Headquarters Daily Report

                         SEPTEMBER 03, 1998

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                    REPORT             NEGATIVE            NO INPUT
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PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED  MORNING REPORT - HEADQUARTERS SEP. 03, 1998

Licensee/Facility:                     Notification:

Part 21 Database                       MR Number: H-98-0137
Abb-Ce                                 Date: 09/03/98
                                                                          

Subject: PART 21 - INCONSISTENT SCREENING OF MOST LIMITING FUEL ASSEMBLY 

Discussion:

VENDOR:  ABB-CE                         PT21 FILE NO:  98-60-0           
                                                                         
DATE OF DOCUMENT:  08/13/98             ACCESSION NUMBER:                
                                                                         
SOURCE DOCUMENT:  EN 34639              REVIEWER:  PECB, E. Goodwin      
                                                                         
NEW ISSUE.  The fuel vendor ABB Combustion Engineering reports its       
conclusion that under very flat core and assembly power distributions,   
its current screening methodology may not consistently identify the most 
limiting fuel assembly for detailed PWR thermal-hydraulic safety         
analyses.  The vendor evaluated this defect for its current analyses of  
record for ANO 2, Calvert Cliffs 1 and 2, Palo Verde 1, 2, and 3, San    
Onofre 2 and 3, St. Lucie 2, Waterford 3, and Ft. Calhoun.  The vendor   
notified other ABB-CE designed plants for which it is not involved in    
nuclear fuel safety analysis:  Millstone 2, Maine Yankee (shutdown),     
Palisades, and St. Lucie 1.                                              
                                                                         
ABB has already completed reviews of the plants for which it did the     
analysis of record and determined that the deficiency led to results that
either did not effect the validity of the exisiting analysis or could be 
absorbed within existing margin.  In the case of San Onofre, ABB did     
recommend changes to setpoints to preserve adequate levels of margin.    
Those plants with CE fuel who do not use ABB-CE to do their analysis have
been informed of the deficiency and have been given directions on how to 
conduct their own reviews.  ABB stated that the reported defect in the   
screening methodology will be corrected within sixty days.  The NRC      
staff, having reviewed the material submitted by ABB, sees no need for   
additional agency action.                                                
                                                                         
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