ML20079N397
| ML20079N397 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Byron  |
| Issue date: | 01/24/1984 |
| From: | Reed C COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO. |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20079N384 | List: |
| References | |
| ISSUANCES-OL, NUDOCS 8401300207 | |
| Download: ML20079N397 (4) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING APPEAL BOARD In the Matter of
)
Docket Nos. STN 50-454 OL
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STN 50-455 OL COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY
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(Byron Nuclear Power Station,
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Units 1 and 2)
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AFFIDAVIT OF CORDELL REED My name is Cordell Reed.
I am Vice President of Commonwealth Edison Company.
My office address is P.
O.
Box 767, Chicago, Illinois 60690.
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana.
I have worked with Commonwealth Edison Company for about twenty years.
During that time I have been involved in the design and operation of coal fired genera ing stations and in the construction, operation and design of nuclear power stations.
I have also held various supervisory positions in our Nuclear Engineering Department.
At the present time, I have overall management responsibilities for the Company's nuclear activities, including nuclear station operations, the nuclear engineering department, nuclear fuel management activities, and nuclear licensing.
The purpose of this affidavit is to explain the construction status of Byron Unit 1.
Traditionally the 8401300207 840124 PDR ADOCK 05000454 O
. industry and the NRC use target fuel load dates to describe the estimated end of significant construction activities at a nuclear power plant.
However, even after fuel is loaded there is a lengthy period, which varies in duration from plant to plant, during which some preoperational tests not required to load fuel are completed and during which start-up tests at vary-ing power levels must be carried out before the unit begins to provide significant power on a sustained basis.
As Mr. Heumann explains, delays in start-up result in significant increased costs to the utility which owns a nuclear power plant, and to its customers.
Commonwealth Edison's most recent target fuel load date for Byron Unit 1 was February 15, 1984.
This was announced at the beginning of October, 1983.
Based on construction progress since that time, we believe that we have about a 50%
chance of being ready to load fuel on that date.
We believe that we have a 90% chance of being ready to load fuel no later than March 15, 1984.
These estimates are based on the assumption that had the Licensing Board's decision been favor-able the NRC Staff would have allowed us to defer certain pre-operational tests until after fuel loading.
The preoperational tests to be deferred would have been those necessary to demonstrate the operability of systems not required by our technical specifications prior to initial criticality.
Since in recent years the NRC Staff has granted us similar deferrals in connection with initial fuel loading at LaSalle Units 1 and
2, and has also granted such deferrals for other plants, we believe it was reasonable for us to assume this could also be done for. Byron Unit 1.1/
As a result of the Licensing Board's Initial Decision denying our application, we will have to defer fuel loading as long as possible in our final construction and start-up sequence.
We can do this, for example, by performing all pre-operational tests prior to fuel load and by conducting further tests to assure that the power ascension program after fuel loading is not interrupted because of the necessity for minor repairs to various plant systems We can postpone loading fuel without significant adverse effect on start-up until July 1, 1984, at the latest.
We have a high degree of confidence that all construction activities and preoperational tests will be completed by July 1, 1984.
I want to emphasize that postponement of fuel loading until after completion of preoperational and other testing of plant systems is a response to the Licensing Board's decision.
It is not due to con-struction delays.
1/
While Commonwealth Edison has had preliminary discussions with Region III concerning these proposed deferrals, as of January 13, 1984 we had not made a formal request for deferral of specific tests.
We do not now plan to make such a request, since the Licensing Board's adverse decision means we no longer have a basis for doing so.
once fuel is loaded, start up will take place rapidly.
For example, we believe Byron 1 can achieve reliable 50% power generation four months after fuel load.
This four month estimate may be somewhat optimistic, but we believe it is achievable.
I believe July 1, 1984 represents a conservative estimate of the date when Byron Unit 1 will be ready to start up and an operating license authorizing fuel loading and low power testing will be needed.
The statements contained in this affidavit are true and correct, to the best of my knowledge and belief.
C dt k%-
Cordell Reed Vice President Commonwealth Edison Company Subscribed and sw po to before me this JY -' day of January, 1984.
Notary Public My Commission Expjres Januari 14.1981 t
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