UNITED STATES 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 

Mr. Scott Batson 

Site Vice President 

Oconee Nuclear Station 

Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 

7800 Rochester Highway , 

Seneca, SC 29672-0752 

August 27, 2014 

SUBJECT: OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1, 2, AND 3- CLOSEOUT OF NRC 

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

ON EMERGENCY RECIRCULATION DURING DESIGN BASIS ACCIDENTS AT 

PRESSURIZED-WATER REACTORS" (TAC NOS. MC4698, MC4699 AND 

MC4700) 

Dear Mr. Batson: 

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRq issued Generic Letter (GL) 2004-02, "Potential 

Impact of Debris Blockage on Emergency Recirculation During Design Basis Accidents at 

Pressurized-Water 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, "Ass,essment 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 (1 0 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. This action was requested in light of the potential .susceptibility of pressurizedwater reactor (PWR) sump screens to blockage during a design basis accident requiring 

recirculation operation of the ECCS or CSS, and based 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) and September 1, 2005 

(ADAMS Accession No. ML052500399), Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (the licensee) provided 

responses to GL 2004-02 for the Oconee Nuclear Station (Oconee) Units 1, 2, and 3. In order 

for the NRC staff to complete its review, by letter dated February 9, 2006 (ADAMS Accession 

No. ML060380002), the NRC issued a request for additional information (RAI). 

By letter dated February 29, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML08071 0159), the licensee 

provided responses to the RAis. The NRC staff reviewed the responses, and by letter dated 

July 1, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML081750635), concluded that it had no further questions 

regarding the licensee's completion of corrective actions for GL 2004-02, with the exception of 

the resolution of the issue of in-vessel downstream effects. The NRC staff's conclusion is 

based on the very low debris loading at Oconee, as discussed in the licensee's February 29, 

2008, RAI response. 
S. Batson - 2-

By letter dated February 27, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML 14065A040), the licensee 

addressed in-vessel downstream effects, the remaining open issue for Oconee associated with 

GL 2004-02. The NRC staff performed a review of the licensee's response. The NRC staff 

conclusions have been documented in a separate summary (ADAMS Accession No. 

ML 14218A807). 

The NRC staff has reviewed all Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, responses and RAI supplements 

to GL 2004-02 .. Based on the NRC staff's review, the 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 

the systems' intended functions 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 2004-02 are adequate and considers GL 2004-02 closed for the Oconee 

Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2, and 3. No further information or aCtion is requested of the licensee. 

If you have any questions, please call me at 301-415-4032. 

Docket Nos. 50-269, 50-270, and 50-287 

cc: Distribution via Listserv 

Sincerely, 

~. )jJf!) ~all, Senior Project Manager 

Plant Licensing Branch 11-1 

Division of Operating Reactor Licensing 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 
S. Batson - 2-

By letter dated February 27, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML14065A040), the licensee 

addressed in-vessel downstream effects, the remaining open issue for Oconee associated with 

GL 2004-02. The NRC staff performed a review of the licensee's response. The NRC staff 

conclusions have been documented in a separate summary (ADAMS Accession No. 

ML 14218A807). 

The NRC staff has reviewed all Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, responses and RAI supplements 

to GL 2004-02. Based on the NRC staff's review, the 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 

the systems' intended functions 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 2004-02 are adequate and considers GL 2004-02 closed for the Oconee 

Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2, and 3. No further information or action is requested of the licensee. 

If you have any questions, please call me at 301-415-4032. 

Sincerely, 

/RAJ 

James R. Hall, Senior Project Manager 

Plant Licensing Branch 11-1 

Division of Operating Reactor Licensing 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

Docket Nos. 50-269, 50-270, and 50-287 

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SSanders 

ADAMS Accession No.: ML 14219A482 

OFFICE NRR/LPL2-1/PM NRR/LPL2-1/LA NRR/PGCB/ABC 

NAME RHall (KCotton for) SFigueroa SStuchell 

DATE 08/14/14 08/11/14 08/22/14 

OFFICE NRR/SSIB/ABC NRR/LPL2-1/BC NRR/LPL2-1/PM 

NAME VCusumano RPascarelli RHall 

DATE 08/22/14 08/27/14 08/27/14 

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