ML12137A297

Response to NRC Fourth Request for Additional Information Regarding Application to Modify Technical Specifications for Use of Areva Advanced W17 Htp Fuel (TS-SQN-2011-07)

ML12137A297
Person / Time
Site:	Sequoyah
Issue date:	05/15/2012
From:	James Shea Tennessee Valley Authority
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
TAC ME6538, TAC ME6539, TS-SQN-2011-07
Download: ML12137A297 (3)

Text

Tennessee Valley Authority, 1101 Market Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 May 15, 2012 10 CFR 50.4 10 CFR 50.90 ATTN: Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-77 and DPR-79 NRC Docket Nos. 50-327 and 50-328

Subject:

Response to NRC Fourth Request for Additional Information Regarding Application to Modify Technical Specifications for Use of AREVA Advanced W17 HTP Fuel (TS-SQN-2011-07) (TAC Nos.

ME6538 and ME6539)

References:

1. Letter from TVA to NRC, "Application to Modify Technical Specifications for Use of AREVA Advanced W1 7 HTP Fuel (TS-SQN-2011-07)," dated June 17, 2011

2. Letter from TVA to NRC, "Response to NRC Request for Supplemental Information Regarding Application to Modify Technical Specifications for Use of AREVA Advanced W1 7 HTP Fuel (TS-SQN-2011-07)," dated July 27, 2011

3. Letter from NRC to TVA, "Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 -

Request for Additional Information Regarding the Propopsed [sic]

Technical Specification Changes to Allow Use of AREVA Advanced W17 High Thermal Performance Fuel (TAC Nos. ME6538 and ME6539)," dated October 14, 2011

4. Letter from TVA to NRC, "Response to NRC Request for Additional Information Regarding Application to Modify Technical Specifications for Use of AREVA Advanced W1 7 HTP Fuel (TS-SQN-2011-07)," dated November 14, 2011 on recycled Printed paper

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 2 May 15, 2012

5. Letter from NRC to TVA, "Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 -

Request for Additional Information Regarding the Proposed [sic]

Technical Specification Changes to Allow Use of AREVA Advanced W17 High Thermal Performance Fuel (TAC Nos. ME6538 and ME6539), dated February 8, 2012

6. Letter from TVA to NRC, "Response to NRC Second Request for Additional Information Regarding Application to Modify Technical Specifications for Use of AREVA Advanced W1 7 HTP Fuel (TS-SQN-2011-07)," dated March 23, 2012

7. Electronic Mail from NRC to TVA, "LAR for TAC ME6538/6539 (Sequoyah 1 & 2 - Use of AREVA Advanced W17 HTP Fuel)," dated April 4, 2012

8. Letter from TVA to NRC, "Response to NRC Third Request for Additional Information Regarding Application to Modify Technical Specifications for Use of AREVA Advanced W1 7 HTP Fuel (TS-SQN-2011-07) (TAC Nos. ME6538 and ME6539)," dated April 26, 2012

9. Electronic Mail from NRC to TVA, "Sequoyah, Units 1 & 2 - AREVA W17 HTP Fuel Transition (TAC Nos. ME6538 and ME6539)," dated May 2, 2012 The purpose of this letter is to provide a response to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) request for additional information (RAI) transmitted to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) by electronic mail (email) on May 2, 2012 (Reference 9) regarding the proposed Technical Specification (TS) changes for Sequoyah Nuclear Plant (SQN), Units 1 and 2, allowing use of AREVA Advanced W1 7 High Thermal Performance (HTP) fuel.

By letter dated June 17, 2011 (Reference 1), TVA submitted a request to the NRC for amendment to the TSs for SQN, Units 1 and 2. The amendment request proposed to allow use of AREVA Advanced W17 HTP fuel at SQN. In a letter dated July 27, 2011 (Reference 2), TVA provided supplemental information requested by the NRC on July 21, 2011, in a telephone call between TVA and NRC representatives. By letter dated October 14, 2011 (Reference 3), the NRC forwarded the first RAI regarding the proposed changes to the TSs. TVA provided the response to this first RAI in a letter dated November 14, 2011 (Reference 4). A second RAI regarding the proposed TS changes was forwarded to TVA in a letter dated February 8, 2012 (Reference. 5). TVA provided the response to the second RAI in a letter dated March 23, 2012 (Reference 6).

On April 4, 2012, the NRC transmitted a third RAI by email (Reference 7) involving the Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) analyses supporting the proposed use of AREVA Advanced W17 HTP fuel at SQN. Following a telephone conference call between TVA and NRC representatives held on April 9, 2012, TVA agreed to provide an analysis of

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 3 May 15, 2012 the effects of fuel clad swelling, rupture, and relocation, and also provide a discussion of the cause of the apparent negative trend of the post-LOCA reactor vessel downcomer liquid level transient, with confirmation that this trend does not continue.

TVA provided the requested analysis and confirmation in a letter dated April 26, 2012 (Reference 8). The NRC transmitted a fourth RAI regarding the proposed use of AREVA Advanced W17 HTP fuel at SQN in an email dated May 2, 2012 (Reference 9). to this letter contains TVA's responses to the RAI transmitted in the Reference 9 email correspondence. These responses include information provided by AREVA NP Inc. (AREVA NP) which they consider to be proprietary in nature, pursuant to 10 CFR 2.390, "Public inspections, exemptions, requests for withholding," paragraph (a)(4). It is requested that this information be withheld from public disclosure. provides a redacted version of Enclosure 1 that is suitable for public disclosure. to this letter contains the affidavit supporting the request for withholding the information from public disclosure. No other changes have been made to the previous submittals regarding the proposed TS amendment to allow use of AREVA Advanced W17 HTP fuel at SQN.

There are no regulatory commitments associated with this submittal. Please address any questions regarding this request to Clyde Mackaman at 423-751-2834.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on the 1 5 th day of May, 2012.

Resp ully, J. . hea" ger, Corporate Nuclear Licensing

Enclosures:

1. ANP-2970Q2(P), Revision 000, Sequoyah Units 1 and 2 HTP Fuel Realistic Large Break LOCA Analysis, May 2012 (Proprietary Version)

2. ANP-2970Q2(NP), Revision 000, Sequoyah Units 1 and 2 HTP Fuel Realistic Large Break LOCA Analysis, May 2012 (Non-Proprietary Version)

3. AREVA NP Affidavit cc (Enclosures):

NRC Regional Administrator - Region II NRC Senior Resident Inspector - Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Director, Division of Radiological Health - Tennessee State Department of Environment and Conservation