ML072490169
| ML072490169 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Waterford  (NPF-042) |
| Issue date: | 09/07/2007 |
| From: | Catherine Haney Plant Licensing Branch III-2 |
| To: | Walsh K Entergy Operations |
| Kalyanam N, NRR/DORL/LP4, 415-1480 | |
| References | |
| TAC MD4196, NRR-07-006 NRR-07-006 | |
| Download: ML072490169 (4) | |
Text
September 7, 2007 Mr. Kevin T. Walsh Vice President of Operations Entergy Operations, Inc.
17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-3093
SUBJECT:
WATERFORD STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNIT 3 - EVALUATION OF FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS IN SUPPORT OF ALLOY 82/182 PRESSURIZER BUTT WELD INSPECTIONS IN 2008 AS PROVIDED BY CONFIRMATORY ACTION LETTER NRR-07-006 (TAC NO. MD4196)
Dear Mr. Walsh:
On March 20, 2007, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL) No. NRR-07-006 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML070710563) regarding dissimilar metal welds in the pressurizer surge, spray, and safety/relief nozzle-to-safe end welds at Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 (Waterford 3). The CAL and the supporting commitment letter (ADAMS Accession No. ML070590205) 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 spring 2008. This letter acknowledges receipt of your letter dated August 7, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No. ML072410201), 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 Waterford 3. The results of the staffs 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 Waterford 3 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.
The CAL will remain open until all CAL commitments pertaining to Waterford 3 are complete.
K. T. Walsh 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 Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 2, Section 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. 50-382 cc: See next page
ML072490169 OFFICE DCI/CPNB DCI/CPNB LPL4/PM LPL4/LA LPL4/BC NAME TLupold TChan KKalyanam JBurkhardt Thiltz, BKS for DATE 9/6/07 9/6/07 9/6/07 9/6/07 9/7/07 OFFICE DCI/D DRP/D, RGN4 DORL/D NAME MEvans DChamberlain CHaney DATE 9/7/07 9/7/07 Wjones for 9/7/07
May 2007 Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 cc:
Vice President, Operations Support Entergy Operations, Inc.
P.O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1995 Ms. Kimberly S. Cook, Director Nuclear Safety Assurance Entergy Operations, Inc.
17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-0751 Mr. Joe Kowalewski General Manager, Plant Operations Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 Entergy Operations, Inc.
17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-0751 Manager, Licensing Entergy Operations, Inc.
17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-0751 Resident Inspector Waterford NPS P.O. Box 822 Killona, LA 70057-0751 Regional Administrator, Region IV U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011 Parish President Council St. Charles Parish P.O. Box 302 Hahnville, LA 70057 Mr. Jeff Forbes Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Entergy Operations, Inc.
P.O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1995 Mr. John McCann Director, Nuclear Safety & Licensing Entergy Services, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Radiological Emergency Planning and Response Division P.O. Box 4312 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4312 Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Compliance P.O. Box 4312 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4312 Chairman Louisiana Public Services Commission P.O. Box 91154 Baton Rouge, LA 70825-1697 Richard Penrod, Senior Environmental Scientist/State Liaison Officer Office of Environmental Services Northwestern State University Russell Hall, Room 201 Natchitoches, LA 71497