ML031960682

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Request for Additional Information - Mixed Oxide Lead Fuel Assemblies
ML031960682
Person / Time
Site: Mcguire, Catawba, McGuire  Duke Energy icon.png
Issue date: 07/14/2003
From: Martin R
NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2
To: Tuckman M
Duke Energy Corp
Martin R, NRR/DLPM, 415-1493
References
TAC MB7863, TAC MB7864, TAC MB7865, TAC MB7866
Download: ML031960682 (4)


Text

July 14, 2003 Mr. Michael S. Tuckman Executive Vice President Duke Energy Corporation 526 South Church St Charlotte, NC 28201-1006

SUBJECT:

WILLIAM B. MCGUIRE NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 AND CATAWBA NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 RE: MIXED OXIDE LEAD FUEL ASSEMBLIES (TAC NOS. MB7863, MB7864, MB7865, AND MB7866)

Dear Mr. Tuckman:

By letter dated February 27, 2003, you submitted applications for amendments to the operating licenses for McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 and Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2. The proposed amendments would revise the Technical Specifications to allow the use of four mixed oxide (MOX) fuel assemblies at either the Catawba or McGuire station. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has reviewed the information provided and has determined that additional information is required as follows.

The submittal states that the fuel assemblies containing MOX fuel may be stored in the regions 1A and 2A of the spent fuel pools in the McGuire plant. In determining reactivity of the fuel stored in these regions, credit is taken for 25 percent and 40 percent of the Boraflex neutron absorber in the region 1A and 2A fuel racks, respectively. The credit was based on the prediction that the Boraflex will not degrade beyond these values prior to the end of 2006. In making these predictions, certain conditions to which Boraflex panels are exposed were assumed. Since Boraflex degrades and loses its neutron absorbing properties with increasing radiation dose that it receives, any increase in dose rate will result in either shorter time periods for which the currently specified credit applies, or lower values for the allowable percentage of Boraflex. The MOX fuel has properties that differ from the low enriched uranium fuel. Could these properties expose the Boraflex to higher radiation dose rates? If that is found to be the case, what would the effect be on the Boraflex credit assumed in reactivity calculations?

We discussed these questions with your staff on July 14, 2003. Your staff indicated that a response could be provided by August 30, 2003. Please contact me at (301) 415-1493, if you have any other questions on these issues.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Robert E. Martin, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-369, 50-370, 50-413, and 50-414 cc: See next page

ML031960682 OFFICE PDII-1/PM PDII-1/LA EMCB\\SC

  • PDII1/SC NAME RMartin CHawes LLund JNakoski DATE 07/14/03 07/14/03 07/09/03 07/14/03

McGuire Nuclear Station Catawba Nuclear Station cc:

Ms. Lisa F. Vaughn Legal Department (ECIIX)

Duke Energy Corporation 422 South Church Street Charlotte, North Carolina 28201-1006 County Manager of Mecklenburg County 720 East Fourth Street Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 Mr. Michael T. Cash Regulatory Compliance Manager Duke Energy Corporation McGuire Nuclear Site 12700 Hagers Ferry Road Huntersville, North Carolina 28078 Anne Cottingham, Esquire Winston and Strawn 1400 L Street, NW.

Washington, DC 20005 Senior Resident Inspector c/o U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 12700 Hagers Ferry Road Huntersville, North Carolina 28078 Mr. Peter R. Harden, IV VP-Customer Relations and Sales Westinghouse Electric Company 6000 Fairview Road 12th Floor Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 Dr. John M. Barry Mecklenburg County Department of Environmental Protection 700 N. Tryon Street Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 Mr. Richard M. Fry, Director Division of Radiation Protection North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources 3825 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27609-7721 Ms. Karen E. Long Assistant Attorney General North Carolina Department of Justice P. O. Box 629 Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 Mr. C. Jeffrey Thomas Manager - Nuclear Regulatory Licensing Duke Energy Corporation 526 South Church Street Charlotte, North Carolina 28201-1006 NCEM REP Program Manager 4713 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-4713 Mr. T. Richard Puryear Owners Group (NCEMC)

Duke Energy Corporation 4800 Concord Road York, South Carolina 29745 McGuire Nuclear Station Catawba Nuclear Station

cc:

Mr. Gary Gilbert Regulatory Compliance Manager Duke Energy Corporation 4800 Concord Road York, South Carolina 29745 North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1 1427 Meadowwood Boulevard P. O. Box 29513 Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0513 County Manager of York County York County Courthouse York, South Carolina 29745 Piedmont Municipal Power Agency 121 Village Drive Greer, South Carolina 29651 Saluda River Electric P. O. Box 929 Laurens, South Carolina 29360 Henry Porter, Assistant Director Division of Waste Management Bureau of Solid and Hazardous Waste Department of Health and Environmental Control 2600 Bull Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201-1708 North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation P. O. Box 27306 Raleigh, North Carolina 27611 Senior Resident Inspector 4830 Concord Road York, South Carolina 29745 Mr. G. R. Peterson Site Vice President Catawba Nuclear Station Duke Energy Corporation 4800 Concord Road York, South Carolina 29745 Mr. Dhiaa Jamil Vice President, McGuire Site Duke Energy Corporation 12700 Hagers Ferry Road Huntersville, North Carolina 28078