ML072430292
| ML072430292 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Braidwood  |
| Issue date: | 09/07/2007 |
| From: | Catherine Haney Plant Licensing Branch III-2 |
| To: | Crane C Exelon Generation Co |
| kuntz, Robert , NRR/DORL, 415-3733 | |
| References | |
| TAC MD4135, NRR-07-008 | |
| Download: ML072430292 (6) | |
Text
September 7, 2007 Mr. Christopher M. Crane President and Chief Nuclear Officer Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555
SUBJECT:
BRAIDWOOD STATION, UNIT 2 - EVALUATION OF FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS IN SUPPORT OF ALLOY 82/182 PRESSURIZER BUTT WELD INSPECTIONS IN 2008 AS PROVIDED BY CONFIRMATORY ACTION LETTER NRR-07-008 (TAC NO. MD4135)
Dear Mr. Crane:
On March 22, 2007, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL) No. NRR-07-008 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML070740294) regarding dissimilar metal welds in the pressurizer surge, spray, and safety/relief nozzle-to-safe end welds at Braidwood Station, Unit 2. The CAL and the supporting commitment letter (ADAMS Accession No. ML070520499) 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 3, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No. ML072150585), 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, Materials 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 Braidwood Station, Unit 2.
The results of the staffs review are contained in a safety assessment dated August 31, 2007, 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 Braidwood Station, Unit 2 must be performed prior to exiting your scheduled spring 2008 refueling outage. 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.
C. Crane The CAL will remain open until all CAL commitments pertaining to Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2 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 NRCs 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. STN 50-457 cc: See next page
- by e-mail NRR-106 OFFICE DCI/CPNB DCI/CPNB LPL3-2/PM LPL3-2/LA LPL3-2/BC NAME TLupold TChan RKuntz EWhitt RGibbs DATE 9/6/07 9/6/07 9/5/07 9/5/07 9/6/07 OFFICE DCI/D DRP/D, RGN3 DORL/D NAME MEvans CPederson*
CHaney DATE 9/7/07 9/4/07 9/7/07
Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2 cc:
Document Control Desk - Licensing via e-mail Mr. Dwain W. Alexander, Project Manager Westinghouse Electric Corporation via e-mail Ms. Bridget Little Rorem Appleseed Coordinator via e-mail Howard A. Learner Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest 35 East Wacker Dr., Suite 1300 Chicago, IL 60601-2110 Braidwood Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission via e-mail Ms. Lorraine Creek RR 1, Box 182 Manteno, IL 60950 Illinois Emergency Management Agency Division of Disaster Assistance &
Preparedness via e-mail County Executive via e-mail Attorney General 500 S. Second Street Springfield, IL 62701 Plant Manager - Braidwood Station via e-mail Site Vice President - Braidwood via e-mail Senior Vice President - Operations Support via e-mail Chairman, Ogle County Board Post Office Box 357 Oregon, IL 61061 Manager Regulatory Assurance - Braidwood via e-mail Director - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs via e-mail Associate General Counsel via e-mail Senior Vice President - Midwest Operations via e-mail Vice President - Regulatory Affairs via e-mail Manager Licensing - Braidwood, Byron and LaSalle via e-mail