ML082140002

LAR Technical Specification Change to Allow Westinghouse 14x14 Vantage+ Fuel - Change to Acceptance Review Supplemental Request

ML082140002
Person / Time
Site:	Prairie Island
Issue date:	07/30/2008
From:	Beltz T NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLIII-1
To:	Sueper L Exelon Nuclear, Nuclear Management Co
beltz T, NRR/DORL/LPL3-1, 301-415-3049
References
TAC MD9142, TAC MD9143
Download: ML082140002 (2)

Text

From:

Terry Beltz Sent:

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 3:25 PM To:

'leonard.sueper@xenuclear.com' Cc:

'dale.vincent@xenuclear.com'; 'jon.anderson@xenuclear.com'; Thomas Wengert; Lois James; Benjamin Parks; Gregory Cranston

Subject:

License Amendment Request re: Tech Spec Change to Allow Westinghouse 14x14 Vantage+ Fuel (TAC Nos. MD9142 and MD9143)

Dear Mr. Sueper By letter dated June 26, 2008, Nuclear Management Company, LLC (NMC) submitted a license amendment request for Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2. The proposed amendment would modify the technical specifications to allow the use of Westinghouse 0.422-inch OD 14x14 VANTAGE+ fuel.

The NRC staff reviewed the application and concluded that additional information is required to make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed amendment request. The NRC staff requested an itemized list of supplemental information in a letter to NMC, dated July 28, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML082060572). The NRC staff requested that NMC provide this supplemental information by August 6, 2008.

The NRC staff has subsequently determined that the request for supplemental information pertaining to calculations for the post-LOCA long-term core cooling and post-LOCA core boric acid precipitation analyses are not required for acceptance of the application. These concerns were specifically discussed in Item 3) of the enclosure in the aforementioned letter of July 28, 2008.

On June 24, 2008, the NRC staff performed a cursory review of the requested calculations during an audit at the Westinghouse office in Rockville, Maryland. The staff concluded from this audit that sufficient technical information exists to commence a detailed LOCA analyses review.

The NRC staff did not review the post-LOCA long-term core cooling calculations in sufficient detail to form a technical conclusion. Once the acceptance review is complete, the NRC staff may propose to perform a detailed technical audit of the post-LOCA long-term core cooling calculations at the Westinghouse office near Pittsburgh. This will allow the NRC staff to have full support of the technical analysis group and resolve their concerns in a more expeditious manner. An audit should potentially negate any need for sending iterative requests for additional information requiring the transmittal of proprietary information, much of which may not pertain to making a regulatory decision.

The NRC staff would request that NMC support this audit effort no later than early September 2008.

If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-3049.

Sincerely, Terry A. Beltz, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch III-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (301) 415-3049 Terry.Beltz@nrc.gov E-mail Properties Mail Envelope Properties ()

Subject:

License Amendment Request re: Tech Spec Change to Allow Westinghouse 14x14 Vantage+ Fuel (TAC Nos. MD9142 and MD9143)

Sent Date: 7/30/2008 6:40:59 AM Received Date: 7/30/2008 3:24:00 PM From: Terry Beltz Created By: Terry.Beltz@nrc.gov Recipients:

leonard.sueper@xenuclear.com ('leonard.sueper@xenuclear.com')

Tracking Status: None dale.vincent@xenuclear.com ('dale.vincent@xenuclear.com')

Tracking Status: None jon.anderson@xenuclear.com ('jon.anderson@xenuclear.com')

Tracking Status: None Thomas.Wengert@nrc.gov (Thomas Wengert)

Tracking Status: None Lois.James@nrc.gov (Lois James)

Tracking Status: None Benjamin.Parks@nrc.gov (Benjamin Parks)

Tracking Status: None Gregory.Cranston@nrc.gov (Gregory Cranston)

Tracking Status: None Post Office:

Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 12859 7/30/2008 Options Expiration Date:

Priority: olImportanceNormal ReplyRequested: False Return Notification: False Sensitivity: olNormal Recipients received: