ML18029A350

Denies 841019 Request for Relief from Functional Testing Requirements for Torus Restraint Hydraulic Snubbers. Equipment for in Situ Testing Available

ML18029A350
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	01/24/1985
From:	Vassallo D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Parris H TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
References
NUDOCS 8502040351
Download: ML18029A350 (3)

Text

0 January 24, 1985 Docket Nos. 50-259/260/296 Mr. Hugh G. Parris Manager of Power Tennessee Valley Authority 500A Chestnut Street, Tower II Chattanooga, Tennessee 37401

Reference:

Letter from L. Mills to H. Denton dated October 19, 1984 We have reviewed the referenced letter which requests permanent relief from the functional testing requirement for sixteen torus restraint hydraulic snubbers in each of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2 and 3.

Prior to 1982, licensees were granted relief for surveillance of large hydraulic snubbers (rated capacity above 50,000 pounds) for a period of up to two years because test equipment was not available to all plants.

However, there are several makes of test equipment presently available in the market.

Large hydraulic snubbers degrade during service and, therefore, inservice examination and testing are the only viable means of assuring their operability.

Failures of these types of snubbers to lock up have recently been reported by several operating plants.

Since equipment for insitu testing is now available and because there have been snubber failures, the staff's current position is that relief from the functional testing requirement for large hydraulic snubbers can no longer be granted.

Sincerely, Original signed by/

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Mr. Hugh G. Parris Tennessee Valley Authority Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2 and 3

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S. Sanger, Jr., Esquire General Counsel Tennessee Valley Authority 400 Commerce Avenue E

11B 330 Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 Mr. Ron Rogers Tennessee Valley Authority 400 Chestnut Street, Tower II Chattanooga, Tennessee 37401 Mr. Charles R. Christopher

Chairman, Limestone County Commission Post Office Box 188

Athens, Alabama 35611 Ira L. Meyers, M.D.

State Health Officer State Department of Public Health State Office Building Montgomery, Alabama 36130 Mr. H.

N. Culver 249A HBD 400 Commerce Avenue Tennessee Valley Authority Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 James P. O'Reilly Regional Administrator Region II Office U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 101 Marietta Street, Suite 3100 Atlanta, Georgia 30303

)ames A. Coffey Site Director, BFNP Tennessee Valley Authority Post Office Box 2000

Decatur, Alabama 35602 Resident Inspector U.. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Route 2, Box 311

Athens, Alabama 35611 Mr. Donald L. Williams, Jr.

Tennessee Valley Authority 400 West Summit Hill Drive, W10B85 Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 George Jones,

Manager, BFNP Tennessee Valley Authority Post Office Box 2000

Decatur, Alabama 35602 Mr. Oliver Havens U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Coomission Reactor Training Center Osborne Office Center, Suite 200 Chattanooga, Tennessee 37411