ML20136D774

Forwards SE Authorizing Request for Relief to Use ASME Code Case N-416-1,per 10CFR50.55a(a)(3)(ii)

ML20136D774
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	03/10/1997
From:	Hebdon F NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Kingsley O TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
Shared Package
ML20136D780	List: ML20136D774 ML20136D783
References
TAC-M97804, NUDOCS 9703130010
Download: ML20136D774 (3)

Text

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION i o WASHINGTON, D.C. 20066 0001 4

9***** March 10, 1997 Mr. Oliver D. Kingsley, Jr.

President, TVA Nuclear and Chief Nuclear Officer Tennessee Valley Authority '

6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street  !

Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402-2801

SUBJECT:

RELIEF REQUEST - BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT UNIT 3 j ASME CODE CASES N-416-1, N-546, AND N-566 (TAC N0. M97804)

Dear Mr. Kingsley:

By letter dated January 22, 1997, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) submitted the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)Section XI inservice inspection (ISI) and system pressure test (SPT) programs for the second inspection interval for the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (BFN) Unit 3.

This submittal included several relief requests, including 3 for which TVA requested approval by February 1997. These three relief requests sought approval of ASME Code Cases N-416-1, N-546, and N-566, with TVA designations SPT-1, SPT-3, and SPT-4, respectively. On February 13, 1997, TVA provided additional information correcting a reference in the January 22nd submittal.

The NRC staff, as noted below, has authorized use of ASME Code Case N-416-1.

The basis for this authorization is discussed in the enclosed safety evaluation. This Code Case had been previously authorized for the prior inspection interval for BFN Unit 3. However, the staff has not authorized use of Code Cases N-546 and N-566 at this time. TVA's submittal of the relief requests on January 22, 1997 did not provide adequate time for staff review on the short schedule requested by TVA. In particular, Code Case N-566 has not been previously reviewed by the staff for BFN or other nuclear facilities.

The staff does not consider it to be appropriate to perform an expedited review of a first-of-a-kind application in the absence of a compelling reason.

Members of your staff have already been informed that review of Code Cases N-546 and N-566 will not be completed within the requested schedule. These items will be reviewed as part of the evaluation of the overall ISI and SPT programs for the second interval.

In the future, TVA is requested to ensure that its submittals are made in a timely fashion to support thorough review by the NRC staff. Ordinarily, TVA should expect at least 3 months for NRC review of relief requests of this sort. Of course, the staff will still consider expedited review schedules when circumstances warrant, such as unforeseen issues arising during refueling outages.

With regard to TVA's request for relief from ASME Code requirements for .

hydrostatic pressure testing of welded repairs or installation of replacement J items by welding, the staff finds that conformance with Code requirements

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constitutes in quality and a hardship safety. or unusual. difficulty without a compensating increase

The NRC staff has determined that TVA's proposed alternative to apply ASME Code Case N-416-1, with the additional non-destructive examinations of welds described in TVA's January 22, 1997 submittal, is therefore authorized, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(a)(3)(ii).

Use of Code Case N-416-1 is authorized ~until such time as this code case is published in a future revision of Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.147. If TVA

',. intends, at that time, to continue to implement this code case, TVA must

-follow all provisions in Code Case N-416-1 with limitations issued in RG 1.147, if any, t

Please this call Joe Williams at (301)415-1470 if you have any questions regarding topic.

Sincerely, Original signed by

/

Frederick J. Hebdon, Director Project Directorate 11-3 Division of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-296

Enclosure:

Safety Evaluation cc: See next page '

Distribution

. Docket File' PUBLIC BFN Reading SVarga JZwolinski /

T. Harris (e-mail SE TLH3)

OGC ACRS J. Johnson, RII '

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d y Mr. Oliver D. Kingsley, Jr. BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT Tennessee Valley Authority cc:

Mr. O. J. Zeringue, Sr. Vice President Regional Administrator Nuclear Operations U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Tennessee Valley Authority Region II 6A Lookout Place 101 Marietta Street, NW., Suite 2900 1101 Market Street. Atlanta, GA 30323

, Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Michael J. Morgan Mr. Mark 0. Medford, Vice President Senior Resident Inspector Engineering & Technical Services Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 1 Tennessee Valley Authority U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission

6A Lookout Place 10833 Shaw Road 1101 Market Street Athens, AL 35611 Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801

. i Chairman Mr. R. D. Machon, Site Vice President Limestone County Comission Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 310 West Washington Street Tennessee Valley Authority Athens, AL 35611

, P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 State Health Officer Alabama Department of Public Health General Counsel 434 Monroe Street Tennessee Valley Authority Montgomery, AL 36130-1701 ET 10H 400 West Sumit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Mr. Raul R. Baron, General Manager Nuclear Assurance and Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 4J Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street

. Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Eugene Preston, Plant Manager Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Pedro Salas, Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Tennessee Valley Authority 4J Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Timothy E. Abney, Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609