ML052640547
| ML052640547 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Sequoyah  |
| Issue date: | 09/20/2005 |
| From: | Pickett D NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2 |
| To: | Singer K Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Pickett D, NRR/DLPM, 415-1364 | |
| References | |
| BL-03-002, TAC MC0564 | |
| Download: ML052640547 (5) | |
Text
September 20, 2005 Mr. Karl W. Singer Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402-2801
SUBJECT:
SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 1 - RESPONSE TO NRC BULLETIN 2003-02, LEAKAGE FROM REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD PENETRATIONS AND REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY INTEGRITY (TAC NO. MC0564)
Dear Mr. Singer:
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, 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. 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 22, 2003, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), provided its response to this request for Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Unit 1. TVA stated that it wanted to take credit for the bare-metal visual examination that was performed during the spring 2003 refueling outage at Sequoyah, Unit 1. In its same response, TVA committed to perform a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination of all 58 RPV lower head penetrations during each refueling outage at Sequoyah, Unit 1, until a change to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Code or regulatory action justifies a change in this frequency. As such, TVA is requested to notify the NRC staff in writing of any changes to this regulatory commitment prior to implementation.
Mr. Karl W. Singer 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.
In its letter dated September 22, 2003, TVA provided a summary of its inspection results for the spring 2003 refueling outage at Sequoyah, Unit 1. TVA reported it had performed a bare-metal visual examination of the RPV lower head and the penetrations. This examination covered 100-percent of the RPV lower head penetrations and the lower head surface. TVA did not observe any evidence of RPV lower head penetration leakage. During the fall 2004 refueling outage at Sequoyah, Unit 1, TVA again performed a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination of all RPV lower head penetrations, and as noted in the January 24, 2005, NRC Integrated Inspection Report, no reactor coolant boundary leakage was observed.
Based on its review of TVAs responses to NRC Bulletin 2003-02, the NRC staff finds that TVA has met the reporting requirements of the Bulletin. Accordingly, TAC No. MC0564 is closed for Sequoyah, Unit 1.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Douglas Pickett, Senior Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-327 cc: See next page
ML052640547 NRR-106 OFFICE PDII-2/PM PDII-2/LA LPM EMCB PDII-2/SC NAME DPickett BClayton SMonarque ESullivan LOlshan for MMarshall DATE 09/ 15 /05 09/ 13 /05 09/ 08 /05 09/ 12 /05 09/ 20 /05
Mr. Karl W. Singer SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT Tennessee Valley Authority cc:
Mr. Ashok S. Bhatnagar, Senior Vice President Nuclear Operations Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street 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. Robert J. Beecken, Vice President Nuclear Support Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street 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 General Counsel Tennessee Valley Authority ET 11A 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Mr. John C. Fornicola, Manager Nuclear Assurance and Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Glenn W. Morris, Manager Corporate Nuclear Licensing and Industry Affairs Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Paul L. Pace, Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs ATTN: Mr. James D. Smith Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Soddy Daisy, TN 37384-2000 Mr. David A. Kulisek, Plant Manager Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Soddy Daisy, TN 37384-2000 Senior Resident Inspector Sequoyah Nuclear Plant U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 2600 Igou Ferry Road Soddy Daisy, TN 37379 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 County Mayor Hamilton County Courthouse Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Ms. Ann P. Harris 341 Swing Loop Road Rockwood, Tennessee 37854