ML20045H547
| ML20045H547 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wolf Creek  |
| Issue date: | 07/13/1993 |
| From: | Black S Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Rhodes F WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORP. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9307200363 | |
| Download: ML20045H547 (4) | |
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. E' NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION C
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UNITED STATES f
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20665-0001 I
July 13, 1993
-Docket No. 50-482 Mr. Forrest T. Rhodes Vice President, Engineering Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Post Office Box 411 Burlington, Kansas 66839
Dear Mr. Rhodes:
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR WITHHOLDING INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE-By letter dated January 15,1992,. Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (WCNOC) submitted the topical report "Qualifice+. ion of Steady State Core Physics Methodology for Wolf Creek-Design and Lalysis," and requested that it be withheld from public-disclosure pursuant to.10 CFR 2.790.
An affidavit from WC'N0C, the owner of the information, was included in the
~
January 15, 1992, letter. A revised affidavit was-. submitted by letter dated-March 16, 1993. WCNOC stated that the submitted information should be considered exempt from mandatory public disclosure for the following reasons:
"(i)
The information sought to be withheld from public disclosure has been held in confidence by WCNOC. The information is of a type customarily held in confidence by other organizations and not customarily disclosed to the public.
" Based on a review of 10 CFR 2.790, the.information to be held in confidence falls in one or more of several types, the release of which i
might result in the loss of an existing or potential competitive advantage, as follows:
"(a) The information reveals the distinguishing aspects of a process or a-method, when prevention of its use by any other company without license from WCNOC constitutes a competitive economic 1
advantage over other companies.-
1
"(b) It consists of-supporting data relative to a process or.a method, the application of which secures a competitive advantage.
"(c) Its use by another company would reduce its expenditure of resources or improve its competitive position in the design,-
assurance of quality, or licensing a similar product.
"There are sound reasons behind the WCNOC position which include the following:
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-I Hr. Forrest T. Rhodes July 13,1993
"(a) It is information which is marketable in many ways.
"(b) Use by other companies would put WCN0C at a competitive disadvantage by reducing their expenditure of resources at our expense.
"(c) Each component of proprietary information pertinent to a particular competitive advantage is potentially as valuable as the total competitive advantage.
If competitors acquire components of proprietary information, any one component may be the key to the entire puzzle, thereby depriving WCNOC of a competitive advantage.
"(ii)
The information is being transmitted to the Commission in confidence and, under the provisions of 10 CFR Section 2.790, it is to be received in confidence by the Commission.
"(iii) The information sought to be protected is not available in public sources to the best of our knowledge and belief.
"(iv)
The proprietary information sought to be withheld in this submittal is the Steady State Core Physics Methodology topical report, dated December, 1991.
"The subject information could only be duplicated by competitors if they were to invest time and effort equivalent to that invested by WCNOC provided they have the requi, site talent and experience.
"Public disclosure of this information is likely to cause substantial harm to the competitive position of WCN0C because it would simplify design and evaluation tasks without requiring a commensurate investment of time and effort."
We have reviewed your submittal and the material in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR 2.790 and, on the basis of Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation's statements, have determined that the submitted information sought to be withheld contains trade secrets or proprietary commercial information.
Therefore, we have determined that the document entitled " Qualification of l
Steady State Core Physics Methodology for Wolf ' Creek Design and Analysis,"
marked as proprietary will be withheld from public disclosure pursuant to 10 CFR 2.790(b)(5) and Section 103(b) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
Withholding from public inspection shall not affect the right, if any, of persons properly and directly concerned to inspect the document.
If the need arises, we may send copies of this information to our consultants working in this area. We will, of course, ensure that the consultants have signed the appropriate agreements for handling proprietary information.
I Mr. Forrest T. Rhodes July 13,1993 If the basis for withholding this informaticn from public inspection should change in the future such that the information could then be made available for public inspection, you should promptly notify the NRC.
You should also understand that the NRC may have cause to review this determination in the future, for example, if the scope of a Freedom of Information Act request includes your information.
In all review situations, if the NRC needs additional information from you or makes a determination adverse to the above, you will be notified in advance of any public disclosure.
Sincerely, Original Signed By Suzanne C. Black, Director Project Directorate IV-2 Division of Reactor Projects III/IV/V Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc:
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Mr. Forrest T. Rhodes July 13,1993 CC*
Jay Silberg, Esq.
Mr. Otto Maynard Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge Vice President, Plant Operations 2300 N Street, NW Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Washington, D.C.
20037 P. O. Box 411 Burlington, Kansas 66839 Mr. C. John Renken Policy and Federal Department Regional Administrator, Region IV Missouri Public Service Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P. O. Box 360 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 Jefferson City, Missouri 65102 Arlington, Texas 76011 Regional Administrator, Region III Mr. Kevin J. Moles U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Manager Regulatory Services 799 Roosevelt Road Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137 P. O. Box 411 Burlington, Kansas 66839 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mr. Bart D. Withers P. O. Box 311 President and Chief Executive Officer Burlington, Kansas 66839 Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Post Office Box 411 Chief Engineer Burlington, Kansas 66839 Utilities Division Kansas Corporation Commission 1500 SW Arrowhead Road Topeka, Kansas 66604-4027 Office of the Governor State of Kansas Topeka, Kansas 66612 Attorney General 1st Floor - The Statehouse Topeka, Kansas 66612 County C' *k Coffey County Courthouse Burlington, Kansas 66839 Mr. Gerald Allen Public Health Physicist Bureau of Environmental Health Services Division of Health Kansas Department of Health and Environment 109 SW Ninth Topeka, Kansas 66612
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