ML071510535
| ML071510535 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Byron, Braidwood  |
| Issue date: | 06/14/2007 |
| From: | Robert Kuntz NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLIII-2 |
| To: | Crane C Exelon Generation Co |
| kuntz, Robert , NRR/DORL, 415-3733 | |
| References | |
| BL-04-001, TAC MD3461, TAC MD3462, TAC MD3463, TAC MD3464 | |
| Download: ML071510535 (6) | |
Text
June 14, 2007 Mr. Christopher M. Crane President and Chief Nuclear Officer Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555
SUBJECT:
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, RESPONSE FOR BYRON STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2, AND BRAIDWOOD STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 (TAC NOS. MC3461, MC3462, MC3463, AND MC3464)
Dear Mr. Crane:
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 which 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. ML042170341), as supplemental by letter dated May 11, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No. ML071340060), Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Exelon) provided its responses to items 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d of Bulletin 2004-01 for Byron Station Unit Nos. 1 and 2 (Byron) and Braidwood Station Units 1 and 2 (Braidwood). Exelons responses described its materials of fabrication and past, current and future pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping inspection programs at Byron and Braidwood.
Exelons response to item 1a in Bulletin 2004-01 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. Exelons response to item 1a prompted responses to the remaining items in Bulletin 2004-01.
In response to item 1b in Bulletin 2004-01, Exelon described prior inspections and inspection results of pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections which had been performed at Byron and Braidwood. Exelons response included the basis for concluding that
C. Crane Byron and Braidwood 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 2004-01, Exelon provided a description of the Alloy 82/182/600 pressurizer penetration and steam space piping connection inspection program that will be implemented at your plants 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 plants 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, Exelon indicated that follow-up nondestructive examination (NDE) will be performed to characterize flaws in the leaking penetrations. Exelon 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 2004-01, Exelon 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 Byron and Braidwood reactor coolant pressure boundary and for meeting all applicable regulatory requirements which pertain to your facilities.
By letters dated May 20, 2005, for Byron, Unit No. 1 (ADAMS Accession No. ML051400295),
June 10, 2005, for Braidwood, Unit 2 (ADAMS Accession No. ML051650278), December 6, 2005, for Byron, Unit No. 2 (ADAMS Accession No. ML053420666), and June 12, 2006, for Braidwood, Unit 1 (ADAMS Accession No. ML061640450), you provided a response to item 2a in Bulletin 2004-01. This letter provided a statement to the NRC indicating that the inspections described in your response to item 1c of the bulletin were completed during recent Byron and Braidwood outages and a description of the as-found condition of the locations inspected where provided. Exelon 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 review of Exelons responses to Bulletin 2004-01 and finds the responses to be acceptable. It should be noted that industry commitments or NRC 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 NRC staffs expectation that you will revise your plan for the inspection and repair of items discussed in Bulletin 2004-01 consistent with other industrys commitments or NRC staffs regulatory actions.
This closes the NRC staffs efforts with regard to the review of the Bulletin 2004-01 response for Byron and Braidwood. Please contact me at (301) 415-3733 if you have any questions on this issue.
C. Crane Sincerely,
/RA/
Robert F. Kuntz, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch III-2 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. STN 50-454, STN 50-455, STN 50-456 and STN 50-457 cc: See next page
- M. Murphy for NRR-106 OFFICE LPL3-2/PM LPL3-2/LA CVIB/BC PGCB/BC LPL3-2/BC NAME RKuntz EWhitt MMitchell CJackson*
RGibbs DATE 6/6/07 6/6/07 6/12/07 6/13/07 6/14/07
Byron/Braidwood Stations cc:
Dwain W. Alexander, Project Manager Westinghouse Electric Corporation Energy Systems Business Unit Post Office Box 355 Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0355 Howard A. Learner Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest 35 East Wacker Dr., Suite 1300 Chicago, IL 60601-2110 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Byron Resident Inspectors Office 4448 N. German Church Road Byron, IL 61010-9750 Regional Administrator, Region III U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Suite 210 2443 Warrenville Road Lisle, IL 60532-4351 Ms. Lorraine Creek RR 1, Box 182 Manteno, IL 60950 Chairman, Ogle County Board Post Office Box 357 Oregon, IL 61061 Mrs. Phillip B. Johnson 1907 Stratford Lane Rockford, IL 61107 Attorney General 500 S. Second Street Springfield, IL 62701 Illinois Emergency Management Agency Division of Disaster Assistance &
Preparedness 1035 Outer Park Dr Springfield, IL 62704 Plant Manager - Byron Station Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4450 N. German Church Road Byron, IL 61010-9794 Site Vice President - Byron Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4450 N. German Church Road Byron, IL 61010-9794 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Braidwood Resident Inspectors Office 35100 S. Rt. 53, Suite 79 Braceville, IL 60407 County Executive Will County Office Building 302 N. Chicago Street Joliet, IL 60432 Plant Manager - Braidwood Station Exelon Generation Company, LLC 35100 S. Rt. 53, Suite 84 Braceville, IL 60407-9619 Ms. Bridget Little Rorem Appleseed Coordinator 117 N. Linden Street Essex, IL 60935 Document Control Desk - Licensing Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Site Vice President - Braidwood Exelon Generation Company, LLC 35100 S. Rt. 53, Suite 84 Braceville, IL 60407-9619 Senior Vice President - Operations Support Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555
Byron/Braidwood Stations Director - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Manager Regulatory Assurance - Braidwood Exelon Generation Company, LLC 35100 S. Rt. 53, Suite 84 Braceville, IL 60407-9619 Manager Regulatory Assurance - Byron Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4450 N. German Church Road Byron, IL 61010-9794 Associate General Counsel Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Vice President - Regulatory Affairs Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Manager Licensing - Braidwood/Byron Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Senior Vice President - Midwest Operations Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555