ML081020280

Response to Request for Additional Information License Amendment Request Revising Methodology Report DPC-NE-1005-P-A, Revision 0, Nuclear Design Methodology Using CASMO-4/SIMULATE-3 MOX

ML081020280
Person / Time
Site:	Catawba, McGuire, Mcguire
Issue date:	04/08/2008
From:	Geer T Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Corp
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
DPC-NE-1005-P-A, Rev 0, TAC MD7407
Download: ML081020280 (4)

Text

Duke THOMAS Vice C.GEER President PoEnergy Nuclear Engineering Duke Energy Corporation 526 South Church St.

Charlotte, NC 28202 Mailing Address:

EC08H / PO Box 1006 Charlotte, NC 28201-1006 April 8, 2008 704 382 4712 704 382 7852 fax U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission tcgeer@duke-energy.corn Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001

Subject:

Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-369, 50-370 Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-413, 50-414 Response to Request for Additional Information Concerning License Amendment Request Revising Methodology Report DPC-NE-1005-P-A, Revision 0, Nuclear Design Methodology Using CASMO-4/SIMULATE-3 MOX (Proprietary) (TAC MD7407)

Please find the Duke Energy Carolinas (Duke) response to a Request for Additional Information (RAI) concerning the proposed license amendment request (LAR) revising methodology report DPC-NE-1 005-P-A, Revision 0, Nuclear Design Methodology Using CASMO-4/SIMULATE-3 MOX (Proprietary). This LAR was originally submitted by Duke letter to the NRC dated November 12, 2007. Attachment 1 of this document contains the responses to the RAI questions received by an electronic communication of February 13, 2008. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390, Duke requests that the information in Attachment 1 be withheld from public disclosure. An affidavit attesting to the proprietary nature of this information is included with this letter. A complete non-proprietary version of this report with proprietary information bracketed and removed will be provided upon approval.

There are no commitments contained in this letter or its attachments.

If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact L. B. Jones at (704) 382-4753.

Sincerely, Thomas C. Geer Attachment The attachment to this letter contains proprietary information.

Withhold From Public Disclosure Under 10 CFR 2.390.

Upon removal of the attachment, this letter is uncontrolled. ,U www. duke-energy. corn

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission April 8, 2008 Page 2 xc:

V. M. McCree, Acting Region II Administrator U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center, 23 T85 61 Forsyth St., SW Atlanta, GA 30303-8931 J. F. Stang, Jr., Senior Project Manager (CNS & MNS)

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike Mail Stop 0-8 G9A Rockville, MD 20852-2738 J. B. Brady NRC Senior Resident Inspector McGuire NuclearStation A. T. Sabisch NRC Senior Resident Inspector Catawba Nuclear Station S. E. Jenkins, Section Manager Division of Waste Management South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control 2600 Bull St.

Columbia, SC 29201 B. 0. Hall, Section Chief Division of Environmental Health, Radiation Protection Section North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources 1645 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699 The attachment to this letter contains proprietary information.

Withhold From Public Disclosure Under 10 CFR 2.390.

Upon removal of the attachment, this letter is uncontrolled.

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission April 8, 2008 Page 3 AFFIDAVIT OF THOMAS C. GEER

1. I am Vice President Nuclear Engineering and as such have the responsibility of reviewing the proprietary information sought to be withheld from public disclosure in connection with nuclear plant licensing and am authorized to apply for its withholding on behalf of Duke.

2. I am making this affidavit in conformance with the provisions of 10 CFR 2.390 of the regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and in conjunction with Duke's application for withholding which accompanies this affidavit.

3. I have knowledge, of the criteria used by Duke in designating information as proprietary or confidential.

4. Pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) (4) of 10 CFR 2.390, the following is furnished for consideration by the NRC in determining whether the information sought to be withheld from public disclosure should be withheld.

(i) The information sought to be withheld from public disclosure is owned by Duke and has been held in confidence by Duke and its consultants.

(ii) The information is of a type that would customarily be held in confidence by Duke.

The information consists of analysis methodology details, analysis results, supporting data, and aspects of development programs, relative to a method of analysis that provides a competitive advantage to Duke.

(iii) The information was transmitted to the NRC in confidence and under the provisions of 10 CFR 2.390, it is to be received in confidence by the NRC.

(iv) The information sought to be protected is not available in public to the best of our knowledge and belief.

(v) The proprietary information sought to be withheld in the submittal is that which is marked in the proprietary version of response to the Request for Additional Information from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission dated February 11, 2008 concerning Revision 1 to the Duke methodology report DPC-NE-1005-P, Nuclear Design Methodology Using CASMO-4/SIMULATE-3 MOX. This information enables Duke to:

(a) Support license amendment and Technical Specification revision request for its McGuire and Catawba reactors.

(b) Perform nuclear design calculations on McGuire and Catawba reactor cores containing low enriched uranium fuel with and without gadolinia.

(Continued) Thomas C. Geer The attachment to this letter contains proprietary information.

Withhold "From Public Disclosure Under 10 CFR 2.390.

Upon removal of the attachment, this letter is uncontrolled.

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission April 8, 2008 Page 4 (vi) The proprietary information sought to be withheld from public disclosure has substantial commercial value to Duke.

(a) Duke uses this information to reduce vendor and consultant expenses associated with supporting the operation and licensing of nuclear power plants.

(b) Duke can sell the information to nuclear utilities, vendors, and consultants for the purpose of supporting the operation and licensing of nuclear power plants.

(c) The subject information could only be duplicated by competitors at similar expense to that incurred by Duke.

5. Public disclosure of this information is likely to cause harm to Duke because it would allow competitors in the nuclear industry to benefit from the results of a significant development program without requiring a commensurate expense or allowing Duke to recoup a portion of its expenditures or benefit from the sale of the information.

Thomas C. Geer affirms that he is the person who subscribed his name to the foregoing statement, and that all the matters and facts set forth herein are true and correctto the best of his knowledge.

Thomas C. Geer Subscribed and sworn to me: 3 - 3 / - 0 o' Date No{ary Public 4A~k -T)&Y-dk S.iwnYie, My Commission Expires: 2c ere;7be / q, =cO 9 tOTAf.

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The attachment to this letter contains proprietary information.

Withhold From Public Disclosure Under 10 CFR 2.390.

Upon removal of the attachment, this letter is uncontrolled.