ML043570039
| ML043570039 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Byron  |
| Issue date: | 02/02/2005 |
| From: | Dick G NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD3 |
| To: | Crane C Exelon Generation Co |
| Dick G F, NRR/DLPM, 415-3019 | |
| References | |
| TAC MC0525, TAC MC0526 | |
| Download: ML043570039 (5) | |
Text
February 2, 2005 Mr. Christopher M. Crane, President and Chief Executive Officer Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, Illinois 60555
SUBJECT:
RESPONSE TO NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC) BULLETIN 2003-02, LEAKAGE FROM REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD PENETRATIONS AND REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY INTEGRITY, BYRON STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - (TAC NOS. MC0525 AND MC0526)
Dear Mr. Crane:
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. 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 22, 2003, (ML032691399), Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Exelon) provided its response to this request. Exelon committed to perform a bare-metal visual examination of the RPV lower head and 100 percent of the 58 RPV lower head penetrations, during the Fall 2003 and Spring 2004 refueling outages at Byron Station (Byron),
Units 1 and 2, respectively. In its same response, Exelon indicated that the extent and frequency of subsequent visual examinations of the RPV lower head penetrations, beyond the Fall 2003 and Spring 2004 refueling outages, will depend upon the appropriate NRC and Industry guidance as well as the standardized EGC Procedure ER-AP-331-1001, Boric Acid Corrosion Control (BACC) Inspection Locations, Implementation, and Inspection Guidelines.
The NRC staff notes that there are a number of ongoing industry and NRC staff activities related to developing criteria for RPV lower head penetration inspections. The NRC staff expect that the criteria for these inspections will involve periodic bare-metal visual examinations or their equivalent.
C. Crane 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 12, 2003, (ML033510558), Exelon provided a summary of its inspection results at Byron, Unit 1. Exelon reported it had performed a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination on all 58 RPV lower head penetrations. Exelon did not observe any evidence of RPV lower head penetration leakage.
By [[letter::BYRON 2004-0060, Day Response to NRC Bulletin 2003-02, Leakage from Reactor Pressure Vessel Lower Head Penetrations and Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Integrity.|letter dated June 2, 2004]], (ML041730450) Exelon provided a summary of its inspection results at Byron, Unit 2. Exelon reported it had performed a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination on all 58 RPV lower head penetrations. Exelon did not observe any evidence of RPV lower head penetration leakage.
Based on its review of Exelons responses to NRC Bulletin 2003-02, the NRC staff finds that Exelon has met the reporting requirements of the bulletin for Byron. Accordingly, TAC Nos.
MC0525 and MC0526 are closed for Byron, Units 1 and 2, respectively.
Sincerely,
/RA/
George F. Dick, Senior Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate III Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. STN 50-454 and STN 50-455 cc: See next page
ML043570039 OFFICE PDIII-2/PM PDII-2/LA LPM EMCB PDII-2/SC NAME GDick PCoates SMonarque ESullivan GSuh DATE 1/25/05 1/26/05 1/31/05 1/31/05 2/2/05
Byron Station Units 1 and 2 cc:
Regional Administrator, Region III U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 801 Warrenville Road Lisle, IL 60532-4351 Illinois Emergency Management Agency Division of Disaster Assistance &
Preparedness 110 East Adams Street Springfield, IL 62701-1109 Document Control Desk - Licensing Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Mr. Dwain W. Alexander, Project Manager Westinghouse Electric Corporation Energy Systems Business Unit Post Office Box 355 Pittsburgh, PA 15230 Joseph Gallo Gallo & Ross 1025 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1014 Washington, DC 20036 Howard A. Learner Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest 35 East Wacker Drive Suite 1300 Chicago, IL 60601-2110 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Byron Resident Inspectors Office 4448 North German Church Road Byron, IL 61010-9750 Ms. Lorraine Creek RR 1, Box 182 Manteno, IL 60950 Chairman, Ogle County Board Post Office Box 357 Oregon, IL 61061 Mrs. Phillip B. Johnson 1907 Stratford Lane Rockford, IL 61107 Attorney General 500 S. Second Street Springfield, IL 62701 Byron Station Plant Manager Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4450 N. German Church Road Byron, IL 61010-9794 Site Vice President - Byron Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4450 N. German Church Road Byron, IL 61010-9794 Senior Vice President - Nuclear Services Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Vice President of Operations - Mid-West Pressurized Water Reactors Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Chairman Will County Board of Supervisors Will County Board Courthouse Joliet, Illinois 60434
Byron Station Units 1 and 2 Director - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Regulatory Assurance Manager - Byron Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4450 N. German Church Road Byron, IL 61010-9794 Associate General Counsel Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Vice President -
Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Manager Licensing - Braidwood and Byron Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555