ML19275A723
| ML19275A723 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Calvert Cliffs  |
| Issue date: | 09/24/1979 |
| From: | Reid R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Conlon P AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7910190024 | |
| Download: ML19275A723 (2) | |
Text
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- l WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
- iby'?..y i NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION e
\\ *....f September 24, 1979 e
Dockets No Mr. Peter Conlon 17920 New Hampshire Avenue Ashton, Maryland 20702
Dear Mr. Conlon:
This is to respond to your letter of August 30, 1979 in regards to the August 7, 1979 Federal Register notice relating to the planned expansion of the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant spent fuel pool capacity.
In a light water reactor such as the Calvert Cliffs units, the source of heat to generate steam is enriched uranium, comparable to oil or coal used as the source of heat in a fossil-fired plant.
The uranium is sealed in metal tubes, which are fabricated together to form fuel assemblies. During oper-ation, the enrichment of the uranium. gradually decreases.
Eventually, a point is reached where, considering reduced power generation and cost of new fuel, it is no longer cost effective to operate with the used fuel. At this point, the fuel is referred to as " spent" and is replaced. At this point, only approximately 75% of the uranium has been used.
During the process, plutonium is generated, which is also usable as fuel.
Starting in the 1950's, when the first nuclear power plants were designed, and continuing until 1977, the national policy was that the usable uranium and plutonium in the spent fuel would be recovered by reprocessing the fuel and recycled back to the reactor (i.e., used in the fabrication of replacement fuel assemblies).
The basis for recycling the " recovered" fuel was to reduce the costs of power production.
In April 197'7, President Carter issued his energy policy. To eliminate the possibility that plutonium in spent fuel might be diverted to non-peaceful uses, the President stated that "We will defer indefinitely the comercial reprocessing and recycling of the plutonium produced in the U. S. nuclear power program". The plan included provisions for the Federal government to construct a permanent repository where the spent fuel could be stored indefinitely under government control.
Studies are underway on the design and possible location of a permanent repository for spent fuel from all nuclear power plants. In the neantime, unt_il the governnent storage facility is completed, the spent fuel nust be stored at the nuclear power plants.
1179 030 7910190OtM H
Mr. Peter Conlon
, 2-As a result of the above change in national policy, in August 1977 Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BG&E) requested approval to incrm se the storage capacity of the spent fuel pool at Calvert Cliffs from the original design storage of 410 fuel assemblies to 1056 fuel assemblies.
The purpose was to permit storage of the spent fuel onsite until the pernanent government repository was available.
After a detailed evaluatian, we approved this request on January 4, 1978.
A copy of our evaluation is enclosed.
It now appears that the schedule for construction of the permanent government repository has slipped (or was initially overly optimistic). Because of this delay in the schedule for completing the permanent government repository, in July 19/9 BG&E again requested approval for an additional increase in the storage capacity of the onsite spent fuel pools to a total of 1,368 fuel assemblies.
At present, the installed storage capacity of 728 fuel assemblies is adequate to accommodate operation of both Calvert Cliffs units until the end of 1982.
The current licensed limit of 1,056 fuel assemblies would add storage for four additional refuelings allowing operation of both units through 1984.
The proposed increased capacity would accomodate operation of both units through most of 1987.
Our review of this request will probably not be completed for several months.
When it is completed, I will send you a copy of the safety evaluation.
BG&E is actively pursuing a plan to increase the approximate refueling cycle (the time of operation between refuelings) from the current 12 months to a refueling cycle approaching 18 months. When this program is completed in a few years, the amount of spent fuel produced will be reduced.
We appreciate your comments and hope that this letter satisfactorily responds to your questions.
Sincerely,
//
l-t Robert W. Reid, Chief Operating Reactors Branch #4 Division of Operating Reactors
Enclosure:
Amendments 27 & 12 to Calvert Cliffs 1 & 2 dtd.1/4/78 cc:
Mr. A. E. Lundvall, Jr.
Vice President - Supply Baltimore Gas & Electric Company P. O. Box 1475 Baltimore, MD 21203 1179 031