Excessive Control Rod Guide Tube Wear (Generic Letter 78-26)

                                                              GL 78-26
                                UNITED STATES 
                        NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 

                                July 13, 1978


LTRS ADDRESSED TO LICENSEES

(ALL B&W PLANTS IN ORB #4:DOR)

Gentlemen:

RE:

We have recently sent the enclosed letter to Babcock & Wilcox Company
regarding the potential for excessive control rod guide tube wear at
facilities using the B&W design.  This information is required to assess the
significance of control rod guide tube wear at your facility.

We requested the required information from the vendor, in order to provide us
with an overall assessment of this problem and to minimize the amount of
utility, vendor and NRC staff work required.  However, should this approach to
obtain the necessary information not be successful, a direct response to the
enclosed questions, from each licensee utilizing the B&W design, will be
required.

We request your cooperation with B&W in generating and analyzing the control
rod guide tube wear data necessary to address this concern.

                                    Sincerely,



                                    Brian K Grimes, Assistant Director
                                      for Engineering and Projects
                                    Division of Operating Reactors

Enclosure: 
Letter to B&W dated June 13, 1978