ML19211C426

Response in Opposition to Jf Doherty Contention 45. Intervenor Failed to Identify Viable Basis for Alleged Insufficiency of Reactor Design to Withstand Lateral Force Applied to Core.Petition Untimely.Certificate of Svc Encl

ML19211C426
Person / Time
Site:	Allens Creek File:Houston Lighting and Power Company icon.png
Issue date:	12/18/1979
From:	Copeland J, Newman J BAKER & BOTTS, HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO.
To:	Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel
References
NUDOCS 8001110344
Download: ML19211C426 (6)

Text

-

s _

/$ ~' 'l[}

42 3 fy.? 0

'e  ??  ;-

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ,S '

j' NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION i s FN Y, -

BEFORE THE ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOA s.

-4 v.

• ?.%

JU2$

?

In the Matter of S S

HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER S COMPANY S Docket No. 50-466 S

(Allens Creek Nuclear S Generating Station, Unit S No. 1)

APPLICANT'S RESPONSE TO JOHN F. DOHERTY'S CONTENTION #45 Applicant files this response to the motion of Intervenor, John F. Doherty, for admission into this proceeding of an untimely contention related to lateral support for the reactor core. For the reasons set out below, the motion should be denied.

First, Intervenor has failed to identify any viable basis for this contention. Intervenor's only concern described in this contention is that the ACNGS reactor design (specifically, the fuel spacer grids) "is not sufficient to withstand the lateral force applied to the core due to flashing which' occurs near the end of the subcooled blowdown portion of the LOCA transient." In turn, Intervenor's sole support for the one concern is NUREG/CR-1018, " Review of LWR Fuel System Mechanical Response With Recommendations for Component Acceptance Criteria." Intervenor's critical 1736 005 8 00111 o j3 5/j/

G

relianw on NUREG/CR-1018 is totally misplaced, however.

The calculation of lateral forces which are of concern to Intervenor is a significant analytical problem only in open lattice reactor cores (i.e., certain types of PWR cores) and is not a concern in BWR cores where the fuel assemblies are enclosed in fuel channel boxes. See Section 4, p. 13 of NUREG/CR-1018 and Appendix B , " Analysis of Three-Dimensional Effects on PWR Blowdewn Heat Transfer." Moreover, Intervenor's concern over the adequacy of the margins used in lateral support design is not supported, but refuted by his single reference. NUREG/CR-1018 specifically states that

" Additional margin, such as discussed above for LOCA forces, is not applicable if a linear bounding analysis can be justified. Linear response analysis techniques are well defined." (p. 14). As recognized in the NUREG, General Electric does in fact employ a linear bounding analysis in calculating combined SSE and LOCA loads (p. 37).-1/In summary, even if Intervenor's general concerns were applicable to ACNGS, the specific remedy.is still not applicable given the recognized, conservative design techniques employed.

1/ This methodology l as been specifically approved by the NRC Staff. See J' tter fror. Olin D. Parr to G. G.

Sherwood, dated May 17, 1979, approving NEDE-21175-P.

1736 006

Finally, Mr. Doherty's contention is untimely filed without an adequate showing of good cause as required by 10 C.F.R., S2. 714 (al . Mr. Doherty's sole excuse for belatedly raising this issue is the September, 1972, publication of NUREG/CR-1018. However, as we have discussed above, NUREG/CR-1018 provides no basis to support Mr. Doherty's contention and therefore cannot be relied upon as justification for failing to file the contention on a timely basis. A petitioner has a heavy burden in justifying an untimely filing when he has failed to establish " good cause." Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. (West Valley Reprocessing Plant) CLI 4, 1 NRC 273 (1975). Mr. Doherty has not carried this burden with his brief and unconvincing discussion of the other f actors set forth in Section 2.714 (a) . Accordingly, the Board should dismiss this contention as untimely filed.

Respectfully submitted,

(. D OF COUNSEL: J. Gregory Copeland V C. Thomas Biddle, Jr.

BAKER & BOTTS Charles G. Thrash, Jr.

3000 One Shell Plaza 3000 One Shell Plaza Houston, Texas 77002 Houston, Texas 77002 LOWENSTEIN, NEWMAN, REIS, Jack R. Newman AXELRAD & TOLL Robert H. Culp 1025 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. 1025 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036 Washington, D.C.

ATTORNEYS FOR APPLICANT HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER COMPANY 1736 007

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BEFORE THE ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICFNSING BOARD In the Matter of S S

HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER COMPANY S Docket No. 50-466 S

(Allens Creek Nuclear Generating S Station, Unit 1) S CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that copies of the foregoing Applicant's Response to John F. Doherty's Contention #45 in the above-captioned proceeding were served on the following by deposit in the United States mail, postage-prepaid, or by hand-delivery this /f day of 7XC6D \ AP/', 1979.

Sheldon J. Wolfe, Esq., Chairman Richard Lowerre, Esq.

Atomic Safety and Licensing Assistant Attorney General Board Panel for the State of Texas U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 12548 Washington, D. C. 20555 Capitol Station Austin, Texas 78711 Dr. E. Leonard Cheatum Route 3, Box 350A Hon. Charles J. Dusek Watkinsville, Georgia 30677 Mayor, City of Wallis P. O. Box 312 Mr. Gustave A. Linenberger Wallis, Texas 77485 Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Hon. Leroy H. Grebe U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission County Judge, Austin County Washington, D. C. 20555 P. O. Box 99 Bellville, Texas 77418 Chase R. Stephens Docketing and Service Section Atomic Safety and Licensing Office of the Secretary of the Appeal Board Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 Washington, D. C. 20555 R. Gordon Gooch, Esq. Atomic Safety and Licensing Baker & Botts Board Panel 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Washington, D. C. 20006 Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 1736 008

Steve Sohinki, Esq. Carolina Conn Staff Counsel 1414 Scenic Ridge U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Houston, Texas 77043 Washington, D. C. 20555 Elinore P. Cumings John F. Doherty Route 1, Box 138V 4327 Alconbury Street Rosenberg, Texas 77471 Houston, Texas 77021 Stephen A. Doggett, Esq.

Robert S. Framson P. O. Box 592 Madeline Bass Framson Rosenberg, Texas 77471 4822 Waynesboro Drive Houston, Texas 77035 Robin Griffith 1034 Sally Ann Carro Hinderstein Rosenberg, Texas 77471 8739 Link Terrace Houston, Texas 77025 Leotis Johnston 1407 Scenic Ridge D. Marrack Houston, Texas 77043 420 Mulberry Lane Bellaire, Texas 77401 Rosemary N. Lemmer 11423 Oak Spring Brenda McCorkle Houston, Texas 77043 6140 Darnell Houston, Texas 77074 Kathryn Otto Route 2, Box 62L F. H. Potthoff, III Richmond, Texas 77469 7200 Shady Villa, #110 Houston, Texas 77055 Frances Pavlovic 111 Datonia Wayne E. Rentfro Bellaire, Texas 77401 P. O. Box 1335 Rosenberg, Texas 77471 Charles Perez 1014 Montrose James M. Scott, Jr. Houston, Texas 77019 8302 Albacore Houston, Texas 77074 William Schuessler 5810 Darnell Bryan L. Baker Houston, Texas 77074 1118 Montrose Houston, Texas 77019 Patricia L. Strelein Route 2, Box 395C Dorothy F. Carrick Richmond, Texas Box 409., Wagon Rd. Rfd. #1 Wallis, Texas 77485 1736 009

Glen Van Slyke 1739 Marshall Houston, Texas 77098 Donald D. Weaver P. O. Drawer V Simonton, Texas 77476 Connie Wilson 11427 Oak Spring Houston, Texas 77043 Mr. J. Morgan Bishop 11418 Oak Spring Houston, Texas 77043 C. Thomas Biddle, Jr.

1736 010