ML072840202
| ML072840202 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Catawba  |
| Issue date: | 10/31/2007 |
| From: | Stang J NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLII-1 |
| To: | Morris J Duke Power Co |
| Stang J, NRR/DORL, 415-1345 | |
| References | |
| TAC MD4670 | |
| Download: ML072840202 (5) | |
Text
October 31, 2007 Mr. J. R. Morris Site Vice President Catawba Nuclear Station Duke Power Company LLC 4800 Concord Road York, SC 29745
SUBJECT:
CATAWBA NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT 1 (CATAWBA 1), REGARDING OPERATING REPORT FOR CYCLE 16 OPERATION WITH MIXED OXIDE FUEL LEAD ASSEMBLIES (TAC NO. MD4670)
Dear Mr. Morris:
By letter dated August 3, 2001, Duke Power Company LLC (the licensee) submitted for review and approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NCR) staff Topical Report DPC-NE-1005P, Nuclear Design Methodology Using CASMO-4/SIMULATE-3 MOX [Mixed Oxide]. By letter dated August 20, 2004, the NRC issued a safety evaluation (SE) approving the use of the topic report. The NRC staff stipulated in its SE that an operating report be submitted for each cycle of operation with Mixed Oxide fuel lead assemblies and for each cycle of operation with partial MOX fuel cores until the equilibrium cycle is reached. By letter dated January 9, 2007, the licensee submitted the operating report for fuel cycle 16 operation with MOX fuel lead assemblies.
The operating report contained flux maps taken at approximately 28 effective full power day (EFPD) intervals, and boron letdown measured versus predicted values taken at approximately 30 EFPD intervals. The flux maps were taken at 100% full power. The boron letdown concentration measurement is normalized to hot full power, equilibrium xenon and samarium, all control rods out of the core, and a reference boron-10 content in the soluble boron.
Throughout the cycle the MOX fuel assemblies operated at power levels consistent with expectations of feed fuel (first cycle fuel), but were never the highest power assemblies in the core. This is consistent with the commitments made by the licensee that the MOX fuel lead assemblies would be installed in non-limiting core locations. All acceptance criteria were met for all assemblies in the core.
The NRC staff finds the licensee has provided the reports stipulated by the NRC for operation of Catawba 1 with MOX fuel lead assemblies. The flux maps and the boron letdown concentration measurement comparisons with predictions are within the acceptance criteria. The results indicate acceptable operation with the MOX fuel lead assemblies.
The NRC staff concludes, 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 with MOX lead assemblies, and (2) such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations.
Sincerely,
/RA/
John Stang, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch II-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-413 cc: See next page
J. Morris The NRC staff concludes, 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 with MOX lead assemblies, and (2) such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission's regulations.
Sincerely,
/RA/
John Stang, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch II-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-413 cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION:
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Accession Number: ML072840202 OFFICE NRR/LPL2-1/PM NRR/LPL2-1/LA NRR/DSS/SNP NRR/LPL2-1/BC NAME JStang MO=Brien AMendiola Emarinos DATE 10/29/07 10/29/07 5/3/07 10/31/07 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 & 2 cc:
Site Vice President Catawba Nulcear Station Duke Power Company, LLC 4800 Concord Road York, SC 29745 Associate General Counsel and Managing Attorney Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 526 South Church Street - EC07H Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 Regulatory Compliance Duke Energy Corporation 4800 Concord Road York, South Carolina 29745 North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1 1427 Meadowwood Boulevard P.O. Box 29513 Raleigh, North Carolina 27626 County Manager of York County York County Courthouse York, South Carolina 29745 Piedmont Municipal Power Agency 121 Village Drive Greer, South Carolina 29651 Assistant Attorney General North Carolina Department of Justice P.O. Box 629 Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 NCEM REP Program Manager 4713 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-4713 North Carolina Electric Membership Corp.
P.O. Box 27306 Raleigh, North Carolina 27611 Page 1 of 2 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 4830 Concord Road York, South Carolina 29745 Assistant Director Division of Waste Management Bureau of Land and Waste Management Dept. of Health and Environmental Control 2600 Bull Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201-1708 Manager Nuclear Regulatory Issues and Industry Affairs Duke Energy Corporation 526 South Church Street Mail Stop EC05P Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 Saluda River Electric P.O. Box 929 Laurens, South Carolina 29360 Vice President Customer Relations and Sales Westinghouse Electric Company 6000 Fairview Road 12th Floor Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 Owners Group (NCEMC)
Duke Energy Corporation 4800 Concord Road York, South Carolina 29745 Senior Counsel Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 526 South Church Street - EC07H Charlotte, NC 28202
Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 & 2 Page 2 of 2 cc:
Division of Radiation Protection NC Dept. of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources 3825 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27609-7721 Group Vice President, Nuclear Generation and Chief Nuclear Officer P.O. Box 1006-EC07H Charlotte, NC 28201-1006