ML19263C632

State of Wi Answers to Licensee'S First Set of Interrogatories.Responds to Interrogatories 1-22,except for Interrogatory 5 Re Proposed Increase in Spent Fuel Storage

ML19263C632
Person / Time
Site:	Kewaunee
Issue date:	12/26/1978
From:	Walsh P WISCONSIN, STATE OF
To:
Shared Package
ML19263C631	List: ML19263C630 ML19263C632
References
NUDOCS 7902280060
Download: ML19263C632 (5)

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5. Answering interrogatory number six (6), the state does not knew whether the neutron absorber materials pro-posed for use in the Kewaunee spent fuel pcol are similar to those used at the Connecticut-Yankee facility.

6. Answering interrogatory number seven (7), there is an insufficient scientific and experimental basis for assuming long-term integrity of the neutron absorber placed over the life of the license. To the state's knowledge spent fuel has not been stored in pools for periods of time longer than approximately twenty (20) years, considerably less than the (forty) 40-year period of the proposed license.

Therefore, cumulative, long-term effects on spent fuel and associated components such as neutron absorber plates are unknown at this time.

7. Answering interrogatory number eight (8), the answer is "yes."

8. Answering interrogatory number nine (9), monitoring is botb. dcsirable and necessary to insure the integrity of the neutron absorber plates over the life of the license.

Monitoring could include visual inspections of absorber plates through the use of TV cameras or other remote sensing, if necessary, to continual monitoring of pool water to determine if degradation, swelling or other effects are occuring, andthroug$ periodic,perhapsquarterly,withdrawalof specific neutron absorber plates for testing purposes.

9. Answering interrogatory number ten (10), this interrgatory refers to the intervenor's own definition of its contention twelve (12), to which the state is not a party.

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10. Arswering interrogatroy number eleven (11), based upo'n your answer to intervenor's interrogatory number one (1), contention twelve (12), there will be a small increase in the level of generated wastes due to the proposed modifi-cation.

11. Answering interrogatory number twelve (12), based upon your answer to intervenor's interrogatory number one .

(1) , contention twelve (12), this number cannot be calcu-lated, but will be small.

12, Answering interrogatory number thirteen (13),

any increase in wastes due to the spent fuel pool must be considered and balanced by the hearing board in its deter-mination concerning whether to issue a license for the pro-posed modification.

13. Answering interrogatory number fourteen (14),

it is unclear what effect borated water will have upon the materials in the spent fuel pool over the life of the license.

._ 14. Answering interrogatory number fifteen (15), gal-vanic corrosion could occur over the long-term due to inter-actions in the Zircaloy-stainless steel-boric acid environ-ment, which will be present in the pool. Over the long-term, deterioration of these materials could occur. Radiation and temperature may also affect long-term corrosion rates.

15. Answering interrogatory number sixteen (16),'a testing program to determine the effect of corrosion rate upon the integrity of materials in the spent fuel pcol over the period of the license is needed.

16. Answering interrogatory number sevenreen (17),

the specific effects detailed in intervenor's contention 6 -

13b may become significant due to the cumulative effects of radiation, temperature, pool chemistry, etc. Experimental data concerning the effect of the time of pool residence upon the rates of reactions of effects listed in contention 13b is at present insufficient to state that these effects will be insignificant over the entire time period of the license.

17. Answering interrogatory number eighteen (18),

there is potential for electrolysis to occur where the Zircaloy and stainless steel come in contact.

18. Answering interrogatory number nineteen (19),

Zircaloy and stainless steel could be subject to electrolytic affects. The effect of the borated water, the temperature, and surface area ratio on the rate of reaction over the long-term is unknown.

19. Answering interrogatory number twenty (20), cor-rosive affects due to concentration of corrosive species

- such as chlorides could occur. Corrosive rates could also be influenced by the formation of differential aeration cells, leading to electro-chemical potentials between areas of high and low oxygen concentration. Effect on fuel rod integrity over the long-term due to such conditions in the crud layers has not been experimentally determined.

20. Answering interrogatory number twenty-one (21),

it is impossible to predict the thickness of crud layer which will build up in the Kewaunee spent fuel pool.

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21. Answering interrogatory number twenty-two (22),

oxygen or oxides could be trapped within the crud layers, forming a differential aeration cell. Electrochemical poten-tials between areas of high and low oxygen concentration could create a situation where the fuel clad would become anodic and be subject to corrosive attack.

Dated this U /, day of W! w/ 4; , 1978.

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~P'ATRICK WALSH Assistant Attorney General Department of Justice 114 East, State Capitol Madison, Wisconsin 53702 M M