ML25023A196
| ML25023A196 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 99902041 |
| Issue date: | 01/29/2025 |
| From: | Ngola Otto Licensing Processes Branch |
| To: | Elliot G Framatome |
| Otto N, NRR/DORL/LLPB | |
| References | |
| EPID L-2024-TOP-0033 | |
| Download: ML25023A196 (1) | |
Text
January 29, 2025 Gayle Elliott, Director Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Framatome Inc.
3315 Old Forest Road Lynchburg, VA 24501
SUBJECT:
THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFFS ACCEPTANCE OF REQUEST FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF FRAMATOMES TOPICAL REPORT, ANP-10358P, REVISION 0, INCREASED BURNUP FOR PRESSURIZED WATER REACTORS (EPID L-2024-TOP-0033)
Dear Gayle Elliott:
By letter dated November 26, 2024 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Package Accession No. ML24331A085), Framatome, Inc. (Framatome) submitted Topical Report (TR) ANP-10358P, Revision 0, Increased Burnup for Pressurized Water Reactors [PWRs], for U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs review and approval.
In the request, Framatome is seeking approval for fuel burnup above 62 Gigawatt days per metric ton (GWd/mtU) for PWR application. Specifically, the TR is meant to address the applicability of Framatome advanced codes and methods used to perform thermal-mechanical fuel evaluations, neutronics, thermal hydraulic, non-Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA), small break and large break LOCA analyses above the 62 GWd/mtU burnup limit. In the letter dated November 26, 2024, Framatome requests approval of the TR by March 2026 to support license amendment requests for potential customers.
The NRC staff finds that the information presented in TR ANP-10358P, Revision 0, is sufficient to begin the detailed technical safety review. However, the NRC staff finds that the rationale regarding assessments to support technical positions would be needed for several sections of the TR. In addition, Framatomes treatment of fuel fragmentation relocation and dispersal (FFRD) has been identified by the NRC staff as a potential technical challenge that would require more than routine efforts to resolve. Therefore, the NRC staff may need to extend the initial schedule if there are delays regarding the resolution of FFRD or other technical issues.
To facilitate the TR review, the NRC staff plans to conduct an audit by end of March 2025.
Regarding the overall review, the NRC staff plans to: conduct 2 separate audits, issue 2 sets of Requests for Additional Information (RAIs), issue the draft safety evaluation (SE), and final SE as annotated in the enclosed schedule. The NRC staff will determine if additional audits and rounds of RAIs are needed later in the review. The initial schedule assumes that Framatomes responses to the NRC staffs RAIs will be submitted within 60 days of issuance.
This schedule information takes into consideration the NRCs current review priorities and available technical resources and may be subject to change. If modifications to these dates are deemed necessary, we will provide appropriate updates to this information. The review schedule milestones were discussed between the Framatome and the NRC Project Managers
on January 27, 2025. The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) will decide on whether it is interested in reviewing this TR, and as such, subcommittee and full committee meetings are estimated to occur in June and July 2026, respectively to facilitate this effort. The specific ACRS meeting dates will be confirmed and scheduled later if the ACRS requests a review of the TR.
Additionally, the NRC staff estimates that it will require approximately 1400 hours0.0162 days <br />0.389 hours <br />0.00231 weeks <br />5.327e-4 months <br /> to complete the safety review. Section 170.21 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations requires that TRs are subject to fees based on the full cost of the review. You did not request a fee waiver; therefore, NRC staff-hours will be billed accordingly.
Finally, the NRC staff held a post-submittal meeting with Framatome on January 29, 2025 (ADAMS Accession No. ML25027A042) to discuss technical details of the TR.
If you have any questions regarding the TR review, please contact me at 301-415-6695 or via email at Ngola.Otto@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Ngola A. Otto, Project Manager Licensing Projects Branch Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No.: 99902041
Enclosure:
Initial Schedule
Enclosure Initial Schedule Milestone Date Initial Submittal November 26, 2024 Acceptance January 30, 2025 Conduct Audit #1 March 2025 Issue Requests for Additional Information (RAI) Set #1 April 30, 2025 Response to RAI Set #1 June 30, 2025 Conduct Audit #2 August 2025 Issue RAI Set #2 September 2025 Response to RAI Set #2 November 2025 Issue Draft Safety Evaluation (SE)
April 30, 2026 Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Sub-Committee Meeting June 2026 ACRS Full Committee Meeting July 2026 Issue Final SE August 31, 2026
- via eConcurrence NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LLPB/PM*
NRR/DORL/LLPB/LA*
NRR/DSS/SFNB/BC*
NAME NOtto DHarrison SKrepel DATE 01/28/2025 01/28/2025 01/28/2025 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LLPB/BC*
NRR/DORL/LLPB/PM*
NAME GGeorge NOtto DATE 01/29/2025 01/29/2025