ML040690711
| ML040690711 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Catawba  |
| Issue date: | 02/26/2004 |
| From: | Jamil D Duke Energy Corp |
| To: | Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| BL-03-002 | |
| Download: ML040690711 (4) | |
Text
Ph Duke OrPowere A Duke Energy Company D.M. JAMIL Vice President Duke Power Catawba Nuclear Station 4800 Concord Rd. / CN01 VP York, SC 29745-9635 803 831 4251 803 831 3221 fax February 26, 2004 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN:
Document Control Desk 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852
Subject:
Catawba Nuclear Station Unit 1 Docket No. 50 -413 Response to NRC Bulletin 2003-02: Leakage from Reactor Pressure Vessel Lower Head Penetrations and Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Integrity Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.54(f), this letter and the associated attached Enclosure provides Duke Energy Corporation's (Duke's) response to specific items of NRC Bulletin 2003-02 for Catawba Nuclear Station.
This bulletin requested plant-specific information as a result of NRC staff concerns regarding reactor pressure vessel lower head penetration leakage and reactor coolant pressure boundary integrity.
Information is provided for Bulletin Item 2. This response provides information concerning the inspection results of the reactor pressure vessel lower head penetrations.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Gregory S. Kent at (704)373-6032.
Very truly yours, I
D.M. Jamil
.1 On ENCLOSURE www.duke -energy. corn
U.S. NRC February 26, 2004 Page 2 D.M. Jamil affirms that he is the person who subscribed his name to the foregoing statement, and that all the matters and facts set forth herein are true and correct to the best of his knowledge.
Vice President p, 1,S- / a q Subscribed and sworn to me:
Dalte Not Pu Notar4 Public0 My Commission Expires:
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U.S. NRC February 26, 2004 Page 3 xc:
L. A. Reyes U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regional Administrator Region II Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth St., SW, Suite 23T85 Atlanta, GA, 30303 S. E. Peterson NRC Project Manager (CNS)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 0-8 G9 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E. F. Guthrie Senior Resident Inspector (CNS)
ENCLOSURE I Catawba Nuclear Station Response to NRC Bulletin 2003-02 Requested Information (2)
Within 60 days of plant restart following the next inspection of the RPV lower head penetrations, the subject PWR addressees should submit to the NRC a summary of the inspections performed, the extent of the inspections, the methods used, a description of the as-found condition of the lower head, any findings of relevant indications of through-wall leakage, and a summary of the disposition of any findings of boric acid deposits and any corrective actions taken as a result of indications found.
Response
On November 9, 2003, Duke conducted a bare metal visual inspection of the Catawba Unit 1 reactor vessel lower head, including 360 degrees around 100 percent of the bottom mounted instrument (BMI) penetrations. Duke conducted this inspection using digital cameras and direct visual observation.
The inspection showed the presence of rust trails and superficial scaling on the bottom of the reactor vessel. The rust trails intersected the BMI penetrations from a source on the vessel sides, and were attributed to past cavity seal leakage. The inspectors observed no white boron or other deposits indicative of BMI penetration or through-wall leakage. The inspection detected no wastage of the carbon steel surface. Isotopic analysis of smears from the rust areas indicated either no activity or an age greater than two years.
The bare metal surface of the reactor vessel was cleaned and re-inspected to establish a baseline for future inspections.
The Catawba Unit 1 refueling outage concluded December 31, 2003 when the unit was placed on line.