ML061440065
| ML061440065 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Farley  (NPF-002, NPF-008) |
| Issue date: | 06/16/2006 |
| From: | Martin R Plant Licensing Branch III-2 |
| To: | Stinson L Southern Nuclear Operating Co |
| Martin R, NRR/DORL, 415-1493 | |
| References | |
| TAC MC3478, TAC MC3479 | |
| Download: ML061440065 (5) | |
Text
June 16, 2006 Mr. L. M. Stinson Vice President-Farley Project Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295
SUBJECT:
JOSEPH M. FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 1 AND 2 - RESPONSE TO NRC BULLETIN 2004-01, INSPECTIONS OF ALLOY 82/182/600 MATERIALS USED IN THE FABRICATION OF PRESSURIZER PENETRATIONS AND STEAM SPACE PIPING CONNECTIONS AT PRESSURIZED-WATER REACTORS (TAC NOS. MC3478 AND MC3479)
Dear Mr. Stinson:
On May 28, 2004, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Bulletin 2004-01, "Inspections of Alloy 82/182/600 Materials Used in the Fabrication of Pressurizer Penetrations and Steam Space Piping Connections at Pressurized-Water Reactors," to the industry. This bulletin informed addressees that current methods of inspecting the pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections fabricated from Alloy 82/182/600 materials may need to be supplemented with additional measures (e.g., bare-metal visual inspections) to detect pressurizer penetration and steam space piping connection flaws or leakage. The bulletin requested that addressees provide the NRC with information related to the materials of construction, the inspections that have been performed, and the inspections which will be performed to verify the integrity of the pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections.
By letter dated July 26, 2004, and by a supplemental letter dated October 21, 2004, the Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC) provided its responses to items 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d of Bulletin 2004-01 for the Farley Nuclear Plant (FNP), Units 1 and 2. SNC's responses described its materials of fabrication and past, current, and future pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping inspection programs at FNP.
SNC's response to item 1a reported that some of the materials used in the fabrication of the pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections were Alloy 82/182/600 materials.
This reply required you to provide further responses to the remaining items in the bulletin.
In response to item 1b, SNC described prior inspections and inspection results of pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections which had been performed at FNP. SNC's response included the basis for concluding that FNP satisfies the applicable regulatory requirements related to the integrity of pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections.
In response to item 1c in the bulletin, SNC provided a description of the Alloy 82/182/600 pressurizer penetration and steam space piping connection inspection program that will be implemented at your plant during the next and subsequent refueling outages. The description included the items to be inspected; the percent coverage that would be performed at each location; the inspection methods to be used; the qualification standards for the inspection methods and personnel; the process used to resolve any inspection indications; the inspection documentation to be generated; and the basis for concluding that your plant will satisfy the applicable regulatory requirements related to the structural and leakage integrity of pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections. If leaking pressurizer penetrations or steam space piping connections are found, SNC indicated that followup nondestructive examination (NDE) will be performed to characterize flaws in the leaking penetrations. SNC provided its plans for expansion of the scope of NDE to be performed if circumferential flaws are found in any portion of the leaking pressurizer penetrations or steam space piping connections.
In response to item 1d in the bulletin, SNC explained why the inspection program identified in the response to item 1c in the bulletin is adequate for the purpose of maintaining the integrity of the FNP reactor coolant pressure boundary and for meeting all applicable regulatory requirements which pertain to your facility.
By letters dated January 11, 2005, for FNP Unit 1 and December 20, 2005, for FNP Unit 2, you provided a response to item 2a in Bulletin 2004-01. These letters provided a statement to the NRC indicating that the inspections described in your response to item 1c of the bulletin were completed during recent outages and a description of the as-found condition of the locations inspected was provided.
The NRC staff has completed its activities associated with the review of SNC's responses to Bulletin 2004-01 and finds SNC's response to be acceptable. It should be noted that industry commitments or staff regulatory actions may result in the need for you to modify your plans for the inspection and repair of items discussed in Bulletin 2004-01. It is the staffs expectation that you will revise your plan for the inspection and repair of items discussed in Bulletin 2004-01 consistent with other industry commitments or staff regulatory actions.
Based on its review of SNCs responses to NRC Bulletin 2004-01, the NRC staff finds that SNC has met the requirements of the bulletin. Accordingly, TAC Nos. MC3478 and MC3479 are closed for FNP.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Robert E. Martin, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch II-1 Division of Operator Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-348 50-364 cc: See next page
ML061440065 NRR-106 OFFICE LPL2-1/PM LPL2-1/LA CVIB LPL2-1/BC NAME RMartin RSola MMitchell EMarinos DATE 06/ 7/06 06/7/06 05/19/06 06/16/06 Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 & 2 cc:
Mr. J. R. Johnson General Manager Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 470 Ashford, AL 36312 Mr. B. D. McKinney, Licensing Manager Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 Mr. M. Stanford Blanton Balch and Bingham Law Firm P.O. Box 306 1710 Sixth Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35201 Mr. J. Gasser Executive Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201 State Health Officer Alabama Department of Public Health 434 Monroe St.
Montgomery, AL 36130-1701 Chairman Houston County Commission P.O. Box 6406 Dothan, AL 36302 Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 7388 N. State Highway 95 Columbia, AL 36319 William D. Oldfield SAER Supervisor Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 470 Ashford, AL 36312