ML023190392

Response to NRC Bulletin 2002-02, Reactor Pressure Vessel Head & Vessel Head Penetration Nozzle Inspection Programs

ML023190392
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	11/14/2002
From:	Rinaldi F NRC/NRR/DLPM
To:	Gasser J Southern Nuclear Operating Co
Rinaldi F, NRR/LPD2-1, 415-1447
References
BL-02-002, TAC MB5934
Download: ML023190392 (4)

Text

Mr. J. T. Gasser November 14, 2002 Vice President - Farley Project Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

Post Office Box 1295 Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295

SUBJECT:

VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNIT 1 - RESPONSE TO NRC BULLETIN 2002-02, "REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL HEAD AND VESSEL HEAD PENETRATION NOZZLE INSPECTION PROGRAMS" (TAC NO.

MB5934)

Dear Mr. Gasser:

On August 9, 2002, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Bulletin 2002-02, "Reactor Pressure Vessel Head and Vessel Head Penetration Nozzle Inspection Programs."

The Bulletin requested addressees to provide information related to their reactor pressure vessel (RPV) head and vessel head penetration (VHP) nozzle inspection programs for their respective facilities, including a summary discussion of inspection program plans to supplement their required visual inspections with non-visual nondestructive examination methods, or justification for reliance on visual examinations as the primary method to detect degradation.

Addressees were requested to respond to Item 1 of the Bulletin within 30 days of its issuance, or within 15 days of issuance of the Bulletin provide an alternative course of action, including the basis for acceptability of the proposed action.

By letter dated September 5, 2002, you provided a response to Item 1 of the Bulletin, indicating the plans to perform RPV head and VHP nozzle inspections at Vogtle Unit 1. The response also indicated that Vogtle Unit 1 is in the category of plants considered to have low susceptibility to RPV head and VHP cracking, based on a susceptibility ranking of less than 8 effective degradation years.

The NRC staff has reviewed your response to Item 1 of the Bulletin. The NRC staff finds the 100 percent bare metal visual examination conducted in March 2002 to be adequate for providing reasonable assurance that existing regulatory requirements are met.

The NRC staff notes that your justification for reliance on visual examinations and long-term inspection plans refer to the Electric Power Research Institute Materials Reliability Program (MRP) inspection plan for pressurized water reactor RPV upper head penetrations. The NRC staff has not completed its review of the MRP inspection plan and, as such, has not made a determination on the adequacy of the program for ensuring applicable regulatory requirements are met. The NRC staffs assessment of your justification and the adequacy of your long-term inspection program plans will be determined upon completion of the NRC staffs review of the MRP proposed inspection plan.

Item 2 of the Bulletin requested that you report to the Commission your inspection scope and results within 30 days after plant restart following the inspections of the RPV head and VHP

Mr. T. J. Gasser nozzles. The NRC staff finds your report submitted on May 15, 2002, in response to Item 2.A of Bulletin 2002-01 satisfies the report requested in Item 2 of Bulletin 2002-02.

Please contact me at (301) 415-1447, if you have any questions on this issue.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Frank Rinaldi, Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-424 cc: See next page

ML023190392 OFFICE PDI-2/PM PDII-1/PM PDII-1/LA EMCB/SC PDII-1/SC NAME TTate FRinaldi CHawes TChan RMartin for JNakoski DATE 11/07/02 11/06/02 11/06/02 11/08/02 11/12/02 Vogtle Electric Generating Plant cc: Harold Reheis, Director Mr. N.J. Stringfellow Department of Natural Resources Manager, Licensing 205 Butler Street, SE. Suite 1252 Southern Nuclear Operating Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Company, Inc.

P. O. Box 1295 Attorney General Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295 Law Department 132 Judicial Building Mr.G. R. Frederick Atlanta, Georgia 30334 General Manager, Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Mr. J. D. Sharpe Southern Nuclear Operating Resident Manager Company, Inc. Oglethorpe Power Corporation P. O. Box 1600 Alvin W. Vogtle Nuclear Plant Waynesboro, Georgia 30830 P. O. Box 1600 Waynesboro, Georgia 30830 Office of Planning and Budget Room 615B Charles A. Patrizia, Esquire 270 Washington Street, SW. Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker Atlanta, Georgia 30334 10th Floor 1299 Pennsylvania Avenue Mr. J. D. Woodard Washington, DC 20004-9500 Executive Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Arthur H. Domby, Esquire Company, Inc. Troutman Sanders P. O. Box 1295 NationsBank Plaza Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295 600 Peachtree Street, NE.

Suite 5200 Steven M. Jackson Atlanta, Georgia 30308-2216 Senior Engineer - Power Supply Municipal Electric Authority Resident Inspector of Georgia Vogtle Plant 1470 Riveredge Parkway, NW. 8805 River Road Atlanta, Georgia 30328-4684 Waynesboro, Georgia 30830 Office of the County Commissioner Burke County Commission Waynesboro, Georgia 30830