ML052910272
| ML052910272 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 11/02/2005 |
| From: | Dyer J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Lochbaum D Union of Concerned Scientists |
| Ennis R, NRR/DLPM, 415-1420 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML052910278 | List: |
| References | |
| TAC MC8035, Y020050167 | |
| Download: ML052910272 (5) | |
Text
November 2, 2005 Mr. David A. Lochbaum Union of Concerned Scientists 1707 H Street, NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20006-3919
Dear Mr. Lochbaum:
I am responding to your letter dated July 29, 2005, addressed to Richard Ennis, regarding the impacts of various issues on the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VYNPS) minimum critical power ratio (MCPR) limit. In the letter, you expressed concern about cumulative effects of fuel channel bow and uncertainties associated with General Electric (GE) methods for performing neutronic and thermal/hydraulic analysis. To address fuel channel bow, you stated that the licensee should either apply the 0.02 operating limit maximum critical power ratio (OLMCPR) penalty discussed in General Electric Nuclear Energys (GENEs) March 3, 2003, letter or implement the recommended surveillance program. To address the GE methods uncertainties, you stated that the licensee should apply a 0.02 MCPR penalty, proposed in the June 30, 2005, public meeting with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), GE, and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Entergy), in addition to any other penalties.
On March 3, 2003, GENE issued notification pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 21, concerning a reportable condition related to fuel channel bowing which could lead to control rod-fuel channel interference in GENE boiling water reactors (BWRs). In the March 3, 2003, letter GENE recommended an interim penalty of 0.02 to the OLMCPR for BWR/6 plants affected by the fuel channel bow phenomenon in order to maintain operation within acceptable limits. VYNPS is a BWR/4, D-lattice plant and, as such, was not subject to the recommendations in this letter.
By letter dated July 14, 2005, GENE revised the recommended surveillance program for fuel channel-control blade interference. The revised program included a surveillance plan for BWR/6, S-lattice plants, and another surveillance plan for BWR/2 through 5, C and D-lattice plants. VYNPS was one of the plants that GENE recommended for implementation of the revised surveillance program. GENE did not recommend additional OLMCPR penalties for D-lattice plants.
During a September 14, 2005, telephone conversation between the NRC staff, Entergy, and GENE, Entergy indicated that they plan to implement the recommended surveillance program for monitoring fuel channel-control blade interference after GENE completes its assessment of the susceptible fuel cells. Entergy also indicated that, in the fuel reload analyses, there is an R-factor uncertainty which accounts for some variance of fuel power distribution, fuel assembly geometry, and fuel channel bow. The staff agrees that implementing the recommended surveillance program is the appropriate action for the licensee to take in response to the GE part 21 notification.
The 0.02 MCPR penalty you referenced from the June 30, 2005, public meeting, was proposed to address NRC staff concerns specifically related to the level of uncertainties in the methods used by GENE to perform reactor neutronic and thermal/hydraulic analyses for VYNPS at
D. Lochbaum extended power uprate (EPU) conditions. This additional conservatism would only be implemented as a license condition if the NRC staff approves the EPU amendment request.
In summary, the licensee has indicated that they plan to implement the recommended surveillance program and would implement a 0.02 MCPR penalty if the EPU was approved, and the staff believes there actions adequately addresses your concerns. The NRC staff believes the 10 CFR Part 21 process to be appropriate for resolution of issues associated with fuel channel bow and that the uncertainties in GENE analytical methods would be addressed in the NRC staffs review of the EPU amendment request. I appreciate your input on this matter, and hope that this letter resolves your concerns.
Sincerely,
/RA/
J. E. Dyer, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-271 cc: See next page
D. Lochbaum extended power uprate (EPU) conditions. This additional conservatism would only be implemented as a license condition if the NRC staff approves the EPU amendment request.
In summary, the licensee has indicated that they plan to implement the recommended surveillance program and would implement a 0.02 MCPR penalty if the EPU was approved.
The NRC staff believes the 10 CFR Part 21 process to be appropriate for resolution of issues associated with fuel channel bow and that the uncertainties in GENE analytical methods would be addressed in the NRC staffs review of the EPU amendment request. I appreciate your input on this matter, and hope that this letter resolves your concerns.
Sincerely,
/RA/
J. E. Dyer, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-271 cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION: Y020050167 PUBLIC PDI-2 R/F RidsRgn1MailCenter RidsNrrOd RidsNrrAdpt RidsNrrWpcMail LCox DRoberts CHolden CRaynor REnnis GMiller FAkstulewicz CAnderson, RI VBucci, OIG STurk, OGC KWinsburg, OGC Package: ML052910278 Incoming: ML052150339 Response: ML052910272 NRR-106 OFFICE PDI-2/PM PDI-2/PM PDI-2 /LA SRXB-A/SC TECH ED PDI-2/SC NAME GMiller REnnis CRaynor FAkstulewicz PKleene DRoberts (SBailey for)
DATE 10/25/05 10/25/05 10/19/05 10/25/05 10/21/05 OFFICE PDI/PD DLPM/D NRR/OD NAME CHolden TMarsh (CHaney for)
JDyer DATE 10/24/05 10/25/05 11/2/05 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station cc:
Regional Administrator, Region I U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415 Mr. David R. Lewis Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman, LLP 2300 N Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037-1128 Ms. Christine S. Salembier, Commissioner Vermont Department of Public Service 112 State Street Montpelier, VT 05620-2601 Mr. Michael H. Dworkin, Chairman Public Service Board State of Vermont 112 State Street Montpelier, VT 05620-2701 Chairman, Board of Selectmen Town of Vernon P.O. Box 116 Vernon, VT 05354-0116 Operating Experience Coordinator Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station 320 Governor Hunt Road Vernon, VT 05354 G. Dana Bisbee, Esq.
Deputy Attorney General 33 Capitol Street Concord, NH 03301-6937 Chief, Safety Unit Office of the Attorney General One Ashburton Place, 19th Floor Boston, MA 02108 Ms. Deborah B. Katz Box 83 Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 Ms. Carla A. White, RRPT, CHP Radiological Health Vermont Department of Health P.O. Box 70, Drawer #43 108 Cherry Street Burlington, VT 05402-0070 Mr. James M. DeVincentis Manager, Licensing Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station P.O. Box 0500 185 Old Ferry Road Brattleboro, VT 05302-0500 Resident Inspector Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 176 Vernon, VT 05354 Director, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency ATTN: James Muckerheide 400 Worcester Rd.
Framingham, MA 01702-5399 Jonathan M. Block, Esq.
Main Street P.O. Box 566 Putney, VT 05346-0566 Mr. John F. McCann Director, Nuclear Safety Assurance Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Gary J. Taylor Chief Executive Officer Entergy Operations 1340 Echelon Parkway Jackson, MS 39213
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station cc:
Mr. John T. Herron Sr. VP and Chief Operating Officer Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Danny L. Pace Vice President, Engineering Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Brian OGrady Vice President, Operations Support Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Michael J. Colomb Director of Oversight Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. John M. Fulton Assistant General Counsel Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Jay K. Thayer Site Vice President Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station P.O. Box 0500 185 Old Ferry Road Brattleboro, VT 05302-0500 Mr. Kenneth L. Graesser 38832 N. Ashley Drive Lake Villa, IL 60046 Mr. James Sniezek 5486 Nithsdale Drive Salisbury, MD 21801 Mr. Ronald Toole 1282 Valley of Lakes Box R-10 Hazelton, PA 18202 Ms. Stacey M. Lousteau Treasury Department Entergy Services, Inc.
639 Loyola Avenue New Orleans, LA 70113 Mr. Raymond Shadis New England Coalition Post Office Box 98 Edgecomb, ME 04556 Mr. James P. Matteau Executive Director Windham Regional Commission 139 Main Street, Suite 505 Brattleboro, VT 05301 Mr. William K. Sherman Vermont Department of Public Service 112 State Street Drawer 20 Montpelier, VT 05620-2601