The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is reviewing a license amendment request from Holtec International to address a fuel loading incident at the Palisades nuclear power plant in Covert, Mich. The company submitted the request on September 30 after a fuel assembly tilted during core loading operations, pausing restart work. Holtec asked for approval by October 2, and the NRC public comment period for the amendment expired on the afternoon of October 8.
What it means
The license amendment request proposes revisions to Holtec’s updated final safety analysis report to allow the use of different equipment and travel paths for transporting a tilted fuel assembly. Fuel assembly DD41 was placed in core location H-1 but tilted 30 degrees from the core plate after release by the refueling machine. The lower tie plate remains in the core location while the upper tie plate leans against the core shroud on the opposite side. Holtec stated that the tilting was not an intended outcome and could not have been foreseen, necessitating the amendment for emergency processing to avoid delays in restoring power operations.
NRC staff verified that the fuel rods in the assembly remain intact and safe, and the assembly is stable under surveillance by the refueling team. Holtec engineered a custom recovery tool and fuel transfer canister to move the assembly to the spent fuel pool. The NRC provided a preliminary determination that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration. Holtec described the revision as a “one-time use” change.
Separately, Holtec subsidiary SMR LLC submitted a preliminary safety analysis report to the NRC on September 30 as part of a phased construction permit application for a two-unit SMR-300 plant at the Palisades site. The proposed facility, named Pioneer-1 and -2, will consist of twin 340-MWe pressurized water reactors. Holtec refers to the location as the Palisades Energy Campus. The company plans to next work on a Class 2 construction estimate, a 4D simulation of plant construction, and confirmatory safety analyses for a final safety analysis report. The NRC will provide public notice in the Federal Register regarding the SMR project application acceptance for four consecutive weeks beginning October 1.
Key facts
- Holtec submitted the license amendment request on September 30, requesting approval by October 2.
- Fuel assembly DD41 tilted 30 degrees from the core plate in location H-1.
- NRC staff verified fuel rod integrity and determined the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration.
- The public comment period for the license amendment expired on the afternoon of October 8.
- SMR LLC submitted a preliminary safety analysis report for a two-unit SMR-300 plant on September 30.
- The proposed reactors, Pioneer-1 and -2, are 340-MWe pressurized water reactors.
- Holtec will next complete a Class 2 construction estimate and a 4D construction simulation.
- Federal Register public notice for the SMR application began October 1 for four consecutive weeks.
Source: American Nuclear Society, reporting Holtec and NRC filings