ML18039A484
| ML18039A484 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry  |
| Issue date: | 08/17/1998 |
| From: | Hebdon F NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | Scalice J TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18039A485 | List: |
| References | |
| TAC-MA1153, NUDOCS 9808240117 | |
| Download: ML18039A484 (8) | |
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 205M-0001 August'7, 1998 Mr. J. A. Scalice Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402-2801
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SUBJECT:
BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 3 RELIEF FROM ASME BOILER AND.PRESSURE VESSEL CODE, SECTION XI REQUIREMENTS: RELIEF REQUEST 3-ISI-1 (TAC NO. MA1153)
Dear Mr. Scalice:
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) submitted the results of its augmented examination of the Browns Ferry Unit 3 (BFN-3) reactor pressure vessel (RPV) welds, conducted in accordance with 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(A)(2), by letter dated March 6, 1995. The examination results revealed fifteen flaws in circumferentially-oriented welds that exceeded the acceptance criteria in American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME Code),
Section XI, Paragraph IWB-3500. The flaws were evaluated in accordance with ASME Code Section XI, Paragraph IWB-3600, and were found to be acceptable for continued service.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff's detailed safety evaluation for the weld flaw evaluation was issued by letter dated November 8; 1995.
ASME Code,Section XI, Paragraph IWB-2420(b) requires that flaws identified in components that are found acceptable for continued service shall be reexamined during the next three inspection periods.
On January 22,,1997, TVAsubmitted Relief Request 3-ISI-1 'requesting relief from the requirement for three successive reexaminations of the Unit 3 reactor pressure vessel (RPV) circumferential weld flaws. The request was denied by the NRC for a number of reasons, including;the fact that TVAhad not validated the fracture mechanics analysis. by subsequent examinations to verify that the subject flaws were not growing beyond calculated projections.
By letter dated February 17, 1998, as supplemented by letters dated June 12 and July 31, 1998, TVAsubmitted Revised Relief Request 3-ISI-'1. The revised request seeks relief for one operating cycle from performing the first reexamination.
TVAproposes to perform the first reexamination during the Cycle 9 outage (scheduled to begin March 2000) as opposed to the Cycle 8 outage (scheduled to begin October 1998).
As discussed in the enclosed Safety Evaluation,,the staff has determined that the proposed alternative examinations for the fifteen flaws in the RPV welds provide an acceptable level of quality and safety.
9808240ii7 9808i7 PDR ADOCK 050002'76 6
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Mr. J. A. Scalice August 17, 1998 Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(A)(5) and 10 CFR 50.55a(a)(3)(i), the alternative exams are authorized for one operating cycle.
Sincerely, Original signed by:
Frederick J.
Hebdon, Director Project Directorate II-3 Division of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of.Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-296 Serial No. BFN-98-016
Enclosure:
Safety Evaluation cc w/enclosure: See next page DS BU 0 fDocket-'Fil~e PUBLIC JZwolinski FHebdon ADeAgazio BClayton THarris (e-mail SE, TLH3)
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- see previous concurrence To receive a copy of this docunent, indicate in the,box:
"C" = Copy without attachment/enclosure attachment/enclosure "N" = No copy "E" = Copy with OFFICE PDII-3/PM NAME ADeAgazio:cw DATE 08/
/98
- OGC PDII-3/LA BCla ton MYoung
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/98 07/
/98 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY PDII-3/D FHebdon 08/
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Mr. J. A. Scaiice Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(A)(5) and "10 CFR 50.55a(a)(3)(i), the alternative exams are authorized for one operating cycle.
Sincerely, Frederick J.
Hebd n, Director Project Directorate II-3 Division of Reactor Projects,- I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-296 Serial. No. BFN-98-016
Enclosure:
Safety Evaluation cc w/enclosure: See next page
0
Mr. J. A. Scalice Tennessee Valley Authority BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT CC:
Senior Vice President Nuclear Operations Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Jack A. Bailey, Vice President Engineering &Technical Services Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. C. M. Crane, Site Vice President Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley. Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 General Counsel Tennessee Valley Authority ET 10H 400 West-Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Mr. Raul'R. Baron, General Manager Nuclear Assurance Tennessee Valley Authority 5M Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Karl W. Singer, Plant Manager
'Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Mark J. Burzynski, Managar Nuclear Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Timothy E.,Abney, Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL35609 Regional Administrator, Region II U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Suite 23T85 Atlanta, GA 30303-3415 Mr. Leonard D. Wert Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 10833 Shaw Road Athens, AL'5611 State Health Officer Alabama Dept. of Public Health 434 Monroe Street Montgomery, AL36130-170I Chairman Limestone County Commission 310 West Washington Street Athens, AL 35611