ML20211N253

Responds to Request to Exceed 60,000 Mwd/Mtu Lead Rod Burnup in Small Number of Fuel Rods in North Anna Unit 2.Informs That NRC Offers No Objection to Requested Use of Rods in Reconstituted Fuel Assembly.Se Supporting Request Encl

ML20211N253
Person / Time
Site:	North Anna
Issue date:	09/08/1999
From:	Edison G NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Ohanlon J VIRGINIA POWER (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC & POWER CO.)
Shared Package
ML20211N256	List: ML20211N253 ML20211N261
References
TAC-MA5269, TAC-MA5270, NUDOCS 9909100128
Download: ML20211N253 (3)

Text

r Mr. J. P. O'H:nlon

• September 8, i999 S nior Vice President - Nuclerr Virginia Electric cnd Pow:r Comp ny .

5000 Dominion Blvd.

Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 f

SUBJECT:

NORTH ANNA UNITS 1 AND 2 RE: BURNUP IN LEAD FUEL RODS (TAC NOS. MA5269 AND MA5270)

Dear Mr. O'Hanlon:

This letter is in response to your request to exceed 60,000 MWD /MTU lead rod burnup in a small number of fuel rods in North Anna Unit 2. The small number of lead rods will be included in a reconstituted fuel assembly to be inserted into the core for one cycle. The intent is to obtain data on fuel and material performance to support a goal of extending the current burnup limits. i The NRC staff has no objection to your requested use of such rods in a reconstituted fuel

]

assembly.

i By letter dated April 16,1999, and supplemented July 28,1999, you requested approval to exceed a 60,000 MWD /MTU lead red burnup limit for a small number (8) of lead fuel rods within a reconstituted fuel assembly. Although there are no NRC regulations or plant technical {

specifications which impose a lead rod burnup limit, a limit of 60,000 MWD /MTU was stated by I us in a letter dated December 14,1993.

The staff has reviewed your proposal and, as set forth in the enclosed safety evaluation, has no objecJion to it. Accordingly, it is acceptable to exceed 60,000 MWD /MTU for a small number of lead rods.

In addition, you asked that certain terminology be clarified. In particular, you would like the optional replacement of non-failed fuel rods by filler rods to be included in the term,

" reconstituted fuel assembly." We have reviewed yourjustification and agree that this l interpretation should not impact compliance with NRC requirements on the use of reconstituted fuel and is acceptable.

l This concludes our effort on this issue and we are closing TAC Nos. MA5269 and MA5270. '

Sincerely, Original signed by:

Gordon E. Edison, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate ll 1-c$5 Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-338 and 50-339

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/ encl: See next page

< _)( d 1

Distribution: J. Hayes RScholl (e-mail RFS SE only)

.. Docket Fils EDunnington ACRS PUBLIC GEdison RHaag, Ril

,PDll-1 R/F OGC MChatterton g@g b

by I e w # [

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\PDil-1\NoRTHANNA\MA5269.wpd T3 receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box E= Copy with attachmentlenclosure N = No copy omcE PDil-1/PM [ PDil-1/LA ,, b sRhp, , ( E sPsB PDil-1/sC ,

NAME GEdison:en EDunningto JW RBarrett REmch DATE If / /99 Y/ 7/99 f/ /99 f\I) / /99 f/[/99 9909100128 990908 7CIAL RECORD COPY PDR ADOCK 05000338 P PDR

fpQ Ciog"'o '

eN UNITED STATES

@ h gf .[" j

• ,Jk.

l O NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION I o, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 0001

% /j September 8, 1999 l

l Mr. J. P. O'Hanlon Senior Vice President - Nuclear Virginia Electric and Power Company 5000 Dominion Blvd.

Glen Allen, Virginia 23060

SUBJECT:

NORTH ANNA UNITS 1 AND 2 RE: BURNUP IN LEAD FUEL RODS (TAC NOS. MA5269 AND MA5270)

Dear Mr. O'Hanlon:

This letter is in response in your request to exceed 60,000 MWD /MTU lead rod burnup in a small number of fuel rods in North Anna Unit 2. The small number of lead rods will be included in a reconstituted fuel assembly to be inserted into the core for one cycle. The intent is to obtain i data on fuel and material performance to support a goal of extending the current bumup limits. I The NRC staff has no objection to your requested use of such rods in a reconstituted fuel assembly. '

By letter dated April 16,1999, and supplemented July 28,1999, you requested approval to exceed a 60,000 MWD /MTU lead rod burnup limit for a small number (8) of lead fuel rods within a reconstituted fuel assembly. Although there are no NRC regulations or plant technical specifications which impose a lead rod burnup limit, a limit of 60,000 MWD /MTU was stated by us in a letter dated December 14,1993.

The staff has reviewed your proposal and, as set forth in the enclosed safety evaluation, has no objection to it. Accordingly, it is acceptable to exceed 60,000 MWD /MTU for a small number of lead rods.

l In addition, you asked that ce.rtpin terminology be clarified. In particular, you would like the optional replacement of non-failed fuel rods by filler rods to be included in the term, reconstituted fuel assembly." We have reviewed your justification and agree that this interpretation should not impact compliance with NRC requirements on the use of reconstituted fuel and is acceptable.

This concludes our effort on this issue and we are closing TAC Nos. MA5269 and MA5270.

i Sincerely, b U Gordon E. Edison, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate 11 Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Rea'ctor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-338 and 50-339

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/ encl: See next page w -

f i

Mr. J. P. O'Hanlon North Anna Power Station Virginia Electric & Power Company Units 1 and 2 cc:

Mr. J. Jeffrey Lunsford Mr. W. R. Matthews Cooniy AJministrator Site Vice President Louisa County North Anna Power Station P.O. Box 160 P. O. Box 402 Louisa, Virginia 23093 Mineral, Virginia 23117 Mr. Donald P. Irwin, Esquire Mr. E. S. Grecheck Hunton and Williams Site Vice President Riverfront Plaza, East Tower Surry Power Station 951 E. Byrd Street Virginia Electric and Power Company Richmond, Virginia 23219 5570 Hog Island Road Surry, Virginia 23883 Dr. W. T. Lough Virginia State Corporation Robert B. Strobe, M.D., M.P.H.

Commission State Health Commissioner Division of Energy Regulation Office of the Commissioner P. O. Box 1197 Virginia Department of Health Richmond, Virginia 23209 P.O. Box 2448 Richmond, Virginia 23218 Old Dominion Electric Cooperative 4201 Dominion Blvd.

Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 Mr. J. H. McCarthy, Manager Nuclear Licensing & Operations Support Virginia Electric. nd Power Company Innsbrook Technical Center 5000 Dominion Blvd.

Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 Office of the Attorney General Commonwealth of Virginia 900 East Main Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 Senior Resident inspector North Anna Power Station U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1024 Haley Drive Mineral, Virginia 23117 l

!