ML17037B757

Letter Replying to 03/05/1975 Letter Requesting Information on What the NRC Is Doing About the Spent Fuel Storage Problem

ML17037B757
Person / Time
Site:	Nine Mile Point
Issue date:	04/02/1975
From:	Goller K Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Caplan R Ecology Action of Oswego
References
Download: ML17037B757 (10)

Text

Bocket Fo. 50-220 Hs.

Ruth Cap lan, Pres iden t'cology Action of Oswego Box 94

Oswego, New York 13126 Bear tfs. Caplan:

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SATeets (w/incoming)

MGroff (NRR-70)

EHughes (w/incoming)

EPeyton Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.

NRR Rdg

" Your letter dated Parch 5,; 1975 to the Nuclear Regul'atory Co>Emission (MRC) requested information'n what the MRC is doing about the spent'uel

.storage problem at the niagara MIohawl Power Corporation's Mine 14ile Point Nuclear Station Unit l.

You also requested NRC's opinion of Niagara t'.ohawlcls use of a potentially unsafe storage area in the event of an

'mergency.

The design capacity of the bine Tfile Point Unit 1 spent fuel storage pool reflects industry practice and provides for the storage of fuel assemblies.

equivalent to about one and one-half core loadings.

At the present time there is just oyer one-half (i.e.,

56 percent) of a full core loading stored in the" pool.

Provisions for onsite storage facilities for spent 'fuel, includinp assurance of subcritical arrays, adequacy of cooling, provisions for handlinp fuel assemblies and spent fuel shipping; casks and analyses of potential consequences of postulated accidents are evaluated during our review of applications for construction permits and operating licenses.

Me h'ave found the-Mine Nile Point Unit 1 spent fuel storage pool and it's intended function to be acceptable.

As noted, sufficient storage space is not available in the spent fuel pool aW Nine Nile Point Unit 1 to store all of the fuel presently contained in the reactor core.

Xf the avai1able storage space is filled and additional fuel cannot be unloaded from the reactor core, a delay in the return of the reactor to power operation could result, however',.

we do not consider this to be a safety problem.

The NRC is aware. that Niagara Lrohawk is considering different solutions to the storage problem, including modifications to the

~ control rod storage racks that would increase onsite st'orage capacity.

Xn this regard, other nuclear power faci1ity licerisees are considering various approach~

,toward the alleviation of their similar problems.

To date, Niagara Nohawk has rot submitted any requests for approval of proposed chang in the Mine Hile Point Unit 1 facility tp increase the onsite spent fuel storage capacity.

Zf and when they, propose to v.:eke changes, includinp the use of the control rod storage racks to increase the SEE PREVIOUS YELLOW FOR CONCURRENCE CHAIN OFF ICED SURNAME+

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Ruth C

lan, President Ecology Acti n of Oswego Box 94

Oswego, Kew Yor 13126 D

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MGroff (NRR-70)

EHughes (w/incomin'g)

EPeyton Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.

NRR Rdg

Dear Ns. Caplan:

Your letter dated Narc S,

1975 to the Nuclear Regulatory CorERiSsion (QtC) requested information on what the NRC is doing about the spent fuel storage problem at the Nia sra mohawk Power Corporation's Nine Bile Point Nuclear St'stion Unit l.

Yo also requested BRC's opinion of Niagara hohsott'o use of a potentially unsafe stotspe sess in 'tpe event nf an emergency.

'lhe design capacity of the Nine hi

. Point Unit 1 spent fuel storage pool reflects industry practice and rovides for the storage of fuel assemblies equivalent to about one ano one-half core loadings, At.the present tire there is just 'over one-hal (i.e.,

56 percent) of a full cole loading stored in the pool, Provisi ns for onsite storage facilities for spent fuel, including assurance of subc itical arrays, adeauacy of coolingp provisions for handling fuel assemb

'es and spent fuel shippinp casks and analyses of potential consequences o

postulated accidents are e'valuated during our review of applications for onstruction permits and operating licenses.

tie have found the Nine Bile

> int Unit 1 spent fuel storage pool and its intended function to be a.eptable.

As noted,, sufficient storage space is not available in he spent fuel pool at Nine ?)lie Point Unit 1 to store.all of the fuel

l. esently contained in the reactor core.

If the available storage s

ce is filled and additional fuel cannot be unloaded from the reactor core a delay in" the retur of the r4 actor to power operation ould result J fiick do

+o The NRC is aware that 'Niagara L'ahab k is co idering different sol tions to the storage

problem, including modifications to the control rod torare racks that would increase onsite stoppage capacity.

In this regard, other nuclear power facility licensees are considering various approaches toward the alleviation of their similar problems.

'lo dat:e, Niagara tiahawk has not submit:ted any requests for approval of proposed changes in the Nine 4'fi).e Point Unit 1 facility to increase the ansi'pent fuel st'orage capacity.= If ancI when they propose to make chanpes,'nc1udinp th>> nce fs 9

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capacity, the HPC will review and evaluate the proposal in accordance with existing regulations to establish that there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered.

1 I hope that these cormnents are responsive to your enquiry.

Xf we can be of further assistance, please'o not hesitate to contact us.

Since'rely, pz igf.nal SignetBY K. R, Gollor Karl R. Goller, Assistant Director for Operating ReaCtors Division of Reactor Licensing OFFICEt$

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Docket No. 50-220 Ms, Ruth Caplan, Prosidont Ecology Action of Oswego Box 94

Oswego, New York 13126 Dear Ms.

C

)an:

DISTRIBUTION:

NRC PDR Local PDR Docket ORBS3 Rdg NRR Rdg EGCase AGiambusso CJDeBevec GLear SATeets (w/incoming)

'MGroff gKX (NRR-70)

EHughes (w/ incoming)

EPeyton N2.agara Mohawk Power Corp.

Your letter da ed March 5, 1975 to tho Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requested info

-tion on what the NRC is doing about tho spent fuel storago problem a the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation's Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station Un>

1.

You also requested NRC's opinion of Niagaxa Mohawk's use of a po ntially unsafe storage area in the ovent of an emergency.

As you have noted, storag space is not availablo in the spent fuel storage pool at Nine Milo P nt Unit 1 to storo all of the fuel presently contained in the reactor core The design capacity of tho Nine Mile Point Unit 1 fuel storage pool eflects industry practice and docs not reflect an NRC requirement.

The o is no NRC requirement for providing or retaining spent fuel storage sp ce in onsite storage facility pools.

Any proposed provisions for onsito orage facilitios for spent fuel, including assurance of subcritical ar ys, adoquacy of cooling, provisions for handling fuel assemblies and spent uel shipping casks and analyses of potential consequences of postulated cidents are evaluated duxing our reviow of applications for construction pe its and operating licenses.

We also review any licensee proposal for inc oased capability to store spent fuel when tho proposal involves an "unr. iewed safety question" or a change in the facility's "Technical Specif ations" (the latter is a part of the operating license).

Tho NRC does not consider the present lack of space store a full coro in tho Nine Mil'e Point Unit 1 spont fuel pool to be a foty problem.

We have already reviewed and found this storage facilit and its intonded function to be acceptable.

If the available stoxage space is filled and additional fuel'st be unloaded fxom the reactor core, the lack of storage spaco at t facility could result in a delay in tho return of the reactor to power op ation.

A delay in the return of a reactor to power operation following a hutdown for fuel reloading is not an unsafe condition.

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Ms. Ruth Caplan The~eRG is aware that Niagara Mohawk is considering different solutions to e storage problem, including modifications to the control rod storage rack that would increase onsite storage capacity.

Xn this regard, other clear power facility licensees are considering various approaches toward t e alleviation of their similar pxoblems.

To date, Ni ara Mohawk has not submitted any xequosts for approval of proposed chan es in the Nine Mile Point Unit 1 facility to increase the onsite spent f 1 storage capacity. If and when'hey propose to make

changes, includi the use of the control rod storage racks to increase the onsite storage capacity, the NRC will review and evaluate the proposal in accord e with existing regulations to establish that there is reasonable a surance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered.

I hope that these comments are responsive to your enquiry.

Xf we can be of further assistance, p

ase do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely, Ka R. Goller, Assistant Director fo Operating Reactors Divisx n of Reactor Licensing ORI ICK~

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