ML031970005
| ML031970005 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 07/15/2003 |
| From: | Thadani M NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD4 |
| To: | |
| Thadani M, NRR/DLPM, 415-1476 | |
| References | |
| TAC MB8435 | |
| Download: ML031970005 (7) | |
Text
July 15, 2003 Licensee:
STP Nuclear Operating Company Facility:
South Texas Project, Unit 1
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF HEADQUARTERS, REGION IV, AND STP NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY (STPNOC) TELEPHONE CONVERSATION ON MAY 20, 2003 REGARDING SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT, UNIT 1, BMI LEAKAGE ISSUE; SUPPLEMENTAL INSPECTIONS (TAC NO.
MB8435)
On May 20, 2003, the NRC Headquarters and Region IV special inspection team staff held a telephone conference with STPNOC, the licensee for South Texas Project Unit 1. The conference call was a follow up of inspection of the licensees activities following the discovery of an apparent leakage at the interface of reactor vessel bottom head and bottom mounted instrument (BMI) penetrations 1 and 46.
At this phone call the licensee went through a list of potential supplemental inspection activities that the licensee is considering. The licensee stated that it was evaluating the feasibility of performing a pressurized helium leakage test to visualize the leakage pathways that resulted in the April 12, 2003, discovery of leakage deposit indications under BMI penetrations 1 and 46. To look for evidence of any wastage, the licensee planned to perform a visual examination of the internal surface of the nozzles and the reactor pressure vessel nozzle bores' inside wall after the removal of the Alloy 600 tubes during the planned repairs. The licensee additionally discussed the use of ultrasonic inspections to interrogate the bottom of the reactor vessel for possible wastage. The licensee will also perform profilometry of penetration numbers 1 and 46 using eddy current probes, a straight rod test to investigate the penetrations' alignment and roundness, and examination of material of Alloy 600 from tubes removed during the repair process. The licensee will also obtain and evaluate boat samples from the tubes in penetration numbers 1 and 46. The licensee also discussed using eddy current techniques to interrogate the J-groove weld surface. The licensee further confirmed that it was not likely to pursue other options that were previously discussed, including molds of the inside surface of nozzles, and x-ray diffraction studies of a J-groove weld mockup.
The NRC staff stated that it concurred with the licensees assessment that obtaining boat samples from the penetrations would yield extremely valuable information with regard to root cause determination. The NRC staff asked to be kept informed of the windows of opportunity, as they presented themselves, to pursue the above supplemental inspections; and as the licensee made final decisions and pursued a full array of planned tests.
/RA/
Mohan C. Thadani, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate IV Division of Licensing and Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-498
May 2003 South Texas, Unit 1 cc:
Mr. Cornelius F. OKeefe Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P. O. Box 910 Bay City, TX 77414 A. Ramirez/C. M. Canady City of Austin Electric Utility Department 721 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 Mr. L. K. Blaylock Mr. W. C. Gunst City Public Service Board P. O. Box 1771 San Antonio, TX 78296 Mr. C. A. Johnson/A. C. Bakken AEP Texas Central Company P. O. Box 289 Mail Code: N5022 Wadsworth, TX 77483 INPO Records Center 700 Galleria Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339-3064 Regional Administrator, Region IV U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011 D. G. Tees/R. L. Balcom Texas Genco, LP P. O. Box 1700 Houston, TX 77251 Judge, Matagorda County Matagorda County Courthouse 1700 Seventh Street Bay City, TX 77414 A. H. Gutterman, Esq.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004 Mr. T. J. Jordan, Vice President Engineering & Technical Services STP Nuclear Operating Company P. O. Box 289 Wadsworth, TX 77483 S. M. Head, Manager, Licensing Nuclear Quality & Licensing Department STP Nuclear Operating Company P. O. Box 289, Mail Code: N5014 Wadsworth, TX 77483 Environmental and Natural Resources Policy Director P. O. Box 12428 Austin, TX 78711-3189 Jon C. Wood Matthews & Branscomb 112 East Pecan, Suite 1100 San Antonio, TX 78205 Arthur C. Tate, Director Division of Compliance & Inspection Bureau of Radiation Control Texas Department of Health 1100 West 49th Street Austin, TX 78756 Brian Almon Public Utility Commission William B. Travis Building P. O. Box 13326 1701 North Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701-3326
South Texas, Unit 1 cc:
May 2003 Susan M. Jablonski Office of Permitting, Remediation and Registration Texas Commission on Environmental Quality MC-122 P.O. Box 13087 Austin, TX 78711-3087 Mr. Terry Parks, Chief Inspector Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Boiler Division P. O. Box 12157 Austin, TX 78711 Mr. Ted Enos 4200 South Hulen Suite 630 Ft. Worth, Texas 76109 Mr. James J. Sheppard President and Chief Executive Officer STP Nuclear Operating Company South Texas Project Electric Generating Station P. O. Box 289 Wadsworth, TX 77483
Licensee:
STP Nuclear Operating Company July 15, 2003 Facility:
South Texas Project, Unit 1
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF HEADQUARTERS, REGION IV, AND STP NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY (STPNOC) TELEPHONE CONVERSATION ON MAY 20, 2003 REGARDING SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT, UNIT 1, BMI LEAKAGE ISSUE; SUPPLEMENTAL INSPECTIONS (TAC NO.
MB8435)
On May 20, 2003, the NRC Headquarters and Region IV special inspection team staff held a telephone conference with STPNOC, the licensee for South Texas Project Unit 1. The conference call was a follow up of inspection of the licensees activities following the discovery of an apparent leakage at the interface of reactor vessel bottom head and bottom mounted instrument (BMI) penetrations 1 and 46.
At this phone call the licensee went through a list of potential supplemental inspection activities that the licensee is considering. The licensee stated that it was evaluating the feasibility of performing a pressurized helium leakage test to visualize the leakage pathways that resulted in the April 12, 2003, discovery of leakage deposit indications under BMI penetrations 1 and 46. To look for evidence of any wastage, the licensee planned to perform a visual examination of the internal surface of the nozzles and the reactor pressure vessel nozzle bores' inside wall after the removal of the Alloy 600 tubes during the planned repairs. The licensee additionally discussed the use of ultrasonic inspections to interrogate the bottom of the reactor vessel for possible wastage. The licensee will also perform profilometry of penetration numbers 1 and 46 using eddy current probes, a straight rod test to investigate the penetrations' alignment and roundness, and examination of material of Alloy 600 from tubes removed during the repair process. The licensee will also obtain and evaluate boat samples from the tubes in penetration numbers 1 and 46. The licensee also discussed using eddy current techniques to interrogate the J-groove weld surface. The licensee further confirmed that it was not likely to pursue other options that were previously discussed, including molds of the inside surface of nozzles, and x-ray diffraction studies of a J-groove weld mockup.
The NRC staff stated that it concurred with the licensees assessment that obtaining boat samples from the penetrations would yield extremely valuable information with regard to root cause determination. The NRC staff asked to be kept informed of the windows of opportunity, as they presented themselves, to pursue the above supplemental inspections; and as the licensee made final decisions and pursued a full array of planned tests.
/RA/
Mohan C. Thadani, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate IV Division of Licensing and Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-498 ACCESSION NO: ML031970005 NRC-001 OFFICE PDIV-1/PM PDIV-1/LA RIV PDIV-1/SC NAME MThadani MMcAllister WJohnson via e-mail RGramm DATE 7/15/2003 7/15/2003 7/15/2003 7/15/2003 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
DISTRIBUTION FOR
SUMMARY
OF MAY 20, 2003, MEETING WITH NRC HEADQUARTERS, NRC REGION IV, AND STPNOC RE: BOTTOM MOUNTED INSTRUMENTATION PENETRATION LEAKAGE INDICATIONS Dated: July 15, 2003 DISTRIBUTION:
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