ML043440424
| ML043440424 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | McGuire, Mcguire  |
| Issue date: | 01/04/2005 |
| From: | James Shea NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2 |
| To: | Gordon Peterson Duke Energy Corp |
| SHea J, 415-1388, NRR/DLPM | |
| References | |
| BL-03-002, TAC MC0545, TAC MC0546 | |
| Download: ML043440424 (4) | |
Text
January 4, 2005 Mr. G. R. Peterson Vice Nuclear Officer and President McGuire Nuclear Station 12700 Hagers Ferry Road Huntersville, NC 28078-8985
SUBJECT:
MCGUIRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - RESPONSE TO NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC) BULLETIN 2003-02, LEAKAGE FROM REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD PENETRATIONS AND REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY INTEGRITY (TAC NOS. MC0545 AND MC0546)
Dear Mr. Peterson:
On August 21, 2003, the 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. The bulletin also requested these addressees to 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 18, 2003, Duke Energy Corporation (Duke) provided its response to this request for McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2. Duke indicated it planned to perform a bare-metal visual examination of the RPV lower head, including a 360-degree examination of all RPV lower head penetrations during the Spring 2004 and Fall 2003 refueling outages at McGuire, Units 1 and 2, respectively. Additionally, Duke stated that the information obtained from these inspection findngs and industry developments on the RPV lower head penetrations will be used to determine the type of examinations that will be performed during future refueling outages, beyond the Fall 2003 and Spring 2004 refueling outages at McGuire. The NRC staff notes that there are a number of ongoing industry and NRC staff activities related to developing criteria for RPV lower head penetrations inspections. As such, the NRC staff expect that the criteria for these inspections will involve periodic bare-metal visual examinations or their equivalent.
G. Peterson 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 4, 2003, Duke provided a summary of its inspection results at McGuire, Unit 2. Duke reported it had performed a bare-metal visual inspection of the RPV lower head, including 360-degree examinations around 100 percent of the RPV lower head penetrations. Duke did not observe any evidence of RPV lower head penetration leakage.
By letter dated June 9, 2004, Duke provided a summary of its inspection results at McGuire, Unit 1. Duke reported it had performed a bare-metal visual inspection of the RPV lower head, including 360-degree examinations around 100 percent of the RPV lower head penetrations. Duke did not observe any evidence of RPV lower head penetration leakage.
Based on its review of Dukes responses to NRC Bulletin 2003-02, the NRC staff finds that McGuire has met the reporting requirements of the bulletin. Accordingly, TAC NOS. MC0545 and MC0546 are closed for McGuire, Units 1 and 2, respectively.
Sincerely,
/RA/
James Shea, Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-369 and 50-370 cc: See next page
ML043440424 NRR-106 OFFICE PDII-1/PM PDII-1/LA LPM EMCB PDII-1/SC NAME JShea CHawes SMonarque ESullivan JNakoksi DATE 12/17/04 12/17/04 12/23/04 1/4/05 1/4/05
McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 & 2 cc:
Ms. Lisa F. Vaughn Duke Energy Corporation Mail Code - PB06E 422 S. Church St.
P.O. Box 1244 Charlotte, NC 28201-1244 County Manager of Mecklenburg County 720 E. Fourth St.
Charlotte, NC 28202 Mr. C. Jeffrey Thomas Regulatory Compliance Manager Duke Energy Corporation McGuire Nuclear Site 12700 Hagers Ferry Road Huntersville, NC 28078 Anne Cottingham, Esq.
Winston and Strawn 1400 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Senior Resident Inspector c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 12700 Hagers Ferry Road Huntersville, NC 28078 Dr. John M. Barry Mecklenburg County Department of Environmental Protection 700 N. Tryon St Charlotte, NC 28202 Mr. Peter R. Harden, IV VP-Customer Relations and Sales Westinghouse Electric Company 6000 Fairview Road, 12th Floor Charlotte, NC 28210 NCEM REP Program Manager 4713 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-4713 Ms. Karen E. Long Assistant Attorney General NC Department of Justice P.O. Box 629 Raleigh, NC 27602 Mr. R.L. Gill, Jr., Manager Nuclear Regulatory Issues &
Industry Affairs Duke Energy Corporation 526 S. Church St.
Mail Stop EC05P Charlotte, NC 28202 Mr. Richard M. Fry, Director Division of Radiation Protection NC Dept of Environment, Health & Natural Resources 3825 Barrett Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27609-7721 Mr. T. Richard Puryear Owners Group (NCEMC)
Duke Energy Corporation 4800 Concord Road York, SC 29745 Mr. Henry Barron Group Vice President, Nuclear Generation
& Chief Nuclear Officer P.O. Box 1006-EC07H Charlotte, NC 28201-1006