ML15238A403
| ML15238A403 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oconee  |
| Issue date: | 05/29/1997 |
| From: | Labarge D NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | Hampton J DUKE POWER CO. |
| References | |
| TAC-M98454, NUDOCS 9706020257 | |
| Download: ML15238A403 (4) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 May 29, 1997 Mr. J. W. Hampton Vice President, Oconee Site Duke Power Company P. 0. Box 1439 Seneca, SC 29679
SUBJECT:
RESPONSE TO OCONEE UNIT 1 JUSTIFICATION FOR CONTINUED OPERATION (TAC NO. M98454)
Dear Mr. Hampton:
By letter dated April 28, 1997, you submitted a Justification for Continued Operation (JCO) of Oconee Units 1 and 3 based on the Oconee Unit 2 High Pressure Injection (HPI) line leak. Subsequent investigations identified the leak to be from a cracked weld in the pipe to safe-end connection at the reactor coolant system nozzle for the HPI system Al injection line. Further information was supplied by letters dated May 2, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 19, 20, and 22, 1997.
Following the decision to shut down Unit 3 on May 3, 1997, the subsequent JCO-related information became applicable to Unit 1 only and included actions resulting from the letdown storage tank level control problem on Unit 3. A Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL)* for Units 1, 2, and 3 was issued by Region II on May 5, 1997.
The NRC staff held a public meeting with your staff at the NRC office in Rockville, Maryland, on May 14, 1997, to review your investigation program and its results.. In addition, a public meeting was held at the Oconee site on May 16, 1997, to review your responses to the CAL.
By letter dated May 22, 1997, the Region II Administrator updated the CAL by indicating concurrence for restart of Units 2 and 3, and your compensatory actions for operation of Unit 1.
In your responses to the staff, you have discussed several aspects in support of the continued operation of Unit 1 in the short-term (no later than June 14, 1997).
These discussions focus principally on (1) the design of the thermal sleeve in Unit 1 that is different (and, therefore, presumed to be less susceptible to crack initiation) from those installed in Units 2 and 3, (2) higher makeup flow rate through the Unit 1 thermal sleeves than through the Unit 2 and 3 thermal sleeves as a result of reactor coolant pump design differences, (3) the administrative controls instituted to minimize the thermal cycling by variations in the makeup flow, (4) examination of past inspection data that does not indicate any mispositioning of the Unit 1 sleeves, (5) the enhanced reactor coolant leakage detection measures that have been implemented by the Oconee operations organization, and (6) the additional letdown storage tank level verification program that has been instituted on Unit 1.
9706020257 970529 PDR ADOCK 05000269 P
J. W. Hampton 2 -
May 29, 1997 Based on our review of the arguments summarized above, and the additional information that has been supplied, we consider your commitment stated.in your letters of May 16 and 20, 1997, to shut down Unit 1 no later than June 14, 1997, to conduct radiographic and ultrasonic examinations of the HPI nozzles safe-end and adjacent piping, and to perform the compensatory actions associated with the letdown storage tank level monitoring system to be prudent. Therefore, the staff has no objection to operation of Unit 1 in accordance with your commitments.
Sincerely, ORIGINAL SIGNED BY:
David E. LaBarge, Senior Project Manager Project Directorate 11-2 Division of Reactor Projects -
I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-269, 50-270, and 50-287 cc:
See next page Distribution:
Docket File ACRS PUBLIC JJohnson, RII PD 11-2 Rdg.
CCasto, RH RZimmerman JRosenthal TMartin GTracy GLainas MShuaibi SVarga KManoly HBerkow NFields LBerry AChaffee DLaBarge OGC DOCUMENT NAME:
- See previous concurrence To receive a copy of this dc ment, Indicate in the bix: "C" = Copy without attachment/enclosure "E" = Copy with attachere N" = No copy OFFICE PDII-2/PA 7-PIDII-2/LA I
I EMEB3*
EMCB*
SXPDII1-2/D)
NAME DLaBarge LBerry RWessman JStrosnider ons HBerkow DATE
/2 /9 0 /I 97 5/29/97 5/29/97
/. /97
/t, 97 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
J. W. Hampton
-2 Based on our review of the arguments summarized above, and the additional information that has been supplied, we consider your commitment stated in your letters of May 16 and 20, 1997, to shut down Unit 1 no later than June 14, 1997, to conduct radiographic and ultrasonic examinations of the HPI nozzles safe-end and adjacent piping, and to perform the compensatory actions associated with the letdown storage tank level monitoring system to be prudent. Therefore, the staff has no objection to operation of Unit 1 in accordance with your commitments.
Sincerely, David E. LaBarge, Senior Project Manager Project Directorate 11-2 Division of Reactor Projects -
I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-269, 50-270, and 50-287
- cc:
See next page
Oconee Nuclear Station Units 1, 2, and 3 cc:
Mr. Paul R. Newton Mr. J. E. Burchfield Legal Department (PB05E)
Compliance Manager Duke Power Company Duke Power Company 422 South Church Street Oconee Nuclear Site Charlotte, North Carolina 28242-0001 P. 0. Box 1439 Seneca, South Carolina 29679 J. Michael McGarry, III, Esquire Winston and Strawn Ms. Karen E. Long 1400 L Street, NW.
Assistant Attorney General Washington, DC 20005 North Carolina Department of Justice Mr. Robert B. Borsum P. 0. Box 629 Framatome Technologies Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 Suite 525 1700 Rockville Pike Mr. G. A. Copp Rockville, Maryland 20852-1631 Licensing - ECO50 Duke Power Company Manager, LIS 526 South Church Street NUS Corporation Charlotte, North Carolina 28242-0001 2650 McCormick Drive, 3rd Floor Clearwater, Florida 34619-1035 Senior Resident Inspector U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Route 2, Box 610 Seneca, South Carolina 29678 Regional Administrator, Region II U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Suite 23T85 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Max Batavia, Chief Bureau of Radiological Health South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control 2600 Bull Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201 County Supervisor of Oconee County Walhalla, South Carolina 29621 Mr. Dayne H. Brown, Director Division of Radiation Protection North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources P. 0. Box 27687 Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7687