ML050600363

Response to NRC Bulletin 2003-02

ML050600363
Person / Time
Site:	North Anna
Issue date:	02/25/2005
From:	Stephen Monarque NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2
To:	Christian D Virginia Electric & Power Co (VEPCO)
Monarque, S R, NRR/DLPM, 415-1544
References
BL-03-002, TAC MC0548
Download: ML050600363 (4)

Text

February 25, 2005 Mr. David A. Christian Senior Vice President - Chief Nuclear Officer Virginia Electric and Power Company Innsbrook Technical Center 5000 Dominion Blvd.

Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6711

SUBJECT:

NORTH ANNA POWER STATION, UNIT 1 - RESPONSE TO NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BULLETIN 2003-02, LEAKAGE FROM REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD PENETRATIONS AND REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY INTEGRITY (TAC NO.

MC0548)

Dear Mr. Christian:

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 and requested these addressees 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 November 17, 2003, Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO) provided its response to this request. VEPCO indicated it planned to perform a bare-metal visual examination of all 50 RPV lower head penetrations during the fall 2004 refueling outage at North Anna Power Station, Unit 1. In its same response, VEPCO committed to performing a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination of these 50 penetrations during each subsequent refueling outage at North Anna, Unit 1, although VEPCO indicated that this inspection schedule may be adjusted in the future should ongoing research and inspection results justify a less frequent performance-based sample inspection schedule. As such, VEPCO is requested to notify the NRC staff in writing of any changes to this commitment prior to implementation.

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 November 9, 2004, VEPCO provided a summary of its inspection results at North Anna, Unit 1. VEPCO reported it had performed a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination of the 50 RPV lower head penetrations with no evidence of penetration leakage or RPV lower head wastage observed.

Based on our review of VEPCOs responses to NRC Bulletin 2003-02, the NRC staff finds that VEPCO has met the reporting requirements of the Bulletin for North Anna, Unit 1. Accordingly, TAC No. MC0548 is closed for North Anna, Unit 1.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Stephen Monarque, Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-338 cc: See next page

ML050600363 OFFICE PDII-1/PM PDII-2/LA EMCB PDII-1/SC NAME SMonarque EDunnington ESullivan JNakoski DATE 2/22/05 2/22/05 2/23/05 2/25/05 North Anna Power Station, Units 1 & 2 cc:

Mr. C. Lee Lintecum Mr. Jack M. Davis County Administrator Site Vice President Louisa County North Anna Power Station Post Office Box 160 Virginia Electric and Power Company Louisa, Virginia 23093 Post Office Box 402 Mineral, Virginia 23117-0402 Ms. Lillian M. Cuoco, Esq.

Senior Counsel Dr. Robert B. Stroube, MD, MPH Dominion Resources Services, Inc. State Health Commissioner Building 475, 5 th floor Office of the Commissioner Rope Ferry Road Virginia Department of Health Waterford, Connecticut 06385 Post Office Box 2448 Richmond, Virginia 23218 Dr. W. T. Lough Virginia State Corporation Commission Division of Energy Regulation Post Office Box 1197 Richmond, Virginia 23218 Old Dominion Electric Cooperative 4201 Dominion Blvd.

Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 Mr. Chris L. Funderburk, Director Nuclear Licensing & Operations Support Dominion Resources Services, Inc.

Innsbrook Technical Center 5000 Dominion Blvd.

Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6711 Office of the Attorney General Commonwealth of Virginia 900 East Main Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 Senior Resident Inspector North Anna Power Station U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1024 Haley Drive Mineral, Virginia 23117