ML050060435
| ML050060435 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oconee  |
| Issue date: | 01/06/2005 |
| From: | Olshan L NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2 |
| To: | Rosalyn Jones Duke Energy Corp |
| Olshan L N, NRR/DLPM, 415-1419 | |
| References | |
| BL-03-002, TAC MC0550, TAC MC0551 | |
| Download: ML050060435 (4) | |
Text
January 6, 2005 Mr. Ronald A. Jones Vice President, Oconee Site Duke Energy Corporation 7800 Rochester Highway Seneca, SC 29672
SUBJECT:
OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - RESPONSE TO NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BULLETIN 2003-02, LEAKAGE FROM REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD PENETRATIONS AND REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY INTEGRITY (TAC NOS.
Dear Mr. Jones:
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 Oconee Nuclear Station (Oconee), 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 Fall 2003 and Spring 2004 refueling outages at Oconee, Units 1 and 2, respectively. Additionally, Duke stated that the information obtained from these inspection findings 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 Oconee.
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.
Ronald Jones 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 February 3, 2004, Duke provided a summary of its inspection results at Oconee, 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.
By letter dated July 1, 2004, Duke provided a summary of its inspection results at Oconee, 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.
Based on its review of Dukes responses to NRC Bulletin 2003-02, the NRC staff finds that Duke has met the reporting requirements of the bulletin for Oconee. Accordingly, TAC NOS.
MC0550 and MC0551 are closed for Oconee, Units 1 and 2, respectively.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Leonard N. Olshan, Sr., Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-269 and 50-270 cc: See next page
ML050060435 OFFICE PDII-1/PM PDII-1/LA LPM EMCB PDII-1/SC NAME LOlshan CHawes SMonarque ESullivan JNakoksi DATE 1/4/05 1/6/05 1/6/05 12/21/2004 1/6/05
Oconee Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 cc:
Ms. Lisa F. Vaughn Duke Energy Corporation Mail Code - PB05E 422 S. Church St.
P.O. Box 1244 Charlotte, NC 28201-1244 Ms. Anne W. Cottingham, Esq.
Winston and Strawn 1400 L St, NW Washington, DC 20005 Manager, LIS NUS Corporation 2650 McCormick Dr., 3rd Floor Clearwater, FL 34619-1035 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 7812B Rochester Highway Seneca, SC 29672 Mr. Henry Porter, Director Division of Radioactive Waste Management Bureau of Land and Waste Management Dept. of Health and Env. Control 2600 Bull St.
Columbia, SC 29201-1708 Mr. Michael A. Schoppman Framatome ANP 1911 North Ft. Myer Dr.
Suite 705 Rosslyn, VA 22209 Mr. B. G. Davenport Regulatory Compliance Manager Oconee Nuclear Site Duke Energy Corporation ON03RC 7800 Rochester Highway Seneca, SC 29672 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 and 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. Peter R. Harden, IV VP-Customer Relations and Sales Westinghouse Electric Company 6000 Fairview Road 12th Floor Charlotte, NC 28210 Mr. Henry Barron Group Vice President, Nuclear Generation and Chief Nuclear Officer P.O. Box 1006-EC07H Charlotte, NC 28201-1006