ML18347B589
| ML18347B589 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vogtle  |
| Issue date: | 12/13/2018 |
| From: | NRC |
| To: | NRC/NRO/DLSE/LB4 |
| References | |
| Download: ML18347B589 (4) | |
Text
1 Vogtle PEmails From:
Habib, Donald Sent:
Thursday, December 13, 2018 2:53 PM To:
Chamberlain, Amy Christine; WASPARKM@southernco.com; Thomas, Corey (SNC)
Cc:
Patel, Chandu; Vogtle PEmails; Dixon-Herrity, Jennifer; Haggerty, Neil; neil.haggerty@excelservices.com
Subject:
RAI Transmittal for Vogtle 3 & 4 ALT-06 Attachments:
RAI ALT-06-1.pdf To All:
By letter dated October 19, 2018, Southern Nuclear Company submitted Request for Alternative PSI/ISI-ALT-06 to the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 3 and 4, Combined License Nos. NPF-91 and NPF-92 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18292A789). The NRC staff is reviewing the request to enable the staff to reach a conclusion on the safety of the proposed alternative.
The NRC staff has identified that additional information is needed to continue the review. The staffs request for additional information (RAI) is contained in the attachment to this email.
To support the review schedule, you are requested to respond within 45 days of the date of this email. If changes are needed to the final safety analysis report, the staff requests that the RAI response include the proposed wording changes.
If you have any questions or comments concerning this matter, you may contact me at 301-415-1035.
Sincerely, Donald Habib, Project Manager Licensing Branch 4 Division of New Reactor Licensing Office of New Reactors 301-415-1035
Hearing Identifier:
Vogtle_COL_Docs_Public Email Number:
397 Mail Envelope Properties (MWHPR0901MB21719E22896D4BBD5463037297A00)
Subject:
RAI Transmittal for Vogtle 3 & 4 ALT-06 Sent Date:
12/13/2018 2:52:51 PM Received Date:
12/13/2018 2:52:59 PM From:
Habib, Donald Created By:
Donald.Habib@nrc.gov Recipients:
"Patel, Chandu" <Chandu.Patel@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Vogtle PEmails" <Vogtle.PEmails@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Dixon-Herrity, Jennifer" <Jennifer.Dixon-Herrity@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None "Haggerty, Neil" <X2NHAGGE@SOUTHERNCO.COM>
Tracking Status: None "neil.haggerty@excelservices.com" <neil.haggerty@excelservices.com>
Tracking Status: None "Chamberlain, Amy Christine" <ACCHAMBE@southernco.com>
Tracking Status: None "WASPARKM@southernco.com" <WASPARKM@southernco.com>
Tracking Status: None "Thomas, Corey (SNC)" <BRCThoma@southernco.com>
Tracking Status: None Post Office:
MWHPR0901MB2171.namprd09.prod.outlook.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 1237 12/13/2018 2:52:59 PM RAI ALT-06-1.pdf 106127 Options Priority:
Standard Return Notification:
No Reply Requested:
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Normal Expiration Date:
Recipients Received:
Request for Additional Information PSI/ISI-ALT-06-1 Issue Date: 12/13/18 Application
Title:
Vogtle Nuclear Site, Units 3 and 4 Operating Company: Southern Nuclear Operating Co.
Docket No. 52-0025 and 52-0026 QUESTION ALT-06-1-1 By letter dated October 19, 2018, Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC), submitted Request for Alternative No. VEGP 3&4-PSI/ISI-ALT-06 to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) Units 3 and 4 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18292A787) in accordance with 10 CFR 50.55a(z)(1) which permits the approval of alternatives to the requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code based on the licensee demonstrating that the proposed alternative would provide an acceptable level of quality and safety. 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(3)(i) and (ii) states that components classified as ASME Code Class 1, 2, and 3 must be designed and be provided with access to satisfy the preservice examination requirements set forth in ASME Section III and Section XI. The Vogtle Units 3 and 4 UFSAR (Section 5.2.4.2) states that components and welds requiring inservice inspection (and by default preservice inspection) are designed to allow for the application of the required inservice inspection methods (and preservice inspection methods). Therefore, the welds and adjacent base material are required to be inspected in accordance with ASME Code Section III and Section XI. The alternative requests NRC approval to use an alternative to the requirements of IWB-2500 to Section XI of the ASME Code, 2007 Edition through 2008 Addenda to eliminate the requirement for a volumetric examination of the valve material in specific-valve-to-pipe welds during preservice and inservice inspection.
Staff of the Materials and Chemical Engineering Branch in the Office of New Reactors reviewed and evaluated the information provided by the licensee, and has determined that the following information is needed to ensure the integrity of the valve-to-pipe welds based on inspection and operational experience.:
The request states that the 2008 Addenda of Section XI of the ASME BP&V Code removed the volumetric examination requirement for the welds in valve bodies. There is no information provided concerning the operating experience of these types of valve-to-pipe welds. The staff cannot approve this alternative to not inspect the valve material without operating experience.
Discuss how the basis for removing the volumetric examination for the welds in the valve bodies applies to the piping welds in this alternative which are thinner (less margin) and may have different stresses. This should include the operating experience of similar types of valve-to-pipe welds in the discussion.
QUESTION ALT-06-1-2 The request states that this alternative is not recommending any additional visual examinations. Please clarify this statement by confirming that the visual examinations required by Table IWB-2500-1, Category B-M-2 in Section XI of the ASME BP&V Code will still be performed as part of the ISI program. If these visual examinations are not performed, provide the basis for removing the internal visual inspection which provides continued assurance of the structural integrity of the valve.