GO2-17-142, Reactor Vessel Surveillance Capsule

Reactor Vessel Surveillance Capsule

ML17240A397
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia
Issue date:	08/28/2017
From:	Gregoire D Energy Northwest
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
GO2-17-142
Download: ML17240A397 (2)

Text

Donald W. Gregoire Regulatory Affairs & Performance Improvement Manager P.O. Box 968, Mail Drop PE20 Richland, WA 99352-0968 Ph. 509-377-8616 F. 509-377-4317 dwgregoire@energy-northwest.com August 28, 2017 GO2-17-142 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001

Subject:

COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION, DOCKET NO. 50-397 REACTOR VESSEL SURVEILLANCE CAPSULE

Dear Sir or Madam:

During Columbia Generating Stations (Columbia) refuel outage in May 2017, the reactor vessel surveillance capsule specimen holder located at the 300 degree azimuth (300 degree capsule) was found to have failed at the specimen rod to basket interface.

The specimen basket was found on the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) baffle plate and the specimen rod was still hanging in place on the reactor pressure vessel RPV wall.

The specimen capsules themselves remained in the basket and intact. The cause of the failure is still under investigation. All piece parts from the specimen holder were retrieved and removed from the vessel. The remaining two specimen holders were examined and showed no signs of wear, degradation or movement.

The Capsule Surveillance Program is governed by Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR)

Appendix A, Section A.2.1.46, Reactor Vessel Surveillance Program, and the Boiling Water Reactor Vessel and Internals Project (BWRVIP) Integrated Surveillance Program (ISP). The FSAR requires that Energy Northwest follow the requirements of the ISP.

The 300 degree capsule is the C capsule and was removed in 1996 for testing. The contents were reconstituted and reinstalled in the vessel in 1997; as such it is not one of the two remaining stand-by capsules identified in BWRVIP-86, Updated BWR Integrated Surveillance Program (ISP) Implementation Plan, Revision 1-A, Table 3-1. The two stand-by capsules remain in the vessel.

The purpose of this letter is to provide the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) formal notification that the Columbia Reactor Vessel 300 degree surveillance capsule (tested, non-ISP test capsule) was removed from the reactor during the refueling outage in May 2017. The capsule has been stored in the spent fuel pool.

G02-17-142 Page 2 of 2 This notification is required by BWRVIP-135, "Integrated Surveillance Program (ISP)

Data Source Book and Plant Evaluations," Revision 3, which states that licensees who remove a non-ISP capsule from their RPV for storage in the facility's spent fuel pool must notify the NRC of this change. Per ISP guidance, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) BWRVIP ISP program manager has also been notified of the removal.

Columbia's staff is working with the EPRl/BWRVIP ISP program manager to determine if the capsule should be reinstalled to support industry initiatives. This issue is identified in the corrective action program. Columbia will retain the capsule in the spent fuel pool and ensure the capsule is maintained in a condition to allow re-installation, if required, until a final disposition is determined.

There are no regulatory commitments contained in this letter.

If there are any questions or if additional information is needed, please contact Ms. L. L.

Williams, Licensing Supervisor, at 509-377-8148.

Executed this t.~ day of August, 2017.

Respectfully,

~WJL--

u( D.W. Gregoire 1v -Regulatory Affairs & Performance Improvement Manager cc: NRC RIV Regional Administrator NRC NRR Project Manager NRC Senior Resident lnspector/988C CD Sonoda - BPA/1399 WA Horin - Winston & Strawn