UNITED STATES 


NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 


WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 

December 31, 2013 

Mr. K. Henderson 

Site Vice President 

Catawba Nuclear Station 

Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 

4800 Concord Road 

York, SC 29745 

SUBJECT: 	 CATAWBA NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2, CLOSEOUT OF GENERIC 

LETTER, 2004-02, "POTENTIAL IMPACT OF DEBRIS BLOCKAGE ON 

EMERGENCY RECIRCULATION DURING DESIGN BASIS ACCIDENTS AT 

PRESSURIZED-WATER REACTORS" (TAC NOS. MC4674 AND MC4675) 

Dear Mr. Henderson: 

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory (NRC) issued Generic Letter (GL) 2004-02, "Potential Impact of 

Debris Blockage on Emergency Recirculation During Design Basis Accidents at PressurizedWater Reactors" (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) 

Accession No. ML042360586) dated September 13, 2004, requesting that licensees address 

the issues raised by Generic Safety Issue (GSI) - 191, "Assessment of Debris Accumulation on 

Pressurized Water Reactor Sump Performance." 

The stated purpose of GL 2004-02 was focused on demonstrating compliance with Title 10 of 

the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 50 Section 50.46, "Acceptance Criteria For 

Emergency Core Cooling Systems For Light Water Reactors." Specifically the GL requested 

addressees to perform an evaluation of the emergency core cooling system (ECCS) and 

containment spray system (CSS) recirculation and, if necessary take additional action to ensure 

system function, in light of the potential susceptibility of pressurized-water reactor (PWR) sump 

screens to blockage during a design basis accident requiring recirculation operation of the 

ECCS or CSS, and on the potential for additional adverse effects due to debris blockage of 

flowpaths necessary for ECCS and CSS recirculation and containment drainage. 

By letters dated March 1, 2005 (ADAMS Accession No. ML050670465) , September 1, 2005 

(ADAMS Accession No. ML052500399) and June 28, 2006 (ADAMS Accession No. 

ML061870061), Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (the licensee) provided responses to GL-2004-02 

for the Catawba Nuclear Station Units 1 and 2. In order for the NRC staff to complete its review, 

by letter dated February 9,2006 (ADAMS Accession No. ML060370347) the NRC issued a 

request for additional information (RAI). 

By letters dated February 29, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML080650559) and April 30, 2008, 

(ADAMS Accession No. ML081270091) the licensee provided responses to the RAls. The NRC 

staff reviewed the responses and concluded that additional information was still required. By 

letter dated November 21,2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML083080373) the NRC issued a 

second set of RAls. 
K. Henderson ~ 2 ­

By letters dated September 30,2010 (ADAMS Accession No. ML 102870100), August 13, 2012 


(ADAMS Accession No. ML 12229A512), and July 31, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. 


ML 13213A284), the licensee provided responses to the second set of RAls. 


The NRC staff performed a thorough review of all Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC responses and 


RAI supplements to GL 2004~02. The NRC staff conclusions have been documented (ADAMS 


Accession No. ML 13331 A673). Based on the NRC staff conclusions, the NRC staff finds that 


Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC has provided adequate information as requested by GL 2004~02. 

The NRC staff finds the information provided demonstrates that debris will not inhibit the ECCS 


or CSS performance of its intended function in accordance with 10 CFR 50.46 to assure 


adequate long term core cooling following a design basis accident. Therefore, the NRC staff 


finds the licensee's responses to GL-2004~04 are adequate and considers GL-2004-02 closed 


for the Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2. No further information or action is requested of 


the licensee. 


If you have any questions, please call me at 301-415-5888 . 

.Sincer~~J .' /~ 

\.....--../~~ J//// .C' ~. 

, ,.' , , 

/ /Jason C. Paige, Project Manager 

V Plant Licensing Branch 11-1 

Division of Operating Reactor Licensing 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

Docket Nos. 50-413 and 50-414 

cc: Distribution via Listserv 
K. Henderson ~ 2 ­

By letters dated September 30,2010 (ADAMS Accession No. ML 102870100), August 13,2012 


(ADAMS Accession No. ML 12229A512), and July 31,2013 (ADAMS Accession No. 


ML 13213A284), the licensee provided responses to the second set of RAls. 


The NRC staff performed a thorough review of all Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC responses and 


RAI supplements to GL 2004-02. The NRC staff conclusions have been documented (ADAMS 


Accession No. ML 13331A673). Based on the NRC staff conclusions, the NRC staff finds that 


Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC has provided adequate information as requested by GL 2004~02. 

The NRC staff finds the information provided demonstrates that debris will not inhibit the ECCS 


or CSS performance of its intended function in accordance with 10 CFR 50.46 to assure 


adequate long term core cooling following a design basis accident. Therefore, the NRC staff 


finds the licensee's responses to GL-2004-04 are adequate and considers GL-2004-02 closed 


for the Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2. No further information or action is requested of 


the licensee. 


If you have any questions, please call me at 301-415-5888. 


Sincerely, 

IRA! 

Jason C. Paige, Project Manager 

Plant Licensing Branch 11-1 

Division of Operating Reactor Licensing 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

Docket Nos. 50-413 and 50-414 

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SFigueroa 

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DATE 12/20/13 12/23/13 1211912013 12/20/13 12/31/13 12131113 

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