ML030030685
| ML030030685 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Byron, Braidwood  |
| Issue date: | 01/09/2003 |
| From: | Anthony Mendiola NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD3 |
| To: | Mulligan M New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution |
| Chawla M, NRR/DLPM, 415-8371 | |
| References | |
| LER 02-001-01, TAC MB7016, Y20020298 | |
| Download: ML030030685 (6) | |
Text
January 09, 2003 Mr. Michael Mulligan New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution 5 Woodlawn Lane Hinsdale, NH 03451
Dear Mr. Mulligan:
This is response to your e-mail dated December 20, 2002, to Mr. Victor L. Dricks regarding your safety concerns at the Braidwood and Byron Nuclear Stations. You referenced Licensee Event Report (LER) 454-2002-001-01 and raised the following two concerns:
- 1. The main steam safety valves (MSSVs) were tested sequentially. The licensee incorrectly stated that only one valve was known to be inoperable at any one time, whereas they all could be inoperable at the same time.
- 2. Utilities are making statements regarding discovery of inoperable equipment while shutdown and claiming that there is no effect while the plant was operating.
On March 7, 2002, the setpoint testing of the Byron Unit 1 MSSVs was initiated in preparation of refueling outage (i.e., B1R11). The MSSVs are tested each cycle in accordance with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section XI, inservice testing requirements. Specifically, the ASME Code requires testing a minimum of four valves (20 percent) out of the 20 total MSSVs on the four steam generator loops, with all 20 valves being tested every 5 years. The licensee had initially planned to test only 9 valves; however, due to test failures, the licensee expanded the testing to include all 20 valves. The licensee reported the issue of multiple MSSVs being outside of their required lift setting tolerance band in accordance with the NRCs regulations and the satisfactory retesting of the MSSVs. The NRC staff has evaluated LER 454-2002-001-01 and determined the licensees approach to be consistent with the ASME Code requirements and appropriate.
It should be noted that testing of all the MSSVs at the same time is not practicable. Moreover, there is no advantage to testing all of the MSSVs at the same time. During individual testing of MSSVs, all test failures must be evaluated and resolved. Therefore, we did not substantiate your first concern.
We find your second concern to be general and that you did not provide specific details in support of the issue. However, please be advised that when equipment is identified to be inoperable during any plant condition, licensees do not merely claim, but are required to evaluate the impact of such inoperability during all applicable plant conditions and to take corrective action to provide assurance that the equipment will perform its intended safety function. Such licensee evaluations are subject to NRC inspections or audits. Therefore, we did not substantiate your second concern.
M. Mulligan For the reasons stated herein, we do not plan to take any further action on your concerns.
Thank you for bringing these issues to the attention of the NRC.
Sincerely,
/RA/ by L. Raghavan Anthony J. Mendiola, Chief, Section 2 Project Directorate III Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. STN 50-454, STN 50-455, STN 50-456, and STN 50-457 cc: See next page
ML030030685 Incoming: ML030060009 Package: ML030060373
- see previous concurrence OFFICE PM:PD3-2 LA:PD3-2 BC:EMEB*
SC:PD3-2 NAME MChawla CRosenberg TScarborough for DTerao AMendiola /RA/
by LRaghavan DATE 01/09/03 01/09/03 01/09/03 01/09/03
Byron/Braidwood Stations cc:
Ms. C. Sue Hauser, Project Manager Westinghouse Electric Corporation Energy Systems Business Unit Post Office Box 355 Pittsburgh, PA 15230 Joseph Gallo Gallo & Ross 1025 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1014 Washington, DC 20036 Howard A. Learner Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest 35 East Wacker Dr., Suite 1300 Chicago, IL 60601-2110 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Byron Resident Inspectors Office 4448 N. German Church Road Byron, IL 61010-9750 Regional Administrator, Region III U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 801 Warrenville Road Lisle, IL 60532-4351 Ms. Lorraine Creek RR 1, Box 182 Manteno, IL 60950 Chairman, Ogle County Board Post Office Box 357 Oregon, IL 61061 Mrs. Phillip B. Johnson 1907 Stratford Lane Rockford, IL 61107 George L. Edgar Morgan, Lewis and Bockius 1800 M Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-5869 Attorney General 500 S. Second Street Springfield, IL 62701 Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Facility Safety 1035 Outer Park Drive Springfield, IL 62704 Byron Station Manager Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4450 N. German Church Road Byron, IL 61010-9794 Site Vice President - Byron Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4450 N. German Church Road Byron, IL 61010-9794 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Braidwood Resident Inspectors Office 35100 S. Rt. 53, Suite 79 Braceville, IL 60407 Illinois Emergency Management Agency Division of Disaster Assistance &
Preparedness 110 East Adams Street Springfield, IL 62701-1109 Chairman Will County Board of Supervisors Will County Board Courthouse Joliet, IL 60434 Braidwood Station Manager Exelon Generation Company, LLC 35100 S. Rt. 53, Suite 84 Braceville, IL 60407-9619
Byron/Braidwood Stations Ms. Bridget Little Rorem Appleseed Coordinator 117 N. Linden Street Essex, IL 60935 Document Control Desk-Licensing Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Exelon Generation Company, LLC Site Vice President - Braidwood 35100 S. Rt. 53, Suite 84 Braceville, IL 60407-9619 Senior Vice President, Nuclear Services Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Vice President Mid-West Operations Support Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Senior Vice President Mid-West Regional Operating Group Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Director Licensing Mid-West Regional Operating Group Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Exelon Generation Company, LLC Regulatory Assurance Supervisor -
Braidwood 35100 S. Rt. 53, Suite 84 Braceville, IL 60407-9619 Exelon Generation Company, LLC Regulatory Assurance Supervisor - Byron 4450 N. German Church Road Byron, IL 61010-9794 Senior Counsel, Nuclear Mid-West Regional Operating Group Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Vice President - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Manager Licensing - Braidwood and Byron Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Mr. John L. Skolds, President Exelon Nuclear Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555