ML023530608

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

ML023530608
Person / Time
Site:	Sequoyah
Issue date:	12/16/2002
From:	Hernan R NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2
To:	Scalice J Tennessee Valley Authority
Hernan R W, NRR/NRC/DLPM,301-415-2010
References
BL-02-002, TAC MB5924, TAC MB5925
Download: ML023530608 (5)

Text

December 16, 2002 Mr. J. A. Scalice Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801

SUBJECT:

SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 - RESPONSE TO NRC BULLETIN 2002-02, REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL HEAD AND VESSEL HEAD PENETRATION NOZZLE INSPECTION PROGRAMS (TAC. NOS. MB5924 AND MB5925)

Dear Mr. Scalice:

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. The information was to include a summary discussion of inspection program plans to supplement their required visual inspections with nonvisual 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 its issuance, to provide an alternative course of action, including the basis for acceptability of the proposed action.

Tennessee Valley Authoritys letter of September 11, 2002, responded to Item (1) of the Bulletin, indicating the plans to perform RPV head and VHP nozzle inspections at the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2. Your response also indicated that Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, 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 staff finds your immediate inspection plan to perform a 100-percent bare-metal visual examination during the spring and fall 2003 refueling outages to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety.

The staff notes that your justification for relying 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 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 staffs assessment of your justification and the adequacy of your long-term inspection program plans will be determined upon completion of the staffs review of the MRP proposed inspection plan.

J. A. Scalice December 16, 2002 Also, please note that, as stated in Item (2) of the Bulletin, you are to report to the Commission your inspection scope and results within 30 days after plant restart following the inspection of the RPV head and VHP nozzles. Please contact me at (301) 415-2010 if you have any questions on this issue.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Ronald W. Hernan, Senior Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-327 and 50-328 cc: See next page

J. A. Scalice December 16, 2002 Also, please note that, as stated in Item (2) of the Bulletin, you are to report to the Commission your inspection scope and results within 30 days after plant restart following the inspection of the RPV head and VHP nozzles. Please contact me at (301) 415-2010 if you have any questions on this issue.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Ronald W. Hernan, Senior Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-327 and 50-328 cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC AHowe LMarsh TChan PDII-2 R/F BClayton (Hard Copy) AHiser AMendiola ACRS SCahill MMarshall OGC WReckley TTate RHernan BPham SBloom ACCESSION NO. ML023530608 OFFICE PDII-2/PM DLPM/LPM PDII-2/LA EMCB/SC PDII-2/SC NAME RHernan TTate BClayton WHill for TChan AHowe DATE 12/09/02 12/11/02 12/09/02 12/12/02 12/12/02 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

Mr. J. A. Scalice SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT Tennessee Valley Authority cc:

Mr. Karl W. Singer, Senior Vice President Mr. Pedro Salas, Manager Nuclear Operations Licensing and Industry Affairs Tennessee Valley Authority Sequoyah Nuclear Plant 6A Lookout Place Tennessee Valley Authority 1101 Market Street P.O. Box 2000 Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Soddy Daisy, TN 37379 Mr. James E. Maddox, Acting Vice President Mr. D. L. Koehl, Plant Manager Engineering & Technical Services Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place P.O. Box 2000 1101 Market Street Soddy Daisy, TN 37379 Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Senior Resident Inspector Mr. Richard T. Purcell Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Site Vice President U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Sequoyah Nuclear Plant 2600 Igou Ferry Road Tennessee Valley Authority Soddy Daisy, TN 37379 P.O. Box 2000 Soddy Daisy, TN 37379 Mr. Lawrence E. Nanney, Director Division of Radiological Health General Counsel Dept. of Environment & Conservation Tennessee Valley Authority Third Floor, L and C Annex ET 11A 401 Church Street 400 West Summit Hill Drive Nashville, TN 37243-1532 Knoxville, TN 37902 County Executive Mr. Robert J. Adney, General Manager Hamilton County Courthouse Nuclear Assurance Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place Ms. Ann P. Harris 1101 Market Street 341 Swing Loop Road Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Rockwood, Tennessee 37854 Mr. Mark J. Burzynski, Manager Nuclear Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801