ML071140207
| ML071140207 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Waterford  |
| Issue date: | 04/30/2007 |
| From: | Fields M NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLIV |
| To: | Walsh K Entergy Operations |
| Fields M, NRR/DORL/LP4, 415-3062 | |
| References | |
| BL-04-001, TAC MC3524 | |
| Download: ML071140207 (5) | |
Text
April 30, 2007 Mr. Kevin T. Walsh Vice President of Operations Entergy Operations, Inc.
17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-3093
SUBJECT:
WATERFORD STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNIT 3 - CLOSEOUT OF BULLETIN 2004-01, INSPECTION OF ALLOY 82/182/600 MATERIALS USED IN THE FABRICATION OF PRESSURIZER PENETRATIONS AND STEAM SPACE PIPING CONNECTIONS AT PRESSURIZED-WATER REACTORS, (TAC NO. MC3524)
Dear Mr. Walsh:
On May 28, 2004, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Bulletin 2004-01, Inspection of Alloy 82/182/600 Materials Used in the Fabrication of Pressurizer Penetrations and Steam Space Piping Connections at Pressurized-Water Reactors (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML041480034), to all holders of operating licenses for pressurized-water nuclear power reactors except those who have permanently ceased operation and have certified that fuel has been removed from the reactor vessel.
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 27, 2004 (ADAMS Accession No. ML042110131), as supplemented by letters dated July 19, 2005, August 29, 2006, and April 11, 2007 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML052030163, ML062430312, and ML071030345, respectively), Entergy Operations, Inc.
(the licensee) provided its responses to items 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d of Bulletin 2004-01 for Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3. The licensees responses described its materials of fabrication, and past, current, and future pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping inspection programs for Waterford 3.
The licensees 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 further responses to the remaining items in the Bulletin.
K. T. Walsh In response to item 1b, the licensee described prior inspections and inspection results of pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections which had been performed for Waterford 3. The licensees response included the basis for concluding that Waterford 3 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, the licensee provided a description of the Alloy 82/182/600 pressurizer penetration and steam space piping connection inspection program that will be implemented at Waterford 3 during 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 Waterford 3 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, the licensee indicated that follow-up nondestructive examination (NDE) will be performed to characterize flaws in the leaking penetrations. The licensee 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, the licensee 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 Waterford 3 reactor coolant pressure boundary and for meeting all applicable regulatory requirements which pertain to this facility.
The July 19, 2005, licensee letter responded to item 2a of the Bulletin by stating that the inspections performed in response to item 1c of the bulletin were completed during the spring 2005 refueling outage and the letter also provided a description of the as-found condition of the locations inspected. The licensee also described any findings of relevant indications of through-wall leakage and follow-up NDE performed to characterize flaws in leaking penetrations or steam space piping connections. A summary of all relevant indications found by NDE, a summary of the disposition of any findings of boric acid, and a description of any corrective actions taken and/or repairs made as a result of the indications found was also provided in this letter.
The NRC staff has completed its activities associated with the review of the licensee's responses to Bulletin 2004-01 and finds the licensee's responses 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. For example, specific actions addressed in topical report MRP-139, "Materials Reliability Program:
Primary System Piping Butt Weld Inspection and Evaluation Guideline," and/or plant-specific Confirmatory Action Letters regarding dissimilar metal butt welds encompassed by Bulletin 2004-01, may exceed the scope of actions addressed in your response to 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.
K. T. Walsh This closes the NRC staffs efforts with regard to the review of the Bulletin 2004-01 responses for Waterford 3. If you have any questions, please contact me 301-415-3062.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Mel B. Fields, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-382 cc: See next page
ML071140207 OFFICE NRR/LPL4/PM NRR/LPL4/LA NRR/CVIB/BC NRR/LPL4/BC NAME MFields JBurkhardt MMitchell THiltz DATE 4/26/07 4/25/07 4/27/07 4/30/07
November 2006 Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 cc:
Vice President, Operations Support Entergy Operations, Inc.
P.O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1995 Director Nuclear Safety Assurance Entergy Operations, Inc.
17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-3093 General Manager Plant Operations Waterford 3 SES Entergy Operations, Inc.
17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-3093 Manager, Licensing Entergy Operations, Inc.
17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-3093 Resident Inspector/Waterford NPS P.O. Box 822 Killona, LA 70066-0751 Regional Administrator, Region IV U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011 Parish President Council St. Charles Parish P.O. Box 302 Hahnville, LA 70057 Executive Vice President &
Chief Operating Officer Entergy Operations, Inc.
P.O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1995 Director, Nuclear Safety & Licensing Entergy Operations, Inc.
1340 Echelon Parkway Jackson, MS 39213-8298 Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Radiological Emergency Planning and Response Division P.O. Box 4312 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4312 Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Compliance P.O. Box 4312 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4312 Chairman Louisiana Public Services Commission P.O. Box 91154 Baton Rouge, LA 70825-1697 Richard Penrod, Senior Environmental Scientist/State Liaison Officer Office of Environmental Services Northwestern State University Russell Hall, Room 201 Natchitoches, LA 71497