High Burnup MAPLHGR Limits (Generic Letter 82-03)

                                UNITED STATES
                        NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555

                               March 31, 1982

TO ALL OPERATING BWRs 

SUBJECT:  HIGH BURNUP MAPLHGR LIMITS (Generic Letter 82-03) 

Gentlemen: 

The General Electric Company requested (Refs. 1 & 2) that credit for 
approved, but unapplied, ECCS evaluation model changes be used to offset 
MAPLHGR penalties due to high burnup fission gas release on operating 
reactors with GE fuel. The staff has evaluated these changes and has 
approved application of credit for these changes for certain plants. 

If the positions stated in the referenced letters from GE are applicable to 
your plant, you may wish to apply the GE proposal to offset previously 
applied MAPLHGR penalties. For the positions to be applicable it is 
necessary that: 

     1.   No. additional credit is taken in the analysis for the ECCS 
          evaluation model changes and 

     2.   The peak cladding temperature for each fuel type and burnup does 
          not exceed that assumed in Table 2 of Reference 2. 

Based on the above considerations, we would find a plant-specific reference 
to the GE position acceptable in supporting requests for high burnup MAPLHGR
Technical Specification changes. 

                                   Sincerely, 


                                   Darrell G. Eisenhut, Director 
                                   Division of Licensing 
                                   Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

References: 
1.   RE Engel (GE) to T. A. Ippolito (NRC) on "Extension of 
     ECCS Performance Limits" dated May 6, 1981 
2.   RE Engel (GE) to T. A. Ippolito (NRC) on "Extension of 
     ECCS Performance Limits" dated May 28, 1981 




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