ML20046A752

Informs NRC That Util Will No Longer Inspect Hypalon Paint on End Caps of Primary Containment Electrical Penetration Assemblies in Each Refueling Outage

ML20046A752
Person / Time
Site:	Duane Arnold
Issue date:	07/20/1993
From:	Franz J IES UTILITIES INC., (FORMERLY IOWA ELECTRIC LIGHT
To:	Murley T NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM), Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
NG-93-2657, NUDOCS 9307300012
Download: ML20046A752 (2)

Text

EN ,

Iowa Electric Light and Power Company July 20, 1993 JOHN f . T'RANZ. JR.

n e msue mms, NG-93-2657 r s Dr. Thomas E. Murley, Director ,

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission /

Attn: Document Control Desk Mail Station Pl-137 Washington, DC 20555

Subject:

Duane Arnold Energy Center Docket No: 50-331 Op. License No: DPR-49 '

Environmental Qualification Equipment Inspections

Reference:

Letter, McGaughy (IELP) to Eisenhut (NRC), NG-83-3368, dated September 30, 1983 ,

File: A-64, A-100

Dear Dr. Murley:

As part of Iowa Electric Light and Power's (IELP) ongoing review -

of the Duane Arnold Energy Center (DAEC) Environmental Qualification (EQ) program, we have determined that certain inspections are no longer necessary. This letter is written to inform you that we will no longer inspect the Hypalon paint on ,

end caps of the primary containment electrical penetration {

assemblies each refuel outage.

Our EQ submittal (Reference) described this inspection as required to support 40 year qualification of the penetration assemblies. We have subsequently learned that qualification of the assembly is not dependent upon the Hypalon paint. The Hypalon paint was applied to cover the epoxy on the ends of the penetrations. The paint was intended to protect the epoxy and to enhance its performance as a moisture barrier. Since-the DAEC penetration assemblies were installed, later versions of the same penetration assembly without the Hypalon paint were tested and no adverse effects were identified. ,

We have reviewed the results of these tests and the differences between the penetrations installed at the DAEC and later models.

We have concluded that the results of qualification tests of later penetration models are also applicable to the penetrations at DAEC. As a result, we have concluded that, since the.Hypalon paint does not contribute to qualification of the assembly, regular inspections are no longer necessary. We will continue to monitor the penetrations when they are opened for other purposes. ) ()

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1 Dr. Thomas E. Murley NG-93-2657  :

July 20, 1993 J Page 2

. Eliminating the .iypalon paint inspections will reduce radiation.  ;

exposures of personnel. Access to the ends of the penetrations (which are inside primary containment)' requires scaffolding.

Erection of scaffolding for each penetration and the time spent opening and closing the penetrations requires that the workers  !

spend a great deal of time inside the drywell, which results in significant-radiation dose. In addition to the dose savings, ,

eliminating this inspection means that we will not be opening the .

penetrations as often, thereby minimizing the risk of damage to the conductors inside. ,

We are eliminating the inspections of Hypalon paint on the basis  !

that the paint is not required for environmental qualification of the primary containment electrical penetrations. We will thereby-  !

reduce personnel exposure and the potential for equipment damage.- {

We have revised the EQ documentation maintained onsite to reflect this change. In addition, we will continue to review the DAEC EQ  ;

program and, if other changes require NRC notification, they will. j be discussed with your staff.

I Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact this office.  ;

i Very truly yours,

/ t r

/'

ohn F. Fran. -

Vice President, Nuclear f:

JFF/SRC/pjv~ j cc: S. Catron  !

L. Liu L. Root R. Pulsifer (NRC-NRR) +

i J. Martin (Region III)

NRC Resident Office l DCRC l

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