ML050320193
| ML050320193 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 02/09/2005 |
| From: | Nerses V NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD1 |
| To: | Peschel J, Warner M Florida Power & Light Energy Seabrook |
| Nerses V, NRR//DLPM, 415-1484 | |
| References | |
| TAC MC0563 | |
| Download: ML050320193 (5) | |
Text
February 9, 2005 Mr. Mark E. Warner, Site Vice President c/o James M. Peschel Seabrook Station FPL Energy Seabrook, LLC P. O. Box 300 Seabrook, NH 03874
SUBJECT:
RESPONSE TO NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BULLETIN 2003-02, LEAKAGE FROM REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD PENETRATIONS AND REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY INTEGRITY, SEABROOK STATION, UNIT NO. 1 - (TAC NO. MC0563)
Dear Mr. Warner:
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. 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 19, 2003, FPL Energy Seabrook, LLC (FPL) provided its response to this request for Seabrook Station (Seabrook), Unit No. 1. FPL indicated it planned to perform a bare-metal visual examination of all 58 RPV lower head penetrations, including 100 percent of the circumference of each penetration as it enters the RPV lower head, during the fall 2003 refueling outage. Regarding subsequent refueling outages beyond the fall 2003 outage, FPL indicated that the examination scope, when performed, will include all 58 RPV lower head penetrations, including 100 percent of the circumference of each penetration as it enters the RPV lower head. 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 expects that the criteria for these inspections will involve periodic bare-metal visual examinations or their equivalent.
M. Warner 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 18, 2003, FPL provided a summary of its inspection results at Seabrook, Unit No. 1. FPL reported it had performed a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination on all 58 RPV lower head penetrations. In addition, a bare-metal visual examination was performed on the RPV lower surface. FPL did not observe any evidence of RPV lower head penetration leakage or RPV lower head surface metal degradation.
Based on its review of FPLs responses to NRC Bulletin 2003-02, the NRC staff finds that, for Seabrook, Unit No. 1, FPL has provided the reporting information requested by the bulletin.
Accordingly, TAC No. MC0563 is closed for Seabrook, Unit No. 1.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Victor Nerses, Senior Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-443 cc: See next page
ML050320193 OFFICE PDI-2/PM PDI-2/LA LPM EMCB PDI-2/SC NAME VNerses CRaynor SMonarque ESullivan DRoberts DATE 2/3/05 2/3/05 1/10/05 1/12/05 2/8/05
Seabrook Station, Unit No. 1 cc:
Mr. J. A. Stall Senior Vice President, Nuclear and Chief Nuclear Officer Florida Power & Light Company P.O. Box 14000 Juno Beach, FL 33408-0420 Mr. Peter Brann Assistant Attorney General State House, Station #6 Augusta, ME 04333 Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Seabrook Nuclear Power Station P.O. Box 1149 Seabrook, NH 03874 Town of Exeter 10 Front Street Exeter, NH 03823 Regional Administrator, Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Office of the Attorney General One Ashburton Place, 20th Floor Boston, MA 02108 Board of Selectmen Town of Amesbury Town Hall Amesbury, MA 01913 Ms. Deborah Bell Federal Emergency Management Agency Region I J.W. McCormack P.O. &
Courthouse Building, Room 401 Boston, MA 02109 Mr. Tom Crimmins Polestar Applied Technology One First Street, Suite 4 Los Altos, CA 94019 Mr. Stephen McGrail, Director ATTN: James Muckerheide Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency 400 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01702-5399 Philip T. McLaughlin, Attorney General Steven M. Houran, Deputy Attorney General 33 Capitol Street Concord, NH 03301 Mr. Bruce Cheney, Director New Hampshire Office of Emergency Management State Office Park South 107 Pleasant Street Concord, NH 03301 Mr. Gene F. St. Pierre Station Director Seabrook Station FPL Energy Seabrook, LLC P.O. Box 300 Seabrook, NH 03874 Mr. M. S. Ross, Managing Attorney Florida Power & Light Company P.O. Box 14000 Juno Beach, FL 33408-0420 Mr. Rajiv S. Kundalkar Vice President - Nuclear Engineering Florida Power & Light Company P.O. Box 14000 Juno Beach, FL 33408-0420 James M. Peschel Regulatory Programs Manager Seabrook Station FPL Energy Seabrook, LLC PO Box 300 Seabrook, NH 03874
Seabrook Station, Unit No. 1 cc:
David Moore Vice President, Nuclear Operations Support Florida Power & Light Company P.O. Box 14000 Juno Beach, FL 33408-0420 Marjan Mashhadi Senior Attorney Florida Power & Light Company 801 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 220 Washington, DC 20004