1CAN020302, Entergy Operations, Inc. - Answer to Issuance of Order Establishing Interim Inspection Requirements for Reactor Pressure Vessel Heads at Pressurized Water Reactors

Entergy Operations, Inc. - Answer to Issuance of Order Establishing Interim Inspection Requirements for Reactor Pressure Vessel Heads at Pressurized Water Reactors

ML030650811
Person / Time
Site:	Arkansas Nuclear
Issue date:	02/28/2003
From:	Anderson C Entergy Operations
To:	Annette Vietti-Cook NRC/SECY/RAS
References
1CAN020302
Download: ML030650811 (6)

Text

Entergy Operations, Inc.

1448 S R 333 S-En tergy Russellville, AR 72801 Tel 501-858-4888 Craig Anderson Vice President Operations ANO 1CAN020302 February 28, 2003 Annette L. Vietti-Cook, Secretary Office of the Secretary of the Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN. Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff Washington, DC 20555

SUBJECT:

Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1 Docket No. 50-313 Entergy Operations, Inc. - Answer to Issuance of Order Establishing Interim Inspection Requirements for Reactor Pressure Vessel Heads at Pressurized Water Reactors

Dear Ms. Vietti-Cook,

In accordance with 10 C.F.R. § 2.202(a)(2), Entergy Operations, Inc. ("Entergy"), hereby submits for filing its answer to the February 11, 2003, Order Establishing Interim Inspection Requirements for Reactor Pressure Vessel Heads at Pressurized Water Reactors and a related Certificate of Service in the captioned matter. Entergy does not request a hearing on the Order.

Entergy consents to the Order modifying the license as delineated in Section IVthereof.

In Footnote 1 of the Order, the NRC referenced certain guidance to address flaw evaluations.

As explained in the answer to the Order, Entergy plans to use other guidance to evaluate crack growth for the reactor vessel head penetration nozzle base metal comprising the inside surface and the portion of the outside surface protruding below the attachment J-groove weld This letter does not include any new commitments. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Steve Bennett at 479-858-4626.

Sincerely, CGA/sab Attachments:

1. Licensee's Answer to February 11, 2003 Commission Order Modifying License Establishing Interim Inspection Requirements for Reactor Pressure Vessel Heads at Pressurized Water Reactors

2. Certificate of Service

Attachment 1 1CAN020302 Licensee's Answer to February 11, 2003 Commission Order Modifying License Establishing Interim Inspection Requirements for Reactor Pressure Vessel Heads at Pressurized Water Reactors to 1 CAN020302 Page 1 of 2 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of )

)

Entergy Operations, Inc. ) Docket No. 50-313

) License No. DPR-51 Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1 )

LICENSEE'S ANSWER TO FEBRUARY 11, 2003 COMMISSION ORDER MODIFYING LICENSE ESTABLISHING INTERIM INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL HEADS AT PRESSURIZED WATER REACTORS On February 11, 2003, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC" or "Commission") issued an immediately effective order in the captioned matter entitled Order Modifying Licenses (Effective Immediately) ("Order") to, interalia, Entergy Operations, Inc. ("Entergy"). The Order stated that recent experience indicated that current inspection requirements in Section Xl of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code ("ASME Code") and related NRC regulations do not provide adequate assurance that reactor coolant pressure boundary integrity will be maintained for all combinations of construction materials, operating conditions, and operating histories at pressurized water reactors ("PWRs"). The Commission stated that long-term resolution of reactor pressure vessel ("RPV") head penetration inspection requirements is expected to involve changes to the ASME Code and NRC regulations, specifically 10 C.F.R. § 50.55a. Consequently, the Commission stated that it was necessary to establish a minimum set of RPV head inspection requirements, as a supplement to existing inspection and other requirements in the ASME Code and NRC regulations, through the issuance of the Order. Therefore, the Commission imposed interim inspection requirements set forth in Section IV of the Order pending the development of consensus standards and incorporation of revised inspection requirements into 10 C.F.R. § 50.55a, directly or through reference to a future version of the ASME Code.

Attachment I to 1CAN020302 Page 2 of 2 Pursuant to 10 C.F.R. § 2.202(d), Entergy consents to the Order modifying the license as set forth in Section IV of the Order for performing inspections of the Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1 reactor pressure vessel head. Entergy does not request a hearing on the Order.

Footnote 1 of the Order cites a November 21, 2001, letter from J. Strosnider, NRC, to A.

Marion, Nuclear Energy Institute, for guidance to address flaw evaluation. In lieu of the cited guidance, Entergy intends to use the guidance in Electric Power Research Institute Report MRP-55, Revision 1, "Materials Reliability Program Crack Growth Rates for Evaluating Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking ("PWSCC") of Thick Wall Alloy 600 Material" (EPRI-TR 1006695), to evaluate PWSCC crack growth for the reactor vessel head penetration nozzle base metal comprising the inside surface and the portion of the outside surface protruding below the attachment J-groove weld.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on February 28, 2003.

Respectfully submitted, Entergy Operations, Inc.

C.G. Anderson Vice President, Operations Arkansas Nuclear One

Attachment 2 1CAN020302 Certificate of Service to 1CAN 020302 Page 1 of I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of )

)

Entergy Operations, Inc. ) Docket No. 50-313

) License No. DPR-51 Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1 )

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify under penalty of perjury that copies of the ANSWER TO FEBRUARY 11, 2003, COMMISSION ORDER MODIFYING LICENSE ESTABLISHING INTERIM INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL HEADS AT PRESSURIZED WATER REACTORS in the captioned action have been served on the following by deposit in the United States mail, first class, and in addition, by overnight delivery (as indicated by an asterisk "*') or by facsimile as directed in Section V of the Order (as indicated by a double asterisk ""**),this 28th day of February 2003.

Annette L. Vietti-Cook, Secretary** Mr. Samuel J. Collins, Director*

Office of the Secretary of the Commission Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop O-5E7 ATTN: Rulemakings and One White Flint North Adjudications Staff 11555 Rockville Pike Washington, DC 20555-0001 Rockville, MD 20852-2738 Regional Administrator - Region IV Assistant General Counsel for Materials U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Litigation and Enforcement**

611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Arlington, TX 76011 Washington, DC 20555-0001 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001 C.G. A derson Vice President, Operations Arkansas Nuclear One