ML042670588

Response to NRC Bulletin 2003-02, Leakage from Reactor Pressure Vessel Lower Head Penetrations and Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Integrity

ML042670588
Person / Time
Site:	Surry
Issue date:	09/22/2004
From:	Stephen Monarque NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2
To:	Christian D Virginia Electric & Power Co (VEPCO)
Monarque S, NRR/DLPM, 415-1544
References
BL-03-002, TAC MC0570
Download: ML042670588 (4)

Text

September 22, 2004 Mr. David A. Christian Senior Vice President - Chief Nuclear Officer Virginia Electric and Power Company Innsbrook Technical Center 5000 Dominion Blvd.

Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6711

SUBJECT:

SURRY POWER STATION, UNIT 2 - RESPONSE TO NRC BULLETIN 2003-02, LEAKAGE FROM REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD PENETRATIONS AND REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY INTEGRITY (TAC NO. MC0570)

Dear Mr. Christian:

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, Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO) provided its response to this request. VEPCO indicated it planned to perform a bare-metal visual examination of all 50 RPV lower head penetrations during the Fall 2003 refueling outage at Surry Power Station, Unit 2. In its same response, VEPCO committed to performing a bare-metal visual examination of these 50 penetrations during subsequent refueling outages at Surry, Unit 2, although VEPCO indicated that this inspection schedule may be revised in the future. As such, VEPCO is requested to notify the NRC staff in writing of any changes to this commitment prior to implementation.

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 January 30, 2004, VEPCO provided a summary of its inspection results at Surry, Unit 2. VEPCO reported it had performed a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination of the 50 RPV lower head penetrations with no evidence of penetration leakage observed.

The NRC staff has completed its review of VEPCOs responses to NRC Bulletin 2003-02.

Accordingly, TAC No. MC0570 is closed for Surry, Unit 2 Sincerely,

/RA/

Stephen Monarque, Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-281 cc: See next page

ML042670588 OFFICE PDII-1/PM PDII-2/LA EMCB PDII-1/SC NAME SMonarque EDunnington ESullivan MJRoss-Lee DATE 9/20/04 9/21/04 09/20/2004 9/22/04 Surry Power Station, Units 1 & 2 cc:

Ms. Lillian M. Cuoco, Esq. Office of the Attorney General Senior Counsel Commonwealth of Virginia Dominion Resources Services, Inc. 900 East Main Street Building 475, 5th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 Rt. 156, Rope Ferry Road Waterford, Connecticut 06385 Mr. Chris L. Funderburk, Director Nuclear Licensing & Operations Support Mr. Richard H. Blount, II Dominion Resources Services, Inc.

Site Vice President Innsbrook Technical Center Surry Power Station 5000 Dominion Blvd.

Virginia Electric and Power Company Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6711 5570 Hog Island Road Surry, Virginia 23883-0315 Mr. Jack M. Davis Site Vice President Senior Resident Inspector North Anna Power Station Surry Power Station Virginia Electric and Power Company U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Post Office Box 402 5850 Hog Island Road Mineral, Virginia 23117-0402 Surry, Virginia 23883 Mr. William R. Matthews Chairman Vice President - Nuclear Operations Board of Supervisors of Surry County Virginia Electric and Power Company Surry County Courthouse Innsbrook Technical Center Surry, Virginia 23683 5000 Dominion Boulevard Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6711 Dr. W. T. Lough Virginia State Corporation Commission Division of Energy Regulation Post Office Box 1197 Richmond, Virginia 23218 Dr. Robert B. Stroube, MD, MPH State Health Commissioner Office of the Commissioner Virginia Department of Health Post Office Box 2448 Richmond, Virginia 23218