2CAN030402, Answer to Issuance of First Revised NRC Order (EA-03-009) Establishing Interim Inspection Requirements for Reactor Pressure Vessel Heads at Pressurized Water Reactors

Answer to Issuance of First Revised NRC Order (EA-03-009) Establishing Interim Inspection Requirements for Reactor Pressure Vessel Heads at Pressurized Water Reactors

ML041610247
Person / Time
Site:	Arkansas Nuclear
Issue date:	03/11/2004
From:	Forbes J Entergy Operations
To:	Annette Vietti-Cook NRC/SECY/RAS
References
2CAN030402, EA-03-009
Download: ML041610247 (7)

Text

Entergy Operations, Inc.

Entergy 1448 S.R. 333 Russeliville, AR 72802 Tel 479858-4888 Jeffery S. Forbes Vice President Operations ANO 2CAN030402 March 11, 2004 Ms. 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:

Answer to Issuance of First Revised NRC Order (EA-03-009)

Establishing Interim Inspection Requirements for Reactor Pressure Vessel Heads at Pressurized Water Reactors Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2 Docket No. 50-368 License No. NPF-6

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 20, 2004, First Revised NRC Order (EA-03-009)

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 of Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2 (ANO-2) as delineated in Section IV thereof.

This letter contains no new commitments. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Steve Bennett at 479-858-4626.

Sincerely, JSF/sab

,4o/

1~ &(q(o4.

2CAN030402 Page 2 of 2 Attachments:

1. Licensee's Answer to February 20, 2004 First Revised Commission Order Modifying License Establishing Interim Inspection Requirements for Reactor Pressure Vessel Heads at Pressurized Water Reactors

2. Certificate of Service cc: Mr. James E. Dyer, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555 Mr. Dennis C. Dambly Assistant General Counsel for Materials Litigation and Enforcement U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555 Dr. Bruce S. Mallett, Regional Administrator U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-8064 Document Control Desk U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555

ATTACHMENT I 2CAN030402 LICENSEE'S ANSWER TO FEBRUARY 20, 2004 FIRST REVISED COMMISSION ORDER MODIFYING LICENSE ESTABLISHING INTERIM INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL HEADS AT PRESSURIZED WATER REACTORS to 2CAN030402 Page 1 of 2 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of )

)

Entergy Operations, Inc. ) Docket No. 50-368

) License No. NPF-6 Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2 )

LICENSEE'S ANSWER TO FEBRUARY 20, 2004 FIRST REVISED COMMISSION ORDER MODIFYING LICENSE ESTABLISHING INTERIM INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL HEADS AT PRESSURIZED WATER REACTORS On February 20, 2004, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ('NRC" or Commission") issued an immediately effective order in the captioned matter entitled First Revised Order Modifying Licenses (Effective Immediately) ("Order") to, inter alia, Entergy Operations, Inc. ("Entergy").

This Order supercedes the original Order Modifying Licenses, which was issued on February 11, 2003. The Order stated that recent experience indicated that current inspection requirements in Section XI 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 to 2CAN030402 Page 2 of 2 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.

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 2, reactor pressure vessel head. Entergy does not request a hearing on the Order.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on March 11, 2004.

Respectfully submitted, Entergy Operations, Inc.

Jeffery S. Forbes Vice President, Operations Arkansas Nuclear One

ATTACHMENT 2 2CAN030402 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE to 2CAN030402 Page 1 of 1 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of )

)

Entergy Operations, Inc. ) Docket No. 50-368

) License No. NPF-6 Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2 )

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify under penalty of perjury that copies of the ANSWER TO FEBRUARY 20, 2004, FIRST REVISED 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 "*"), by facsimile, or by e-mail as directed in Section V of the Order (as indicated by a double asterisk "**"), this 11th day of March 2004.

Ms. Annette L. Vietti-Cook, Secretary** Mr. James E. Dyer, 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 Dr. Bruce S. Mallett, Regional Administrator Mr. Dennis C. Dambly**

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Assistant General Counsel for Materials Region IV 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 Jeffery S. Fdrbes Vice President, Operations Arkansas Nuclear One