ML20062E162

Board Notification 82-70:notifies of Differing Prof Opinion Re Sensitization of BWR Stainless Steel Weldments

ML20062E162
Person / Time
Site:	Fermi, 05000000, Zimmer, Shoreham, Allens Creek, Skagit
Issue date:	07/20/1982
From:	Tedesco R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel
References
TASK-AS, TASK-BN-82-70 BN--82-70, BN-82-70, NUDOCS 8208060368
Download: ML20062E162 (4)

Text

4.

4 July 20,1982 l

Docket Nos.: 50-322 l

50- 341 50-358  ;

50-466 50-522/523 l MEMORANDUM FOR: The Atomic Safety & Licensing Boards for:

Shoreham Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1 Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit 2 William H. Zimer Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1 Allens Creek Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1 Skagit/Hanford Project, Units 1 and 2 FROM: R. L.=Tedesco, Assistant Director for Licensing, DL

SUBJECT:

BOARD NOTIFICATION - DIFFERING PROFESSIONAL OPINION RELATED TO SENSITIZATION OF BWR STAINLESS STEEL WELDMENTS (B0ARD NOTIFICATION 82- 70)

In accordance with present NRC pmcedures regarding Board notifications, the enclosed infomation is being provided for your information as constituting new information relevant and material to safety issues.

This infomation is generic and has applicability to all dockets with boiling water reactors.

The staff is currently in the process of trying to satisfactorily resolve a differing professional opinion (DPO) that relates to the adequacy of welding procedures used during fabrication of BWR reactor vessel internals.

Specifically, General Electric (and/or their subcontractors) have used welding procedures that permitted heat input levels that could cause sterilization of heat affected zones of type 304 stainless steel. The term " sensitization" is used here to mean that the welded joint would not pass specified ASTM tests, and therefore, would not be in conformance with specific regulatory positions of Regulatory Guide 1.44.

The intent and purpose of Reg. Guide 1.44 is to ensure that the probability of deleterious intergranular stress corrosion cracking is low. Because sensitization is one of the three factors (high stress, corrosive environment, and sensitization) that must all be present to cause intergranular stress corrosion cracking, it is clearly desirable to use welding procedures and

Contact:

J. Kerrigan, ONRR X29788 orrn 8208060368 820720 - - - " - - - a aa a a- - - ~~a. ~- a a - a a- ~

PDR ADOCk 05000322 "a -

sunun A PDR , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , _ , , , , , , , , ,

a a. ...........a ..."..a.aaan..~ .a .. a . a . a a a ** * . e aa a * .a = a " * * * *

• a a "* "*a

• aaa a*

DATE ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

enc ronu ais co-eomacu oua OFFICIAL RECORD COPY uso - - m-em

~

July 20,1982

/

other process controls to prevent it. Nevertheless, the staff also believes that even with stringent process specifications, sensitization may not be precluded. Therefore, in addition to evaluating the possibility of sensitization, the staff also considers the probable level of the other two necessary factors for cracking-stress level and environment corrusiveness. While the aggressiveness of BWR water chemistry on sensi-tized austenitic stainless steel is still the subject of NRC study, the staff's past position has been that both of these factors are relatively low at the heat affected areas of welds in BWR internals. Given the limitations of inservice inspection presently invoked for reactor internals, it is not possible to preclude the existence of cracking; however, the staff's judgment at this time is that the probability of cracking of reactor internals leading to a significant failure is low. The one possible exception to this is the recent cracking found in core spray spargers and related internal piping. Cracks have been found in Oyster Craek, Peach Bottom 1, Brunswick 1, and possibly in Pilgrim 1. The staff has determined that the cracking in the affected components does not constitute a serious safety concern.

It is the belief of the part;y offering this DP0 that a review of welding procedures currently used in BWR fabrication and inservice inspection procedures used at currently operating plants, would demonstrate th t need for specific inservice inspection of vessel internals. It is also this person's belief that it is not an issue involving an imediate safety concern, but one which needs resolution to assure long-term integrity of sensitized BWR components.

Attached are internal NRC memoranda which discuss the subject DPO. We will continue to actively pursue this matter and notify you of final resolution.

Original signed by Robert L Tedesao Robert L. Tedesco, Assistant Director for Licensing Division of Licensing Attachments:

DISTRIBUTION As stated See attached cc: Board Service List i

L:L D OFFICE > l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " . . "

• suRn- > .. W{.. . . . ... . P1,, ,,,, s,c,0,, ,

om> . 16@2........ ..o..y.ma2... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . _ . . . _ . _ _ _ _

NRC FORM 318 (10-80) NRCM C240 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY usom insi-mom

DIS FIBUTIO!; 0F BOARD I;0TIFICAT10ti Al k ns Creek Unit 1/ALAB Fermi 2/ASLB Zirrer Unit 1/ALAB Dociet tio. 50-456 Docket tio. 50-341 Docket t;o. 50-358 Dr. John H. Buck Gary L. Milhollin, Esq. John H. Frye III, Esq.

Dr. E. Leonard Cheatum Dr. Peter A. Morris Dr. Frant F. Hooper Christine ti. Echl, Esq. Dr. David R. Schink Dr. M. Stanley Livingston Mr. Gustave A. Linenbercer Dr. Lawrence R. Quarles Alan S. Eosenthal, Esq. Mr. Davic E. Howell Sheldon J. Wolfe, Esq. Peter A. t'e rquardt, Esq. Lynne Eernabei, Esq.

Ha rry Voigt, Esq. Brian Cassidy, Esq.

Bryan L. Baker Troy B. Conner, Esq.

Ms. t'a rgaret Bishop Andrew B. Dennison, Esq.

Ms. Carolina Conn Stagit/Hanford Units 1&2/COMM Lawrence R. Fisse, Esq. "

J. Gregory Copeland, Esq. ~ Docket tio. STri 50-522/523 W. Peter Heile, Esq.

Sicphen A. Doggett, Esc. David Martin, Esq.

Mr. John F. Dcherty Dr. John H. Buck William J. Moran, Esq.

Ms. Robin Griffith Mr. Samuel J. Chilk Mr. Samuel H. Porter Carro Hinderstein Dr. Frank F. Hooper Deborah Webb, Esq.

Ms. Resemary ti. Lemmer Mr. Gustave A. Linenberger John D. Woliver, Esq.

D. Marrack Alan S. Rosenthal, Esq.

Ms. Erenda A. McCorkle John F. Wolf, Esq. Atomic Safety and Litcnsing Hon. John R. Milesta Board Panel Jack !;ewman, Esq. Richard D. Bach, Esq. Atomic Safety and Licensing Mr. William Perrenod Ralph Cavanagh, Esq. Appeal Panel Susan Flettman, Esq. Coalition for Safe Power Docketing and Service Section Pegion IV, 1&E James W. Durham, Esq. Document Management Eranch Mr. W&yne Rentfro Warren Hastings, Esq.

Mr. William J. Schuessler James B. Hovis, Esq.

James Scott, Jr. , Esq. Mr. t;icholas D. Lewis Hon. Jerry Sliva Robert Lowenstein, Esq.

Mr. Lloyd K. Marbet Frank W. Ostrander, Jr. , Esq. ACRS Mobers Shoreham 1/ASLB Kevin M. Ryan, Esq. ~

Docket !;cs. 50-322 OL Mr. Terence L. Thatcher Dr. Ecbert C. Axt cnn F. Thecdore Thomsen, Esq. Mr. Mye.r Eender Lawrence Brenner, Esq. Mr. Timothy Wapato Dr. Jc.mes L. Carpenter Dr. Max W. Ca rbon Er Feter A. Morris Mr. Jesse C. Ebersoin Mr. Harold Etherind n Ed. erd M. Barrett, Esq. Dr. Williar Kerr Howard L. Blau, Esc. Dr. Harold W. lcais Herbert H. Brown, Esq. Dr. J. Carson Mark Hen. Feter Cohalan Mr. William M. Mathis Mr. Jay Dunklebercer Dr. Dade W. Mceller David H. Giinartin, Esq. Dr. David Cirent Mr. Marc W. Goldsmith Dr. Milton S. Fit e r.et Mr. Jeremiah J. T,a v Matthew J. Kelly, Esq.

Stephen B. lathan. Esq. Dr. Faul G. Ste. d n b'n Technical Associetes Dr. Chester P. Siess Mr. Erian McCaffrey Mr. Da vid A. L'a rd W. kylcr Eeseley 111, Esc.

Palph Shapire, Esq.

Mr. Jeff S.:ith

I

.1 t

fi-* ,

^ " '

Board Notification

1. 82- 70 Shoreham Unit 1 Fermi-2 Zimmer Unit 1 Allens Creek Unit 1 Skagit/Hanford Units 1 & 2 DIFFERING PROFESSIONAL OPINION RELATED TO SENSITIZATION OF BWR STAINLESS STEEL WELDMENTS Distribution (*w/ enclosures) 55s_ Document Control (50-322, 50-341, 50-348, 50-466, 50-522/523)

NRG VUK L PDR PRC System NSIC Branch Reading (LB#1, LB#2, LB#4)

J. Youngblood L. Kintner*

W. Kane

• M. Rushbrook*

A. Schwencer R. Gilbert

• E. Hylton

• E. Adensam C. Moon

• R. Tedesco/J. Kerrigan D. Eisenhut/R. Purple H. Denton/E. Case

• PPAS R. Vollmer H. Thompson R. Mattson S. Hanauer Attorneys , OELD

• I&E Regional Administrator (Region- I, III, IV)

W. Dircks, ED0 (3)

A. Bennett, OELD (3)

E. Christenbury, OELD

• J. Scinto, OELD

• M. Duncan *

. - . .