ML031880558

Request for Additional Information, Technical Specification Change to Increase Spent Fuel Pool Maximum Enrichment Limit with Soluble Boron Credit

ML031880558
Person / Time
Site:	Calvert Cliffs
Issue date:	07/09/2003
From:	Vissing G NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD1
To:	Katz P Calvert Cliffs
Vissing G, NRR/DLPM, 415-1441
References
TAC MB8896
Download: ML031880558 (5)

Text

July 9, 2003 Mr. P. E. Katz, Vice President Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Inc.

Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant 1650 Calvert Cliffs Parkway Lusby, MD 20657-4702 SUBJECT : REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION CHANGE TO INCREASE SPENT FUEL POOL MAXIMUM ENRICHMENT LIMIT WITH SOLUBLE BORON CREDIT (TAC NO. MB8896)

Dear Mr. Katz:

By letter dated May 1, 2003, you submitted a license amendment to incorporate changes into the Technical Specifications for Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit No. 1. The proposed changes will increase the maximum enrichment limit of the fuel assemblies that can be stored in the Unit 1 spent fuel pool by taking credit for soluble boron in maintaining acceptable margins of subcriticality.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has reviewed the information provided and determined that additional information is required in order to complete the evaluation. The additional information being requested is enclosed. Please provide a response within 45 days from the date of this letter.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Guy S. Vissing, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-317

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/encl: See next page

ML031880558 OFFICE PDI-1/PM PDI-1/LA PDI-1/SC NAME GVissing SLittle RLaufer DATE 7/8/03 7/7/03 7/8/03 REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING CALVERT CLIFFS NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, INC.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION CHANGE TO INCREASE SPENT FUEL POOL MAXIMUM ENRICHMENT LIMIT WITH SOLUBLE BORON CALVERT CLIFFS NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, UNIT NO. 1 DOCKET NO. 50-317

1. The licensee stated in its submittal that it has a coupon surveillance program to test the condition of the carborundum material exposed to the spent fuel pool (SFP) environment. Provide the following information on the program:

a. The SFP has non uniform radiation fields due to different distributions of fuel assemblies having different enrichments and different burnups. Also, axial power distribution in individual fuel rods is not uniform. Describe the locations chosen for the coupons relative to the fuel assemblies in order to make them exposed to the most conservative (highest) dose rates.

b. Describe what inspections were performed on the test coupons and how was the real density determined. Provide a brief summary of the results.

c. What were the acceptance criteria?

2. Besides the coupon surveillance program, do you perform any tests on the full-length panels in the fuel racks? If such tests have been performed, provide the following information:

a. Description of the test procedure.

b. How often are these tests performed?

c. Quantity of panels inspected during one inspection and the criteria used in selecting these panels.

d. Results of the tests performed on the panels.

3. Describe the mechanism by which carborundum neutron absorbing material in the fuel racks is degraded when exposed to the SPF environment.

Enclosure

Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant Unit Nos. 1 and 2 cc:

President Kristen A. Burger, Esquire Calvert County Board of Maryland Peoples Counsel Commissioners 6 St. Paul Centre 175 Main Street Suite 2102 Prince Frederick, MD 20678 Baltimore, MD 21202-1631 James M. Petro, Esquire Patricia T. Birnie, Esquire Counsel Co-Director Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Maryland Safe Energy Coalition 750 East Pratt Street, 5th floor P.O. Box 33111 Baltimore, MD 21202 Baltimore, MD 21218 Jay E. Silberg, Esquire Mr. Loren F. Donatell Shaw, Pittman, Potts, and Trowbridge NRC Technical Training Center 2300 N Street, NW 5700 Brainerd Road Washington, DC 20037 Chattanooga, TN 37411-4017 Mark Geckle Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant 1650 Calvert Cliffs Parkway Lusby, MD 20657-4702 Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 287 St. Leonard, MD 20685 Mr. Richard I. McLean, Manager Nuclear Programs Power Plant Research Program Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources Tawes State Office Building, B3 Annapolis, MD 21401 Regional Administrator, Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406