ML12206A501

Request for Additional Information Related to License Amendment Request for Revise Technical Specifications 5.5.9 and 5.6.9, for Permanent Alternate Repair Criteria

ML12206A501
Person / Time
Site:	Byron, Braidwood
Issue date:	08/01/2012
From:	Michael Mahoney Plant Licensing Branch III
To:	Pacilio M Exelon Nuclear
References
TAC ME8098, TAC ME8296, TAC ME8297, TAC ME8299
Download: ML12206A501 (4)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 August 1, 2012 Mr. Michael J. Pacilio Senior Vice President Exelon Generation Company, LLC President and Chief Nuclear Officer Exelon Nuclear 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555

SUBJECT:

BYRON STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2, AND BRAIDWOOD STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATED TO LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST FOR REVISE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 5.5.9 AND 5.6.9, FOR PERMANENT ALTERNATE REPAIR CRITERIA (TAC NOS.

ME8296, IVIE8297, IVIE8298, AND ME8299)

Dear Mr. Pacilio:

By letter dated March 20,2012 (Agencywide Document Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. IVIL 120830222), Exelon Generation Company, LLC (the licensee),

submitted a license amendment request to revise the technical specifications of Byron Station, Unit Nos.1 and 2, and Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2 (the Stations). Specifically, the proposed license amendment would establish permanent alternate repair criteria for portions of the steam generator (SG) tubes within the tubesheet of the Stations SGs.

The NRC staff is reviewing your submittal and has determined that additional information is required to complete the review. The specific information required is addressed in the enclosure to this letter. During a discussion with your staff on July 24, 2012, it was agreed that you would provide a response within 30 days from the date of this letter.

The NRC staff considers that a timely response to requests for additional information help ensure sufficient time is available for staff review and contributes to the NRC's goal of efficient and effective use of staff resources.

M. Pacilio -2 If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact me at (301 )-415-3)B7.

Si7l' /J /'

MiChae~ney, p~nager Plant Licensing Branch 111-2 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

Enclosure:

Request for additional information cc w/encl: Distribution via Listserv

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BYRON STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND. 2 BRAIDWOOD STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 DOCKET NOS. STN 50-454, STN 50-45, STN 50-456, and STN 50-457 By letter dated March 20, 2012 (Agencywide Document Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML120830222), Exelon Generation Company, LLC (the licensee),

submitted a license amendment request (LAR) to revise the technical specifications (TS) of Byron Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, and Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2 (the Stations). The proposed changes would establish permanent alternate repair criteria for portions of the steam generator (SG) tubes within the tubesheet of the Stations SGs.

The NRC staff has determined that the following information is required in order to complete its review:

1. TS 5.5.9.f.2.i lists acceptable sleeve repair methods for the Stations. What portions of tubing are approved for repair by sleeving? Are any of the approved sleeving methods applicable to the tubesheet region, anywhere below the top of the tubesheet?

a. If yes, what changes to the requested amendment are needed to ensure that the proposed permanent alternate repair criteria in TS 5.5.9.c.1 are not applicable to sleeved tubes. [Note, if the lower joint of the sleeve is located approximately 4 inches below the top of the tubesheet, then the upper 4 inches of the tube to tubesheet jOint may not be effective in resisting tube pull-out.]

2. What changes to TS 5.5.9.d in the LAR are needed to ensure that sleeved tubes are subject to inspection from the tube-to-tubesheet weld at the tube inlet to the tube-to tubesheet weld at the tube outlet?

ML 12206A50 *Memo Dated OFFICE LPL3-2/PM LPL3-2/LA DE/ESGB/BC LPL3-2/BC LPL3-2/PM I NAME MMahoney SRohrer GKulesa MDudek MMahoney II DATE 811 112 I 8/1 112 17/2/12* 8/1 112 I 8/1 112 1 1 I