ML20055E650
| ML20055E650 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Waterford, Maine Yankee |
| Issue date: | 07/09/1990 |
| From: | Wigginton D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Barkhurst R ENTERGY OPERATIONS, INC. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9007120184 | |
| Download: ML20055E650 (4) | |
Text
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- et f y[h ' - h UNITED STATES -
j j' g, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l
in O E WASHINGTON, D. C. 206$5 s
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- July 9,1990 l.
...e DocketNo.50-3Bb
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Mr. Ross P. Barkhurst I
Vice President, Nuclear Entergy Operations, Inc.
1 Post Office Box B K111ona, Louisiana 70066
Dear Mr. Barkhurst:
SUBJECT:
GENERIC IMPLICATIONS ANDfRESOLUTION.0F CEA FAILURE AT MAINE YANKEE' O
On June 7,1990, while conducting cold functional testing of the control element-assemblies (CEAs) following-the cycle 12 refueling outage at Maine
. Yankee, one CEA could not be fully inserted.in. the' core. Subsequent ' inspection of the CEA revealed that the end cap was missing from the center CEA finger, the lower stainless steel spacer = and boron carbide pellets had fallen'out of the center finger and an axial crack existed at the-lower end. The upper-stainless steel spacer was cocked in the bottom of-the CEA finger and.was causing the center CEA finger.to bind against:the guide tube. The.CEA.could.
not be fully inserted.in the core during cold functional. testing due to interference from boron carbide pellets that had fallen into the center CEA-guide. tube.
On June 25, 1990, the NRC staff; mat with the Combustion Engineering Regulatory Response Group (CERRG) to discuss the generic implications and aroposed resolution of the CEA failure that occurred.at Maine Yankee.. Tie CERRG--
concluded that the CEA failure was most likely' due to irradiation assisted stress'corrosioncracking(IASCC). The CERRG also concluded that the failure mechanism was only ap)11 cable to the= older Combustion-Engineering-(CE) CEA design which did not lave an absorber plug (other than boron carbide pellets) at tha bottom of the center CEA' finger..'In order to resolve:thisLissue, the a
CERRG proposed specific Action Programs for each affected licensee. The CERRG submitted its report to the NRC addressing this issue by letter dated June 26, 1990.
It 2 a e understanding that Waterford 3; currently does not' have any of the old rt de CEAs installed in the reactor core and that you do not plan to use an" old style CEAs in the future. Therefore, this problem is not app. die to Waterford 3 and no specific' actions are required.
Please contact us if our understanding regarding this' matter is not correct.
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- Mr. Ross P. Barkhurst.-
The< reporting and/or recordkeeping requirements contained in'this letter affect
, fewer than ten respondents; therefore,-0MB clearance is not required under Pub. L.96-511.
Sincerely,
'I Q
/ 4 David L. Wigginton, Project Manager Project Directorate IV-1 Division of Reactor Projects-- III, IV, Y and Special Projects t
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation ec:- See next page i
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-Mr..Ross P. Barkhurst-Waterford 3 Entergy Operations, Inc.
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CC:
W. Malcolm'Stevenson, Esq.
' Regional Administrator, Region'IkF 1
Monroe & Leman U.S. Nuclear-Regulatory Commission 201 St. Charles Avenue,. Suite 3300 Office of Executive Director for' New Orleans, Louisiana 70170-3300.
. Operations
]
611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite.1000 L
-Mr. E. Blake.
Arling?.on, Texas 176011
-Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge.
i
^ 2300 N Street, NW.
Mr. William.H. Spell, Administrator EW6shington, D.C.
20037 Nuclear Energy Division i
j Department of Environmental Quality Resident Inspector /Waterford NPS
' Post Office Box 14690 Post Office Box 822-~
Baton'Rotge, Louisiana 70898 i
Killona, Louisiana 70066 W
President,-Parish Council Mr. Gerald W 'Muench St. Charles Parish-Vice President, Operations Hahnville,-Louisiana 70057 Support L
Entergy Operations, Inc.
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Mr. Donald C. Hintz-P. 0.-Box 31995 i
Executive Vice President and Jackson, Mississippi 39286 Chief Operating Officer Entergy Operations, Inc.
William A. Cross P. 0.-Box 31995 Bethesda~ Licensing Office Jackson, Mississippi 39286 3 Metro Center l
Suite 610 Chairman Bethesda, Maryland 20814
(
Louisiana Public Service Commission i
One American Place, Suite 1630 Mr. Rober. B. McGehee-Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70825-1697 Wise, Barter, Child.& Caraway
.P. O. Box 651 Mr. R. F. Burski Jackson, Mississippi.39205' Nuclear Safety & Regulatory Affairs Entergy Operations, Inc.
Mr. J. R. McGaha, Jr.
317 Baronne Street Plant Manager.
i New Orleans, Louisiana. 70112 Entergy Operations, Inc.
P. O. Box B Hr. L. W. Laughlin, Site Licensing K111ona,. Louisiana' 70066 Support Supervisor-Entergy Operations,-Inc.
Mr. Jerrold G. Dewease P. O. Box B Sr. Vice: President-Killona, Louisiana 70066 Planning & AssuranceL Entergy Operations, Inc.
Post'Ofice Box 31995 Jackson, Mississippi 39286-1995 i
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f-1 Mr. ' Ross P. Barkhurst-L
.l The reporting and/or recordkeeping requirements contained in this. letter af'ect i
fewer.than ten respondents; therefore, OMB_clearanceLis not required under-Pub. L.96-511.
' Sincerely,:
i
. Original signa ($
L David L. Wigginton, Project' Manager' Project Directorate IV-1~
Division of Reactor Projects. III, IV, Y and.Special Projects Office of. Nuclear Reactor Regulation i
cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION
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0FFICIAL RECORD COPY Document Name:.AN02 LTR 7/5/90 I
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