ML053620328
| ML053620328 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Davis Besse  |
| Issue date: | 01/24/2006 |
| From: | Sands S Plant Licensing Branch III-2 |
| To: | Bezilla M FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co |
| SANDS S, NRR/DLPM, 415-3154 | |
| References | |
| BL-03-002, TAC MC0535 | |
| Download: ML053620328 (5) | |
Text
January 24, 2006 Mr. Mark B. Bezilla Vice President-Nuclear, Davis-Besse FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station Mail Stop A-DB-3080 5501 North State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449-9760
SUBJECT:
DAVIS-BESSE NUCLEAR POWER STATION, UNIT 1 - RESPONSE TO NRC BULLETIN 2003-02, LEAKAGE FROM REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD PENETRATIONS AND REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY INTEGRITY (TAC NO. MC0535)
Dear Mr. Bezilla:
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 and 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 November 19, 2003, FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FirstEnergy) provided its response to this request for Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1 (Davis-Besse). Because Davis-Besse had been in an extended outage since February 16, 2002, FirstEnergy wanted to take credit for the bare-metal visual examination that was performed in September 2003. In its same response, FirstEnergy committed to performing a visual examination, consisting of a complete 360-degree examination of each RPV lower head penetration during the Cycle 14 mid-cycle outage (January 2005) at Davis-Besse.
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 November 19, 2003, FirstEnergy provided a summary of the results of its inspection performed in September 2003 at Davis-Besse. FirstEnergy increased the reactor coolant system pressure to a normal operating pressure of approximately 2155 psig for a period of approximately one week. After this pressure test, FirstEnergy used a crawler video camera to perform a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination at each RPV lower head penetration.
Because the RPV lower head had already been cleaned as part of a baseline inspection performed in May 2003, FirstEnergy was able to compare the results of this inspection with the results of the May 2003 baseline inspection. FirstEnergy did not observe any evidence of RPV lower head penetration leakage.
On March 8, 2004, the NRC staff issued a letter that approved the restart of Davis-Besse.
Included within this letter was Confirmatory Order EA-03-214 that directed FirstEnergy to conduct a visual examination of the RPV lower head bare-metal surface, including the head to penetration interfaces, using VT-2 qualified personnel and procedures during the Cycle 14 mid-cycle outage. Prior to restart from the mid-cycle outage, FirstEnergy was required to report the results of this inspection to the Regional Administrator, NRC Region III and to report any evidence of reactor coolant boundary leakage found during this inspection.
In response to Confirmatory Order EA-03-214, FirstEnergy provided a summary of its inspection results on February 3, 2005. FirstEnergy reported that, during the Cycle 14 mid-cycle outage that occurred during January 2005, it had completed visual examination of the RPV lower head bare-metal surface, including the head to penetration interfaces. FirstEnergy did not find any evidence of reactor coolant boundary leakage at Davis-Besse. The March 23, 2005, NRC Integrated Inspection Report noted that no reactor coolant boundary leakage was observed.
Based on its review of FirstEnergys responses to NRC Bulletin 2003-02, the NRC staff finds that FirstEnergy has met the reporting requirements of the bulletin. Accordingly, TAC No. MC0535 is closed for Davis-Besse.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Stephen P. Sands, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch III-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-346 cc: See next page
ML053620328 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/LPL3-2/PM NRR/LPL3-2/PM NRR/LPL/LPM NRR/DCI NRR/LPL3-2/BC(A)
NAME SSands DClarke SMonarque ESullivan MLandau DATE 1/23/2006 1/24/2006 12/7/2005 01/17/2006 1/24/2006
Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1 cc:
Manager - Regulatory Affairs FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station 5501 North State - Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449-9760 Director, Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Industrial Compliance Bureau of Operations & Maintenance 6606 Tussing Road P.O. Box 4009 Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-9009 Regional Administrator U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Suite 210 2443 Warrenville Road Lisle, IL 60523-4351 Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 5503 North State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449-9760 Barry Allen, Plant Manager FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station 5501 North State - Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449-9760 Dennis Clum Radiological Assistance Section Supervisor Bureau of Radiation Protection Ohio Department of Health P.O. Box 118 Columbus, OH 43266-0118 Carol OClaire, Chief, Radiological Branch Ohio Emergency Management Agency 2855 West Dublin Granville Road Columbus, OH 43235-2206 Zack A. Clayton DERR Ohio Environmental Protection Agency P.O. Box 1049 Columbus, OH 43266-0149 State of Ohio Public Utilities Commission 180 East Broad Street Columbus, OH 43266-0573 Attorney General Office of Attorney General 30 East Broad Street Columbus, OH 43216 President, Board of County Commissioners of Ottawa County Port Clinton, OH 43252 President, Board of County Commissioners of Lucas County One Government Center, Suite 800 Toledo, OH 43604-6506 The Honorable Dennis J. Kucinich United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Dennis J. Kucinich United States House of Representatives 14400 Detroit Avenue Lakewood, OH 44107 Gary R. Leidich President and Chief Nuclear Officer FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Mail Stop A-GO-19 76 South Main Street Akron, OH 44308 Joseph J. Hagan Senior Vice President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Mail Stop A-GO-14 76 South Main Street Akron, OH 44308 David W. Jenkins, Attorney FirstEnergy Corporation Mail Stop A-GO-18 76 South Main Street Akron, OH 44308
Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1 cc:
Danny L. Pace Senior Vice President, Fleet Engineering FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Mail Stop A-GO-14 76 South Main Street Akron, OH 44308 Manager, Fleet Licensing FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Mail Stop A-GHE-107 395 Ghent Road Akron, OH 44333 Manager, Site Regulatory Compliance FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station Mail Stop A-DB-3065 5501 North State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449-9760 Jeannie M. Rinckel Vice President, Fleet Oversight FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company Mail Stop A-GO-14 76 South Main Street Akron, OH 44308