ML20004D996

Responds to Re Allegations of Cracks in Control Rod Drive Housing to Stub Tube Welds.Extensive Study Proved That Recorded Ultrasonic Reflectors Not Result of Discontinuities in Deposited Weld Matl or Base Metal

ML20004D996
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	01/08/1981
From:	Curtis N PENNSYLVANIA POWER & LIGHT CO.
To:	Robert Carlson NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
Shared Package
ML20004D995	List: ML20004D994 ML20004D996
References
PLA-607, NUDOCS 8106100468
Download: ML20004D996 (3)

Text

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TWO NORTH NINTH STREET, ALLENToWN, PA,18101 PHONE: (215) 770 5 8 51

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NORMAN W. CURTi$

Vice Presscent Engmeenng & ConstructWNuclear trSsset January 8, 1981 Mr. Robert T. Carlson Chief RC & ES Branch U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 631 Park Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19406 SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION PP&L INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGATION CONCERNING CRD HOUSING TO STUB TUBE WELDS

'ERs 100450/100508 FILE 840-4 PLA-607

Dear Mr. Carlson:

Reference is to your letter of April 16, 1980, wherein you brought to PP&L's attention the fact that your office had received an allegation regarding the CRD housing to stub tube welds at Susquehanna, Unit 1.

You further stated that your examinations of raw U.T. data indicated that there were crack-like indications within the body of certain of these welds.

While your letter does not request a formal reply, it appears most appropriate to provide, for the record, the results of the investiga-tion which was conducted by PP&L and to respond briefly to the three questions raised in regard to the process applied in the initial eval-uation of the raw U.T. data and welds.

Your questions and our answers are as follows:

Q.1. Was an engineering evaluation of these U.T. indications performed before these welds were accepted? - If not, why?

A.l. No.

The inspecting organization did not conclude that there was a need for a special engineering evaluation of the raw data because specification and procedural requirements had been met.

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r Mr. Robert T. Carlson January 8, 1981 Q.2.

Do the -construction QA/QC program and practices at the Susquehanna

- site require conditions possibly adverse to quality such as the -

above to be subjected to prompt identification, evaluation by the

. proper personnel (engineering) and correction as needed?

If not, why?

'A.2.

Both, the Bechtel Power Corporation and its subcontractor, G.E. I&SE, for the work involved, have approved quality assurance programs which require such action, when deemed necessary.

Q.3.

We request that an engineering evaluation of these indications be made and the results be made available to us.

If this evaluation results in the decision to accept the welds as is, what is the basis for the acceptance?

If not accepted as is, what further repair actions and/or evaluation (s) are planned?

A.3.

The NSSS, specifying organization, was requested to evaluate the adequacy of specification and procedural requirements associated with the referenced welds and they have reaffirmed their accept-ability for the application.

While these answers are direct responses to your questions, they do not reflect PP&L's extensive investigation of your concerns and its examina-tion of the accrued information relative to the welds being questioned.

Further, the independent investigation described in the attached report represents an extra level of assurance which was applied to evaluate the adequacy of the initial inspection techniques which were applied by G.E. I&SE in confirming the acceptability of the end product.

PP&L is satisfied that its objectives have been successfully achieved in establishing that the ultrasonic reflectors which G.E. I&SE recorded in the raw U.T. data for the welds in question are not the result of discontinuities in the deposited weld material or base metal. PP&L trusts that, upon reading the attached report, the Commission will arrive at the same conclusion.

Because of the limited number of copies of the report and the photographs therein, only two copies have been provided to your office. We anticipate that your office will make whatever other distribution is necessary within the NRC.

Very truly yours,

()

N. W. Curtis Vice President-Engineering & Construction-Nuclear ARS:sab

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t 3-January 8, 1981

- Mr. Robert T. Carlson f

Attachment cc:

Mr. Robert M. Gallo U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P. O. Box 52-

-Shickshinny, PA-18625_

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