ML031960682

Request for Additional Information - Mixed Oxide Lead Fuel Assemblies

ML031960682
Person / Time
Site:	Mcguire, Catawba, McGuire
Issue date:	07/14/2003
From:	Martin R NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2
To:	Tuckman M Duke Energy Corp
Martin R, NRR/DLPM, 415-1493
References
TAC MB7863, TAC MB7864, TAC MB7865, TAC MB7866
Download: ML031960682 (4)

Text

July 14, 2003 Mr. Michael S. Tuckman Executive Vice President Duke Energy Corporation 526 South Church St Charlotte, NC 28201-1006

SUBJECT:

WILLIAM B. MCGUIRE NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 AND CATAWBA NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 RE: MIXED OXIDE LEAD FUEL ASSEMBLIES (TAC NOS. MB7863, MB7864, MB7865, AND MB7866)

Dear Mr. Tuckman:

By letter dated February 27, 2003, you submitted applications for amendments to the operating licenses for McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 and Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2. The proposed amendments would revise the Technical Specifications to allow the use of four mixed oxide (MOX) fuel assemblies at either the Catawba or McGuire station. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has reviewed the information provided and has determined that additional information is required as follows.

The submittal states that the fuel assemblies containing MOX fuel may be stored in the regions 1A and 2A of the spent fuel pools in the McGuire plant. In determining reactivity of the fuel stored in these regions, credit is taken for 25 percent and 40 percent of the Boraflex neutron absorber in the region 1A and 2A fuel racks, respectively. The credit was based on the prediction that the Boraflex will not degrade beyond these values prior to the end of 2006. In making these predictions, certain conditions to which Boraflex panels are exposed were assumed. Since Boraflex degrades and loses its neutron absorbing properties with increasing radiation dose that it receives, any increase in dose rate will result in either shorter time periods for which the currently specified credit applies, or lower values for the allowable percentage of Boraflex. The MOX fuel has properties that differ from the low enriched uranium fuel. Could these properties expose the Boraflex to higher radiation dose rates? If that is found to be the case, what would the effect be on the Boraflex credit assumed in reactivity calculations?

We discussed these questions with your staff on July 14, 2003. Your staff indicated that a response could be provided by August 30, 2003. Please contact me at (301) 415-1493, if you have any other questions on these issues.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Robert E. Martin, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-369, 50-370, 50-413, and 50-414 cc: See next page

ML031960682 OFFICE PDII-1/PM PDII-1/LA EMCB\SC

• PDII1/SC NAME RMartin CHawes LLund JNakoski DATE 07/14/03 07/14/03 07/09/03 07/14/03 McGuire Nuclear Station Catawba Nuclear Station cc:

Ms. Lisa F. Vaughn Mr. Richard M. Fry, Director Legal Department (ECIIX) Division of Radiation Protection Duke Energy Corporation North Carolina Department of 422 South Church Street Environment, Health, and Charlotte, North Carolina 28201-1006 Natural Resources 3825 Barrett Drive County Manager of Mecklenburg County Raleigh, North Carolina 27609-7721 720 East Fourth Street Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 Ms. Karen E. Long Assistant Attorney General Mr. Michael T. Cash North Carolina Department of Regulatory Compliance Manager Justice Duke Energy Corporation P. O. Box 629 McGuire Nuclear Site Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 12700 Hagers Ferry Road Huntersville, North Carolina 28078 Mr. C. Jeffrey Thomas Manager - Nuclear Regulatory Anne Cottingham, Esquire Licensing Winston and Strawn Duke Energy Corporation 1400 L Street, NW. 526 South Church Street Washington, DC 20005 Charlotte, North Carolina 28201-1006 Senior Resident Inspector NCEM REP Program Manager c/o U. S. Nuclear Regulatory 4713 Mail Service Center Commission Raleigh, NC 27699-4713 12700 Hagers Ferry Road Huntersville, North Carolina 28078 Mr. T. Richard Puryear Owners Group (NCEMC)

Mr. Peter R. Harden, IV Duke Energy Corporation VP-Customer Relations and Sales 4800 Concord Road Westinghouse Electric Company York, South Carolina 29745 6000 Fairview Road 12th Floor Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 Dr. John M. Barry Mecklenburg County Department of Environmental Protection 700 N. Tryon Street Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 McGuire Nuclear Station Catawba Nuclear Station

cc:

Mr. Gary Gilbert North Carolina Electric Membership Regulatory Compliance Manager Corporation Duke Energy Corporation P. O. Box 27306 4800 Concord Road Raleigh, North Carolina 27611 York, South Carolina 29745 Senior Resident Inspector North Carolina Municipal Power 4830 Concord Road Agency Number 1 York, South Carolina 29745 1427 Meadowwood Boulevard P. O. Box 29513 Mr. G. R. Peterson Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0513 Site Vice President Catawba Nuclear Station County Manager of York County Duke Energy Corporation York County Courthouse 4800 Concord Road York, South Carolina 29745 York, South Carolina 29745 Piedmont Municipal Power Agency Mr. Dhiaa Jamil 121 Village Drive Vice President, McGuire Site Greer, South Carolina 29651 Duke Energy Corporation 12700 Hagers Ferry Road Saluda River Electric Huntersville, North Carolina 28078 P. O. Box 929 Laurens, South Carolina 29360 Henry Porter, Assistant Director Division of Waste Management Bureau of Solid and Hazardous Waste Department of Health and Environmental Control 2600 Bull Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201-1708