ML040480309
| ML040480309 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Millstone, Calvert Cliffs, Palisades, Palo Verde, Saint Lucie, Arkansas Nuclear, Waterford, San Onofre, Fort Calhoun, PROJ0694  |
| Issue date: | 01/30/2004 |
| From: | Schiffley F Westinghouse Owners Group |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| WCAP-16180-NP, Rev. 0, WOG-04-057 | |
| Download: ML040480309 (3) | |
Text
Domestic Members AmerenUE Calaway American Electric Power Co.
D.C. Cook 1 & 2 Arizona Public Service Co.
Palo Verde t 2 & 3 Constellation Energy Group Calvert Cliffs 1 & 2 Dominion Nuclear Connecticut Milstone 2 & 3 Dominion Virginia Power North Anna 1 & 2 Sury I & 2 Duke Energy Catawba I & 2 McGuire 1 & 2 Entergy Nuclear Northeast Indian Point 2 & 3 Entergy Nuclear South ANO2 Waterford 3 Exelon Generation Company LLC Braidwood I & 2 Byron 1 & 2 FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co.
Beaver Vasey 1 & 2 FPL Group St. Lucie 1 & 2 Seabrook Turkey Point 3 & 4 Nuclear Management Co.
Kewaunee Palisades Point Beach 1 & 2 Prairie Island Omaha Public Power District Fort Calhoun Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
Diablo Canyon 1 & 2 Progress Energy H. B. Robinson 2 Shearon Harrs PSEG - Nuclear Salem 1 & 2 Rochester Gas & Electric Co.
R. E. Ginna '
South Carolina Electric & Gas Co.
V. C. Summer Southern CalIfornia Edison SONGS 2 & 3 STP Nuclear Operating Co.
South Texas Project 1 & 2 Southern Nuclear Operating Co.
J. M. Farfey 1 & 2 A.W.Vogtle 1&2 Tennessee Valley Authority Sequoyah I & 2 Watts Bar 1 TXU Electric Comnmanche Peak 1 & 2 Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp.
Wolf Creek Internatlonaf Members Electrabel Doel 1, Z 4 Tihange 1 & 3 Electricitd de France Kansal Electric Power Co.
Miharna I Takahama 1 Ohi 1 & 2 Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co.
Kori 1 -4 Ulchin 3 & 4 Yonggwang 1-5 British Energy pic Sizewell B NEK Krtko Spanish Utilites Asco 1 & 2 Vandellos 2 Alnaraz 1 & 2 Rlnghals AB Ringhals 2 - 4 Taiwan Power Co.
Maanshan 1 6 2 January 30, 2004 WOG-04-057 WCAP-16180-NP, Rev. 0 Project Number 694 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001 Attention:
Chief, Information Management Branch, Division of Program Management
Subject:
WOG CE Fleet Pressurizer Heater Sleeve Inspection Program
References:
- 1. WOG-03-610, Vestinzghoutse Oi'ners GrouipActivities to Address CE Plant Pressurizer Heater Sleeve Degradation Issues, November 19, 2003.
- 2.
WOG-03-643, "VOG CE Fleet Operability Assessmzenzt Regarding Pressurizer Heater Sleeves," December 23, 2003.
As committed in Reference 1, the WOG has provided to the NRC the Operability Assessment performed by the WOG in support of the CE fleet regarding the potential for circumferential cracks in pressurizer heater sleeves (WOG-03-643, Reference 2),
as well as the inspection activities currently planned by the CE utilities to address the heater sleeve issue. WOG-03-643 also outlined the WOG recommendations for expanded inspections of pressurizer sleeves that were then under review by the CE utilities.
On January 8, 2004, a meeting was held between the WOG and NRC management to discuss the proposed WOG inspection recommendations and the NRC's expectations for future inspections. The meeting provided particularly useful insight into what the NRC feels is necessary for the CE utilities to incorporate into the inspection program such that effective inspections will be performed during upcoming outages, and in the event of the identification of leaking heater sleeves, a meaningful characterization of the source of the leakage can be determined.
As a result of these discussions, the WOG and the CE utilities have modified the inspection program to be applied for the inspection of heater sleeves during future refueling outages, including those upcoming in the Spring 2004. (As requested in the January 8, 2004 meeting, an outage schedule for the plants in the CE fleet is included as Attachment 1.) The elements of this inspection program are as follows.
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission January 30, 2004 WOG-04-057 Page 2 of 2 Perform a bare metal visual inspection of 100% of all pressurizer heater sleeve locations in such a way that visual access to the bare metal 360 degrees around each sleeve can be attained.
Perform non-destructive examination (NDE) capable of characterizing crack orientation of all sleeves for which visual inspection shows evidence of leakage. The NDE of each leaking sleeve will be performed prior to repair of the sleeve.
If the NDE defines the flaw as potential circumferential cracking below the sleeve attachment weld, the NRC will be notified immediately and an appropriate inspection plan developed. The plan will define additional sleeves to be inspected by NDE sufficient to determine the extent of condition commensurate with the characterization of the flaw.
The WOG is currently in the process of issuing a letter to the utilities of the CE fleet directing them to document these inspection commitments by inclusion in each utility's corrective action program, or other appropriate means of documentation.
It is noted here for the record, as was discussed in the January 8, 2004 meeting, that a statement in to WOG-03-643 indicated that the inspection plans for CE utilities would include "loop piping small bore Alloy 600 J-groove welded locations every refueling outage." WOG-03-643 was intended to address only the pressurizer heater sleeves. We are well aware that the integrity of all Alloy 600 small bore nozzles and attachment welds in the primary system is of concern. These nozzles will be addressed in future long term inspection plans that we expect will be developed through the programs that are coordinated under the Materials Technology Advisory Group (MTAG).
The WOG and the CE utilities are continuing to work toward long term inspection or repair solutions to achieve a permanent resolution of the pressurizer heater sleeve issue. We look forward to meeting with the NRC at your convenience to further discuss the progress of the resolution of this issue.
Sincerely yours, Frederick P. 'Ted" Schiffley, II Chairman, Westinghouse Owners Group Attachment (1) cc:
Dr. Brian Sheron, NRC Drew Holland, NRC Alex Marion, NEI J. Riley, NEI Dave Mauldin, APS B. Maurer (W) Pittsburgh Materials Subcommittee Executive Committee Steering Committee Licensing Subcommittee PMO Scheduled Refueling Outages For Plants in the CE Fleet Plant Next Scheduled Refueling Outage Arkansas Nuclear One Unit 2 March 2005 Calvert Cliffs Unit 1 April 2004 Calvert Cliffs Unit 2 February 2005 Fort Calhoun February 2005 Millstone Unit 2 April 2005 Palisades September 2004 Palo Verde Unit 1 April 2004 Palo Verde Unit 2 April 2005 Palo Verde Unit 3 October 2004 San Onofre Unit 2 February 2004 San Onofre Unit 3 September 2004 St. Lucie Unit I March 2004 St. Lucie Unit 2 September 2004 Waterford Unit 3 April 2005 WOG-04-057 Page I of I