ML062220386

License Amendments 181 and 168 Regarding Technical Specification 5.6.5, Core Operating Limits Report.

ML062220386
Person / Time
Site:	LaSalle
Issue date:	02/15/2007
From:	Sands S NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLIII-2
To:	Crane C Exelon Generation Co
Sands, S, NRR/DLPM/PD3-2, 415-3154
Shared Package
ML062220400	List: ML062220386
References
TAC MD1356, TAC MD1357
Download: ML062220386 (15)

Text

February 15, 2007 Mr. Christopher M. Crane President and Chief Nuclear Officer Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555

SUBJECT:

LASALLE COUNTY STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2, ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENTS RE: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION 5.6.5, CORE OPERATING LIMITS REPORT (TAC NOS. MD1356 and MD1357)

Dear Mr. Crane:

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, Commission) has issued the enclosed Amendment No. 181 to Facility Operating License No. NPF-11 and Amendment No. 168 to Facility Operating License No. NPF-18 for the LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2, respectively. The amendments are in response to your application dated April 4, 2006, to Technical Specification (TS) Section 5.6.5, Core Operating Limits Report (COLR).

The amendments add one NRC approved topical report reference to the list of analytical methods and delete seven obsolete references in the same TS Section 5.6.5.

A copy of the Safety Evaluation is also enclosed. The Notice of Issuance will be included in the Commissions biweekly Federal Register notice.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Stephen P. Sands, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch III-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-373 and 50-374

Enclosures:

1. Amendment No. 181 to NPF-11

2. Amendment No. 168 to NPF-18

3. Safety Evaluation cc w/encls: See next page

Mr. Christopher M. Crane February 15, 2007 President and Chief Nuclear Officer Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555

SUBJECT:

LASALLE COUNTY STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2, ISSUANCE OF AMENDMENTS RE: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION 5.6.5, CORE OPERATING LIMITS REPORT (TAC NOS. MD1356 and MD1357)

Dear Mr. Crane:

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, Commission) has issued the enclosed Amendment No. 181 to Facility Operating License No. NPF-11 and Amendment No. 168 to Facility Operating License No. NPF-18 for the LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2, respectively. The amendments are in response to your application dated April 4, 2006, to Technical Specification (TS) Section 5.6.5, Core Operating Limits Report (COLR).

The amendments add one NRC approved topical report reference to the list of analytical methods and delete seven obsolete references in the same TS Section 5.6.5.

A copy of the Safety Evaluation is also enclosed. The Notice of Issuance will be included in the Commissions biweekly Federal Register notice.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Stephen P. Sands, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch III-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-373 and 50-374

Enclosures:

1. Amendment No. 181 to NPF-11

2. Amendment No. 168 to NPF-18

3. Safety Evaluation DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC LPL3-2 R/F RidsNrrPMSSands RidsOgcRp GHill (4) RidsNrrDirsItsb RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter RidsRgn3MailCenter RidsNrrLAEWhitt RidsNrrDorlDpr RidsNrrDorlLpl3-2 RidsNrrDssSnpb JKaizer, NRR Amendment: ML062220386 Package: ML062220400 TS Pages: ML

• • No major changes to SE dated 06/26/2006 OFFICE LPL3-2/PM LPL3-2/LA DIRS/ITSB DSS/SNPB** OGC LPL3-2/BC (A)

NAME SSands:mw EWhitt TKobetz Rlandry SHamrick MMarshall DATE 02/15/07 02/16/07 02/12 /07 06/ 26 /07 02/ 09 /07 02/15/07 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2 cc:

Site Vice President - LaSalle County Station Robert Cushing, Chief, Public Utilities Division Exelon Generation Company, LLC Illinois Attorney General's Office 2601 North 21st Road 100 W. Randolph Street Marseilles, IL 61341-9757 Chicago, IL 60601 Plant Manager - LaSalle County Station Regional Administrator Exelon Generation Company, LLC U.S. NRC, Region III 2601 North 21st Road 801 Warrenville Road Marseilles, IL 61341-9757 Lisle, IL 60532-4351 Manager Regulatory Assurance - LaSalle Illinois Emergency Management Exelon Generation Company, LLC Agency 2601 North 21st Road Division of Disaster Assistance &

Marseilles, IL 61341-9757 Preparedness 110 East Adams Street U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Springfield, IL 62701-1109 LaSalle Resident Inspectors Office 2605 North 21st Road Document Control Desk - Licensing Marseilles, IL 61341-9756 Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Phillip P. Steptoe, Esquire Warrenville, IL 60555 Sidley and Austin One First National Plaza Senior Vice President -Operations Support Chicago, IL 60603 Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Assistant Attorney General Warrenville, IL 60555 100 W. Randolph St. Suite 12 Chicago, IL 60601 Director - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Exelon Generation Company, LLC Chairman 4300 Winfield Road LaSalle County Board Warrenville, IL 60555 707 Etna Road Ottawa, IL 61350 Vice President - Regulatory & Legal Affairs Exelon Generation Company, LLC Attorney General 4300 Winfield Road 500 S. Second Street Warrenville, IL 60555 Springfield, IL 62701 Assistant General Counsel Chairman Exelon Generation Company, LLC Illinois Commerce Commission 200 Exelon Way 527 E. Capitol Avenue, Leland Building Kennett Square, PA 19348 Springfield, IL 62706

LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2 cc:

Manager Licensing - LaSalle Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Senior Vice President - Midwest Operations Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555

EXELON GENERATION COMPANY, LLC DOCKET NO. 50-373 LASALLE COUNTY STATION, UNIT 1 AMENDMENT TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE Amendment No. 181 License No. NPF-11

1. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has found that:

A. The application for amendment filed by the Exelon Generation Company, LLC (the licensee), dated April 4, 2006, complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commissions regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I; B. The facility will operate in conformity with the application, the provisions of the Act, and the regulations of the Commission; C. There is reasonable assurance (i) that the activities authorized by this amendment can be conducted without endangering the health and safety of the public, and (ii) that such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commissions regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I; D. The issuance of this amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public; and E. The issuance of this amendment is in accordance with 10 CFR Part 51 of the Commissions regulations and all applicable requirements have been satisfied.

2. Accordingly, the license is amended by changes to the Technical Specifications as indicated in the attachment to this license amendment and paragraph 2.C.(2) of the Facility Operating License No. NPF-11 is hereby amended to read as follows:

(2) Technical Specifications and Environmental Protection Plan The Technical Specifications contained in Appendix A, as revised through Amendment No. 181, and the Environmental Protection Plan contained in Appendix B, are hereby incorporated in the license. The licensee shall operate the facility in accordance with the Technical Specifications and the Environmental Protection Plan.

3. This license amendment is effective as of the date of its issuance and shall be implemented within 30 days of the date of issuance.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

/RA/

Michael L. Marshall, Jr., Chief Plant Licensing Branch III-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Attachment:

Changes to the Technical Specifications and Facility Operating License Date of Issuance: February 15, 2007

EXELON GENERATION COMPANY, LLC DOCKET NO. 50-374 LASALLE COUNTY STATION, UNIT 2 AMENDMENT TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE Amendment No. 168 License No. NPF-18

1. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has found that:

A. The application for amendment filed by the Exelon Generation Company, LLC (the licensee), dated April 4, 2006, complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commissions regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I; B. The facility will operate in conformity with the application, the provisions of the Act, and the regulations of the Commission; C. There is reasonable assurance (i) that the activities authorized by this amendment can be conducted without endangering the health and safety of the public, and (ii) that such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commissions regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I; D. The issuance of this amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public; and E. The issuance of this amendment is in accordance with 10 CFR Part 51 of the Commissions regulations and all applicable requirements have been satisfied.

2. Accordingly, the license is amended by changes to the Technical Specifications as indicated in the enclosure to this license amendment and paragraph 2.C.(2) of the Facility Operating License No. NPF-18 is hereby amended to read as follows:

(2) Technical Specifications and Environmental Protection Plan The Technical Specifications contained in Appendix A, as revised through Amendment No. 168, and the Environmental Protection Plan contained in Appendix B, are hereby incorporated in the license. The licensee shall operate the facility in accordance with the Technical Specifications and the Environmental Protection Plan.

3. This license amendment is effective as of the date of its issuance and shall be implemented within 30 days of the date of issuance.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

/RA/

Michael L. Marshall, Jr., Chief Plant Licensing Branch III-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Attachment:

Changes to the Technical Specifications and Facility Operating License Date of Issuance: February 15, 2007

ATTACHMENT TO LICENSE AMENDMENT NOS. 181 AND 168 FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NOS. NPF-11 AND NPF-18 DOCKET NOS. 50-373 AND 50-374 Replace the following pages of the Facility Operating Licenses and Appendix "A" Technical Specifications with the enclosed pages. The revised pages are identified by amendment number and contain marginal lines indicating the areas of change.

Remove Insert Unit 1 License Page 3 Unit 1 License Page 3 Unit 2 License Page 3 Unit 2 License Page 3 5.6-3 5.6-3 5.6-4 5.6-4

(4) Exelon Generation Company, LLC, pursuant to the Act and 10 CFR Parts 30, 40, and 70, to receive, possess, and use in amounts as required any byproduct, source or special nuclear material without restriction to chemical or physical form, for sample analysis or instrument calibration or associated with radioactive apparatus or components; and (5) Exelon Generation Company, LLC, pursuant to the Act and 10 CFR Parts 30, 40, and 70, to possess, but not separate, such byproduct and special nuclear materials as may be produced by the operation of LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2.

C. This license shall be deemed to contain and is subject to the conditions specified in the Commissions regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I and is subject to all applicable provisions of the Act and to the rules, regulations, and orders of the Commission now or hereafter in effect; and is subject to the additional conditions specified or incorporated below:

(1) Maximum Power Level The licensee is authorized to operate the facility at reactor core power levels not in excess of full power (3489 megawatts thermal).

(2) Technical Specifications and Environmental Protection Plan The Technical Specifications contained in Appendix A, as revised through Amendment No. 181, and the Environmental Protection Plan contained in Appendix B, are hereby incorporated in the license. The licensee shall operate the facility in accordance with the Technical Specifications and the Environmental Protection Plan.

(3) Conduct of Work Activities During Fuel Load and Initial Startup The licensee shall review by committee all Unit 1 Preoperational Testing and System Demonstration activities performed concurrently with Unit 1 initial fuel loading or with the Unit 1 Startup Test Program to assure that the activity will not affect the safe performance of the Unit 1 fuel loading or the portion of the Unit 1 Startup Program being performed. The review shall address, as a minimum, system interaction, span of control, staffing, security and health physics, with respect to performance of the activity concurrently with the Unit 1 fuel loading or the portion of the Unit 1 Startup Program being performed. The committee for the review shall be composed of at least three members, knowledgeable in the above areas, and who meet the qualifications for professional-technical personnel specified by Amendment No. 181

(5) Pursuant to the Act and 10 CFR Parts 30, 40, and 70 possess, but not separate, such byproduct and special nuclear materials as may be produced by the operation of LaSalle County Station Units 1 and 2.

C. This license shall be deemed to contain and is subject to the conditions specified in the Commissions regulations set forth in 10 CFR Chapter I and is subject to all applicable provisions of the Act and to the rules, regulations, and orders of the Commission now or hereafter in effect; and is subject to the additional conditions specified or incorporated below:

(1) Maximum Power Level The licensee is authorized to operate the facility at reactor core power levels not in excess of full power (3489 megawatts thermal). Items in Attachment 1 shall be completed as specified. Attachment 1 is hereby incorporated into this license.

(2) Technical Specifications and Environmental Protection Plan The Technical Specifications contained in Appendix A, as revised through Amendment No. 168, and the Environmental Protection Plan contained in Appendix B, are hereby incorporated in the license. The licensee shall operate the facility in accordance with the Technical Specifications and the Environmental Protection Plan.

(3) Conduct of Work Activities During Fuel Load and Initial Startup The licensee shall review by committee all Unit 2 Preoperational Testing and System Demonstration activities performed concurrently with Unit 2 initial fuel loading or with the Unit 2 Startup Test Program to assure that the activity will not affect the safe performance of the Unit 2 fuel loading or the portion of the Unit 2 Startup Program being performed. The review shall address, as a minimum, system interaction, span of control, staffing, security and health physics, with respect to performance of the activity concurrently with the Unit 2 fuel loading or the portion of the Unit 2 Startup Program being performed. The committee for the review shall be composed of at least three members, knowledgeable in the above areas, and who meet the qualifications for professional-technical personnel specified by section 4.4 of ANSI N18.7-1971. At least one of these three shall be a senior member of the Assistant Superintendent of Operations staff.

Amendment No. 168

SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION RELATED TO AMENDMENT NO. 181 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. NPF-11 AND AMENDMENT NO. 168 TO FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. NPF-18 EXELON GENERATION COMPANY, LLC LASALLE COUNTY STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 DOCKET NOS. 50-373 AND 50-374

1.0 INTRODUCTION

By letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) dated April 4, 2006, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession Number ML060950095), Exelon Generation Company, LLC (EGC, or the licensee), requested changes to the Technical Specifications (TSs), for LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2 (LaSalle). The proposed changes would add one NRC-approved topical report reference to the list of analytical methods in TS 5.6.5, Core Operating Limits Report (COLR), that can be used to determine core operating limits and would delete seven obsolete references from the same TS section.

Specifically, the proposed changes include the following:

1. Add a NRC previously approved Framatome ANP topical report reference for determination of minimum critical power ratio (MCPR) following a loss of feedwater heating transient event, and

2. Remove seven obsolete references (References 2 - 8) which describe previously approved Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF) and FRA-ANP methodologies for the analysis of ATRIUM-9B and GE9 fuel, both of which have or will be completely discharged from both LaSalle reactors after the loading of ATRIUM-10 fuel during the LaSalle, Unit 2, refueling outage currently scheduled for February 2007.

The proposed changes are the result of a decision to reinsert FRA-ANP ATRIUM-10 fuel during the LaSalle, Unit 2, Refueling Outage 11, currently scheduled for February 2007. The ATRIUM-10 fuel is now manufactured and licensed by FRA-ANP a subsidiary of the AREVA group. This organization has previously been known as Siemens Power Corporation (SPC) and subsequently as FRA-ANP. The LaSalle, Unit 2, Cycle 12 core reload will be analyzed by FRA-ANP.

2.0 REGULATORY EVALUATION

Section 50.36, paragraph (c)(5), of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) states that the TS will include administrative controls that address the provisions relating to organization and management, procedures, record keeping, review and audit, and reporting necessary to assure operation of the facility in a safe manner. The COLR is required as part of

the reporting requirements specified in the LaSalle TS administrative controls. In addition, it is required that the analytical methods used to determine the core operating limits be approved and described in the administrative controls section of the TS. The proposed changes ensure that these requirements are met.

General Design Criterion (GDC) 10, Reactor design, of Appendix A to 10 CFR Part 50 requires that specified acceptable fuel design limits are not exceeded during any operation, including the effects of anticipated operational transients.

Generic Letter 88-16, Guidance For Technical Specification Changes For Cycle-Specific Parameter Limits, provides guidance for reporting requirements.

3.0 TECHNICAL EVALUATION

The analytical methods currently listed in TS 5.6.5 support the determination of core operating limits for both units by using GNF or FRA-ANP methodology. LaSalle, Unit 1, currently uses a mixture of ATRIUM-10 and GE-14 fuel in the core. The determination of GE-14 and ATRIUM-10 fuel assembly critical power for the current operating cycle is determined with a FRA-ANP critical power correlation. This method has been previously approved by the NRC for use with GE-14 fuel. Overall core operating limits for LaSalle, Unit 1, are determined using a FRA-ANP methodology, including a cycle-specific FRA-ANP evaluation of loss of feedwater heater (LOFWH) transients.

LaSalle, Unit 2, currently uses a mixture of ATRIUM-9B, ATRIUM-10 and GE-14 fuel. The determination of fuel assembly critical power for the mixture of ATRIUM-9B, ATRIUM-10 and GE-14 fuel is determined with a GNF critical power correlation, and overall core operating limits are determined using GNF methodology.

EGC will continue to load FRA-ANP ATRIUM-10 and completely discharge ATRIUM-9B during the upcoming LaSalle, Unit 2, Refueling Outage 11 currently scheduled to begin February 2007.

All GE-9 fuel was completely discharged during a previous refueling outage. LaSalle will use the most recent FRA-ANP methodologies to determine overall core operating limits for future core configurations, verses the current GNF methodology. This change will require the listing of an additional analytical methodology for evaluating LOFWH conditions with the FRA-ANP methodology. Thus, the proposed changes will allow LaSalle to use FRA-ANP's most recent LOFWH analytical method to determine core operating limits for LaSalle.

TS 5.6.5 requires that a COLR be established and that the analytical methods used to determine the core operating limits be those previously reviewed and approved by the NRC.

The approved analytical methods are listed in TS 5.6.5.b. The analytical methods listed in this section support operation of certain types of fuel contained in the reactor core and list the analytical codes used to calculate operating parameters. The analytical codes are utilized to predict core behavior under normal and accident conditions. The proposed additional code is discussed below.

The NRC-approved Topical Rreport ANF-1358(P), Revision 3, The Loss of Feedwater Heating Transient in Boiling Water Reactors (Reference 1). This topical report presented revisions for an approved methodology for determining the MCPR following a LOFWH event. LaSalle has

determined that the use of this FRA-ANP topical report and the processes for the application of the critical power correlation to pre-existing co-resident fuel as described in Reference 2 are appropriate for LaSalle, and provides an equivalent level of protection as that currently provided. Since ANF-1358(P), Revision 3, has been reviewed and approved in Reference 3 for application by FRA-ANP to previously exposed co-resident fuel in safety analyses for mixed reload cores, the NRC staff finds it acceptable to reference this topical report in LaSalle TS 5.6.5.

References 2 - 8 are specific to ATRIUM 9B and GE-9 fuels. As both LaSalle units will contain only ATRIUM-10 and GE-14 fuel after the refueling outage for LaSalle, Unit 2, the references are obsolete and should be removed from the TS.

Based on its review, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed changes to LaSalle, TS Section 5.6.5, to add the Topical Report ANF-1358(P) (Revision 3), as a reference to be used for calculating cycle-specific core operating limits is acceptable for incorporation because the reference is an approved vendor topical report which is applicable to and has been validated for the analyses of LaSalle reload cores. Furthermore, the removal of Topical Reports ANF-1125(P)(A), ANF-89-014(P)(A), ANF-91-048(P)(A), EMF-1125(P)(A), ANF-1125(P)(A),

NEDC-32981P(A), and the letter from Ashok C.Thadani (NRC) from the COLR is acceptable because these references are made obsolete with the removal of ATRIUM-9B and GE-9 fuel from the LaSalle cores.

4.0 STATE CONSULTATION

In accordance with the Commissions regulations, the Illinois State official was notified of the proposed issuance of the amendments. The State official had no comments.

5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION

The amendments change requirements with respect to the installation or use of the facilities components located within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. The NRC staff has determined that the amendments involve no significant increase in the amounts, and no significant change in the types, of any effluents that may be released offsite, and that there is no significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure. The Commission has previously issued a proposed finding that the amendments involve no significant hazards consideration, and there has been no public comment on such finding (71 FR 46933; dated August 15, 2006). Accordingly, the amendments meet the eligibility criteria for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9). Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b),

no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared in connection with the issuance of the amendments.

6.0 CONCLUSION

The Commission has concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that: (1) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by operation in the proposed manner, (2) such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commissions regulations, and (3) the issuance of the amendments will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public.

Principal Contributor: J. Kaizer Date: February 15, 2007

7.0 REFERENCES

1. Letter from H. N. Berkow (U.S. NRC) to R. L. Gardner (Framatome), Final Safety Evaluation for Framatome ANP Topical Report ANF-1358(P), Revision 3, The Loss of Feedwater Heating Transient in Boiling Water Reactors, dated September 20, 2005.

2. ANF-1125(P)(A), ANFB Critical Power Correlation.

3. Letter, Ashok C. Thadani (NRC) to R. A. Copeland (SPC), Acceptance for Referencing of ULTRAFLOW TM Spacer on 9x9-IX/X BWR Design, July 28, 1993.

4. ANF-89-014(P)(A), ANF Corporation Generic Mechanical Design for ANF Corporation 9x9-IX and 9x9-9X BWR Reload Fuel.

5. ANF-91-048(P)(A), ANF Corporation Methodology for Boiling Water Reactors EXEM BWR Evaluation Model.

6. EMF-1125(P)(A), ANFB Critical Power Correlation Application for Co-Resident Fuel.

7. ANF-1125(P)(A), ANFB Critical Power Correlation Determination of ATRIUM-9B Additive Constant Uncertainties.

8. NEDC-32981P(A), GEXL96 Correlation for Atrium-9B Fuel.