ML20147C524
| ML20147C524 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/08/1978 |
| From: | Tondi D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Brinkman D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| RTR-REGGD-01.108, RTR-REGGD-1.108 NUDOCS 7812180318 | |
| Download: ML20147C524 (5) | |
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j UNITED STATES 3*
4 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 m ~m Docket Nos. 50-387 and 50-388 Mrs. Stanley Shortz RFD #1, Box 245 Berwick, Pennsylvania 18603
Dear Mrs. Shortz:
This is in response to your letter of November 9, 1978, to the Secretary of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission concerning storage of spent power reactor fuel at the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station.
Storage facilities for approximately 1900 spent fuel assemblies were authorized by the Commission in the construction permits for Units 1 and 2.
These facilities are being constructed in the reactor building.
The storage capacity thus provided would accommodate approximately two and one-half reactor cores since each core would contain 764 fuel assemblies.
Irradiated spent fuel must remain in. safe storage on site after removal from the reactor until the radioactivity and thermal levels within the fuel have declined to.those for which the shipping packages are licensed.
Typical storage intervals for this purpose.are in the range of 90 to 150 days.
NRC does not set a maximum limit.on the length of time spent fuel can remain at the plant; however, the available storage capacity does impose a practical limitation. The Pennsylvania Power and Light Company's present schedule is for startup of Unit 1 in May 1980 and startup of Unit 2 in November 1981. Assuming operation at 80 percent capacity factor and replacement of one-quarter of each core every 18 months thereafter, the spent fuel storage facility on site would be full by August 1988 unless some of the spent fuel is shipped elsewhere. However, we understand that plans for expansion of its capacity are being formulatec' by the licensee.
When a. request is received for amendment.of the construction permits relative to this matter, the NRC will review the details to assure that the health and safety of the public are protected.
Additional power reactor spent fuel storage is eventually expected to become available at facilities which will be provided for a fee by the Department of Energy, in accordance with its policy announcement in October 1977. Various options are being considered which could result in shipments to such interim storage facilities in the mid-1980s and to 781218043i8
~
Mrs. Stanley Shortz disposition facilities commencing during the 1988-1993 time frame.
Further details are provided in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Storage of U. S. Spent Power Reactor Fuel (00E/EIS-0015-D), which can be requested from Mr. W. H. Pennington, Mail Station E-201, U. S.
Department of Energy, Washington, D. C.
20545.
Sincerely, l0 Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation a