ML25266A223
| ML25266A223 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Mcguire, Catawba, McGuire  |
| Issue date: | 09/23/2025 |
| From: | Ed Miller NRC/NRR/DORL/LPL2-1 |
| To: | Treadway R Duke Energy Carolinas |
| References | |
| L-2025-LLA-0132, L-2025-LLE-0023 | |
| Download: ML25266A223 (3) | |
Text
From:
Ed Miller Sent:
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 6:57 AM To:
Ryan.Treadway@duke-energy.com
Subject:
Acceptance Review for FSLOCA and Axiom Fuel Exemption Mr. Treadway, By letter dated August 18, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML25230A071), Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, (Duke Energy) submitted a license amendment and exemption request for McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 (MNS),
and Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 (CNS). The amendment request would allow MNS and CNS to adopt the full spectrum loss of coolant accident methodology and AXIOM fuel cladding topical reports. The letter included an exemption request which is in support of the use of AXIOM fuel cladding. The amendment (L-2025-LLA-0132) and exemption (L-2025-LLE-0023) will be processed as two separate but parallel reviews.
The purpose of this e-mail is to provide the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs acceptance review of this amendment request. The acceptance review was performed to determine whether the application contains sufficient technical information to allow the NRC staff to complete a detailed technical review. The acceptance review is also intended to identify any readily apparent deficiencies related to the characterization of the regulatory requirements or plant licensing basis.
Consistent with Section 50.90 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations(10 CFR), an application for an amendment to a license (including the technical specifications) must fully describe the changes requested, and following as far as applicable, the form prescribed for original applications. Section 50.34 of 10 CFR addresses the content of technical information required. This section stipulates that the submittal address the design and operating characteristics, unusual or novel design features, and principal safety considerations.
The NRC staff has reviewed your application and concluded that it includes technical information in sufficient detail to enable the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed amendment in terms of regulatory requirements and the protection of public health and safety and the environment. Given the more limited scope and depth of the acceptance review compared to the detailed technical review, issues that affect the NRC staffs ability to complete the technical review may still be identified despite the acceptance review being deemed adequate. If additional information is needed, you will be notified by separate correspondence.
The NRC staff has evaluated precedence related to this request and the information provided in your submittal and determined that, inclusive of an appx. 15% improvement in resource estimates and schedule. For the amendment, the review is expected to take 324 hours0.00375 days <br />0.09 hours <br />5.357143e-4 weeks <br />1.23282e-4 months <br />. For the exemption, the review is expected to take 77 hours8.912037e-4 days <br />0.0214 hours <br />1.273148e-4 weeks <br />2.92985e-5 months <br />. The NRC staff expects to complete these reviews by March 31, 2026. This date is in alignment with Dukes requested completion date of
March 31, 2026. The review plan and schedule does include an audit and a possible request for additional information.
If emergent complexities or challenges arise during the NRC staffs review that affect the initial forecasted completion date or result in significant changes to the estimated review hours, the reasons for those changesalong with updated estimateswill be communicated during routine interactions with the assigned project manager. These estimates are based on the NRC staffs initial review of the application and may change due to several factors, including requests for additional information, unanticipated expansion of the review scope, hearing-related activities, or if the submittal is provided to the NRC in advance of or concurrently with industry program initiatives or pilot applications.
Ed Miller Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 2-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Hearing Identifier:
NRR_DRMA Email Number:
2801 Mail Envelope Properties (SA1PR09MB92572EF91C5BE9CBAAB467CAE91DA)
Subject:
Acceptance Review for FSLOCA and Axiom Fuel Exemption Sent Date:
9/23/2025 6:57:06 AM Received Date:
9/23/2025 6:57:00 AM From:
Ed Miller Created By:
Ed.Miller@nrc.gov Recipients:
"Ryan.Treadway@duke-energy.com" <Ryan.Treadway@duke-energy.com>
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