ML043020057

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

ML043020057
Person / Time
Site:	Millstone
Issue date:	11/09/2004
From:	Nerses V NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD1
To:	Christian D Dominion Nuclear Connecticut
Nerses V, NRR//DLPM, 415-1484
References
BL-03-002, TAC MC0547
Download: ML043020057 (4)

Text

November 9, 2004 Mr. David A. Christian Senior Vice President - Chief Nuclear Officer Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc.

Innsbrook Technical Center 5000 Dominion Blvd.

Glen Allen, VA 23060-6711

SUBJECT:

MILLSTONE POWER STATION, UNIT 3 - RESPONSE TO NRC BULLETIN 2003-02, LEAKAGE FROM REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD PENETRATIONS AND REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY INTEGRITY (TAC NO. MC0547)

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 November 17, 2003, Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc. (DNC) provided its response to this request. DNC indicated it planned to perform a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination of all 58 RPV lower head penetrations during the spring 2004 refueling outage at Millstone Power Station, Unit 3. In its same response, DNC committed to performing a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination of these 58 penetrations during each subsequent refueling outage at Millstone, Unit 3, although DNC indicated that this inspection schedule may be revised in the future should ongoing research and inspection results determine that a less frequent inspection or sample schedule is warranted. As such, DNC 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

D. Christian 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 June 24, 2004, DNC provided a summary of its inspection results at Millstone, Unit 3. DNC reported it had performed a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination of the 58 RPV lower head penetrations with no evidence of penetration leakage or RPV lower head wastage observed.

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

Accordingly, TAC No. MC0547 is closed for Millstone, Unit 3.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Victor Nerses, Senior Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-423 cc: See next page

ML043020057 OFFICE PDI-2/PM PDI-2/LA LPM EMCB PDI-2/ASC NAME VNerses CRaynor SMonarque ESullivan DCollins DATE 11/01/04 10/28/04 11/02/04 11/04/04 11/08/04 Millstone Power Station, Unit No. 3 cc:

Lillilan M. Cuoco, Esquire Mr. William D. Meinert Senior Counsel Nuclear Engineer Dominion Resources Services, Inc. Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Building 475, 5th Floor Electric Company Rope Ferry Road Moody Street Waterford, CT 06385 P.O. Box 426 Ludlow, MA 01056 Edward L. Wilds, Jr., Ph.D.

Director, Division of Radiation Mr. J. Alan Price Department of Environmental Protection Site Vice President 79 Elm Street Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc.

Hartford, CT 06106-5127 Building 475, 5th Floor Rope Ferry Road Regional Administrator, Region I Waterford, CT 06385 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road Mr. Chris Funderburk King of Prussia, PA 19406 Director, Nuclear Licensing and Operations Support First Selectmen Dominion Resources Services, Inc.

Town of Waterford 5000 Dominion Boulevard 15 Rope Ferry Road Glen Allen, VA 23060-6711 Waterford, CT 06385 Mr. David W. Dodson Mr. John Markowicz Licensing Supervisor Co-Chair Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc.

Nuclear Energy Advisory Council Building 475, 5th Floor 9 Susan Terrace Rope Ferry Road Waterford, CT 06385 Waterford, CT 06385 Mr. Evan W. Woollacott Co-Chair Nuclear Energy Advisory Council 128 Terry's Plain Road Simsbury, CT 06070 Senior Resident Inspector Millstone Power Station c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P. O. Box 513 Niantic, CT 06357 Ms. Nancy Burton 147 Cross Highway Redding Ridge, CT 00870