ML071290532
| ML071290532 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 05/16/2007 |
| From: | Catherine Haney Plant Licensing Branch III-2 |
| To: | Kansler M Entergy Nuclear Operations |
| Boska J, NRR, 301-415-2901 | |
| References | |
| TAC MD4156, TAC MD4157 | |
| Download: ML071290532 (5) | |
Text
May 16, 2007 Mr. Michael R. Kansler President Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601
SUBJECT:
INDIAN POINT NUCLEAR GENERATING UNIT NOS. 2 AND 3 -
PRESSURIZER SURGE, SPRAY, SAFETY, AND RELIEF NOZZLE WELD SUSCEPTIBILITY TO PRIMARY WATER STRESS-CORROSION CRACKING (TAC NOS. MD4156 AND MD4157)
Dear Mr. Kansler:
This letter acknowledges the receipt of information from Entergy pertaining to the pressurizer surge, spray, safety, and relief nozzle and safe-end welds at Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 and 3 (IP2 and IP3).
The discovery, in October 2006, of five circumferential indications in three Alloy 82/182 dissimilar metal (DM) welds on the pressurizer at the Wolf Creek Generating Station (Wolf Creek) raised safety concerns based on the size and location of the indications. At Wolf Creek, three indications were in the pressurizer surge nozzle-to-safe-end weld, and two separate indications were in the safety and relief nozzle-to-safe-end welds. These findings also indicated that significant concerns might exist with the inspection schedules for addressing the pressurizer weld concerns issued by the industry-sponsored Materials Reliability Program (MRP), in Primary System Piping Butt Weld Inspection and Evaluation Guideline (MRP-139).
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is concerned about the pressurizer surge nozzle-to-safe-end weld indications, as this is the first time that multiple circumferential primary water stress-corrosion cracking (PWSCC) indications have been identified in a weld. This condition calls into question the degree of safety margin present in past structural integrity evaluations for flawed DM welds susceptible to PWSCC, since multiple stress-corrosion cracking flaws may grow independently and ultimately grow together, significantly reducing the time from flaw initiation to leakage or rupture.
Based on discussions with the NRC staff, licensees of plants susceptible to this condition have committed to enhanced inspection frequency and reactor coolant system leakage monitoring until actions to mitigate the potential of PWSCC in the affected welds have been completed.
In your letter dated January 26, 2007 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession Number ML070320551), you stated that the pressurizer at IP2 and IP3 does not have Alloy 82/182 butt welds. As a result, your response adequately addresses the concerns that the NRC has at this time regarding PWSCC susceptibility of these welds.
M. Kansler This completes the NRC staff efforts on TAC Nos. MD4156 and MD4157 for the review associated with this issue. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Indian Point project manager, John Boska, at 301-415-2901.
Sincerely, Timothy McGinty /RA/ for Catherine Haney, Director Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-247 & 50-286 cc: See next page
ML071290532 OFFICE CPNB LPL1-1/PM LPL1-1/LA NAME TLupold JBoska SLittle DATE 5/16/07 5/15/07 5/16/07 OFFICE LPL1-1/BC CPNB/BC DORL/D NAME MKowal TChan TMcGinty for CHaney DATE 5/16/07 5/16/07 5/16/07
Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 & 3 cc:
Mr. Gary J. Taylor Chief Executive Officer Entergy Operations, Inc.
1340 Echelon Parkway Jackson, MS 39213 Mr. John T. Herron Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Fred R. Dacimo Site Vice President Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
Indian Point Energy Center 450 Broadway, GSB P.O. Box 249 Buchanan, NY 10511-0249 Mr. Paul Rubin General Manager, Plant Operations Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
Indian Point Energy Center 450 Broadway P.O. Box 249 Buchanan, NY 10511-0249 Mr. Oscar Limpias Vice President Engineering Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Christopher Schwarz Vice President, Operations Support Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. John F. McCann Director, Licensing Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Ms. Charlene D. Faison Manager, Licensing Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Michael J. Columb Director of Oversight Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. James Comiotes Director, Nuclear Safety Assurance Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
Indian Point Energy Center 450 Broadway, GSB P.O. Box 249 Buchanan, NY 10511-0249 Mr. Patric Conroy Manager, Licensing Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
Indian Point Energy Center 450 Broadway, GSB P. O. Box 249 Buchanan, NY 10511-0249 Assistant General Counsel Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Mr. Peter R. Smith, President New York State Energy, Research, and Development Authority 17 Columbia Circle Albany, NY 12203-6399 Mr. Paul Eddy New York State Department of Public Service 3 Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12223
Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 & 3 cc:
Regional Administrator, Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Senior Resident Inspectors Office Indian Point 2 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 59 Buchanan, NY 10511 Senior Resident Inspectors Office Indian Point 3 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 59 Buchanan, NY 10511 Mr. Charles Donaldson, Esquire Assistant Attorney General New York Department of Law 120 Broadway New York, NY 10271 Mayor, Village of Buchanan 236 Tate Avenue Buchanan, NY 10511 Mr. Raymond L. Albanese Four County Coordinator 200 Bradhurst Avenue Unit 4 Westchester County Hawthorne, NY 10532 Mr. William DiProfio PWR SRC Consultant 139 Depot Road East Kingston, NH 03827 Mr. Garry Randolph PWR SRC Consultant 1750 Ben Franklin Drive, 7E Sarasota, FL 34236 Mr. William T. Russell PWR SRC Consultant 400 Plantation Lane Stevensville, MD 21666-3232 Mr. Jim Riccio Greenpeace 702 H Street, NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 Mr. Phillip Musegaas Riverkeeper, Inc.
828 South Broadway Tarrytown, NY 10591 Mr. Mark Jacobs IPSEC 46 Highland Drive Garrison, NY 10524