ML030900628

Request for Additional Information, Request for Relaxation of Order EA-03-009

ML030900628
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley
Issue date:	04/01/2003
From:	Colburn T NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD1
To:	Bezilla M FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co
Colburn T, NRR/DLPM, 415-1402
References
TAC MB8174
Download: ML030900628 (6)

Text

April 1, 2003 Mr. Mark B. Bezilla Vice President FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Beaver Valley Power Station Post Office Box 4 Shippingport, PA 15077

SUBJECT:

BEAVER VALLEY POWER STATION, UNIT NO. 1 - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI) - REQUEST FOR RELAXATION OF ORDER EA-03-009 (TAC NO. MB8174)

Dear Mr. Bezilla:

By letter dated March 27, 2003, FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company submitted an request for relaxation of requirements contained in Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Order EA-003-009, Issuance of Order Establishing Interim Inspection Requirements for Reactor Pressure Vessel [RPV] Heads at Pressurized Water Reactors [PWRs], dated February 11, 2003. The subject Order established interim inspection requirements involving nondestructive examination (ultrasonic, eddy current, and dye penetrant testing) of the PRV head penetration nozzles below the J-groove weld that attaches the nozzles to the RPV head.

The NRC staff has determined that the information contained in the enclosed Request for Additional Information (RAI) will be needed for the staff to complete its review. These questions were previously faxed to your staff on March 28, 2003.

As discussed with your staff, because of your request for expedited treatment of this request, we request your response no later than April 1, 2003. If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-1402.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Timothy G. Colburn, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-334

Enclosure:

RAI cc w/encl: See next page

April 1, 2003 Mr. Mark B. Bezilla Vice President FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Beaver Valley Power Station Post Office Box 4 Shippingport, PA 15077

SUBJECT:

BEAVER VALLEY POWER STATION, UNIT NO. 1 - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI) - REQUEST FOR RELAXATION OF ORDER EA-03-009 (TAC NO. MB8174)

Dear Mr. Bezilla:

By letter dated March 27, 2003, FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company submitted an request for relaxation of requirements contained in Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Order EA-003-009, Issuance of Order Establishing Interim Inspection Requirements for Reactor Pressure Vessel [RPV] Heads at Pressurized Water Reactors [PWRs], dated February 11, 2003. The subject Order established interim inspection requirements involving nondestructive examination (ultrasonic, eddy current, and dye penetrant testing) of the PRV head penetration nozzles below the J-groove weld that attaches the nozzles to the RPV head.

The NRC staff has determined that the information contained in the enclosed Request for Additional Information (RAI) will be needed for the staff to complete its review. These questions were previously faxed to your staff on March 28, 2003.

As discussed with your staff, because of your request for expedited treatment of this request, we request your response no later than April 1, 2003. If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-1402.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Timothy G. Colburn, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-334

Enclosure:

RAI cc w/encl: See next page DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC MO'Brien ACRS TColburn PDI-1 R/F BPlatchek,RGN-I TChan AHiser RLaufer TSteingass ACCESSION NO. ML030900628 OFFICE PDI-1/LA PDI-1/PM EMCB/SC PDI-1/SC NAME MOBrien TColburn TChan RLaufer DATE 3/31/03 3/31/03 3/31/03 4/1/03 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI)

BEAVER VALLEY POWER STATION, UNIT NO. 1 REQUEST FOR RELAXATION OF REQUIREMENTS NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC) ORDER EA-03-009 DOCKET NO. 50-334 The NRC staff is reviewing FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Companys (FENOCs)

March 27, 2003, request for relaxation of the nondestructive examination (NDE) requirements of NRC Order EA-03-009, issued February 11, 2003. The NRC staff has identified the following questions related to the request:

1. What is the minimum distance from the bottom of the weld to the point where data will not be acquired in the lower portion of the nozzle in accordance with the relaxation request?

2. The request stated that "[t]he magnitude of the stresses in these portions of the nozzles is low based on information from other plants of similar design and construction..." Discuss how this information is applicable to your plant.

Provide tabular listings of the maximum stress in the cross-section from the top of the J-groove weld region to the area covered by the relaxation request.

3. The request also stated that, "...there are no concerns with the structural integrity of the vessel head penetration nozzles from the unexamined bottom portions of the nozzles addressed in this request." Provide the technical basis, such as an analysis or an evaluation, to show that cracks initiated from the unexamined area will not propagate into the pressure boundary and exceed the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section XI, allowables within one operating cycle, based on a conservative crack growth rate from the industry operating experience.

4. You indicated that contact was lost at the bottom of the nozzle due to using a probe arrangement for circumferential cracking detection. Since licensees and NDE vendors have qualified their ultrasonic testing systems to find both circumferential and axial cracking with one scan and either probe arrangement, please discuss why an axial probe arrangement is not being attempted for the bottom portion of the nozzle.

Enclosure

Beaver Valley Power Station, Units 1 and 2 Mary OReilly, Attorney Rich Janati, Chief FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Division of Nuclear Safety FirstEnergy Corporation Bureau of Radiation Protection 76 South Main Street Deparment of Environmental Protection Akron, OH 44308 Rachel Carson State Office Building P.O. Box 8469 FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Harrisburg, PA 17105-8469 Regulatory Affairs/Performance Improvement Mayor of the Borough of Larry R. Freeland, Manager Shippingport Beaver Valley Power Station P O Box 3 Post Office Box 4, BV-A Shippingport, PA 15077 Shippingport, PA 15077 Regional Administrator, Region I Commissioner James R. Lewis U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission West Virginia Division of Labor 475 Allendale Road 749-B, Building No. 6 King of Prussia, PA 19406 Capitol Complex Charleston, WV 25305 Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Director, Utilities Department Post Office Box 298 Public Utilities Commission Shippingport, PA 15077 180 East Broad Street Columbus, OH 43266-0573 FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Beaver Valley Power Station Director, Pennsylvania Emergency ATTN: M. P. Pearson, Director Management Agency Services and Projects (BV-IPAB) 2605 Interstate Dr. Post Office Box 4 Harrisburg, PA 17110-9364 Shippingport, PA 15077 Ohio EPA-DERR FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company ATTN: Zack A. Clayton Beaver Valley Power Station Post Office Box 1049 Mr. B. F. Sepelak Columbus, OH 43266-0149 Post Office Box 4, BV-A Shippingport, PA 15077 Dr. Judith Johnsrud National Energy Committee Sierra Club 433 Orlando Avenue State College, PA 16803 J. H. Lash, Plant Manager (BV-IPAB)

FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Beaver Valley Power Station Post Office Box 4 Shippingport, PA 15077