ML090490745

Eliminate Commitment Associated with Bottom-Mounted Instrumentation Penetration Nozzles on the Reactor Pressure Vessel Lower Head Examination Frequency

ML090490745
Person / Time
Site:	North Anna
Issue date:	02/18/2009
From:	Price J Virginia Electric & Power Co (VEPCO)
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
09-097
Download: ML090490745 (3)

Text

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23261 February 18, 2009 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attention: Document Control Desk 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852 Serial No.

NAPS/JHL Docket Nos.

License Nos.09-097 RO 50-338/339 NPF 4/7 VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY (DOMINIONl NORTH ANNA POWER STATION UNITS 1 AND 2 ELIMINATE COMMITMENT ASSOCIATED WITH BOTTOM**MOUNTED INSTRUMENTATION PENETRATION NOZZLES ON THE REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD EXAMINATION FREQUENCY On August 21, 2003, the NRC issued NRC Bulletin 2003-02, "Leakage from Reactor Pressure Vessel Lower Head Penetrations and Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Integrity."

Dominion provided the 90-day response to NRC Bulletin 2003-02 in a [[letter::B19000, Ninety-Day Response to NRC Bulletin 2003-02, Leakage from Reactor Pressure Vessel Lower Head Penetrations and Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Integrity|letter dated November 17, 2003]] (Serial No. 03-459A). In this response, Dominion committed to perform a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination of the bottom-mounted instrumentation (BMI) penetration nozzles during subsequent refueling outages for North Anna Units 1 and 2.

The response also indicated that the schedule may be adjusted in the future should ongoing research and inspection results justify a less

frequent, performance-based, sample inspection schedule.

NRC letter dated February 25, 2005 acknowledged the [[letter::B19000, Ninety-Day Response to NRC Bulletin 2003-02, Leakage from Reactor Pressure Vessel Lower Head Penetrations and Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Integrity|November 17, 2003 letter]] from Dominion and requested the NRC staff be notified in writing of any changes to this commiitment prior to implementation.

This letter is to notify the NRC that Dominion is revising the examination frequency associated with the 360-degree bare-metal visual examination of the BMI penetration nozzles on the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) lower head.

The examinations will be performed consistent with the frequency required by 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(E).

The basis for the change is provided below.

The requirements of 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(E) associated with Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Visual Inspections were revised in September 2008 to incorporate the inspection requirements of Code Case N-722, "Additional Examinations for PWR Pressure Retaining Welds in Class 1 Components Fabricated with Alloy 600/82/182 Materials." If examination results permit, Code Case N-722, Table 1 allows examination of the RPV BMI penetrations on an every other refueling outage frequency..

Bare-metal visual examinations of the 8MI penetration nozzles on the RPV lower head have been performed during every refueling outage since 2003.

These examinations have not identified any evidence of leakage and so the extended examination frequency permitted by Code Case N-722 is justified and now may be followed.

Serial No.09-097 Docket Nos. 50-338/339 Page 2 of 3 Based on the examination results since 2003, North Anna plans to eliminate the previous commitment to inspect the BMls every refueling outage and implement the examination frequency requirements of 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(E) and Code Case N-722, which currently permits examinations every other refueling outage.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Mr. Jay Leberstien at (540) 894-2574.

Very truly yours,

~

J. ~ Price viif~esident - Nuclear Engineering Commitments made in this letter:

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None COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA COUNTY OF HENRICO The foregoing document was acknowledged before me, in and for the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, today by J. Alan Price, who is Vice President - Nuclear Engineering, of Virginia Electric and Power Company. He has affirmed before me that he is duly authorized to execute and file the foregoing document in behalf of that Company, and that the statements in the document are true to the best of his knowledge and belief.

/o7J4 Jrc Acknowledged before me this~ day 0 blUMM;j' 2009..

1/

"I

(/ IC/u' ):, ~ LLU Notary Public VICKI L. HULL Notary Public Commonwealth of Virginia 140542 My Commission Expires May 31, 2010 *

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cc:

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region II Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth Street, SW Suite 23 T85 Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8931 Mr. J. E. Reasor, Jr.

Old Dominion Electric Cooperative Innsbrook Corporate Center 4201 Dominion Blvd.

Suite 300 Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 Ms. D. N. Wright NRC Project Manager U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike MaiI Stop 0-8-H4A Rockville, MD 20852 Mr. J. F. Stang, Jr.

NRC Project Manager U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Mail Stop 0-8-G9A Rockville, MD 20852 NRC Senior Resident Inspector North Anna Power Station Serial No.09-097 Docket Nos. 50-338/339 Page 3 of 3