCA evaluation models when applied to certain types of Westinghouse-designed pressurized-water reactors.

By letter dated June 19, 2002, VEPCO stated the NRC staff was on schedule to complete the review of the March 28, 2002, submittal by January 31, 2003, and VEPCO intended to submit the modified analysis approach for the outstanding LBLOCA and SBLOCA items to the staff for review by September 30, 2002. After reviewing this letter, the staff is providing the following issues that could adversely impact the staffs ability to complete the review of the submittal by January 31, 2003. (1) A Request for Additional Information (RAI) dated May 7, 2002, consisted of six questions on Topical Report BAW-10166P-A, Beach - A Computer Program for Reflood Heat Transfer During LOCA. This RAI discussed the staffs concern that peak cladding temperature and clad oxidation have been under predicted and the FLECHT-SEASET test predictions under predicted the peak cladding temperature in four of the five cases. The staff

received a response dated July 15, 2002, from Framatome ANP. (2) A second RAI was sent to Framatome ANP on June 3, 2002, to address the potential impact of downcomer boiling in the currently approved 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix K evaluation models for certain Westinghouse pressurized-water reactors with low backpressure containment designs or low safety injection flow rates. The staff disagrees with Framatomes decision to terminate the REFLOD3B calculation when the downcomer and lower plenum reach saturated conditions and not to include a two-phase model to determine the effects of downcomer boiling. (3) Additionally, to date, the staff has not received the SBLOCA, the end of transient justification evaluation model using Framatome fuel, or the REFLOD3B modification.

The staff will work with VEPCO and Framatome to perform an expedited review of the outstanding items, which include submittals not yet received and staff RAIs. However, VEPCOs proposed submittal date of September 30, 2002, may not provide the staff with adequate time to complete the reviews. Based upon staff workload projections, the staff had contracted external resources to assist in the review of VEPCOs submittals; however, this may not be available to the staff during the Fall 2002. Based upon this and the content of the submittals, the staff cannot commit to meeting the January 31, 2003, deadline at this time.

If you have any questions, please call me at (301) 415-1544.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Stephen R. Monarque, Project Manager Project Directorate II-1 Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-338 and 50-339

Framatome ANP on June 3, 2002, to address the potential impact of downcomer boiling in the currently approved 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix K evaluation models for certain Westinghouse pressurized-water reactors with low backpressure containment designs or low safety injection flow rates. The staff disagrees with Framatomes decision to terminate the REFLOD3B calculation when the downcomer and lower plenum reach saturated conditions and not to include a two-phase model to determine the effects of downcomer boiling. (3) Additionally, to date, the staff has not received the SBLOCA, the end of transient justification evaluation model using Framatome fuel, or the REFLOD3B modification.

The staff will work with VEPCO and Framatome to perform an expedited review of the outstanding items, which include submittals not yet received and staff RAIs. However, VEPCOs proposed submittal date of September 30, 2002, may not provide the staff with adequate time to complete the reviews. Based upon staff workload projections, the staff had contracted external resources to assist in the review of VEPCOs submittals; however, this may not be available to the staff during the Fall 2002. Based upon this and the content of the submittals, the staff cannot commit to meeting the January 31, 2003, deadline at this time.

If you have any questions, please call me at (301) 415-1544.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Stephen R. Monarque, Project Manager Project Directorate II-1 Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-338 and 50-339 Distribution DHolland SMonarque PUBLIC RidsNrrDlpmLpdii EDunnington PDII-1 R/F RidsOgcRp RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter CWu RidsRgn2MailCenter MKowal UShoop DJackson RLobel FOrr FAkstulewicz Accession No. ML022050012 OFFICE PDII-1/PM PDII-2/LA SPLB/SC PDIV-2/SC SRXB/SC PDII-1/SC NAME SMonarque EDunnington SWeerakkody SDembek FAkstulewicz JNakoski DATE 07/16/02 07/16/02 07/19/02 07/22/02 07/16/02 07/23/02 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

Mr. David A. Christian North Anna Power Station Virginia Electric and Power Company Units 1 and 2 cc:

Mr. C. Lee Lintecum Mr. David A. Heacock County Administrator Site Vice President Louisa County North Anna Power Station P.O. Box 160 P.O. Box 402 Louisa, Virginia 23093 Mineral, Virginia 23117-0402 Ms. Lillian M. Cuoco, Esq.

Senior Nuclear Counsel Mr. Richard H. Blount, II Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc. Site Vice President Millstone Power Station Surry Power Station Building 475, 5th Floor Virginia Electric and Power Company Rope Ferry Road 5570 Hog Island Road Rt. 156 Surry, Virginia 23883-0315 Waterford, Connecticut 06385 Dr. W. T. Lough Robert B. Strobe, M.D., M.P.H.

Virginia State Corporation State Health Commissioner Commission Office of the Commissioner Division of Energy Regulation Virginia Department of Health P.O. Box 1197 P. O. Box 2448 Richmond, Virginia 23209 Richmond, Virginia 23218 Old Dominion Electric Cooperative Mr. William R. Matthews 4201 Dominion Blvd. Vice President - Nuclear Operations Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 Virginia Electric and Power Company Innsbrook Technical Center 5000 Dominion Boulevard Mr. Stephen P. Sarver, Director Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6711 Nuclear Licensing & Operations Support Virginia Electric and Power Company Innsbrook Technical Center 5000 Dominion Blvd.

Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6711 Office of the Attorney General Commonwealth of Virginia 900 East Main Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 Senior Resident Inspector North Anna Power Station U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1024 Haley Drive Mineral, Virginia 23117