2CAN041303, Additional Reactor Vessel Closure Head Weld Request for Alternative ANO2-ISI-004 Proposed Alternative to Extend the Third 10-Year Inservice Inspection Interval for Reactor Vessel Weld Examinations

Additional Reactor Vessel Closure Head Weld Request for Alternative ANO2-ISI-004 Proposed Alternative to Extend the Third 10-Year Inservice Inspection Interval for Reactor Vessel Weld Examinations

ML13115A015
Person / Time
Site:	Arkansas Nuclear
Issue date:	04/24/2013
From:	Pyle S Entergy Operations
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SECY RAS
References
2CAN041303, TAC MC9768, TAC MD9671, TAC ME2508
Download: ML13115A015 (3)

Text

Entergy Operations, Inc.

1448 S.R. 333 Russellville, AR 72802 Tel 479-858-4704 Stephenie L. Pyle Manager, Licensing Arkansas Nuclear One 2CAN041303 April 24, 2013 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555

SUBJECT:

Additional Reactor Vessel Closure Head Weld Request for Alternative ANO2-ISI-004 Proposed Alternative to Extend the Third 10-Year Inservice Inspection Interval for Reactor Vessel Weld Examinations Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2 Docket No. 50-368 License No. NPF-6

REFERENCES:

1. Entergy letter to NRC, Request for Alternative ANO2-ISI-004 Proposed Alternative to Extend the Third 10-Year Inservice Inspection Interval for Reactor Vessel Weld Examinations, dated October 29, 2009 (2CAN100902) (ML093030136)

2. Letter from NRC to Mr. Gordon Bischoff, Manager, Owners Group Program Management Office, Final Safety Evaluation of Pressurized Water Reactor Owners Group (PWROG) Topical Report (TR)

WCAP-16168-NP, Revision 2, Risk-Informed Extension of the Reactor Vessel In-Service Inspection Interval (TAC No. MC9768), dated May 8, 2008 (ML081060051)

3. NRC letter to Entergy, Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2 - Request for Alternative ANO2-ISI-004, To Extend the Third 10-Year Inservice Inspection Interval for Reactor Vessel Weld Examinations (TAC No. ME2508), dated September 21, 2010 (2CNA091002)

(ML102450654)

4. NRC letter to Entergy, Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 -

Request for Alternative WF3-ISI-006 for the Second 10-Year Inservice Inspection Interval (TAC No. MD9671), dated June 12, 2009 (ILN09-0058) (ML091210375)

2CAN041303 Page 2 of 3

Dear Sir or Madam:

Entergy Operations, Inc. (Entergy) requested NRCs approval of an alternative to the requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Code,Section XI, paragraph IWB-2412, Inspection Program B, for Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2 (ANO-2) in Reference 1. In particular the requirement that volumetric examination of essentially 100% of the reactor vessel pressure retaining Examination Category B-A and B-D welds be performed once each ten-year inservice inspection (ISI) interval. The alternative was to extend the examination frequency to once every 20 years. The request was based upon the methodology outlined in Reference 2.

In Reference 3, the NRC concluded that the Request for Alternative ANO2-ISI-004 provided an acceptable level of quality and safety and the alternative was authorized pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(a)(3)(i).

While reviewing the ANO-2 ISI program, it was discovered that the change to the program to include the approved request for alternative included an additional weld that was not specifically requested or granted. The affected weld number is02-001, which is the reactor pressure vessel closure head to flange weld, was inadvertently omitted from the first paragraph of Reference 1 Request for Alternative ANO2-ISI-004.

This weld is a reactor vessel pressure boundary B-A weld as discussed in Reference 1, but its item number (B1.40) was not specifically listed in Reference 1 or 3. As a result of the change to the ISI program this weld was not examined during the third ISI interval. Entergy requests the approval of this weld as part of Request for Alternative ANO2-ISI-004.

This weld was included in the analysis performed to support the Reference 1 request.

Reference 4 is the NRCs approval of a similar request for Waterford. The Waterford request included the subject weld (B1.40).

This weld was last examined, one third per outage, during the Fall of 1992, Spring of 1994 and Spring of 1997 outages. No unsatisfactory indications were identified during these inspections.

This submittal contains no regulatory commitments.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact me.

Sincerely, Original signed by Stephenie L. Pyle SLP/rwc

2CAN041303 Page 3 of 3 cc: Mr. Arthur T. Howell Regional Administrator U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region IV 1600 East Lamar Boulevard Arlington, TX 76011-4511 NRC Senior Resident Inspector Arkansas Nuclear One P. O. Box 310 London, AR 72847 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Mr. Kaly Kalyanam MS O-8B1 One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852