ML19269D587
| ML19269D587 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | North Anna  |
| Issue date: | 05/30/1979 |
| From: | Proffitt W VIRGINIA POWER (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC & POWER CO.) |
| To: | Harold Denton, Parr O Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| 414, NUDOCS 7906050251 | |
| Download: ML19269D587 (2) | |
Text
(-w VxnorwxA Ex.ncrrtic Ann Pownzt COMPA}rY Rictruoxx).VinorurA 20c01 May 30, 1979 Mr. Harold R. Denton, Director Serial No. 414 Office of Nuc1 car Reactor Regulation LQA/ESG:esh Attn:
Mr. O. D. Parr, Chief Light Water Reactors Branch No. 3 Docket No. 50-339 Division of Project Management U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555
Dear Mr. Denton:
We understand from the Staff that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has imposed a three month moratorium on the issuance of new operating IIcenses.
As you know, this action will have a significant adverse impact on Vepco, as construction of North Anna Unit 2 is nearing completion. As we have previously Informed members of the Staff, the unit will be ready for fuel loading by June 26, 1979.
We continue to believe that there is no reason an operating license cannot be issued for North Anna 2 by June 26. We have responded to all requests for information from the Staff and we know of no outstanding issue which should preclude fuel loading. We have responded to all Staff questions on the Three Mile Island incident, and we stand ready to continue to work with the Staff on this matter. To arbitrarily deny licensing for another three months will cause severe adverse effects on the financial well being of this Company and result in additional burdens on our ratepayers, due primarily to the tremendous costs of replacement power and the additional costs from interest charged to construc-tion.
In addition, our power supply situation this summer will be critical with-out the benefit of North Anna 2.
If the Staff continues to deny permission for North Anna 2 to operate, we then propose that the unit at least be allowed to load fuel when it is ready to do so.
The unit can be restricted to a modified Mode 5 (cold shutdown) status with Keff further restricted to equal to or less than 0.90.
Activities which can be accomplished under these restrictions will place the unit in readiness for operation, and will save two weeks when permission to operate is finally granted.
Considering the anticipated power supply situation, it is important that the ultimate ins'e?vice date is not delayed any more than is absolutely necessary.
Beyond the time savings which can be gained from permitting the unit to load fuel, there is yet another benefit which could be gained by this decision.
As you know, North Anna Unit 1 is scheduled for refueling in September 1979, and deliveries of new fuel for this reload are scheduled to begin in July.
- However, Unit 2 fuel now fills the new fuel area, and three low density racks in the spent fuel pool. Although our application to install new high density racks in the spent fuci pool was submitted on May 1,1978, approval is still pending.
The NRC Staff has recently petitioned the ASLB to delay the hearing on this appilcation until July 9,1979, about the same time as the first Unit I reload fuel shipment.
Consequently, if fuel cannot be loaded into Unit 2 on schedule, 7
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Vimonn:A Ex.rernic Ano Powra CoxPANY To Mr. Harold R. Denton 2
It will be necessary to install a significant number of the old low density racks in the spent fuel pool, only to remove them later.
We urge the Staff to act favorably on our request for permission to load fuel in Unit 2 by June 26, 1979.
Should you require any additional infor-mation, we stand ready to meet with you to discuss this request.
Very t ruly yours, M ' W.! C W. L. Proffitt Senior Vice President 2266 231