ML050610028

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Closeout Memo, Bulletin 2003-02 SP-1500 Examination of RPV Lower Head Penetration Leakage
ML050610028
Person / Time
Site: Robinson Duke Energy icon.png
Issue date: 03/03/2005
From: Chandu Patel
NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2
To: Moyer J
Carolina Power & Light Co
Patel C P, NRR/DLPM, 415-3025
References
BL-03-002, TAC MC0560
Download: ML050610028 (4)


Text

March 3, 2005 Mr. J. W. Moyer, Vice President Carolina Power & Light Company H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit No. 2 3581 West Entrance Road Hartsville, South Carolina 29550

SUBJECT:

H. B. ROBINSON STEAM ELECTRIC PLANT, UNIT NO. 2 - RESPONSE TO NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BULLETIN 2003-02, LEAKAGE FROM REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD PENETRATIONS AND REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY INTEGRITY (TAC NO.

MC0560)

Dear Mr. Moyer:

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 13, 2003, Carolina Power & Light Company (CP&L) provided its response to this request. CP&L indicated it planned to perform a bare-metal visual examination of the RPV lower head penetrations during the spring 2004 refueling outage at H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit No. 2 (HBRSEP2). In its same response, CP&L indicated that the periodicity and scope of future inspections, beyond this initial bare-metal visual examination, will be based on the results of this inspection and relevant regulatory and industry guidance. The NRC staff notes that there are a number of ongoing industry and NRC staff activities related to developing criteria for the 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.

J. Moyer 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 July 22, 2004, CP&L provided a summary of its inspection results from the spring 2004 refueling outage at HBRSEP2. CP&L performed a bare-metal visual inspection of the RPV lower head, including each of the 50 RPV lower head penetrations, using Special Procedure (SP) -1500, Visual Examination of RPV Head and Vessel Bottom Penetration Nozzles, Revision 1. CP&L did not observe any evidence of RPV lower head penetration leakage or significant RPV lower head wastage.

Based on its review of CP&Ls responses, the NRC staff finds that CP&L has met the reporting requirements of the Bulletin for HBRSEP2. Accordingly, TAC No. MC0560 is closed for HBRSEP2.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Chandu P. Patel, Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-261 cc: See next page

ML050610028 NRR-106 OFFICE PDII-2/PM PDII-2/LA LPM EMCB PDII-2/SC NAME CPatel EDunnington SMonarque ESullivan MMarshall DATE 03/03/05 03/01/05 03/01/05 02/23/2005 03/03/05 Mr. J. W. Moyer H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Carolina Power & Light Company Unit No. 2 cc:

David T. Conley Mr. C. T. Baucom Associate General Counsel II - Legal Supervisor, Licensing/Regulatory Programs Department H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Progress Energy Service Company, LLC Unit No. 2 Post Office Box 1551 Carolina Power & Light Company Raleigh, North Carolina 27602-1551 3581 West Entrance Road Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 Ms. Margaret A. Force Assistant Attorney General Ms. Beverly Hall, Section Chief State of North Carolina N.C. Department of Environment Post Office Box 629 and Natural Resources Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 Division of Radiation Protection 3825 Barrett Dr.

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Raleigh, North Carolina 27609-7721 Resident Inspectors Office H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant Mr. Robert P. Gruber 2112 Old Camden Road Executive Director Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 Public Staff - NCUC 4326 Mail Service Center Mr. Dan Stoddard Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-4326 Plant General Manager H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Mr. Henry H. Porter, Assistant Director Unit No. 2 South Carolina Department of Health Carolina Power & Light Company Bureau of Land & Waste Management 3581 West Entrance Road 2600 Bull Street Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 Columbia, South Carolina 29201 Mr. William G. Noll Mr. Chris L. Burton Director of Site Operations Manager H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Performance Evaluation and Unit No. 2 Regulatory Affairs PEB 7 Carolina Power & Light Company Progress Energy 3581 West Entrance Road Post Office Box 1551 Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 Raleigh, North Carolina 27602-1551 Public Service Commission Mr. John H. ONeill, Jr.

State of South Carolina Shaw, Pittman, Potts, & Trowbridge Post Office Drawer 11649 2300 N Street NW.

Columbia, South Carolina 29211 Washington, DC 20037-1128 J. F. Lucas Manager - Support Services - Nuclear H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit No. 2 Carolina Power & Light Company 3581 West Entrance Road Hartsville, South Carolina 29550