ML042890092
| ML042890092 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Sequoyah  |
| 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 MC0565 | |
| Download: ML042890092 (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:
SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 2 - RESPONSE TO NRC BULLETIN 2003-02, LEAKAGE FROM REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD PENETRATIONS AND REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY INTEGRITY (TAC NO. MC0565)
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 the addressees to provide the NRC with information related to inspections performed to verify the integrity of the RPV lower head penetrations.
The Bulletin requested 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 Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Unit 2. 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 Sequoyah, Unit 2, 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 regulatory commitment prior to implementation.
The Bulletin also requested 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
K. Singer 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 February 5, 2004, TVA provided a summary of its inspection results at Sequoyah, Unit 2. 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.
Based on its review of TVAs responses to NRC Bulletin 2003-02, the NRC staff finds that TVA has met the reporting requirements of the Bulletin. Accordingly, TAC No. MC0565 is closed for Sequoyah, Unit 2.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Robert J. Pascarelli, Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-328 cc: See next page
ML042890092 NRR-041 OFFICE PDII-2/PM PDII-2/PM PDII-2/LA EMCB PDII-2/SC NAME RPascarelli SMonarque BClayton ESullivan MMarshall DATE 10/5/04 09/29/04 10/5/04 09/30/04 10/06/04
Mr. Karl W. Singer SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT Tennessee Valley Authority 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 Services Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Randy Douet Site Vice President Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Soddy Daisy, TN 37384-2000 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. Pedro Salas, Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Soddy Daisy, TN 37384-2000 Mr. David A. Kulisek, Plant Manager Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Soddy Daisy, TN 37384-2000 Senior Resident Inspector Sequoyah Nuclear Plant U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 2600 Igou Ferry Road Soddy Daisy, TN 37379 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 County Mayor Hamilton County Courthouse Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Ms. Ann P. Harris 341 Swing Loop Road Rockwood, Tennessee 37854