ML20141B337

Forwards LAR 97-03 to License NPF-86,revising TS Administrative Control 6.8.1.6.b to Include Ref to NRC Approved W Topical Rept WCAP-12610-P-A, Vantage + Fuel Assembly Ref Core Rept

ML20141B337
Person / Time
Site:	Seabrook
Issue date:	06/19/1997
From:	Feigenbaum T NORTH ATLANTIC ENERGY SERVICE CORP. (NAESCO)
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
Shared Package
ML20141B341	List: ML20141B337 ML20141B352
References
NYN-97069, NUDOCS 9706230394
Download: ML20141B337 (3)

Text

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i m.:

i North North Atlantic Energy Service Corporation .

P.O. Box 300 j

l Atlantic seatreet. sii O3874 (603) 474-9521 The Northeast Utilities System June 19,1997 Docket No. 50-443

, NYN-97069 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Attention

Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555 -

7 Seabrook Station License Amendment Request 97-03

" Technical Snecification 6.8.1.6.b - Core Operating Limits Reoort" l North Atlantic Energy Service Corporation (North Atlantic) has enclosed herein License j Amendment Request (LAR) 97-03. License Amendment Request 97-03 is submitted pursuant to

the requirements of 10 CFR 50.90 and 10 CFR 50.4. North Atlantic requests that LAR 97-03 be reviewed on an emergency basis pursuant to 10 CFR 50.91(a)(5) and that a license amendment be issued to support the impending startup from the current refueling outage (i.e., MODE 2) on

,. an emergency basis. North Atlantic is presently in MODE 5 ascending, at the completion of ,

Refueling Outage 5, with the current best estimate for achieving criticality (MODE 2) on June 23,1997. It should be noted, however, that North Atlantic believes that there are opportunities <

, available to improve on this schedule which may result in MODE 2 being achieved earlier than June 23,1997. North Atlantic will continue to keep the NRC apprised of schedule changes that i may result in MODE 2 being achieved earlier than June 23,1997.

License Amendment Request 97-03 proposes to include an additional reference in Technical i

Specification Administrative Control 6.8.1.6.b, " Core Operating Limits Report." Technical

^

Specification Administrative Control 6.8.1.6.b specifies the NRC-approved methodologies used i to detennine the parameters specified in the Core Operating Limits Report. Specifically, the j

proposed change revises Technical Specification Administrative Control 6.8.1.6.b to include a

~ reference to an NRC approved Westinghouse topical report, WCAP-12610-P-A, " VANTAGE +

j{

~

Fuel Assembly Reference Core Report," dated April 1995. WCAP-12610-P-A describes the

. modifications in the Westinghouse Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) evaluation models which .

h

, account for the presence of and the properties of ZlRLO cladding material.

In order to prevent delay in startup of Seabrook Station, North Atlantic requests that LAR 97-03 4 be reviewed on an emergency basis pursuant to 10 CFR 50.91(a)(5). The circumstances

supporting North Atlantic's request for an emergency review are discussed below.

9706230394 970619 I PDR ADOCK 05000443 l

P PDR l

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U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NYN-97069/Page 2 4

!I j North Atlantic submitted LAR 93-18 on November 23,1993', and received NRC approval in  !

2 License Amendment 33 on November 23,1994. Amendment 33 approved a revision to the  !

, Technical Specifications to permit operation of Seabrook Station with an expanded axial flux l 1

difference band (wide-band operation). Other Technical Specification changes were also made j to allow for fuel design enhancements. Additionally, Technical Specification 6.8.1.6.b was l revised to include an updated list of analytical methods used to determine the core operating i

limits that were previously reviewed and approved by the NRC. At that time, the need to include

a reference to WCAP-12610-P-A in this Technical Specification was not recognized. )

r .

On June 18,1997, in a conference call, the NRC Staff requested that Technical Specification Administrative Control 6.8.1.6.b specifically reference WCAP-12610-P-A as a methodology used to determine the core operating limits. This methodology has been previously reviewed and l approved by the NRC. As a result, North Atlantic is submitting LAR 97-03 on an emergency  ;

basis. The proposed change to Technical Specification Administrative Control 6.8.1.6.b is to I ensure completeness in the listing of methodologies referenced to support the core operating limits. The omission of this reference from LAR 93-18 did not in any way adversely affect the analyses supporting Amendment 33. All analyses supporting the core operating limits were l performed utilizing NRC approved methodologies. The proposed change is administrative m - i nature and has no safety significance, i

North Atlantic believes that the proposed chwge to Technical Specification Administrative Control 6.8.1.6.b has no safety significance. The review of this amendment request as an emergency situation is justified considering the importance of resuming power operation at Seabrook Station expeditiously. As a result of the June 18, 1997 conference call, = this amendment request was expeditiously prepared to be responsive to the NRC Staff.

LAR 97-03 has been reviewed and approved by the Station Operation Review Committee and the Nuclear Safety Audit Review Committee.

As discussed in LAR 97-03,Section IV, the proposed change does not involve a significant hazard consideration pursuant to 10 CFR 50.92. A copy of this letter and the enclosed LAR have been sent by facsimile to the New Hampshire State Liaison Officer pursuant to 10 CFR 50.91(b).

North Atlantic has determined that LAR 97-03 meets the criteria of 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9) for a categorical exclusion from the requirements for an Environmental Impact Statement (see Section VI enclosed).

' " License Amendment Request 93 18" dated November 23,1993, NYN-93160, T.C. Feigenbaum to USNRC 2 " Amendment No. 33 to Facility Operating License NPF-86: Wide-Band Operation and Core Enhancements -

License Amendment Request 93-18 (TAC M87849)

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission '

NYN 97069/Page 3 l

Should you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Mr. Terry L. Harpster, Director of Licensing Services, at (603) 773-7765.

Very truly yours, l

NORTH A dL TIC ENERG SERVICE CORP.

AH rh Ted C. Fehnbaum [

Executive Vice sident and Chief Nuclear Of icer cc: H. J. Miller, NRC Regional Administrator A. W. De Agazio, NRC Project Manager W. T. Olsen, NRC Senior Resident Inspector  ;

Mr. George L. Iverson, Director New Hampsnire Office of Emergency Management 107 Pleast.nt Street 4 Concord. NH 03301

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