ML032050229
| ML032050229 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Arkansas Nuclear  |
| Issue date: | 07/23/2003 |
| From: | Alexion T NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD4 |
| To: | |
| Alexion T W, NRR/DLPM, 415-1326 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML032050242 | List: |
| References | |
| TAC MB8927 | |
| Download: ML032050229 (5) | |
Text
July 23, 2003 LICENSEE:
Entergy Operations, Inc. (Entergy or the licensee)
FACILITY:
Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2 (ANO-2)
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF JUNE 17, 2003, CATEGORY 1 MEETING WITH ENTERGY, TO DISCUSS ITS MAY 8, 2003, REQUEST FOR RELAXATION FROM THE VESSEL HEAD INSPECTION ORDER (TAC NO. MB8927)
On June 17, 2003, a public meeting was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and representatives of Entergy, at NRC Headquarters, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss:
(1) Entergys May 8, 2003, request for relaxation from NRCs vessel head inspection Order,Section IV.C.(1)(a), (2) NRCs subsequent request for additional information regarding the May 8, 2003, request, and (3) additional requests from Entergy (one dated June 11, 2003, and the other planned for submittal) for relaxation from Section IV.C.(1)(b) of the Order.
The NRC staff opened the meeting by providing the following background. By letter dated May 8, 2003, Entergy requested relaxation from Section IV.C.(1)(a) of the vessel head inspection Order. As an alternative to the bare metal visual examination of the head, Entergy proposed an augmented ultrasonic testing (UT) examination that looks 0.060-of-an-inch into the J-groove weld from the inside diameter of the vessel head penetration. However, in a request for additional information from the NRC on May 30, 2003, as further discussed during a telephone call on June 5, 2003, the NRC indicated that while the augmented UT exam proposed by Entergy is in addition to the UT required by the Order, it is not diverse and complementary to the non-visual examination requirements of Order Section IV.C.(1)(b). At this point, Entergy requested to meet with the NRC.
The licensees presentation discussed the hardships of performing a bare metal visual examination of the reactor vessel head, their inspection plans for the head, why they believe that their inspection plans are diverse and complimentary, and the other relaxation requests.
Regarding hardships with the bare metal visual examination, the licensee indicated that (1) the control element drive mechanism (CEDM) cooling/insulation system was not designed to allow access to the reactor vessel head nozzles, (2) the ANO-2 CEDM cooling system design is unique, and (3) there will be a significant dose impact and risk of damage to equipment.
Regarding the inspection plans for the next refueling outage (2R16, Fall 2003), the licensee plans to augment the inspection plan discussed in their May 8, 2003, relief request with a bare metal visual examination of the incore instrument (ICI) nozzles, and a low frequency eddy current examination of the CEDMs and the vent line. The licensee believes that (1) the combination of supplementary visual examination above the CEDM cooling shroud and a bare metal visual examination of the ICI nozzles, (2) the volumetric examinations of the CEDM nozzles/J-welds, and (3) the low frequency eddy current examinations of the CEDM/vent line, are diverse and complimentary examinations which ensure quality and safety.
Regarding the other relaxation requests, the licensee indicated that (as discussed in their June 11, 2003, relaxation request) their CEDM nozzles cannot be inspected to the bottom due to the threads at the bottom of the nozzles. However, their analyses show that all nozzles are acceptable for greater than one cycle of operation. In addition, another relaxation request will be submitted regarding inspection of the ICI nozzles at the counter bore region and at the tip of the nozzle.
The staff queried the licensee regarding the details of several of the above items, and described several specific items that the licensee should address to provide justification for their relaxation requests. For some of the details, the licensee indicated that they would need to get back to the staff with the information. The staff also indicated that it would review the information presented during the meeting and provide the licensee with feedback.
At the close of the meeting, the licensee indicated that while they believe that their current inspection plans ensure quality and safety, they do not believe that these plans are a permanent solution for the vessel head. The licensee indicated that a replacement head is being considered; however, this is subject to funding and approval from their senior management.
Members of the public were in attendance; however, they did not desire to receive the public meeting feedback forms.
A list of meeting attendees is attached. A copy of the licensees slides presented at the meeting has been placed in the NRC Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (Accession Numbers ML031740334 for color, or ML031690190 for black-and-white).
Please direct any inquiries to Tom Alexion at 301-415-1326, or twa@nrc.gov.
/RA/
Thomas W. Alexion, Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate IV Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-368
Attachment:
List of attendees cc w/att: See next page
- see previous concurrence NRC-001 OFFICE PDIV-1/PM PDIV-1/LA EMCB/SC PDIV-1/SC NAME TAlexion DJohnson TChan*
RGramm DATE 7/21/2003 7/21/2003 07/16/03 7/16/2003
MEETING ON ENTERGYS REQUEST FOR RELAXATION FROM NRCS VESSEL HEAD INSPECTION ORDER ARKANSAS NUCLEAR ONE, UNIT 2 JUNE 17, 2003 ATTENDEES NAME ORGANIZATION C. Anderson Entergy J. Kowalewski Entergy W. Simms Entergy W. James Entergy R. Swain Entergy D. Edgell Entergy S. Bennett Entergy D. Adamonis Westinghouse Z. Kuljis Westinghouse D. Horner McGraw-Hill D. Raleigh LIS, Scientech W. Bateman NRC T. Chan NRC A. Hiser NRC R. Davis NRC J. Collins NRC T. Steingass NRC R. Gramm NRC J. Minns NRC T. Alexion NRC
Arkansas Nuclear One cc:
Executive Vice President
& Chief Operating Officer Entergy Operations, Inc.
P.O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1995 Director, Division of Radiation Control and Emergency Management Arkansas Department of Health 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 30 Little Rock, AR 72205-3867 Winston & Strawn 1400 L Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005-3502 Mr. Mike Schoppman Framatome ANP, Richland, Inc.
Suite 705 1911 North Fort Myer Drive Rosslyn, VA 22209 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 310 London, AR 72847 Regional Administrator, Region IV U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011-8064 County Judge of Pope County Pope County Courthouse Russellville, AR 72801 Vice President, Operations Support Entergy Operations, Inc.
P.O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1995 Wise, Carter, Child & Caraway P.O. Box 651 Jackson, MS 39205 Mr. Craig G. Anderson Vice President Operations, ANO Entergy Operations, Inc.
1448 S. R. 333 Russellville, AR 72801