ML023540355
| ML023540355 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Watts Bar  |
| Issue date: | 12/20/2002 |
| From: | Padovan L NRC/RGN-II |
| To: | Scalice J Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Padovan L, NRR/DLPM, 415-1423 | |
| References | |
| BL-02-002, TAC MB5937 | |
| Download: ML023540355 (4) | |
Text
December 20, 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:
WATTS BAR, UNIT 1 RESPONSE TO NRC BULLETIN 2002-02, REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL HEAD AND VESSEL HEAD PENETRATION NOZZLE INSPECTION PROGRAMS (TAC. NO. MB5937)
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 Watts Bar, Unit 1. Your response also indicated that Watts Bar, 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 staff finds your immediate inspection plan to perform a 100-percent bare-metal visual examination during the fall 2003 refueling outage 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 20, 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) 415-1423 if you have any questions on this issue.
Sincerely,
/RA/
L. Mark Padovan, Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-390 cc: See next page
J. A. Scalice December 20, 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) 415-1423 if you have any questions on this issue.
Sincerely,
/RA/
L. Mark Padovan, Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-390 cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION:
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AHiser AMendiola ACRS SCahill, RII MMarshall OGC WReckley TTate MPadovan BPham SBloom DOCUMENT NAME: C:\\ORPCheckout\\FileNET\\ML023540355.wpd ACCESSION NO. ML023540355 OFFICE PDII-2/PM DLPM/LPM PDII-2/LA EMCB/SC PDII-2/SC NAME MPadovan TTate BClayton TChan AHowe DATE 12/12/02 12/06/02 12/06/02 12/10/02 12/12/02 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Mr. J. A. Scalice Tennessee Valley Authority WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT cc:
Mr. Karl W. Singer, Senior Vice President Nuclear Operations Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. James E. Maddox, Acting Vice President Engineering & Technical Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. William R. Lagergren Site Vice President Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Spring City, TN 37381 General Counsel Tennessee Valley Authority ET 11A 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Mr. Robert J. Adney, General Manager Nuclear Assurance Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Mark J. Burzynski, Manager Nuclear Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Paul L. Pace, Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Spring City, TN 37381 Mr. Larry S. Bryant, Manager Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Spring City, TN 37381 Senior Resident Inspector Watts Bar Nuclear Plant U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1260 Nuclear Plant Road Spring City, TN 37381 Rhea County Executive 375 Church Street Suite 215 Dayton, TN 37321 County Executive Meigs County Courthouse Decatur, TN 37322 Mr. Lawrence E. Nanney, Director Division of Radiological Health Dept. of Environment & Conservation Third Floor, L and C Annex 401 Church Street Nashville, TN 37243-1532 Ms. Ann P. Harris 341 Swing Loop Road Rockwood, Tennessee 37854