ML091380339

ME0772, Proprietary Information Determination Letter, PLA-6510 - Encl 1, M. S. Line Limit Curve Adjustment During Power Ascension

ML091380339
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	05/22/2009
From:	Bhalchandra Vaidya Plant Licensing Branch 1
To:	Spence W PPL Corp
vaidya b k
References
PLA-6510, TAC ME0772
Download: ML091380339 (5)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 May 22, 2009 Mr. William H. Spence Executive Vice President Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nuclear Officer PPL Corporation Two North Ninth Street, GENTW16 Allentown, PA 18101-1179

SUBJECT:

SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - REQUEST FOR WITHHOLDING INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE (TAC NO.

ME0772)

Dear Mr. Spence:

By letter dated May 12, 2009, PPL Susquehanna, LLC, submitted an affidavit, executed by Mr. James F. Harrison, Vice President, Fuels Licensing, Regulatory Affairs, GE-Hitachi, Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC ("GEH"), dated April 29, 2009, requesting that the information contained in the following document be withheld from public disclosure pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 2.390:

PPL Susquehanna, LLC letter number PLA-651 0 titled Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Unit 1 Operating License No. NPF-14, Docket No. 50-387, License Condition 2.C.(36)(b)8, and Unit 2 Operating License No. NPF-22, Docket No. 50-388, License Condition 2.C.(20)(b)8, dated May 12, 2009, Enclosure 1 (proprietary version) Engineering Report, 0000-0101-0766-P-RO, DRF 0000-0080-2990, RO, Class III, April 2009, Main Steam Line Limit Curve Adjustment During Power Ascension.

The affidavit stated that the submitted information should be considered exempt from mandatory public disclosure for the following reasons:

(3) In making this application for withholding of proprietary information of which it is the owner or licensee, GEH relies upon the exemption from disclosure set forth in the Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"), 5 USC Sec. 552(b)(4), and the Trade Secrets Act, 18 USC Sec. 1905, and NRC regulations 10 CFR 9.17(a)(4), and 2.390(a)(4) for "trade secrets" (Exemption 4). The material for which exemption from disclosure is here sought also qualify under the narrower definition of "trade secret", within the meanings assigned to those terms for purposes of FOIA Exemption 4 in, respectively, Critical Mass Energy Project v. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 975F2d871 (DC Cir. 1992), and Public Citizen Health Research Group v. FDA, 704F2d 1280 (DC Cir. 1983).

(4)a. Information that discloses a process, method, or apparatus, including supporting data and analyses, where prevention of its use by GEH's competitors without license from GEH constitutes a competitive economic advantage over other companies;

W. H. Spence - 2 (4)b. Information which, if used by a competitor, would reduce his expenditure of resources or improve his competitive position in the design, manufacture, shipment, installation, assurance of quality, or licensing of a similar product; (8) The information identified in paragraph (2) [of the affidavit] is classified as proprietary because it contains detailed results and conclusions regarding supporting evaluations of the safety significant changes necessary to demonstrate the regulatory acceptability of the "Engineering Report for Main Steam Line Limit Curve Adjustment During Power Ascension," for a GEH Boiling Water Reactor ("BWR") steam dryer. The analysis utilized analytical models and methods, including computer codes, which GEH has developed, obtained NRC approval of, and applied to perform evaluations for a GEH BWR steam dryer.

The development of the evaluation process along with the interpretation and application of the analytical results is derived from the extensive experience database that constitutes a major GEH asset.

(9) Public disclosure of the information sought to be withheld is likely to cause substantial harm to GEH's competitive position and foreclose or reduce the availability of profit-making opportunities. The information is part of GEH's comprehensive BWR [boiling-water reactor] safety and technology base, and its commercial value extends beyond the original development cost. The value of the technology base goes beyond the extensive physical database and analytical methodology and includes development of the expertise to determine and apply the appropriate evaluation process. In addition, the technology base includes the value derived from providing analyses done with [U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission] NRC-approved methods.

The research, development, engineering, analytical, and NRC review costs comprise a substantial investment of time and money by GEH.

The precise value of the expertise to devise an evaluation process and apply the correct analytical methodology is difficult to quantify, but it clearly is substantial.

GEH's competitive advantage will be lost if its competitors are able to use the results of the GEH experience to normalize or verify their own process or if they are able to claim an equivalent understanding by demonstrating that they can arrive at the same or similar conclusions.

The value of this information to GEH would be lost if the information were disclosed to the pUblic. Making such information available to competitors without their having been required to undertake a similar expenditure of resources would unfairly provide competitors with a windfall, and deprive GEH of the opportunity to exercise its competitive advantage to seek an adequate return on its large investment in developing and obtaining these very valuable analytical tools.

We have reviewed your application and the material in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR 2.390 and. on the basis of your statements, have determined that the submitted

W. H. Spence -3 information sought to be withheld contains proprietary commercial information and should be withheld from public disclosure.

Therefore, the submitted information marked as proprietary will be withheld from public disclosure pursuant to 10 CFR 2.390(b)(5) and Section 103(b) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.

A nonproprietary copy of this document (Enclosure 2 of the above referenced letter) has been placed in the NRC's Public Document Room and added to the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Public Electronic Reading Room.

Withholding from public inspection shall not affect the right, if any, of persons properly and directly concerned to inspect the documents. If the need arises, we may send copies of this information to our consultants working in this area. We will, of course, ensure that the consultants have signed the appropriate agreements for handling proprietary information.

If the basis for withholding this information from public inspection should change in the future such that the information could then be made available for public inspection, you should promptly notify the NRC. You also should understand that the NRC may have cause to review this determination in the future, for example, if the scope of a Freedom of Information Act request includes your information. In all review situations, if the NRC makes a determination adverse to the above, you will be notified in advance of any public disclosure.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, I may be reached at 301-415-3308.

Sincerely, Bhalchandra K. Vaidya, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch 1-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-387 and 50-388 cc: See next page

PPL Corporation, Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 cc:

Mr. James F. Harrison, Vice President, Fuels Licensing, Regulatory Affairs, GE-Hitachi, Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC 3901 Castle Hayne Road Wilmington, NC28401 Additional Distribution via Listserv

... ML091380339 OFFICE LPLI-1/PM LPLI-1/LA NRR/DE/EMCB/BC LPLI-1/BC NAME BVaidya SLittie MKhanna DPickett DATE 5/19/09 5/19/09 5/19/09 5/22/09