ML040840576

Relief, Requirements of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Concerning Mechanical Nozzle Seal Assemblies

ML040840576
Person / Time
Site:	San Onofre
Issue date:	03/19/2004
From:	Stephen Dembek NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD4
To:	Ray H Southern California Edison Co
Pham B, NRR/DLPM, 415-8450
References
TAC MC0334, TAC MC0335
Download: ML040840576 (4)

Text

March 19, 2004 Mr. Harold B. Ray Executive Vice President Southern California Edison Company San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station P.O. Box 128 San Clemente, CA 92674-0128

SUBJECT:

SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION (SONGS), UNITS 2 AND 3 RE: REQUEST FOR RELIEF FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS (ASME) BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE (CODE) CONCERNING MECHANICAL NOZZLE SEAL ASSEMBLIES (MNSA) (TAC NOS. MC0334 AND MC0335)

Dear Mr. Ray:

By letter dated January 24, 2003, as supplemented by letters dated July 2, 2003, and January 22, 2004, Southern California Edison Company (SCE or the licensee) requested relief (ISI-3-6) from the requirements of ASME Code,Section XI for Class 1 components to continue the use of MNSA as an alternative repair method for reactor coolant system instrumentation nozzles at SONGS, Units 2 and 3.

In accordance with relief request ISI-3-6, the licensee requested an extension of relief for the MNSAs already installed and previously approved by the NRC on a cycle-by-cycle basis (MNSA-1s). By letter dated March 27, 2002, the NRC staff approved the temporary installation of the MNSA-1s only through Cycle 12, which was already an extension of one cycle beyond the initially approved two operating cycles approved by letter on July 11, 2000. The staff considers requests for installation beyond two operating cycles as permanent installation, requiring a detailed review of the design and analysis of the MNSAs and the pressure boundary of the components to which they are attached. By letter dated December 5, 2003, the NRC provided guidance regarding information needed to justify the use of MNSAs as permanent repairs. The letter also indicated that a review period of one year would be required by the NRC prior to granting authorization for permanent installation. Because SONGS Unit 2 Cycle 13 operation begins in March 2004, and SONGS Unit 3 Cycle 13 begins in the Fall 2004, SCE stated that it has not had sufficient time to provide the requested information for the required NRC review, and has therefore requested that current authorization for temporary installation of MNSA-1s be extended for both units. By letter dated January 22, 2004, SCE requested ISI-3-6 be approved for one cycle of operation during Cycle 13 for SONGS, Units 2 and 3, and plans to submit justification for MNSA-1s as a permanent repair not later than one year prior to the end of Cycle 13 for Unit 2 .

Based on the latest NRC safety evaluation dated March 27, 2002, the staff concludes that the MNSA-1s currently installed in SONGS, Units 2 and 3 will provide an acceptable level of quality and safety for one additional operating cycle. The extension of relief for one additional cycle is therefore authorized, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(a)(3)(i), provided the results of inspections performed during the upcoming Cycle 13 refueling outages at the two units in accordance with

H. Ray the visual inspection plan as delineated in ISI-3-6 demonstrate no leakage through the installed MNSAs.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Stephen Dembek, Chief, Section 2 Project Directorate IV Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-361 and 50-362 cc w/encl: See next page

H. Ray the visual inspection plan as delineated in ISI-3-6 demonstrate no leakage through the installed MNSAs.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Docket Nos. 50-361 and 50-362 Stephen Dembek, Chief, Section 2 Project Directorate IV cc w/encl: See next page Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation DISTRIBUTION:

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PDIV-2 r/f MHartzman RidsNrrPMBPham RidsOgcRp G. Hill (2) RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter RidsNrrLAEPeyton TChan KManoly WKoo Accession No: ML040840576 OFFICE PDIV-2/PM PDIV/LA DE/EMCB DE/EMEB OGC PDIV-2/SC NAME BPham EPeyton TChan KManoly AHodgdon SDembek DATE 3/18/04 3/19/04 3/19/04 3/17/04 3/19/04 3/19/04 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Units 2 and 3 cc:

Mr. Raymond Waldo, Plant Manager Nuclear Generation Mr. Ed Bailey, Radiation Program Director Southern California Edison Company Radiologic Health Branch San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station State Department of Health Services P. O. Box 128 Post Office Box 942732 (MS 178)

San Clemente, CA 92674-0128 Sacramento, CA 94327-7320 Mr. Douglas K. Porter Resident Inspector/San Onofre NPS Southern California Edison Company c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 2244 Walnut Grove Avenue Post Office Box 4329 Rosemead, CA 91770 San Clemente, CA 92674 Mr. David Spath, Chief Mayor Division of Drinking Water and City of San Clemente Environmental Management 100 Avenida Presidio P. O. Box 942732 San Clemente, CA 92672 Sacramento, CA 94234-7320 Mr. Dwight E. Nunn, Vice President Chairman, Board of Supervisors Southern California Edison Company County of San Diego San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 335 P.O. Box 128 San Diego, CA 92101 San Clemente, CA 92674-0128 Eileen M. Teichert, Esq. Mr. James D. Boyd, Commissioner Supervising Deputy City Attorney California Energy Commission City of Riverside 1516 Ninth Street (MS 31) 3900 Main Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Riverside, CA 92522 Mr. Joseph J. Wambold, Vice President Mr. Gary L. Nolff Southern California Edison Company Power Projects/Contracts Manager San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Riverside Public Utilities P.O. Box 128 2911 Adams Street San Clemente, CA 92764-0128 Riverside, CA 92504 Mr. Steve Hsu Regional Administrator, Region IV Department of Health Services U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Radiologic Health Branch 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 MS 7610, P.O. Box 997414 Arlington, TX 76011-8064 Sacramento, CA 95899 Mr. Michael Olson San Diego Gas & Electric Company P.O. Box 1831 San Diego, CA 92112-4150