ML042590422
| ML042590422 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Watts Bar  |
| Issue date: | 10/06/2004 |
| From: | Robert Pascarelli NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2 |
| To: | Singer K Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Pascarelli,R J,NRC/NRR/DIPM,415-1245 | |
| References | |
| BL-03-002, TAC MC0576 | |
| Download: ML042590422 (4) | |
Text
October 6, 2004 Mr. Karl W. Singer Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402-2801
SUBJECT:
WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 1 - RESPONSE TO NRC BULLETIN 2003-02, LEAKAGE FROM REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD PENETRATIONS AND REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY INTEGRITY (TAC NO. MC0576)
Dear Mr. Singer:
On August 21, 2003, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued NRC Bulletin 2003-02, Leakage from Reactor Pressure Vessel Lower Head Penetrations and Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Integrity, to the industry. This Bulletin informed addressees that current methods of inspecting the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) lower heads may need to be supplemented with bare-metal visual inspections in order to detect reactor coolant pressure boundary leakage and requested these addressees provide the NRC with information related to inspections that have been performed to verify the integrity of the RPV lower head penetrations.
The Bulletin requested that addressees provide a description of the RPV lower head penetration inspection program that would be implemented at their respective plants during the next and subsequent refueling outages. This description was to include the extent of the inspection, the inspection methods to be used, the qualification standards for the inspection methods, the process used to resolve the source of findings of boric acid deposits or corrosion, the inspection documentation to be generated, and the basis for concluding that their plant satisfied applicable regulatory requirements related to the structural and leakage integrity of the RPV lower head penetrations.
By letter dated September 22, 2003, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) provided its response to this request. TVA indicated it planned to perform a VT-2 examination of the RPV lower head penetrations during the fall 2003 refueling outage at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 1. In its same response, TVA committed to performing a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination of all 58 RPV lower head penetrations during each refueling outage at Watts Bar, Unit 1, until a change to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Code or a regulatory action justifies a change in this frequency. As such, TVA is requested to notify the NRC staff in writing of any changes to this commitment prior to implementation.
K. Singer The Bulletin also requested that addressees provide a summary of the RPV lower head penetration inspection that was performed at their plants, the extent of the inspection and 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.
By letter dated December 10, 2003, TVA provided a summary of its inspection results at Watts Bar, Unit 1. TVA reported it had performed a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination of the 58 RPV lower head penetrations with no evidence of penetration leakage observed.
The NRC staff has completed its review of TVAs responses to NRC Bulletin 2003-02.
Accordingly, TAC No. MC0576 is closed for Watts Bar, Unit 1.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Robert J. Pascarelli, Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-390 cc: See next page
ML042590422 NRR-041 OFFICE PDII-2/PM PDII-1/PM PDII-2/LA EMCB PDII-2/SC NAME RPascarelli SMonarque BClayton ESullivan MMarshall DATE 09/28/04 09/17/04 10/5/04 10/04/04 10/06/04
Mr. Karl W. Singer Tennessee Valley Authority WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT cc:
Mr. Ashok S. Bhatnagar, Senior Vice President Nuclear Operations Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. James E. Maddox, Vice President Engineering & Technical Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. William R. Lagergren Site Vice President Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Spring City, TN 37381 General Counsel Tennessee Valley Authority ET 11A 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Mr. John C. Fornicola, Manager Nuclear Assurance and Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Mark J. Burzynski, Manager Nuclear Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Paul L. Pace, Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Spring City, TN 37381 Mr. Larry S. Bryant, Manager Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Spring City, TN 37381 Senior Resident Inspector Watts Bar Nuclear Plant U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1260 Nuclear Plant Road Spring City, TN 37381 County Executive Rhea County Courthouse 375 Church Street Suite 215 Dayton, TN 37321 County Mayor P. O. Box 156 Decatur, TN 37322 Mr. Lawrence E. Nanney, Director Division of Radiological Health Dept. of Environment & Conservation Third Floor, L and C Annex 401 Church Street Nashville, TN 37243-1532 Ms. Ann P. Harris 341 Swing Loop Road Rockwood, Tennessee 37854