ML19330B994
| ML19330B994 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Arkansas Nuclear  |
| Issue date: | 04/07/1980 |
| From: | Seyfrit K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Cavanaugh W ARKANSAS POWER & LIGHT CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8008070390 | |
| Download: ML19330B994 (1) | |
Text
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__ SLATE April 7, 1980 Docket Nos.
50-313 50-368 Arkana== Power and Light Company ATTN:
Mr. W4114= Cavanaugh III Vice President of Generation and Construction P. O. Box 551 Little Rock, Arkansas 72203 Gentlemen:
The enclosed II Bulletin 80-08 is forwarded to you for action. A written response.is required.
If you desire. additional informeion regarding this : natter, please contact this office.
Sincerely,
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1 7. Seyfrd Director
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Enclosure:
1.
Listing of IE Bulletins Recently Issued cc:
James P. O'Hanlon,. Plant Manager Ark===== Nuclear One P. O. Box 608 Russellvilla, Arkansas "72801 l
0008070 39d j
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SSINS No.: 6820 UNITED STATES Accessions No.:
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 7912190650 0FFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT m.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
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. :n eQ IE Bulletin No. 80-08 Date: April 7, 1980 Page 1 of 2 EXAMINATION OF CONTAINMENT LINER PENETRATION WELDS Description of Circumstances:
On March 20-23, 1979, an NRC inspection at Nine Mile Point Unit 2, identified that certain nondestructive examinations performed on containment penetration welds did not satisfy the applicable ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel (B&PV)
Code requirements. The welds in question were the primary piping containment penetration flued head (integral fitting) to outer sleeve welds which form a part of the containment pressure boundary. The examinations performed included ultrasonic and surface inspections of the outer surface.
i Subsequent to the identification of this code problem at Nine Mile Point Unit 2, three welds previously found to be acceptable using ultrasonics were radio-i graphed and two revealed indications in excess of the code allowable.
The indications revealed by radiography were slag and lack-of-fusion.
Preliminary NRC review indicates that the probable reason the indications were not detected by ultrasonics was due to masking from signals received from the backing bar.
As a result of these findings, a complete re-examination program at Nine Mile Point Unit 2 was initiated, wherein 10 of 17 welds previously examined and found to be acceptable using ultrasonics were re-examined by radiography before rework and found to have indications exceeding ASME Code allowables.
Additional information concerning Beaver Valley Unit 2 and North Anna 3 and 4 has also shown cases of flued head piping penetration weld defects exceeding ASME B&PV Code acceptance criteria when radiographed.
Original approved vendor procedures at Beaver Valley Unit 2 did not require volumetric examina-tion. Radiography for information purposes disclosed the unacceptable indica-tions at North Anna 3 and 4. Specification deficiencies have also been discovered at Millstone 3 and River Bend where radiography of these welds was not required.
The ASME B&PV Code' requires radiography of the subject welds with specified exceptions.. The licensees and their architect-engineer (Stone and Webster) had specified ultrasonics as the volumetric examination method because, in their judgement, radiography was impractical for the penetration geometry.
Radiography was successfully performed at North Anna 3 and 4 prior to the identification of this problem, and at Beaver Valley 2 and Nine Mile Point 2 subsequent to NRC inspections. This experience indicates that radiography was meaningful and more practical than UT examination of these penetration welds when backing' bars are present.
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IE Bulletin No. 80-08 Date: April 7,1980 Page 2 of 2 Action to be Taken by Licensee:
For all power reactor facilities with an operating license or a construction permit:
1.
Determine if your facility contains the flued head design for penetration connections, or other designs with containment boundary butt weld (s) between the penetration sleeve and process piping as illustrated in Figure NE 1120-1, Winter 1975 Addenda to the 1974, and later editions of the ASME B&PV Code.
2.
If an affirmative answer is reached for Item 1, determine the following:
a.
Applicability of the ASME Code, including year and addenda and/or Regulatory Guide 1.19, b.
Type of nondestructive examinations performed during construction, c.
Type of weld joint (including pipe material and size) and whether or not backing bars were used, d.
Results of construction nondestructive examinations, i.e.,
if repairs were required, this should be identified including extent of repairs and description of defects encountered during repair, if known.
3.
For those facilities committed during construction to perform volumetric examination of such penetrations through SAR commitments which have not performed radiography, justify not performing radiography or submit plans and schedules for performing radiographic examinations.
Within 90 days of the date of this Bulletin, facilities with an operating license or a construction permit shall submit the information requested in Items 1, 2, and 3 of this Bulletin.
Reports shall be submitted to the Regional Director with a copy to the Director, Division of Reactor Construction Inspection, Washington, D. C.
20555.
Approved by GAO, B180225 (R0072); clearance expires 7-31-80.
Approval was given under a blanket clearance specifically for identified generic problems.
IE Bulletin No. 80-08 April 7, 1980 RECENTLY ISSUED IE BULLETINS Bulletin Subject Date Issued Issued To No.
80-04 Analysis of a PWR Main 2/8/80 All PWR reactor facilities Steam Line Break With holding Operating Licenses Continued Feedwater (OLs) and to those nearing Addition Licensing 79-01B Environmental Qualification 2/29/80 All power reactor of Class IE Equipment facilities with an Operating License (OL) 80-05 Vacuum Condition Resulting 3/10/80 All PWR power reactor In Damage To Chemical facilities holding Volume Control System Operating Licenses (OLs)
(CVCS) Holdup Tanks and to those with a Construction Permit (CP) 80-06 Engineered Safety Feature 3/13/80 All power reactor facilities (ESF) Reset Controls with an Operating License (OL)79-03A Longitudinal Weld Defects 4/4/80 All power reactor facilities In ASME SA-312 Type 304 with an Operating License Stainless Steel Pipe (OL) or Construction Permit (CP) 80-07 BWR Jet Pump Assembly 4/4/80 All GE BWR-3 and BWR-4 Failure facilities with an Operating License (OL)
Enclosure e