ML043350446
| ML043350446 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry  |
| Issue date: | 12/10/2004 |
| From: | Marshall M NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2 |
| To: | Singer K Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Brown Eva, NRR/DLPM, 415-2315 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML043350446 (4) | |
Text
December 10, 2004 Mr. Karl W. Singer Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801
SUBJECT:
BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 2 AND 3 - REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REGARDING PROPOSED USE OF BLENDED LOW ENRICHMENT URANIUM FUEL
Dear Mr. Singer:
On January 11, 2001 the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff met with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA, the licensee) to discuss the need for blended low enrichment uranium (BLEU) lead test assemblies (LTAs) for the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (BFN) units.
During the meeting TVA indicated that the intent was to proceed with a full-core reload for BFN starting in 2005. Sequoyah had previously used LTAs after submitting a topical report and subsequently gaining approval for an amendment from the staff on April 12, 1999. The summary indicated that a license amendment was required for Sequoyah, partly due to the high concentration of U-234 and U-236 in the downblended material. The vendor at the time (Siemens) indicated that the BFN fuel would be fabricated to the same specifications as commercial grade, with the only difference being the U-234 and U-236 isotopic content.
In the meeting summary, it was indicated that the NRC staff would expect the licensee's BFN amendment request to ". . . be 'robust' and include as much information as is available regarding the European experienced [sic] with reprocessed uranium cores." On August 17, 2001, TVA submitted information to support its position that LTAs were not needed for BFN and stated that BLEU use in Europe had revealed no operational problems. The NRC staff held a call with TVA on September 20, 2001, and indicated that since the submittal did not request a review, none would be conducted. The licensee indicated its intention to proceed with the installation of the BLEU core under the Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR),
Section 50.59 process. The NRC staff's summary of October 2001 indicated that the licensee was reminded that the 10 CFR 50.59 is subject to further NRC review.
In discussions with Mr. Tim Abney of your staff, it has come to our attention that the 10 CFR 50.59 regarding the change in fuel type from Framatome ATRIUM-10 to a full core of
K. Singer BLEU was to be completed in November 2004. The NRC staff is requesting a copy of the 10 CFR 50.59 screen and evaluation be forwarded for review so the NRC staff may verify compliance with the current licensing basis for Browns Ferry Units 2 and 3.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Eva Brown, at (301) 415-2315.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Michael L. Marshall, Jr., Chief, Section 2 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-260 and 50-296 cc: See next page
ML043350446 NRR-106 OFFICE PDII-2/PM PDII-2/LA SRXB/SC PDII-2/SC NAME EBrown BClayton FAkstulewicz MMarshall DATE 12/6/04 12/3/04 12/10/04 12/6/04 Mr. Karl W. Singer BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT Tennessee Valley Authority cc:
Mr. Ashok S. Bhatnagar, Senior Vice President Mr. Fredrick C. Mashburn Nuclear Operations Senior Program Manager Tennessee Valley Authority Nuclear Licensing 6A Lookout Place Tennessee Valley Authority 1101 Market Street 4X Blue Ridge Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Michael J. Lorek, General Manager Nuclear Engineering Mr. Timothy E. Abney, Manager Tennessee Valley Authority Licensing and Industry Affairs 6A Lookout Place Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 1101 Market Street Tennessee Valley Authority Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Michael D. Skaggs Site Vice President Senior Resident Inspector Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Tennessee Valley Authority Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant P.O. Box 2000 10833 Shaw Road Decatur, AL 35609 Athens, AL 35611-6970 General Counsel State Health Officer Tennessee Valley Authority Alabama Dept. of Public Health ET 11A RSA Tower - Administration 400 West Summit Hill Drive Suite 1552 Knoxville, TN 37902 P.O. Box 303017 Montgomery, AL 36130-3017 Mr. John C. Fornicola, Manager Nuclear Assurance and Licensing Chairman Tennessee Valley Authority Limestone County Commission 6A Lookout Place 310 West Washington Street 1101 Market Street Athens, AL 35611 Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Kurt L. Krueger, Plant Manager Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609