ML14171A289

NRR E-mail Capture - Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant - Draft Requests for Additional Information Amendment to Reduce Reactor Steam Dome Pressure Safety Limit

ML14171A289
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello
Issue date:	05/27/2014
From:	Beltz T Plant Licensing Branch III
To:	Loeffler R Northern States Power Co
References
MF1054
Download: ML14171A289 (3)

Text

NRR-PMDAPEm Resource From: Beltz, Terry Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 10:00 AM To: Loeffler, Richard A.

Cc: Eckholt, Gene F. (Eugene.Eckholt@xenuclear.com); Carlson, Robert; Razzaque, Muhammad; Panicker, Mathew

Subject:

Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant - Draft Requests for Additional Information re:

Amendment to Reduce Reactor Steam Dome Pressure Safety Limit (TAC No. MF1054)

Dear Mr. Loeffler:

By letter dated March 11, 2013 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)

Accession No. ML13074A811), Northern States Power Company - Minnesota (NSPM) submitted a license amendment request for the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant. The proposed amendment would reduce the reactor steam dome pressure specified within Technical Specification 2.1.1, Reactor Core SLs [Safety Limits]. This proposed change to the specified steam dome pressure is a plant-specific resolution to a 10 CFR Part 21 issue.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff in the Reactor Systems Branch of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation has determined that additional information is needed to complete its review. The draft requests for additional information (RAIs) are provided below.

You may accept this as a formal request for additional information and respond to the questions by June 27, 2014. Alternatively, you may request to discuss the content of the RAIs with the NRC staff in a conference call, including any change to the proposed response date.

Please contact me if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Sincerely, TERRY A. BELTZ, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Plant Licensing Branch III-1 (301) 415-3049 O-8E8 Terry.Beltz@nrc.gov OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION REACTOR SYSTEMS BRANCH (SRXB)

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI)

REGARDING LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST TO REDUCE THE REACTOR STEAM DOME PRESSURE VALUE 1

AS SPECIFIED IN THE REACTOR CORE SAFETY LIMITS MONTICELLO NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT (MNGP)

DOCKET NO. 50-263 (TAC NO. MF1054)

SRXB RAI # 1 Since the proposed approach for MNGP is a plant-specific resolution of the 10 CFR Part 21 issue as discussed in your submittal (Reference 1), please provide the following additional information:

1. Discuss how Northern States Power Company - Minnesota (NSPM) plans to address the Part 21 issue when the MNGP core may be a mixed-core design consisting of more than one fuel design whose critical power ratio (CPR) correlations have different lower bound pressures.

2. Describe the current MNGP core design, including the fuel types in use.

When the MNGP core transitions to a fuel design whose lower bound pressure for the CPR correlation is higher (or lower) than that of the current CPR correlation, discuss how NSPM intends to address the change. The discussion should include whether it will require a Technical Specification (TS) license amendment to address the change.

SRXB RAI # 2 In Reference 1, page 2 of 15, it was stated, While this condition had been determined by GE to not involve an actual safety hazard, the potential for violation of a Reactor Core Safety Limit had been identified and restoration to comply with the safety limit is required.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff understands that although this issue may not be an actual safety hazard, by lowering the dome pressure in TS 2.1.1 from the current value of 785 psig to the proposed value of 686 psig may prevent unnecessary reactor shutdowns as required by TS 2.2.2 if dome pressure goes below 785 psig during a transient.

Please discuss if there are any other operational and/or safety benefits of lowering dome pressure from the current value of 785 psig to 686 psig.

REFERENCE

1. Letter from John C. Grubb (NSPM) to the NRC Document Control Desk re: License Amendment Request: Reduce the Reactor Steam Dome Pressure Specified in the Reactor Core Safety Limits, dated March 11, 2013 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML13074A811).

2

Hearing Identifier: NRR_PMDA Email Number: 1392 Mail Envelope Properties (Terry.Beltz@nrc.gov20140527095900)

Subject:

Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant - Draft Requests for Additional Information re: Amendment to Reduce Reactor Steam Dome Pressure Safety Limit (TAC No. MF1054)

Sent Date: 5/27/2014 9:59:34 AM Received Date: 5/27/2014 9:59:00 AM From: Beltz, Terry Created By: Terry.Beltz@nrc.gov Recipients:

"Eckholt, Gene F. (Eugene.Eckholt@xenuclear.com)" <Eugene.Eckholt@xenuclear.com>

Tracking Status: None "Carlson, Robert" <Robert.Carlson@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Razzaque, Muhammad" <Muhammad.Razzaque@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Panicker, Mathew" <Mathew.Panicker@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Loeffler, Richard A." <Richard.Loeffler@xenuclear.com>

Tracking Status: None Post Office:

Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 3954 5/27/2014 9:59:00 AM Options Priority: Standard Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date:

Recipients Received: ZZZ