ML20005H055

Responds to NRC Bulletin 89-003, Potential Loss of Required Shutdown Margin During Refueling Operations. Util Will Provide Specific Training to All Members Responsible for Refueling Operation to Emphasize Importance of Procedures

ML20005H055
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach
Issue date:	01/11/1990
From:	Fay C WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
CON-NRC-90-005, CON-NRC-90-5 IEB-89-003, IEB-89-3, VPNPD-90-028, VPNPD-90-28, NUDOCS 9001240086
Download: ML20005H055 (2)

Text

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January.- 11,-'1990 e

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Document.' Control Desk.

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[U.SS.cNUCLEARl REGULATORY' COMMISSION-tMail: Station.P1-137

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p:/ m F a .. Gentlemen:-

p DOCKET-NOS. 50-266AND 50-301' t  ; RESPONSE TO.NRC. BULLETIN.89-03 LOSS OF. SHUTDOWN. MARGIN.DURING REFUELING

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g iPOINT BEACH NUCLEAR PLANT

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, ~-NRC.Bu11etin'89-03, " Potential Loss of Required Shutdown Margin JDuring4 Refueling Operations," requested all PWR licensees to assure p :that; adequate shutdown margin is maintained during all refueling

. -operations . : This: concern has become even more important with the

, 1recent widespread use of higher-enrichmentsfuel. Utilities have been advised-to review the fuel shuffle ~ procedures that control the location 7ofLhighly reactive fuel assemblies-and be aware that the.

refueling boron? concentration necessary~to maintain the required

.shultdown-margin 1when the fuel;isiin its-final core configuration may (notibel sufficient t_o assure required shutdown margin for all inter-mediate: fuel assembly: positions.

Wisconsin Electric, owner and operator of the Point Beach Nuclear

's Plant,Lhas-been, sensitive to the need to assure adequate shutdown

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margin when utilizing higher enrichment fuel. Although we have not, as"yet, utilized-fuel-with greater than 4.0 weight percent U235

< enrichment, the next-Point Beach Unit 1 reload will include fuel eenriched to approximately 4.2 weight percent. As directed by the iBulletin, fwe shall assure: that the intermediate fuel assembly

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Leonfigurations employed during the reload fuel shuffle at Point g / ' Beach have'.been identified and evaluated to maintain sufficient

+'l minimumishutdown margin for the refueling boron concentration.

' Detailed fuel movement' procedure will be established to control these intermediate fuel assembly configurations and verbatim compliance with these procedures will be emphasized and demanded.

9001240086 900111 PDR ADOCK 05000266 O PDC /r i

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r 1, ' Document-Contro11 Desk zJanuary 11,11990.

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E ' -Asfreguested by L the. Bulletin, we shall provide specific training to

.all-staff members responsible:for refuel-ing-operation to emphasize

-the need andJin:portance of verbatim compliance with the fuel loading

' procedures. This:Ltraining shall include the fundamental aspects of criticality control with higher enriched fuel assemblies, and include discussion ~of the' pot'ential consequences of violating these procedures. -This training shall be completed prior to shutdown'for the' Point 1 Beach. Unit.1 spring 1990 refueling which is; presently scheduled for March:30, 1990.

.g -Very truly-yours, 3$/ . /

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, C. W. Fay-L;VicelPresident'

' Nuclear-Power Department s Copies.to NRC Regional Administrator, Region III

.NRC ResidentnInspector .

. Subscribed and swqrn to'before me this{lTO day of h m,;m ,s , , 1990.

O. 6 Notary.Public, State of7 Wisconsin  :

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My. Commission expires E- 2 7- 9 0 .

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