ML25272A016

Summary of Partially Closed Meeting with PSEG Nuclear LLC Regarding a Planned License Amendment Request to Use a Data Validation and Reconciliation Methodology at Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos 1 & 2

ML25272A016
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	11/13/2025
From:	Blake Purnell NRC/NRR/DORL/LPL2-2
To:	Public Service Enterprise Group
References
EPID L-2025-LRM-0118
Download: ML25272A016 (1)

Text

November 13, 2025 LICENSEE:

PSEG NUCLEAR LLC FACILITIES: SALEM NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2

SUMMARY

OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2025, PARTIALLY CLOSED MEETING WITH PSEG NUCLEAR LLC REGARDING A PLANNED LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST TO USE A DATA VALIDATION AND RECONCILIATION METHODOLOGY AT SALEM NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 (EPID L-2025-LRM-0118)

On September 23, 2025, a partially closed preapplication meeting was held between the U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and representatives of PSEG Nuclear LLC (the licensee). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a planned license amendment request (LAR) to revise the methodology for the existing measurement uncertainty recapture (MUR) power uprate at Salem Nuclear Generating Station (Salem), Unit Nos. 1 and 2. The licensee plans to submit the LAR in December 2025 and will request NRC approval by January 2027.

The meeting notice and agenda are available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) under Accession No. ML25246C358. A list of attendees is enclosed.

The licensees presentation slides provide the details of the information discussed during the meeting (ML25252A315). Salem currently uses the CE Nuclear Power LLC Crossflow ultrasonic flow measurement system (Crossflow) to achieve more accurate feedwater flow measurements than the venturi meters can provide. The Crossflow methodology formed the basis for the Salem MUR power uprate. The licensee plans to replace the Crossflow methodology with a new data validation and reconciliation (DVR) methodology, based on EPRI Topical Report 3002018337, Use of Data Validation and Reconciliation Methods for Measurement Uncertainty Recapture (ML23285A311). The proposed change is a methodology-only revision and will not involve a change in the licensed thermal power.

The licensee explained that the DVR methodology will not rely on Crossflow ultrasonic flow meters and instead uses a model-based approach incorporating data from approximately 250 plant instruments. The DVR model is designed to reduce feedwater flow measurement uncertainty, which is the dominant contributor to core thermal power uncertainty. The licensee stated that the DVR model is expected to achieve a reconciled feedwater flow uncertainty that is bounded by the existing uncertainty achieved with the Crossflow instrument.

The licensee noted that Crossflow will be retained as a backup method until a planned stretch power uprate is implemented. The LAR for the stretch power uprate is expected to be submitted in 2027. The licensee will also propose to remove the Crossflow methodology from the list of methods in the technical specifications used to calculate core operating limits.

The NRC staff provided feedback on the proposed LAR. The staff also noted the potential challenges in addressing the conditions and limitations the staff imposed on the EPRI topical report. Members of the public did not provide any comments or questions during the public portion of the meeting.

Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-1380 or Blake.Purnell@nrc.gov.

/RA/

Blake Purnell, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch II-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-272 and 50-311

Enclosure:

List of Attendees cc: Listserv

Enclosure LIST OF ATTENDEES SEPTEMBER 23, 2025, MEETING WITH PSEG NUCLEAR LLC Name (NRC)

Affiliation Name (Other)

Affiliation Blake Purnell NRC Peter Gohdes PSEG Nuclear LLC (PSEG)

Joshua Kaizer NRC Shane Jurek PSEG Fredrick O'Brien NRC Jason Jennings PSEG Scott Krepel NRC Bruce McAllister PSEG Charles McFeaters NRC Will Hargrave PSEG Erick Martinez Rodriguez NRC Jon Bates PSEG Yasseen Sabil NRC Charles Higgins PSEG Youssef Rokes NRC Richard J.

DeSanctis PSEG Gilberto Blas NRC Paul Williams Jr.

PSEG Michael Mahoney NRC Fredrick Altman PSEG Audrey Klett NRC William J.

Kopchick II PSEG Kent Wood NRC Mike Wiwel PSEG David Rahn NRC Caleb Fisler Westinghouse Electric Company Norbert Carte NRC Robert E.

Becse Westinghouse Electric Company Hipo Gonzalez NRC Madelyn O'Farrell Westinghouse Electric Company Name (NRC)

Affiliation Name (Other)

Affiliation Jigar Patel NRC James D.

Smith Westinghouse Electric Company Bill Maher Unknown Greg Kanuckel GSE Solutions Jerry Humphreys New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Silas Rogers GSE Solutions Jonathan Zeitz New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Michael Hunt GSE Solutions Justin Wheat Wheat Consulting LLC Graig Pattison GSE Solutions Jeffry M. Porter Sargent & Lundy Justin Kriczky Sargent & Lundy Cassie Pezza Sargent & Lundy Meghan E.

Marcus Sargent & Lundy

ML25272A016 NRC-001 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL2-2/PM NRR/DORL/LPL1/LA NRR/DORL/LPL1/BC NAME BPurnell KEntz (ABaxter for)

HGonzález DATE 9/30/2025 09/30/25 11/13/2025 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL2-2/PM NAME BPurnell DATE 11/13/2025