ML052310126

American Society of Mechanical Engineers RPV Welds Withdrawal of Requests

ML052310126
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	08/18/2005
From:	Crouch W Tennessee Valley Authority
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
TAC MC0167, TAC MC0168
Download: ML052310126 (4)

Text

August 18, 2005 10 CFR 50.55a(a)(3)(i)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Mail Stop: OWFN P1-35 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Gentlemen:

In the Matter of ) Docket Nos. 50-260 Tennessee Valley Authority ) 50-296 BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT (BFN) - UNITS 2, AND 3 - AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS (ASME) SECTION XI, INSERVICE INSPECTION (ISI) PROGRAM - REQUESTS FOR RELIEF 2-ISI-22, AND 3-ISI-18 FOR EXAMINATION OF REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL (RPV)

NOZZLE-TO-VESSEL SHELL WELDS AND NOZZLE BLEND RADII -

WITHDRAWAL OF REQUESTS (TAC NOS. MC0167 AND MC0168)

This purpose of this letter is to withdraw BFN Units 2 and 3 requests for relief 2-ISI-22 and 3-ISI-18. These requests for relief were submitted by TVA letter dated November 15, 2004. These requests utilized the Boiling Water Reactor Vessel and Internals Project (BWRVIP)-108, BWR Vessel and Internals Project Technical Basis for the Reduction of Inspection Requirements for the Boiling Water Reactor Nozzle-to-Vessel Shell Welds and Nozzle Blend Radii, and ASME Code Case N-702, Alternative Requirements for Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) Nozzle Inner Radius and Nozzle-to-Shell Welds,Section XI, Division 1, as the technical basis for the requests.

After reviewing TVAs requests for relief, the NRC issued a request for additional information (RAI) on May 17, 2005, to the BWRVIP rather than TVA. This RAI contained questions regarding the BWRVIP analysis methodology and the BWR fleets examination history of the subject nozzles utilizing ASME, Appendix VIII qualified personnel and procedures. Based on conversations with the NRC staff, and the time necessary for the BWRVIP to resolve the NRCs questions, TVA has elected to withdraw its request, at this time, pending a generic resolution of the BWRVIP-108 Report.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 2 August 18, 2005 There are no new regulatory commitments in this letter. If you have any questions, please contact me at (256) 729-2636.

Sincerely, Original signed by:

William D. Crouch Manager of Licensing and Industry Affairs cc: See Page 3

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 3 August 18, 2005 cc: Mr. Robert Carter, EPRI BWRVIP Assessment Manager EPRI NDE Center 1300 W. T. Harris Boulevard Charlotte, North Carolina 28262 Mr. Tom Mulford, EPRI BWRVIP Integration Manager Electric Power Research Institute P.O. Box 10412 3412 Hillview Avenue Palo Alto, California 94303 (Via NRC Electronic Distribution)

Mr. Stephen J. Cahill, Branch Chief U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region II Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 23T85 Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8931 NRC Resident Inspector Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 10833 Shaw Road Athens, Alabama 35611-6970 Ms. Eva A. Brown, Project Manager U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint, North (MS 08G9) 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852-2739 Ms. Margaret Chernoff, Project Manager U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint, North (MS 08G9) 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852-2739

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 4 August 18, 2005 DTL:JWD:BAB cc: B. M. Aukland, POB 2C-BFN A. S. Bhatnagar, LP 6A-BFN Samuel Flood, PMB 2A-BFN J. C. Fornicola, LP 6A-C R. G. Jones, NAB 1A-BFN R. F. Marks, PAB 1C-BFN G. W. Morris, BR 4X-C N. M. Moon, LP 6A-C B. J. OGrady, PAB 1E-BFN J. R. Rupert, NAB 1A-BFN K. W. Singer, LP 6A-C E. J. Vigluicci, ET 11A-K NSRB Support, LP 5M-C EDMS WT CA-K s:\lic\submit\subs\Units 2, & 3 Relief Request Using BWRVIP-108 & N-702 Tech Basis Withdrawl.doc