ML051320146

EPU Acceptance Review Results to Increase Maximum Authorized Power Level (TAC No. MC3743, MC3744) (TS-418)

ML051320146
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	05/27/2005
From:	Hackett E NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2
To:	Singer K Tennessee Valley Authority
Brown E, NRR/DLPM, 415-2315
References
TAC MC3743, TAC MC3744
Download: ML051320146 (5)

Text

May 27, 2005 Mr. Karl W. Singer Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801

SUBJECT:

BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 2 AND 3 EXTENDED POWER UPRATE ACCEPTANCE REVIEW RESULTS (TAC NOS. MC3743 AND MC3744) (TS-418)

Dear Mr. Singer:

By letter dated June 25, 2004, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the licensee, submitted an amendment request for Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (BFN), Units 2 and 3. The proposed amendment would change the BFN, Units 2 and 3, operating licenses to increase the maximum authorized power level from 3458 megawatts thermal (MWt) to 3952 MWt. This change represents an increase of approximately 15 percent above the current maximum authorized power level, and is commonly referred to as an extended power uprate (EPU).

In a letter dated November 18, 2004, and during a teleconference held on February 17, 2005, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff provided the results of its acceptance review and described the areas where additional information was required to complete the application. TVA responded in letters dated February 23, and April 25, 2005. The NRC staff has reviewed the information provided and determined that sufficient information has been provided to begin the technical review of your application.

The EPU review standard, associated topical reports, and other related EPU regulatory guidance, indicates that unique features require the submission of site-specific information at a level of detail consistent with the complexity of the issues. A core analysis that provides fuel-dependent analyses that demonstrate, at the EPU condition, the core and fuel performance will satisfy all safety and regulatory requirements is needed. It is the NRC staffs understanding that Unit 2 will be fueled with a mix of Framatome ATRIUM-10 and General Electric GE14 fuel types and Unit 3 will be fueled with a full core of Framatome ATRIUM-10 fuel at the time of EPU implementation. In addition, as discussed with your staff on February 10, 2005, the results of a site-specific operating cycle core safety analysis (supplemental reload licensing report), which should be bounding for the first cycle of EPU operation, should be provided as soon as it becomes available, but no later than 6 months prior to your planned EPU implementation dates.

K. Singer In your letter dated June 25, 2004, you stated that you intend to implement the power uprate, if approved, on Unit 2 in the spring of 2007, and on Unit 3 in the spring of 2008. The NRC staff understands that these dates are your need dates and will endeavor to complete review of your application by the spring of 2007. If our understanding of your need date is incorrect, or if your need date changes, please send written notification to the staff promptly.

If you have any questions, please contact the BFN, Units 2 and 3, Project Manager, Ms. Eva Brown, at (301) 415-2315.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Edwin M. Hackett, Director Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-260 and 50-296 cc: See next page

ML051320146 NRR-106 OFFICE PDII-2/PM PDII-2/LA NRR/ADPT/DSSA/SR PDII-2/SC PD-II/D NAME MChernoff for EBrown via e-mail BClayton FAkstulewicz MMarshall EHackett DATE 5/26/05 5/26/05 5/16/2005 5/26/05 5/27/05

SUBJECT:

BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 2 AND 3 EXTENDED POWER UPRATE ACCEPTANCE REVIEW (TAC NOS. MC3743 AND MC3744)

DATE:

May 27, 2005 Distribution:

PUBLIC PDII-2 R/F OGC ACRS EBrown MChernoff BClayton (hard copy)

EHackett JStang LRhaghavan TChan DTrimble RDennig DRoberts LLund GGeorgiev JBongarra EThrom JTappert FAkstulewicz MMasnik GThomas MMarshall KManoly SJones CWu TScarborough JFair JTatum LMarsh/JLyons EMarinos DThatcher SWeerakkody HLi RPettis MStutzke NIqbal BSheron RJenkins SKlementowiz CHinson RPederson MRubin NTrehan RMatthew SCoffin MKhanna DFischer MYoder LLambrois EImbro SCahill, RII SShaeffer, RII

Mr. Karl W. Singer BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT Tennessee Valley Authority cc:

Mr. Ashok S. Bhatnagar, Senior Vice President Nuclear Operations Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Larry S. Bryant, General Manager Nuclear Engineering Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Michael D. Skaggs Site Vice President Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 General Counsel Tennessee Valley Authority ET 11A 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Mr. John C. Fornicola, Manager Nuclear Assurance and Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Kurt L. Krueger, Plant Manager Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Fredrick C. Mashburn Senior Program Manager Nuclear Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Timothy E. Abney, Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 10833 Shaw Road Athens, AL 35611-6970 State Health Officer Alabama Dept. of Public Health RSA Tower - Administration Suite 1552 P.O. Box 303017 Montgomery, AL 36130-3017 Chairman Limestone County Commission 310 West Washington Street Athens, AL 35611