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 JFair PDII-2 R/F JTatum OGC LMarsh/JLyons ACRS EMarinos EBrown DThatcher MChernoff SWeerakkody BClayton (hard copy) HLi EHackett RPettis JStang MStutzke LRhaghavan NIqbal TChan BSheron DTrimble RJenkins RDennig SKlementowiz DRoberts CHinson LLund RPederson GGeorgiev MRubin JBongarra NTrehan EThrom RMatthew JTappert SCoffin FAkstulewicz MKhanna MMasnik DFischer GThomas MYoder MMarshall LLambrois KManoly EImbro SJones SCahill, RII CWu SShaeffer, RII TScarborough

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

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