ML050250415
| ML050250415 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry, Watts Bar, Sequoyah  |
| Issue date: | 02/15/2005 |
| From: | Marshall M NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2 |
| To: | Singer K Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Brown E, NRR/DLPM 415-2315 | |
| References | |
| TAC MC0879, TAC MC0880, TAC MC0881, TAC MC2272, TAC MC2273, TAC MC2274 | |
| Download: ML050250415 (5) | |
Text
February 15, 2005 Mr. Karl W. Singer Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801
SUBJECT:
BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1, 2, 3, SEQUOYAH UNITS 1, 2, AND WATTS BAR UNIT 1 ! CLARIFICATION OF APPROVAL TO USE MORE RECENT EDITION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE FOR ALTERNATIVE QUALIFICATION OF VT-2 EXAMINATION PERSONNEL (TAC NOS. MC0879, MC0880, MC0881, MC2272, MC2273, AND MC2274)
Dear Mr. Singer:
By letter dated September 26, 2003, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA or the licensee) requested the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRCs) approval to use a more recent edition of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel (ASME)
Code for the alternative qualification of VT-2 (visual) examination personnel for the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2 and 3. The licensee requested approval to use paragraph IWA-2316 of the 1998 ASME Section XI Code related to the alternative qualification of VT-2 examination personnel for the remainder of the current 10-year inservice inspection interval for each unit. A similar request for the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, and the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 1, was made by letter dated March 2, 2004.
By letters dated January 14, 2004, for Browns Ferry and March 11, 2004, for Sequoyah and Watts Bar, the staff approved TVAs request to use the portions of the 1998 ASME Section XI Code associated with alternative qualification of VT-2 examination personnel for observation of leakage during system leakage and hydrostatic tests pursuant to Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.55a(g)(4)(iv), for the remainder of the current inservice inspection interval for each unit, subject to the following limitation: paragraph IWA-2316 of the 1998 ASME Code may only be used to qualify alternate VT-2 examiners who observe system leakage tests or fluid hydrostatic tests conducted in accordance with the IWA-5211(a) and (b),
1998 Edition through the latest edition and addenda incorporated by reference in paragraph (b)(2).
The 1998 Edition up to and including the 2000 Addenda of the ASME Section XI Code were incorporated in 10 CFR 50.55a(b)(2)(xviii), with one limitation placed on the use of IWA-2316.
The limitation states that it may only be used to qualify personnel that observe for leakage during system leakage and hydrostatic tests conducted in accordance with the IWA-5211(a) and (b), 1998 Edition through the latest edition and addenda incorporated by reference in paragraph (b)(2).
Karl W. Singer During telephone discussions held among R. Brown, D. Emrath, G. Belew of your staff and the NRC on May 6, 2004, TVA asked for written clarification to the staffs January 14, 2004, letter.
During the discussions, the NRC staff stated that the wording was included to reflect the current limitations imposed on those Editions and Addenda as the special condition is shown in 10 CFR 50.55a(b)(2)(xviii), and that the words were not meant to imply that the licensee had to fully update their pressure test programs to the 1998 Edition of ASME Section XI. Furthermore, the intent of the wording was to prohibit the use of the alternatively qualified VT-2 trained personnel from performing other VT-2 activities, such as the conduct of pneumatic tests. Portions of the editions or addenda may be used provided that all related requirements of the respective editions and addenda are met.
If you have further need for clarification, please contact Ms. Eva Brown, Project Manager for Browns Ferry Nuclear Units 2 and 3.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Michael L. Marshall Jr., Chief, Section 2 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-327, 50-328, 50-390, 50-259, 50-260, and 50-296 cc: See next page
Karl W. Singer During telephone discussions held among R. Brown, D. Emrath, G. Belew of your staff and the NRC on May 6, 2004, TVA asked for written clarification to the staffs January 14, 2004, letter.
During the discussions, the NRC staff stated that the wording was included to reflect the current limitations imposed on those Editions and Addenda as the special condition is shown in 10 CFR 50.55a(b)(2)(xviii), and that the words were not meant to imply that the licensee had to fully update their pressure test programs to the 1998 Edition of ASME Section XI. Furthermore, the intent of the wording was to prohibit the use of the alternatively qualified VT-2 trained personnel from performing other VT-2 activities, such as the conduct of pneumatic tests. Portions of the editions or addenda may be used provided that all related requirements of the respective editions and addenda are met.
If you have further need for clarification, please contact Ms. Eva Brown, Project Manager for Browns Ferry Nuclear Units 2 and 3.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Michael L. Marshall Jr., Chief, Section 2 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-327, 50-328, 50-390, 50-259, 50-260, and 50-296 cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC PDII-2 R/F BClayton (hard copy)
MMarshall MChernoff EBrown DPickett EHackett TChan UShoop OGC ACRS SCahill RII SShaeffer, RII ADAMS ACCESSION NO. ML050250415
- No Legal Objection NRR-028 OFFICE PDII-2/PM PDII-2/PM PDII-2/LA EMCB/SC OGC*
PDII-2/SC NAME EBrown TSteingass BClayton TChan SLewis MMarshall DATE 02/02/05 12/20/04 01/31/05 02/02/05 02/11/05 02/15/05 OFFICE PDII-2/PM PDII-2/PM NAME MChernoff DPickett DATE 02/01/05 02/02 /05 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Page 1 of 2 Mr. Karl W. Singer BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT Tennessee Valley Authority SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT cc:
Mr. Ashok S. Bhatnagar, Senior Vice President Nuclear Operations Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Larry S. Bryant, General Manager Nuclear Engineering Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Paul L. Pace, Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Soddy Daisy, TN 37384-2000 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 Senior Resident Inspector Sequoyah Nuclear Plant U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 2600 Igou Ferry Road Soddy Daisy, TN 37379 Mr. John C. Fornicola, Manager Nuclear Assurance and Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Fredrick C. Mashburn Senior Program Manager Nuclear Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 General Counsel Tennessee Valley Authority ET 11A 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Chairman Limestone County Commission 310 West Washington Street Athens, AL 35611 State Health Officer Alabama Dept. of Public Health RSA Tower - Administration Suite 1552 P.O. Box 303017 Montgomery, AL 36130-3017 Mr. Kurt L. Krueger, Plant Manager Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Jon R. Rupert, Vice President Browns Ferry Unit 1 Restart Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Robert G. Jones Browns Ferry Unit 1 Plant Restart Manager Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Timothy E. Abney, Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Senior Resident Inspector Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 10833 Shaw Road Athens, AL 35611-6970
Page 2 of 2 Mr. Karl W. Singer BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT Tennessee Valley Authority SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT cc:
County Mayor Hamilton County Courthouse 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 Mr. William R. Lagergren Site Vice President Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Spring City, TN 37381 Mr. Jay Laughlin, Plant Manager Watts Bar Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Spring City, TN 37381 Senior Resident Inspector Watts Bar Nuclear Plant U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1260 Nuclear Plant Road Spring City, TN 37381 County Executive Rhea County Courthouse 375 Church Street Suite 215 Dayton, TN 37321 County Mayor P. O. Box 156 Decatur, TN 37322 Ms. Ann P. Harris 341 Swing Loop Road Rockwood, Tennessee 37854