ML20137B270

Submits Results of Visual Insp of Core Spray Spargers, Associated Piping & Installed Clamping Device,Per IE Bulletin 80-13 & NRC .Approval for Continued Facility Operation Requested

ML20137B270
Person / Time
Site:	Hatch
Issue date:	01/06/1986
From:	Gucwa L GEORGIA POWER CO.
To:	Muller D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
236-C, 236C, IEB-80-13, SL-178, TAC-56540, TAC-60943, TAC-60947, NUDOCS 8601150224
Download: ML20137B270 (2)

Text

., ,,. Georg'a Power Ccmpany 333 Piedrnont Avenue

- Atlanta, Georgia 30306 Telephone 404 526 6526 Mailing Addrest Post Off1ce Box 4545 Atlanta, Georg:a 30302 R Georgia Poker L T. Gucwa  % zwrm e-4ctnc syw Manager Nuclear Eng.neering and Chmt Nuclear Engineer SL-178 0236C Jaruary 6,1986 Director of Maclear Reactor Reg 11ation Attention: Mr. D. Miller, Project Director BWR Project Directorate No. 2 Division of Boiling Water Reactor Licensing U. S. N1 clear Reg 11atory (bmission Washington, D. C. 20555 NRC DOGETS 50-321 C

OPERATING LICENSES DPR-57 EDWIN I. HA'IG NUCLEAR PLANT UNIT 1 CDRE SPRAY SPARGER INSPECTION RESUL'IS Gentlemen:

Riralant to the recalirements of I & E ailletin 80-13, " Cracking in Core Spray Spargers", and the NRC letter to Georgia Ibwer Company (GPC) dated February 14, 1985 regarding the same albject for Plant Hatch Unit 1,

.GPC herein albmits the reallts of a vialal inspection of the core spray spargers, associated piping, and installed clanping device and regnests NRC approval for a return to plant operation.

During the fall 1984 refueling outage, a vianal inspection performed in accordance with I & E Bulletin 80-13 revealed the presence of a crack on the lower sparger arm. Our report of this finding was albmitted, along with ' justification for contimed operation with the repaired sparger, by our letter NED-84-597, dated December 6,1984. On February 14, 1985, the NRC isaled a safety evaluation of the cracking and repair and althorized contimed plant operation of one fuel cycle of 18 months. 'Ihat safety evaluation noted that contimed operation with the repaired core spray sparger beyond one fuel cycle would depend upon the reallts of the inspection performed daring the current refueling cutage and the contimed effectiveness of the applied clamping device.

Accordingly, and paralant to I & E ailletin 80-13, a viatal inspection was performed claring the current refueling outage on the Plant Hatch Unit 1 core spray spargers (other than that area covered by the clamping device), associated piping, and the installed clanping device. Using i

D601150224 860106 N PDR ADOCM 05000321 0 PDR ,, 1 0

Georgia Power 1 Attention: Mr. D. Maller, Project Director BWR Project Directorate No. 2 Director of N2 clear Reactor Regulation Jamary 6,1986 Page 'IVo remte underwater television cametas with the reoaired viewing in situ of 0.001 inch diameter fine wires, no cracking of the core spray sparger or in-vessel piping was observed. Rirther, examination with the same camera eclipment revealed no evidence of significant degradation of the clamping device.

General Electric Company report, NEDO-30825, " Core Spray Sparger Crack Analysis for Edwin I. Hatch N1 clear Ibwer Station Unit 1" submitted with our December 6, 1984 letter, provides justification for contimed safe operation with the crack. That analysis concludes that even if a 3600 cirolmferential through-wall crack is postulated, the sparger would remain intact; no safety concern would be created by loose parts; and the ccoling function of the core spray system would not be significantly degraded. It was, therefore, concluded that the analysis is applicable to and conservative for any subsealent reload (pg.4-5/4-6 of NEDO-30825) .

Based upon the satisfactory inspection results, the apparent good condition of the clamping device, and the analytical justification for contirued operation for albsealent reloads, GPC realests that the positive findings of your February 14, 1985, safety evaluation be re-issued in an updated safety evaluation and approval for contirued operation be granted. 'Ihe expected restart date from the current outage is April 1, 1986. 'Iherefore, your mst prompt attention to this matter is req 3ested.

'Ib avoid this demanding schedlle of seq 2ential inspection, reporting, and approval in future outages, we suggest that the approval for contimed operation be worded such that if future inspections reveal no evidence of further cracking or significant degradation of the clamping device, continued operation is authorized without additional correspondence. In the event that new cracking or evidence that the clamp could not perform its intended function was foand, NRC Region II would be informed within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> as regiired by the tulletin, and the acceptability of plant operation could then be evaluated.

If you have any olestions in this regard, please contact this office, sincerely yours, o

L. T. G1 cwa WEBurns/lc c: Mr. J. T. Beckham, Jr.

Mr. H. C. Nix, Jr.

Dr. J. N. Grace (NRC-Region II)

Senior Resident Inspector (D-NORMS 700775