ML20247M428

Responds to 890120 & 0616 Requests for Relief from Requirements of Fuel Surveillance Program.Nrc Considers Util Obligations Under Fuel Surveillance Program Will Terminate W/Planned Shutdown of Reactor by 900630

ML20247M428
Person / Time
Site:	Fort Saint Vrain
Issue date:	07/25/1989
From:	Heitner K Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Robert Williams PUBLIC SERVICE CO. OF COLORADO
References
TAC-72063, NUDOCS 8908020100
Download: ML20247M428 (3)

Text

_ _ _.

July 25,1989 g

Docket No. 50-267 Mr. R. O. Williams, Jr.

Senior Vice President, Nuclear Operations Public Service Company of Colorado Post Office Box 840 Denver, Colorado 80201-0840

SUBJECT:

FORT ST. VRAIN FUEL SURVEILLANCE PROORAM (TAC NO. 72063)

This letter is in response to the portions of your Pat *.rs dated January 20 concerning the Fort St. Vrain (FSV)."uel Surveillance Program (FSP.16,)1989 and June In your letters, you requested relief from the requirements of the FSV-FSP as referenced in Section 7.7 of the FSV Technical Specifications.

This program can only be changed with Commission approval.

The staff has reviewed this issue and concurs that the further activities under the FSV-FSP offer no benefit to reactor safety at FSV. Therefore, the staff considers your obligations under the FSV-FSP will terminate with the planned shutdown of FSV by June 30, 1990.

However, the staff notes the importance of potential evaluations that could be performed on FSV fuel to the resolution of safety issues on future gas cooled reactors. The main focus would be on further evaluation of Fuel Test Elements which contain relevant test fuels, and on the performance of fuel blocks utilizing H-451 graphite.

It is the staff's intention to discuss these matters further with the Dephrtment of Energy, Public Service Company of Colorado, and other appropriate parties. This discussion will be included among other topics on FSV's utilization pertaining tp advanced gas cooled reactor research new planned for August 30, 1989.

Mr. Peter Williams of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research and myself will contact you further in this regard.

Sincerely,

/s/

Kenneth L. Heitner, Project Manager Project Directorate - IV Division of Reactor Projects - III, IV, V and Special Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION Docket.-File u*

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July 25, 1989 l

Docket No. 50-267 Mr. R. O. Williams, Jr.

l Senior. Vice President, Nuclear Operations

'Public-Service Company of Colorado Post Office' Box 840 Denver -Colorado 80201-0840-

SUBJECT:

FORT ST. VRAIN FUEL SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM (TAC NO. 72063)

This letter is in response to the portions of your letters dated January 20 and June 16, 1989 concerning the Fort St. Vrain (FSV) Fuel Surveillance Program (FSP).

In your letters, you requested relief from the requirements of the FSV-FSP as referenced in Section 7.7 of the FSV. Technical Specifications.

This program can only be changed with Commission approval.

The staff'has reviewed this issue and concurs that the further activities under the FSV-FSP offer no benefit to reactor safety at FSV. Therefore, the staff considers your obligations under the FSV-FSP will terminate with the planned shutdown of FSV by June 30, 1990.

However, the staff-notes the importance of potential evaluations that could be perfomed on FSV fuel to the resolution of safety issues on future gas cooled reactors. The main focus would be on further evaluation of Fuel Test Elements which contain relevant test fuels, and on the performance of fuel blocks utilizing H-451 graphite.

It is the staff's intention to discuss these matters-further with the Department of Energy, Public Service Company of Colorado, and other appropriate parties. This ciscussion will be included among other

. topics on FSV's utilization pertaining to advanced gas cooled reactor research now planned for August 30, 1989.

Mr. Peter Williams of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research and myself will contact you further in this regard.

Sincerely,

.$.,bk%

Kenneth L. Heitner, Project Manager Project Directorate - IV Division of Reactor Projects - III, IV, Y and Special Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: See next page

i I

^M'r. R. O. Williams, Jr.

' Public Service Company of Colorado Fort St. Vrain ec:

Mr. D. W. Warembourg, Manager Robert M. Quillen, Director Nuclear Engineering Division Radiation Control Division

'Public Service Company Department of Health of Colorado 4210 East lith Avenue P. O. Box 840 Denver, Colorado 80220 Denver, Colorado 80201-0840 Mr. David Alberstein, Manager Mr. Charles H. Fuller Fort St. Vrain Services Manager, Nuclear Production-GA International Services Corporation and Station Manager Post Office Box 85608 Public Service Company of Colorado San Diego, California 92138 16805 Weld County Road 19-1/2 Platteville, Colorado 80651 Mr. H. L. Brey, Manager Nuclear Licensing and Resource Mr. P. F. Tomlinson, Manager tianagement Division Quality Assurance Division Public Service Company of Colorado Public Service Company of Colorado P. O. Box 840 16805 Weld County Road 19-1/2 Denver, Colorado 80201-0840 Platteville, Colorado 80651 Senior Resident Inspector Mr. D. D. Hock U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission President and Chief Executive Officer P. O. Box 640 Public Service Company of Colorado Platteville, Colorado 80651 Post Office Bcx 840 Denver, Colorado 80201-0840 Kelley, Standfield & 0'Donnell ATTil: Mr. J. K. Tarpey Comitment Control Program Public Servi'.:e Company Building Coordinator Room 900 Public Service Company of Colorado SCO 15th Street 2420 W. 26th Ave. Suite 100-D Denver, Colorado 80202 Denver, Colorado 80211 Regional Administrator, Region IV U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Contrission 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 Arlington, Texas 76011 Chairman, Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado Greeley, Colorado 80631 Regional Representative Radiation Programs Environmental Protection Agency 1 Denver Place 999 18th Street, Suite 1300 Denver, Colorado 80202-2413

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