ML041340427

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Mario V. Bonaca, ACRS, Ltr. Re Use of Mixed Oxide Lead Test Assemblies at the Catawba Nuclear Station
ML041340427
Person / Time
Site: Catawba  Duke Energy icon.png
Issue date: 05/07/2004
From: Bonaca M
Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
To: Travers W
NRC/EDO
References
Download: ML041340427 (2)


Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISS101' ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUA WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 May 7, 2004 Tr:

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tha AL-koa A fta3' 1RDS Cu5: EDO DEDMRS DEDH DEDM AO DEDR ADS5 R I KRU fIt William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001

SUBJECT:

USE OF MIXED OXIDE LEAD TEST ASSEMBLIES AT THE CATAWBA NUCLEAR STATION

Dear Dr. Travers:

During the 51 2th meeting of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, May 5-8, 2004, we met with representatives of Duke Power, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Nuclear Energy Institute, and the NRC staff to discuss Duke Power's application to irradiate four mixed oxide fuel lead test assemblies using weapons-grade plutonium dioxide in the core of one of the reactors at the Catawba Nuclear Station. Our Subcommittee on Reactor Fuels reviewed this matter during its meeting on April 21, 2004. We had the benefit of the document referenced.

The application and the staff review of the application considered the irradiation of the four mixed oxide lead test assemblies in a core of 193 assemblies with no other lead test assemblies present in the core. Irradiation of the lead test assemblies is intended to provide data needed to support the development and the review of a future application to make more extensive use of mixed oxide fuel at the Catawba or the McGuire Nuclear Stations. We conclude that, under the restricted circumstances considered in both the Duke Power application and the NRC staff's safety evaluation, the four mixed oxide lead test assemblies in nonlimiting core locations that do not contain control rods can be irradiated in either of the Catawba reactor cores with no undue risk to the public health and safety.

Sincerely, n,1C r( 10-Mario V. Bonaca Chairman

Reference:

Letter from R. Martin to H. Barron, "Safety Evaluation For Proposed Amendments to The Facility Operating License And Technical Specifications to Allow Insertion of Mixed Oxide Fuel Lead Assemblies," April 5, 2004.

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Cathv Jaeers - EDO Response Page 1 From:

Sam Duraiswamy To:

Doug Weaver Date:

5/11/04 1:43PM

Subject:

EDO Response Doug:

The ACRS Chairman has decided that no EDO response is required for the ACRS letter dated May 7,2004 regarding Use of MOX Lead Test Assemblies at the Catawba Nuclear Station.

CC:

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