ML18249A049

Closeout of Generic Letter 2016-01, Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools (CAC Nos. MF9449 and MF9450; EPID L-2016-LRC-0001)

ML18249A049
Person / Time
Site:	Calvert Cliffs
Issue date:	09/26/2018
From:	Doug Broaddus Special Projects and Process Branch
To:	Bryan Hanson Exelon Generation Co
WALL S, 415-2855
References
CAC MF9449, CAC MF9450, EPID L-2016-LRC-0001
Download: ML18249A049 (3)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 Mr. Bryan C. Hanson Senior Vice President Exelon Generation Company, LLC President and Chief Nuclear Officer Exelon Nuclear 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 September 26, 2018 0MB Control No. 3150-0231

SUBJECT:

CALVERT CLIFFS NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, UNITS 1 and 2 - CLOSEOUT OF GENERIC LETTER 2016-01, "MONITORING OF NEUTRON-ABSORBING MATERIALS IN SPENT FUEL POOLS" (CAC NOS. MF9449 AND MF9450; EPID L-2016-LRC-0001)

Dear Mr. Hanson:

On April 7, 2016, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Generic Letter (GL) 2016-01, "Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools" (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML16097A169), to address the degradation of neutron-absorbing materials (NAMs) in wet storage systems for reactor fuel at power and non-power reactors.

The generic letter requested that licensees provide information to allow the NRC staff to verify continued compliance through effective monitoring to identify and mitigate any degradation or deformation of NAMs credited for criticality control in spent fuel pools (SFPs).

By letter dated November 3, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16308A470), as supplemented by letter dated January 25, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18025A799), Exelon Generation Company, LLC (the licensee), responded to GL 2016-01 for Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (Calvert Cliffs), Units 1 and 2. In the licensee's response to GL 2016-01, as supplemented, the licensee stated that, for Calvert Cliffs, Unit 2, no NAMs are currently credited to meet NRC's subcritically requirements in the SFP. The NRC staff performed a thorough review of the licensee's response, any documents referenced therein, and other applicable licensing basis documents. Based on the review, the NRC staff concludes that the licensee has correctly identified that the Calvert Cliffs, Unit 2, licensing basis is consistent with the criteria for Category 1 as defined in GL 2016-01.

In the licensee's response to GL 2016-01, as supplemented, the licensee stated that, for Calvert Cliffs, Unit 1, the licensee credits Carborundum for criticality control and has an established NAM monitoring program. The NRC staff's review determined that the provided response sufficiently addressed the five areas of information described in Appendix A of GL 2016-01 for

Carborundum. In particular, the described monitoring program for the Carborundum includes the following key features:

Neutron attenuation testing of coupons.

Established processes to ensure that the licensee will take the appropriate corrective actions if any potentially non-conforming material is discovered.

A testing frequency not to exceed 4 years.

Acceptance criteria to ensure maintenance of the 5-percent subcriticality margin for the SFP.

The NRC staff found that the licensee intends to continue monitoring the condition of its NAMs as described in its response.

For Calvert Cliffs, Units 1 and 2, the NRC staff's review determined that the information provided sufficiently addressed the five areas of information described in Appendix A to GL 2016-01. Based on the review of the information provided, the NRC staff concludes no further information is requested regarding GL 2016-01.

Docket Nos. 50-317 and 50-318 cc: ListServ Sincerely, Douglas A. Broaddus, Chief Special Projects and Process Branch Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

ML18249A049 OFFICE NRR/DORULSPB/PM NRR/DORULPL 1/PM*

NAME SWall MMarshall DATE 9/25/18 9/19/18 OFFICE NRR/DMLR/MCCB/BC* NRR/DIRS/IRGB/BC*

NAME SBloom BPham DATE 9/25/18 9/17/18 NRR/DORULAiT PTalukdar 9/13/18 NRR/DSS/SNPB/BC*

Rlukes 9/17/18