ML072410358
| ML072410358 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vogtle  |
| Issue date: | 09/07/2007 |
| From: | Catherine Haney Plant Licensing Branch III-2 |
| To: | Gasser J Southern Nuclear Operating Co |
| Lingam, Siva NRR/DORL 415-1564 | |
| References | |
| TAC MD4194, NRR-07-005 | |
| Download: ML072410358 (4) | |
Text
September 7, 2007 Mr. Jeffrey T. Gasser Executive Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
Post Office Box 1295 Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295
SUBJECT:
VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNIT 1 - EVALUATION OF FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS IN SUPPORT OF ALLOY 82/182 PRESSURIZER BUTT WELD INSPECTIONS IN 2008 AS PROVIDED BY CONFIRMATORY ACTION LETTER NRR-07-005 (TAC NO. MD4194)
Dear Mr. Gasser:
On March 12, 2007, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL) No. NRR-07-005 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession Number ML070660103), regarding dissimilar metal welds in the pressurizer surge, spray, and safety/relief nozzle-to-safe end welds at Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP), Unit 1. The CAL and the supporting commitment letter (ADAMS Accession No. ML070650572) indicate that inspection and mitigation actions may be conducted during your spring 2008 refueling outage, contingent on the industry providing an analysis that demonstrates an acceptable level of safety to the NRC for the operation of these welds until the spring of 2008.
This letter acknowledges receipt of your letter dated August 1, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No. ML072150480), informing the NRC that the analysis referred to by this CAL and the supporting commitment letter has been completed, and that the analysis is applicable to your plant.
The NRC received MRP-216, Rev. 1, AMaterials Reliability Program: Advanced FEA [Finite Element Analysis] Evaluation of Growth of Postulated Circumferential PWSCC [Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking] Flaws in Pressurizer Nozzle Dissimilar Metal Welds,@ on August 13, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No. ML072410235). Based on our review of this report, the NRC concludes that the analysis provides adequate justification to permit inspections during your spring 2008 refueling outage, and that the analysis is applicable to VEGP Unit 1. The results of the staff=s review are contained in a safety assessment dated August 31, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No. ML072400199) and the associated contractor report (ADAMS Accession No. ML072470394).
Based on the above, the NRC concludes that a plant shutdown by December 31, 2007, is no longer required. Therefore, the pressurizer surge, spray, and safety/relief nozzle-to-safe end Alloy 82/182 butt weld inspections for VEGP Unit 1 must be performed prior to exiting your scheduled spring 2008 refueling outage.
J. Gasser All other requirements of the CAL and the supporting commitment letter regarding enhanced inspection and leakage monitoring requirements for the reactor coolant system and associated reports remain valid.
The CAL will remain open until all CAL commitments pertaining to VEGP Unit 1 are complete.
Current NRC guidance regarding CALs is contained in the NRC Enforcement Policy and the NRC Enforcement Manual, which are available at the NRC web site at http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/enforcement.html (click on Enforcement Policy or Enforcement Guidance) or by contacting the Government Printing Office (GPO) toll-free at 1-888-293-6498. The GPO is open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays).
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter will be made available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the NRC=s document system (ADAMS), accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm.html.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Catherine Haney, Director Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-424 cc: See next page
ML072410358 OFFICE DCI/CPNB DCI/CPNB LPL2-1/PM LPL2-1/LA LPL2-1/BC NAME TLupold TChan SLingam MO=Brien EMarinos DATE 9/ 6 /07 9 / 6 /07 9/ 6 /07 9 / 6 /07 9 / 6 /07 OFFICE DCI/D DRP/D, RGN2 DORL/D NAME MEvans CCasto CHaney DATE 9/ 7 /07 9 / 7 /07 9 / 7 /07
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 & 2 cc:
Mr. Tom E. Tynan Vice President - Vogtle Vogtle Electric Generating Plant 7821 River Road Waynesboro, GA 30830 Mr. N. J. Stringfellow Manager, Licensing Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 Mr. Jeffrey T. Gasser Executive Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 Mr. Steven M. Jackson Senior Engineer - Power Supply Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia 1470 Riveredge Parkway, NW Atlanta, GA 30328-4684 Mr. Reece McAlister Executive Secretary Georgia Public Service Commission 244 Washington St., SW Atlanta, GA 30334 Mr. Harold Reheis, Director Department of Natural Resources 205 Butler Street, SE, Suite 1252 Atlanta, GA 30334 Attorney General Law Department 132 Judicial Building Atlanta, GA 30334 Mr. Laurence Bergen Oglethorpe Power Corporation 2100 East Exchange Place P.O. Box 1349 Tucker, GA 30085-1349
Arthur H. Domby, Esquire Troutman Sanders Nations Bank Plaza 600 Peachtree Street, NE Suite 5200 Atlanta, GA 30308-2216 Resident Inspector Vogtle Plant 8805 River Road Waynesboro, GA 30830 Office of the County Commissioner Burke County Commission Waynesboro, GA 30830