ML041830129

Request for Additional Information Related to Inservice Inspection Program Relief No. 4

ML041830129
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello
Issue date:	07/20/2004
From:	Padovan L NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD3
To:	Thomas J. Palmisano Nuclear Management Co
References
TAC MC2222
Download: ML041830129 (4)

Text

July 20, 2004 Mr. Thomas J. Palmisano Site Vice President Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Management Company, LLC 2807 West County Road 75 Monticello, MN 55362-9637

SUBJECT:

MONTICELLO NUCLEAR GENERATING PLANT REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATED TO INSERVICE INSPECTION PROGRAM RELIEF REQUEST NO. 4 (TAC NO. MC2222)

Dear Mr. Palmisano:

The Nuclear Management Company, LLC (NMC), letter of February 16, 2004, requested the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to authorize relief from the fourth 10-year interval of the inservice inspection program at the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant. The request pertained to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME Code),Section XI requirement that the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) stabilizer brackets be examined with a surface examination method each inspection interval. The NRC staff is reviewing your request and finds that it needs the additional information described below to complete its review.

1. NMC indicated in its letter of February 16, 2004, that complying with the ASME Code requirement would result in hardship or unusual difficulty without a compensating increase in quality or safety. Degradation of the RPV stabilizer brackets could cause a decrease in quality or safety. Please provide an evaluation of the hardship or unusual difficulty averted by not performing the ASME Code-required inspections versus any benefits which would be derived from performing the inspections.

2. NMC proposed an alternative to perform a surface examination on the RPV stabilizer bracket attachment welds if jet reaction forces or seismic design loads are experienced.

This type of examination does not address any degradation (e.g., corrosion) that the components may have seen since their last examination, which could preclude the components from performing their design function. Please address examination of the components for active degradation mechanisms which make the components unable to perform their design functions.

T. Palmisano I discussed this RAI with Mr. John Fields, et. al., of your organization on July 14, 2004, and he agreed to respond within 30 days of receipt of the RAI. Please contact me at (301) 415-1423 if you have questions.

Sincerely,

/RA/

L. Mark Padovan, Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate III Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-263 cc: See next page

ML041830129 OFFICE PDIII-1/PM PDIII-1/LA PDIII-1/SC NAME MPadovan THarris LRaghavan DATE 7/14/04 7/6/04 7/16/04 Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant cc:

Jonathan Rogoff, Esquire Commissioner Vice President, Counsel & Secretary Minnesota Department of Commerce Nuclear Management Company, LLC 121 Seventh Place East 700 First Street Suite 200 Hudson, WI 54016 St. Paul, MN 55101-2145 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Manager - Environmental Protection Division Resident Inspectors Office Minnesota Attorney Generals Office 2807 W. County Road 75 445 Minnesota St., Suite 900 Monticello, MN 55362 St. Paul, MN 55101-2127 Manager, Regulatory Affairs John Paul Cowan Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant Executive Vice President & Chief Nuclear Nuclear Management Company, LLC Officer 2807 West County Road 75 Nuclear Management Company, LLC Monticello, MN 55362-9637 700 First Street Hudson, WI 54016 Robert Nelson, President Minnesota Environmental Control Nuclear Asset Manager Citizens Association (MECCA) Xcel Energy, Inc.

1051 South McKnight Road 414 Nicollet Mall, R.S. 8 St. Paul, MN 55119 Minneapolis, MN 55401 Commissioner Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 520 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155-4194 Regional Administrator, Region III U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 801 Warrenville Road Lisle, IL 60532-4351 Commissioner Minnesota Department of Health 717 Delaware Street, S. E.

Minneapolis, MN 55440 Douglas M. Gruber, Auditor/Treasurer Wright County Government Center 10 NW Second Street Buffalo, MN 55313 October 2003