ML20003D754
| ML20003D754 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 03/26/1981 |
| From: | Oprea G HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO. |
| To: | Seyfrit K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| References | |
| 10CFR-050.55E, 10CFR-50.55E, ST-HL-AE-643, NUDOCS 8103310468 | |
| Download: ML20003D754 (5) | |
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The Light Company n-,n ueim.n, er m a.,x i m u...rexa, mimn,m.mn March 26,1981 ST-HL-AE-643 SFN: V-0530
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Mr. Karl Seyfrit 29
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Nuclear Regulatory Commission
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Arlington, Texas 76012
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Dear Mr. Seyfrit:
South Texas Project Units 1&2 Docket Nos. STN 50-498, STN 50-499 Final Report Concerning Linear Indications in Previously Accepted Welds On June 25, 1980, pursuant to 10CFR50.55(e), Houston Lighting &
Power Company notified your office of an item concerning results of reeval-uations of piping welds previously found acceptable by nondestructive examination. Our final report is attached.
The report is considered final because the original problems identified in June,1980 were associated with specific welds. These welds have been repaired or replaced as necessary.
As you are aware, an extensive reexamination and repair program for ASME welding is underway at STP.
The corrective actions'and recurrence control provided by this generic program (as described in the attachment) encompassed the corrective actice s for this more specific item.
If there are any questions concerning this item, please contact Mr.
Michael E. Powell at (713) 676-8592.
V,ery truly yours,
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g g7 v-G. W. Oprea, Jr.
P Executive Vice President J
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Attac hment 8103310 M 3
A Ilouston Lighting & Power Compan}
March 26'643 1981 ST-HL-AE cc:
J. H. Goldberg D. G. Barker SFN: V-0530 C. G. Robertson Page 2 How rd Pyle R. L. Walorop H. R. Dean D. R. Beeth J. D. Parsons L. K. English J. W. Briskin R. A. Frazar STP RMS H. S. Phillips (NRC)
J. O. Read (Read-Poland,Inc.)
M. D. Schwarz (Baker & Botts)
R. Gordon Gooch (Baker & Botts)
J. R. Newman (Lowenstein, Newman, Reis, & Axelrac)
Director, Office of Inspection & Enforcement Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington, D. C. 20555 M. L. Borchelt Charles Bechhoefer, Esquire President Chairman, Atomic Safety & Licensing Board Central Power & Light Company V. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P. O. Box 2121 Washington, D. C.
20555 Corpus Christi, Texas 78403 R. L. Range Dr. James C. Lamb, III Central Power & Light 313 Woodhaven Road P. O. Box 2121 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514 Corpus Christi, Texas 78403 I
R. L. Hancock Mr. Ernest E. Hill Director of Electrical Utilities Lawrence Livermore Laboratory City of Austin University of California P. O. Box 1088 P. O. Box 808, L-123 Austin, Texas 78767 Livermore, California 194550 T. H. Muehlenbeck Citizens for Equitable Utilities, Inc.
City of Austin c/o Ms. Peggy Buchorn P. O. Box 1088 Route 1. Box 1684 Austin, Texas 78767 Brazoria, Texas 77422 J. B. Poston Pat Coy Assistant General Manager of Operations Citizens Concerned About Nuclear Power City Public Service Board 5106 Casa Oro P. O. Box 1771 San Antonio, Texas 78233 San Antonio, Texar, 78296 A. vonRosenberg Lanny Sinkin City Public Service Board 2207-D, Nueces P. O. Box 1771 Austin, Texas 78705 San Antonio, Texas 78296 Brian E. Berwick, Esquire Bernard M. Bordenick, Esquire Assistant Attorney for the State of Texas Hearing Attorney P. O. Box 12548 Office of the Executive Legal Director Capitol Station U. S. Nuclear. Regulatory Comission Austin, Texas 78711 Washington, D. C.
20555
4 FINAL REPORT CONCERNING LINEAR INDICATIONS IN PREVIOUSLY ACCEPTED WELOS MARCH 26, 1981 I.
SUMMARY
OF INCIDENT On June 25, 1980, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55(e), Houston Lighting &
Power Company notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of an iten involving pipe welds previously found acceptable by NDE performed and documented by Brown & Root Quality Control.
During liquid penetrant (PT) reexamination, linear indications in welds and base retals were discovered.
All accessible ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code Section III welds will be reexamined. All rejectable indications discovered during the reexamination will be repaired.
An engineering evaluation will be pe-formed of all inaccessible welds.
!!. DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT In response to NRC Order to Show Cause Item 3(a), Houston Lighting
& Power reexamined ninety-three (93) ASME Section III pipe welds out of a population of four hundred (400) by visual and liquid penetrant (VT and PT) methods. Of the fifty (50) groove welds reexamined, one (1) one-eighth inch (1/8") long linear base metal indication was discovered. Of the forty-three (43) socket welds examined, twelve (12) were found to contain linear indications.
In six (6) of these welds, the linear indication was in the base metal - not the weld.
Reexaminations were performed by South Texas Project Brown & Root QC personnel qualified to Level II in the applicable visual and liquid penetrant (VT and PT) methods.
The reexaminations performed were witnessed by an inspector certjfied to Level III in the visual and penetrant methods.
III. CORRECTIVE ACTION In accordance with previous commitments made with raspect to Houston Lighting & Power's response to Show Cause Item 3(a) a reev c.ination and repair program has been implemented whereby all safety related welding is being reexamined in accordance with the applicable NDE procedures.
All accessible ASME Section III field welds which do not comply with the acceptance criteria specified in the applicable procedure will be repaired or replaced.
The repairs in turn will be reexamined using the same method used to detect the initial unacceptable condition.
An engineering evaluation of inaccessible ASME Section III welds will be performed.
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4 IV. RECURRENCE CONTROL In order to prevent a recurrence, NDE inspectors who perform surface weld examination are being retrained and recertified consistent with the Society of Nondestructive Testing requirements.
In addition a Level III NDE will survey the liquid penetrant examinations performed by Level II inspectors.
In addition the following actions have also been taken in order to strengthen the South Texas Project welding program.
1.
In response to NRC "Show Cause" a special Task Force has reviewed the programs for the welding of safety-related piping and structural steel.
2.
The project welding engineering staff has been upgraded by the addition of experienced welding engineers and welding technicians.
3.
Welding supervision on the project has been upgraded by the addition of experienced welding supervisory personnel by hiring and transfers from other projects. A welding group has been established in the construction organiza; ion and is responsible for supervising all construction welding activities.
1.
The welder training programs have been reviewed and upgraded.
5.
The welding procedures used in construction were reviewed to ascertain conformance to the code of record.
6.
Construction procedures related to welding activities have been reviewed and revised. Welding requirements are clearer and more concise.
7.
All Materials Engineering Construction Procedures (MECP's) were revised to incorporate non-destructive examination (NDE) requirements during the "in-process" welding stage in addition to the mandatory code requirc'd NDE.
8.
Procedures for controlling welding materials have been reveiwed and revised. Specific requirements are clearer and more concise. Specific responsibilities for controlling welding materials have been assigned.
9.
The procedure for tracking weld repair rates on a continuous basis has been revised. The requirements are clearer and more concise.
10.
Tne procedure for tracking and evaluating welder proficiency on a continuous basis has been revised.
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V.
SAFETY' ANALYSIS A safety analysis was not performed rince Houston Lighting & Power has comitted to reexamine and repair or replace all accessible ASME Section 111 field welds which do not comply with established project acceptance criteria.
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