ML070590557

RAI, Regarding Technical Specification 3.1.6, Shutdown Control Element Assembly (CEA) Insertion Limits, Amendment Submittal

ML070590557
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	03/06/2007
From:	Fields B NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLIV
To:	Edington R Arizona Public Service Co
Markley, M T, NRR/DORL/LP4, 301-415-5723
References
TAC MD2650, TAC MD2651, TAC MD2652
Download: ML070590557 (3)

Text

March 6, 2007 Mr. Randall K. Edington Senior Vice President, Nuclear Mail Station 7602 Arizona Public Service Company P. O. Box 52034 Phoenix, AZ 85072-2034

SUBJECT:

PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 -

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION 3.1.6, SHUTDOWN CONTROL ELEMENT ASSEMBLY (CEA)

INSERTION LIMITS, AMENDMENT SUBMITTAL (TAC NOS. MD2650, MD2651, AND MD2652)

Dear Mr. Edington:

By letter dated July 20, 2006, Arizona Public Service Company, submitted a license amendment request for the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3. The request is to revise Technical Specification 3.1.6, AShutdown Control Element Assembly (CEA) Insertion Limits,@ and associated Limiting Condition for Operation 3.6.1 and Surveillance Requirement 3.1.6.1. The proposed new limit would require CEAs to be withdrawn to

$147.75 inches, instead of the current limit of $144.75 inches.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has reviewed the information provided and determined that additional information is required in order to complete the evaluation. The enclosed request for additional information was discussed with Glenn Michael of your staff on January 25, 2007. As agreed upon, the NRC staff is expecting a response within 60 days of the date of this letter.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-3062.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Mel B. Fields, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. STN 50-528, STN 50-529, and STN 50-530

Enclosure:

Request for Additional Information cc: See next page

ML070590557 NRR-088 OFFICE NRR/LPL4/PM NRR/LPL4/PM NRR/LPL4/LA NRR/LPL4/BC NAME MMarkley:sp MFields LFeizollahi DTerao 3/5/07 3-5-07 3/5/07 3/6/07 DATE REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3 DOCKET NOS. STN 50-528, STN 50-529, AND STN 50-530 By letter dated July 20, 2006, Arizona Public Service Company, submitted a license amendment request for the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3. The request is to revise Technical Specification (TS) 3.1.6, AShutdown Control Element Assembly (CEA) Insertion Limits,@ and associated Limiting Condition for Operation 3.6.1 and Surveillance Requirement 3.1.6.1. The proposed new limit would require CEAs to be withdrawn to $147.75 inches, instead of the current limit of $144.75 inches.

The staff has reviewed the information provided and determined that the following additional information is required in order to complete the evaluation.

1. Section 4.0, TECHNICAL ANALYSIS, Safety Analysis: (Paragraph 1)

Please identify the ASpecific parameters@ that were analyzed to determine if, with the rods positioned at the new limit, the power distribution in the core was still within the assumptions made in the safety analyses. Paragraph 1 states that, A[t]o assess the effect control rod position would have on the parameters with the rods positioned at the new limit, several events and specific parameters were analyzed. The events were chosen because of their sensitivity to rod position.@ What transients/accidents, if any, other than steam line break and control rod ejection were analyzed? Identify the specific parameters, and the assumptions made in the safety analyses.

2. Section 4.0, TECHNICAL ANALYSIS, Safety Analyses: (Paragraph 2)

Paragraph 2 states that, A[t]he checklist has three limiting parameters for rod worth. Each of the three parameters applies to a different power level and cycle length.@ Please explain these points and the subsequent statements that are made in Paragraph 2.

3. Section 4.0, TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: (Paragraph 3)

The second sentence states that, A[t]he case having the smallest difference between the calculated value and the limiting value was selected.@ Also, the fourth sentence states that, A[t]he results of the simulation found a reduction in the margin to be less than one half of 1%.@

Please identify the parameters that are being referred to in each of these statements.

4. TS Bases, Page B 3.1.6-4 Please provide clarifying information (e.g., title, etc.) for proposed Reference Number 4, Calculation 13-JC-SF-0202.

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station cc:

Mr. Steve Olea Mr. John Taylor Arizona Corporation Commission Public Service Company of New Mexico 1200 W. Washington Street 2401 Aztec NE, MS Z110 Phoenix, AZ 85007 Albuquerque, NM 87107-4224 Mr. Douglas Kent Porter Mr. Geoffrey M. Cook Senior Counsel Southern California Edison Company Southern California Edison Company 5000 Pacific Coast Hwy Bldg N50 Law Department, Generation Resources San Clemente, CA 92672 P.O. Box 800 Rosemead, CA 91770 Mr. Robert Henry Salt River Project Senior Resident Inspector 6504 East Thomas Road U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Scottsdale, AZ 85251 P.O. Box 40 Buckeye, AZ 85326 Mr. Jeffrey T. Weikert Assistant General Counsel Regional Administrator, Region IV El Paso Electric Company U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Location 167 Harris Tower & Pavillion 123 W. Mills 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 El Paso, TX 79901 Arlington, TX 76011-8064 Mr. John Schumann Chairman Los Angeles Department of Water & Power Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Southern California Public Power Authority 301 W. Jefferson, 10th Floor P.O. Box 51111, Room 1255-C Phoenix, AZ 85003 Los Angeles, CA 90051-0100 Mr. Aubrey V. Godwin, Director Mr. Brian Almon Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency Public Utility Commission 4814 South 40 Street William B. Travis Building Phoenix, AZ 85040 P.O. Box 13326 1701 North Congress Avenue Mr. Scott Bauer, Acting General Manager Austin, TX 78701-3326 Regulatory Affairs and Performance Improvement Ms. Karen O'Regan Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Environmental Program Manager Mail Station 7636 City of Phoenix P.O. Box 52034 Office of Environmental Programs Phoenix, AZ 85072-2034 200 West Washington Street Phoenix AZ 85003 Mr. Matthew Benac Assistant Vice President Nuclear & Generation Services El Paso Electric Company 340 East Palm Lane, Suite 310 Phoenix, AZ 85004