ML20262H017

Acceptance of Requested Licensing Action Subsequent to the Submission of Supplemental Imfo Needed Request for a License Amendment to TS 3.7.3, Ultimate Heat Sink (EPID L--2020-LLA-0165)

ML20262H017
Person / Time
Site:	LaSalle
Issue date:	10/01/2020
From:	Bhalchandra Vaidya Plant Licensing Branch III
To:	Bryan Hanson Exelon Generation Co, Exelon Nuclear
Vaidya B, NRR/DORL/LPLIII, 415-3308
References
EPID L-2020-LLA-0165
Download: ML20262H017 (4)

Text

October 1, 2020 Mr. Bryan C. Hanson Senior Vice President Exelon Generation Company, LLC President and Chief Nuclear Officer (CNO)

Exelon Nuclear 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555

SUBJECT:

LASALLE COUNTY STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - ACCEPTANCE OF REQUESTED LICENSING ACTION SUBSEQUENT TO THE SUBMISSION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION NEEDED REGARDING REQUEST FOR A LICENSE AMENDMENT TO TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION 3.7.3, "ULTIMATE HEAT SINK" (EPID L-2020-LLA-0165)

Dear Mr. Hanson:

By letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) dated July 17, 2020 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML20204A775), Exelon Generation Company, LLC (EGC, the licensee) submitted a request to amend Technical Specification (TS) 3.7.3, "Ultimate Heat Sink [UHS]," for the LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2, (LaSalle) to expand the TS temperature limit of the cooling water supplied to the plant from the UHS to vary with the diurnal cycle by changing the average sediment level limit in the UHS to 6 inches.

The purpose of this letter is to provide the results of the NRC staffs acceptance review of this amendment request. The acceptance review was performed to determine if there is sufficient technical information in scope and depth to allow the NRC staff to complete its detailed technical review. The acceptance review is also intended to identify whether the application has any readily apparent information insufficiencies in its characterization of the regulatory requirements or the licensing basis of the plant.

Consistent with Section 50.90 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR),

whenever a holder of a license, including a construction permit and operating license under this part, and an early site permit, combined license, and manufacturing license under 10 CFR Part 52 of this chapter, desires to amend the license or permit, application for an amendment must be filed with the Commission, as specified in Sections 50.4 or 52.3 of this chapter, as applicable, fully describing the changes desired, 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 reviewed your application and concluded that it did not provide technical information in sufficient detail to enable the staff to complete its detailed review and make an independent assessment regarding the acceptability of the proposed amendment in terms of

B. Hanson regulatory requirements for the protection of public health and safety and the environment. This informational need was conveyed to you by email dated August 18, 2020, followed by letter dated August 27, 2020 (ADAMS Accession No. ML20239A726). In this letter, the NRC staff identified that the following information was needed to begin its technical review:

The application dated July 17, 2020, did not provide sufficient information with respect to any reference, calculation or basis, for how the reduction of sedimentation and increase in UHS volume corresponds to the resulting development of temperatures in the proposed curve shown in Figure 3.7.3-1 and Figure 1 of application.

Provide all necessary references, calculations, or bases, to support staff technical review of the revision to the proposed figure.

The NRC staff has reviewed your application and the supplemental information submitted by letter dated September 11, 2020 (ADAMS Package Accession No. ML20259A452), and concluded that it does provide 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 lesser scope and depth of the acceptance review as compared to the detailed technical review, there may be instances in which issues that impact the NRC staffs ability to complete the detailed technical review are identified despite completion of an adequate acceptance review. You will be advised of any further information needed to support the NRC staffs detailed technical review by separate correspondence.

Based on the information provided in your submittal, the NRC staff has estimated that this licensing request will take approximately 900 hours0.0104 days <br />0.25 hours <br />0.00149 weeks <br />3.4245e-4 months <br /> to complete. The NRC staff expects to complete this review in approximately 12 months, which is October 2021. If there are emergent complexities or challenges in our review that would cause changes to the initial forecasted completion date or significant changes in the forecasted hours, the reasons for the changes, along with the new estimates, will be communicated during the routine interactions with the assigned project manager.

These estimates are based on the NRC staffs initial review of the application and they could change, due to several factors including requests for additional information, unanticipated addition of scope to the review, and review by NRC advisory committees or hearing-related activities.

B. Hanson If you have any questions, please contact the LaSalle Project Manager, Bhalchandra K. Vaidya, at (301) 415-3308.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Bhalchandra K. Vaidya, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch III Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-373 and 50-374 cc: Listserv

ML20262H017 (*) by email OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL3/PM(*) NRR/DORL/LPL3/LA(*)

NAME BVaidya SRohrer DATE 09/22/2020 09/22/2020 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL3/BC(*) NRR/DORL/LPL3/PM(*)

NAME NSalgado (RKuntz for) BVaidya DATE 09/24/2020 10/01/2020