ML071160406

Request for Additional Information (Rai), Extended Power Uprate Application Vessels and Internals Integrity Technical Review

ML071160406
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna   (NPF-014, NPF-022)
Issue date:	04/30/2007
From:	Richard Guzman NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLI-1
To:	Mckinney B Susquehanna
tsw1
References
TAC MD3309, TAC MD3310
Download: ML071160406 (4)

Text

April 30, 2007 Mr. Britt T. McKinney Sr. Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 Berwick, PA 18603-0467

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI) - SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 (SSES 1 AND 2) - EXTENDED POWER UPRATE APPLICATION RE: VESSELS AND INTERNALS INTEGRITY TECHNICAL REVIEW (TAC NOS. MD3309 AND MD3310)

Dear Mr. McKinney:

In reviewing your letter dated October 11, 2006, concerning the request to increase the maximum steady-state power level at the SSES 1 and 2 from 3489 megawatts thermal (MWt) to 3952 MWt, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has determined that additional information contained in the enclosure to this letter is needed to complete its review. These questions were discussed with your staff April 24, 2007. As agreed to by your staff, we request you respond by May 31, 2007.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-1030.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Richard V. Guzman, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch I-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-387 and 50-388

Enclosure:

RAI cc w/encl: See next page

April 30, 2007 Mr. Britt T. McKinney Sr. Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 Berwick, PA 18603-0467

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI) - SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 (SSES 1 AND 2) - EXTENDED POWER UPRATE APPLICATION RE: VESSELS AND INTERNALS INTEGRITY TECHNICAL REVIEW (TAC NOS. MD3309 AND MD3310)

Dear Mr. McKinney:

In reviewing your letter dated October 11, 2006, concerning the request to increase the maximum steady-state power level at the SSES 1 and 2 from 3489 megawatts thermal (MWt) to 3952 MWt, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has determined that additional information contained in the enclosure to this letter is needed to complete its review. These questions were discussed with your staff April 24, 2007. As agreed to by your staff, we request you respond by May 31, 2007.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-1030.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Richard V. Guzman, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch I-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-387 and 50-388

Enclosure:

RAI cc w/encl: See next page DISTRIBUTION:

Public RidsOgcMailCenter RidsNrrPmRGuzman RidsNrrCvibBC ABlack LPLI-1 R/F RidsNrrDorlLpl1-1 RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter RidsNrrLaSLittle Accession Number: ML071160406

• RAI provided by memo. No substantive changes made.

OFFICE NRR/LPLI-1/PM NRR/LPLI-1/LA NRR/EICA/BC NRR/LPLI-1/BC NAME RGuzman SLittle MMitchell*

MKowal DATE 4/26/07 4/26/07 4/24/07 4/30/07 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

Enclosure REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO THE APPLICATION FOR EXTENDED POWER UPRATE (EPU)

VESSELS AND INTERNALS INTEGRITY TECHNICAL REVIEW SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 (SSES 1 AND 2)

PPL SUSQUEHANNA, LLC DOCKET NOS. 50-387 AND 50-388 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is reviewing the request from PPL Susquehanna, LLC (PPL, the licensee) to support the application of the EPU for SSES 1 and 2.

The NRC staff has determined that additional information requested below will be needed to complete its review.

Section 10.7, Plant Life, of Attachment 4 to your submittal dated October 11, 2006, identifies irradiation-assisted stress-corrosion cracking (IASCC) as a degradation mechanism influenced by increases in neutron fluence. PPL also states that it has a procedurally controlled program that is consistent with the Boiling Water Reactor Vessel and Internals Project (BWRVIP) issued documents for the augmented nondestructive examination of selected reactor vessel internal components (core spray piping, core spray spargers, core shroud and core shroud supports, jet pumps and associated components, top guide, lower plenum, vessel inner-diameter attachment welds, instrumentation penetrations and feedwater spargers) in order to ensure their continued structural integrity. This section indicates that the current inspection strategy for reactor internal components is expected to be adequate to manage any potential effects of the extended power uprate. Based on this, provide the following:

(a)

Specify which vessel internals components will exceed the BWRVIP-26 threshold fluence level, 5 x 1020 neutrons per centimeter-squared (n/cm2) (E > 1 megaelectron volt (MeV)), and become susceptible to cracking due to IASCC. For those components exceeding the threshold, clarify the current inspection program to be utilized in managing IASCC of the component. Identify the scope, sample size, inspection method, frequency of examination and acceptance criteria for the inspection programs.

(b)

Confirm that the core plate, in-core flux monitoring guide tubes, and control rod guide tubes were considered in the determination of which components exceed the BWRVIP-26 threshold fluence level, 5 x 1020 n/cm2 (E > 1 MeV), as referenced in Section 2.1.3 of RS-001, Rev. 0, Review Standard for Extended Power Uprates, and become susceptible to cracking due to IASCC.

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 cc:

Robert A. Saccone Vice President - Nuclear Operations PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Terry L. Harpster General Manager - Plant Support PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Rocco R. Sgarro Manager - Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Supervisor -

Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Michael H. Crowthers Supervising Engineer Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Steven M. Cook Manager - Quality Assurance PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB2 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Luis A. Ramos Community Relations Manager, Susquehanna PPL Susquehanna, LLC 634 Salem Blvd., SSO Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Bryan A. Snapp, Esq Assoc. General Counsel PPL Services Corporation Two North Ninth Street, GENTW3 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Supervisor - Document Control Services PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Richard W. Osborne Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc.

212 Locust Street P.O. Box 1266 Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266 Director, Bureau of Radiation Protection Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Rachel Carson State Office Building P.O. Box 8469 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8469 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 35, NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0035 Regional Administrator, Region 1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Board of Supervisors Salem Township P.O. Box 405 Berwick, PA 18603-0035 Dr. Judith Johnsrud National Energy Committee Sierra Club 443 Orlando Avenue State College, PA 16803