ML030360047
| ML030360047 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | North Anna  |
| Issue date: | 02/05/2003 |
| From: | John Nakoski NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2 |
| To: | Christian D Virginia Electric & Power Co (VEPCO) |
| References | |
| Download: ML030360047 (4) | |
Text
February 5, 2003 Mr. David A. Christian Senior Vice President - Nuclear Virginia Electric and Power Company 5000 Dominion Blvd.
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
SUBJECT:
PRELIMINARY FEEDBACK ON INSPECTION OF NORTH ANNA, UNIT 2, DESIGN AND RECONCILIATION ACTIVITIES FOR THE REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL HEAD REPLACEMENT
Dear Mr. Christian:
This letter provides the preliminary results of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) inspection of Virginia Electric Power Companys (VEPCOs) reconciliation and design change activities related to the replacement of the reactor pressure vessel head (RPVH) at North Anna, Unit 2, with a head manufactured to the French Nuclear Construction Code (RCC-M). The scope of the inspection included reviewing (1) the reconciliation report; (2) the manufacturers data report for the replacement head; (3) the design modifications prepared to support the replacement; and (4) other quality records associated with the replacement. The inspection was part of a larger effort that included NRC staff meetings with the French regulatory authority and Framatome ANP that supplied the RPVH, and inspection of activities related to opening containment to allow RPVH replacement, RPVH transfer, repair of the containment, and post repair testing performed onsite during the current outage to replace the RPVH.
This inspection was initially started on January 6, 2003. However, at that time, the review of the reconciliation information by VEPCO staff was not complete and we suspended our inspection on January 7, 2003. We recommenced our inspection on January 27, 2003, completing it on January 30, 2003. Details of the teams activities will be documented in inspection report number 50/339/2003-09 along with the details of the inspections conducted onsite. The report is scheduled to be issued on or about March 17, 2003. On February 10, 2003, my team and I will provide your staff with the results of the design and reconciliation inspection at a public exit meeting held at VEPCOs corporate offices in Glen Allen, Virginia.
Preliminary Assessment of Reconciliation and Design Change Activities Generally, the team found that VEPCOs efforts to reconcile the design, fabrication, and examination of the replacement RPVH to the current design requirements provided reasonable confidence that the replacement head is of acceptable quality to maintain safety. The team noted that the Framatome ANP manufacturers data report had been reviewed and accepted by an Authorized Nuclear Inspector (ANI). The ANI stated: "The contents of this report are accurate and, as far as possible, are equivalent to the requirements of Section III, Division I of the ASME Code...." The team found that the records reviewed were of high quality, providing an auditible record of your reconciliation and design change efforts.
Mr. Christian February 5, 2003 There were no issues identified by the team that would have required prior NRC approval before the replacement RPVH could be placed in service at North Anna, Unit 2, and the unit was returning to operation at the time the team completed its inspection activities. During the inspection there were a number of observations made by the team for which the VEPCO and Framatome staff provided prompt feedback to clarify how the reconciliation activities were conducted, to clarify the results of the reconciliation, or to develop additional documentation supporting the bases for reconciling the design, fabrication, examination, and testing of the replacement RPVH to the North Anna, Unit 2, RPVH design specification. For example, in response to the teams observation, VEPCO prepared and included an overview in the reconciliation report of the quality assurance processes and oversight activities related to VEPCOs and Framatomes activities. Similarly, a VEPCO addendum was prepared that described other activities that had been performed to support the reconciliation as it related to the nondestructive examination (NDE) of the replacement RPVH.
The team reviewed the welding procedures, processes, and records used in the fabrication of the replacement RPVH. Of particular interest to the team was the application of a friction welding process in the fabrication of the vessel head penetration adapter tubes. Friction welding is used to join the control rod drive mechanism adapter flange to the tube segment of the adapter tube. The staffs assessment of the friction welding process, as implemented by Framatome ANP to meet the requirements of the RCC-M Code, is that it produces high quality, repeatable welds that can be safely used in commercial U.S. pressurized water reactors.
On a related topic, when the NRC staff met with Framatome ANP in December 2002, the possibility was identified that a relief request would be needed from the NDE requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code for the dome to flange weld of the RPVH. The team confirmed the need for this relief during the January 6, 2003, inspection. This relief was submitted to the NRC on January 28, 2003. The NRC will review this relief request and provide you a response under cover of a separate letter.
Should you have any questions or comments regarding the issues discussed in this letter, please contact me at (301) 415-1068 or Stephen Monarque at (301) 415-1544.
Sincerely,
/RA/
John A. Nakoski, Chief, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-339 cc: See next page
- Concurred via e-mail OFFICE PDII-1/SC PDII-1/LA RII:DRS/SC PDII NAME JNakoski CHawes MLesser*
HBerkow DATE 02/04/03 02/04/03 01 / 31 /03 02/04/03 Mr. David A. Christian North Anna Power Station Virginia Electric and Power Company Units 1 and 2 cc:
Mr. C. Lee Lintecum County Administrator Louisa County P.O. Box 160 Louisa, Virginia 23093 Ms. Lillian M. Cuoco, Esq.
Senior Nuclear Counsel Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc.
Millstone Power Station Building 475, 5 th floor Rope Ferry Road Rt. 156 Waterford, Connecticut 06385 Dr. W. T. Lough Virginia State Corporation Commission Division of Energy Regulation P.O. Box 1197 Richmond, Virginia 23209 Old Dominion Electric Cooperative 4201 Dominion Blvd.
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 Mr. Stephen P. Sarver, Director Nuclear Licensing & Operations Support Virginia Electric Power Company Innsbrook Technical Center 5000 Dominion Blvd.
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6711 Office of the Attorney General Commonwealth of Virginia 900 East Main Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 Senior Resident Inspector North Anna Power Station U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1024 Haley Drive Mineral, Virginia 23117 Mr. David A. Heacock Site Vice President North Anna Power Station P.O. Box 402 Mineral, Virginia 23117-0402 Mr. Richard H. Blount, II Site Vice President Surry Power Station Virginia Electric and Power Company 5570 Hog Island Road Surry, Virginia 23883-0315 Mr. Robert B. Strobe, M.D., M.P.H.
State Health Commissioner Office of the Commissioner Virginia Department of Health P.O. Box 2448 Richmond, Virginia 23218 Mr. William R. Matthews Vice President-Nuclear Operations Virginia Electric and Power Company Innsbrook Technical Center 5000 Dominion Boulevard Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6711