ML26029A078
| ML26029A078 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Mcguire, Catawba, McGuire  |
| Issue date: | 01/27/2026 |
| From: | Klos L NRC/NRR/DORL/LPL2-1 |
| To: | Duc J, Earp D Duke Energy Corp |
| Jordan, N | |
| References | |
| Download: ML26029A078 (0) | |
Text
1 John Klos From:
John Klos Sent:
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 11:18 AM To:
Earp Jr., Dennis; Duc, Joshua Brian Cc:
Subject:
Duke Fleet Acceptance of Requested Licensing Action: McGuire Catawba LAR for Rod Ejection Analysis Methodology to RG 1.236, June 2020
- Dennis, By letter dated December 22, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System(ADAMS)
Accession No. ML25356A517), Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, (the licensee, Duke Energy) submitted a license amendment request for the Renewed Facility Operating Licenses (FOLs) for Catawba Nuclear Station Units 1 and 2 (CNS) and McGuire Nuclear Station Units 1 and 2 (MNS) related to the control rod ejection accident (REA) methodology. Specifically, Duke Energy requests NRC review and approval of the proposed changes set forth in Revision 2 of DPC-NE-3001-P, Multidimensional Reactor Transients and Safety Analysis Physics Parameters Methodology.
The purpose of this e-mail is to provide the results of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staffs acceptance review of your amendment request. The acceptance review was performed to determine whether the application contains sufficient technical information for the NRC staff to complete a detailed technical review and to identify any readily apparent deficiencies related to regulatory requirements or the 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, as applicable, follow the form prescribed for original applications. Section 50.34 of 10 CFR addresses content of the technical information required. This section stipulates that the submittal address the design and operating characteristics, unusual or novel design features, and principal safety considerations.
Based on our review, the NRC staff has concluded that your application includes sufficient technical information to support a detailed technical review and independent assessment of the proposed amendments with respect to applicable regulatory requirements and the protection of public health and safety and the environment. Please note that the acceptance review is more limited in scope and depth than the detailed technical review, and additional issues that could affect the staffs ability to complete the review may still be identified. If additional information is needed, you will be notified by separate correspondence.
For this request, the staff used the Graded Estimate Method (GEM) for licensing actions, as discussed with industry during a public workshop on August 5, 2025 (ML25217A212). Consistent with GEM guidance, when an application relies on approved precedents or NRC-approved methodologies without deviation, the technical review focuses primarily onsite-specific considerations. In such cases, confirmatory analyses may be limited to spot checks, and certain areas may receive a less detailed review than in the past, with emphasis placed on evaluating new or different information that has not been previously addressed.
In accordance with GEM guidance, the staff has classified this review as a Comprehensive/Complex review which targets a minimum 30% reduction from the median historical review hours for comparable projects. The staff analyzed precedents for comparable requests to identify the median historical review
2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br />. Using the GEM expectation of a 30% reduction from that median, the staff estimates approximately 760 hours0.0088 days <br />0.211 hours <br />0.00126 weeks <br />2.8918e-4 months <br /> and will aim to complete the review within that range, recognizing that actual hours may vary. According to the GEM Process for this type of review, the NRC aims to complete the application review within nine months after acceptance of the application. The NRC staff will aim to complete the request by October 30, 2026.
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.
Please note that this review will include an audit and, at a minimum, require at least two meetings -
either face to face or by teleconference - to be conducted for that activity. The NRC staff looks forward to an active collaboration with Duke Energy to optimize that process and enhance the reviews efficiency and timeliness. An audit plan is currently being drafted and the outlined target date for an audit start is February 20, 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
- Regards, John Klos DORL Mcguire, Surry, and Duke Fleet Licensing PM U.S. NRC, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR),
Division of Operating Reactor Licensing (DORL),
NRC/NRR/DORL/LPL2-1, MS O80B01A Washington, DC 20555-0001 301.415.5136, John.Klos@NRC.gov