ML071200018
| ML071200018 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 05/04/2007 |
| From: | Thadani M NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLIV |
| To: | Sheppard J South Texas |
| Thadani, M C, NRR/DORL/LP4, 415-1476 | |
| References | |
| BL-04-001, TAC MC3515, TAC MD3514 | |
| Download: ML071200018 (7) | |
Text
May 4, 2007 Mr. James J. Sheppard President and Chief Executive Officer STP Nuclear Operating Company South Texas Project Electric Generating Station P.O. Box 289 Wadsworth, TX 77483
SUBJECT:
SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT, UNITS 1 AND 2 - RESPONSE TO 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 NOS. MC3514 AND MC3515)
Dear Mr. Sheppard:
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, 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 that will be performed to verify the integrity of the pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections.
By letter dated July 27, 2004 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML042160011), STP Nuclear Operating Company (STPNOC) provided its responses to items 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d of Bulletin 2004-01 for South Texas Project (STP), Units 1 and 2. STPNOCs responses described its materials of fabrication, and past, current, and future pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping inspection programs at STP, Units 1 and 2.
STPNOCs 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, STPNOC described prior inspections and inspection results of pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections that had been performed at STP, Units 1 and 2. STPNOCs response included the basis for concluding that STP, Units 1 and 2, satisfies the applicable regulatory requirements related to the integrity of pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections.
J. Sheppard In response to item 1c in the bulletin, STPNOC 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, STPNOC indicated that follow-up nondestructive examination (NDE) will be performed to characterize flaws in the leaking penetrations.
STPNOC 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, STPNOC 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 STP, Units 1 and 2, reactor coolant pressure boundary and for meeting all applicable regulatory requirements that pertain to your facility.
By letters dated June 9, and December 1, 2005 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML051670184 and ML053460289, respectively), 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 a recent STP, Units 1 and 2, outages and a description of the as-found condition of the locations inspected was provided. STPNOC 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 were also provided in these letters.
The NRC staff has completed its activities associated with the review of STPNOCs responses to Bulletin 2004-01 and finds STPNOCs 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. 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
J. Sheppard March 2007 repair of items discussed in Bulletin 2004-01 consistent with other industry commitments or staff regulatory actions. This closes the staffs efforts with regard to the review of the Bulletin 2004-01 response for STP, Units 1 and 2. Please contact me at (301) 415-1476 if you have any questions on this issue.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Mohan C. Thadani, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-498 and 50-499 cc: See next page
March 2007 South Texas Project, Units 1 & 2 cc:
Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 289 Wadsworth, TX 77483 C. M. Canady City of Austin Electric Utility Department 721 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 J. J. Nesrsta/R. K. Temple E. Alercon/Kevin Pollo City Public Service Board P.O. Box 1771 San Antonio, TX 78296 INPO Records Center 700 Galleria Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339-3064 Regional Administrator, Region IV U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011 Steve Winn/Christie Jacobs Eddy Daniels/Marty Ryan NRC Energy, Inc.
211 Carnegie Center Princeton, NJ 08540 Judge, Matagorda County Matagorda County Courthouse 1700 Seventh Street Bay City, TX 77414 A. H. Gutterman, Esq.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004 E. D. Halpin Site Vice President STP Nuclear Operating Company South Texas Project Electric Generating Station P.O. Box 289 Wadsworth, TX 77483 S. M. Head, Manager, Licensing STP Nuclear Operating Company P.O. Box 289, Mail Code: N5014 Wadsworth, TX 77483 C. T. Bowman General Manager, Oversight STP Nuclear Operating Company P.O Box 389 Wadsworth, TX 77483 Marilyn Kistler Sr. Staff Specialist, Licensing STP Nuclear Operating Company P.O. Box 289, Mail Code 5014 Wadsworth, TX 77483 Environmental and Natural Resources Policy Director P.O. Box 12428 Austin, TX 78711-3189 Jon C. Wood Cox, Smith, & Matthews 112 East Pecan, Suite 1800 San Antonio, TX 78205 Director Division of Compliance & Inspection Bureau of Radiation Control Texas Department of State Health Services 1100 West 49th Street Austin, TX 78756
March 2007 South Texas Project, Units 1 & 2 cc:
Mr. Ted Enos 4200 South Hulen Suite 422 Ft. Worth, TX 76109 Brian Almon Public Utility Commission William B. Travis Building P.O. Box 13326 1701 North Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701-3326 Susan M. Jablonski Office of Permitting, Remediation and Registration Texas Commission on Environmental Quality MC-122 P.O. Box 13087 Austin, TX 78711-3087 Ken Coates Plant General Manager STP Nuclear Operating Company South Texas Project Electric Generating Station P.O. Box 289 Wadsworth, TX 77483 Mr. Terry Parks, Chief Inspector Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Boiler Division P.O. Box 12157 Austin, TX 78711
ML071200018 OFFICE NRR/LPL4/PM NRR/LPL4/PM NRR/LPL4/LA NRR/CVIB/BC NRR/LPL4/BC NAME JEargle MThadani LFeizollahi MMitchell THiltz DATE 5/3/07 5/3/07 5/3/07 5/3/07 5/4/07