ML033500341

Withdrawal of Exemption Requests for Proposed Technical Specification Amendment Concerning Reactor Coolant System Pressure and Temperature Limits and Low Pressure Overtemperature Protection System

ML033500341
Person / Time
Site:	Catawba
Issue date:	12/04/2003
From:	Jamil D Duke Power Co
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML033500341 (3)

Text

r:P Duke D.M. JAMIL FrPowere Vice President A Duke Energy Company Duke Power Catawba Nuclear Station 4800 Concord Rd. / CN01 VP York, SC 29745-9635 803 831 4251 803 831 3221 fax December 4, 2003 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attention: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555

Subject:

Duke Energy Corporation Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 Docket Numbers 50-413 and 50-414 Withdrawal of Exemption Requests for Proposed Technical Specification Amendment Concerning Reactor Coolant System Pressure and Temperature Limits and Low Pressure Overtemperature Protection System

Reference:

1. Letter from G. R. Peterson to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission dated March 24, 2003.

In Reference 1, Duke Energy Corporation requested an amendment to the Catawba Nuclear Station Facility Operating License and Technical Specifications (TS). The proposed amendment revises various TS that are affected by the revised heatup, cooldown, critically, and inservice test pressure and temperature (P/T) limits for the reactor coolant system (RCS) of each unit.

The technical analyses for this proposed TS amendment relied on two American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code Cases. They are ASME Code Case N-640, "Alternative Reference Fracture Toughness for Development of P-T Limit Curves for Section XI, Division 1,"and ASME Code Case N-641, "Alternative Pressure-Temperature Relationship and Low Temperature Overpressure Protection (LTOP)

System Requirements,Section XI, Division 1." At the time of the submittal of Reference 1, the NRC had not formally approved these ASME code cases for licensee use without submitting an exemption request. Since, the submittal of Reference 1, the NRC published revision 13 to Regulatory Guide 1.147, "Inservice Inspection Code Case Acceptability, ASME Section XI, Division 1." This revision included ASME Code Cases N-640 and N-641 in Table 1, Acceptable Section XI Code Cases.

• ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~- NI-www.duke-energy.com

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 2 December 4, 2003 On July 8, 2003, the NRC published a final revision to 10 CFR 50.55a to incorporate, by reference, NRC Regulatory Guides listing Code cases published by ASME which the NRC has reviewed and found to be acceptable for use. Therefore, the code cases listed in these Regulatory Guides are incorporated by reference into the NRC's regulations. This included Regulatory Guide 1.147, revision

13. This rule change was effective as of August 7, 2003.

Based on the above discussion, Catawba no longer requires the exemption requests for ASME code cases N-640 and N-641 to support the TS amendment requested in Reference 1. Catawba withdraws only the exemption requests in Reference 1. Catawba requests that the NRC continue to review the TS amendment changes requested in Reference 1.

The items discussed in this letter have been reviewed against the No Significant Hazards Evaluation submitted in Reference 1. Duke has determined that the previous No Significant Hazards Evaluation still remains valid and has not been affected by any of these changes. There are no commitments contained within this letter.

Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.91, a copy of this response is being sent to the appropriate State of South Carolina official.

Inquiries on this matter should be directed to R. D. Hart at (803) 831-3622.

Very truly Dhiaa M. Jamil RDH/s

U,.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 3 December 4, 2003 xc (with attachments):

L.A. Reyes U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regional Administrator, Region II Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth St., SW, Suite 23T85 Atlanta, GA 30303 E.F. Guthrie Senior Resident Inspector (CNS)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Catawba Nuclear Station S.E. Peters (addressee only)

NRC Project Manager (CNS)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 0-8 G9 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 H.J. Porter Assistant Director Department of Health and Environmental Control 2600 Bull St.

Columbia, SC 29201