ML20198R983

Forwards SE Authorizing Licensee Request for Approval of Alternative to Exam Requirement of Reactor Vessel Shell Weld,Per Provisions of 10CFR50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(A)(5)

ML20198R983
Person / Time
Site:	Catawba
Issue date:	10/30/1997
From:	Berkow H NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Gordon Peterson DUKE POWER CO.
Shared Package
ML20198R987	List: ML20198R983 ML20198R995
References
TAC-M98040, TAC-M98041, NUDOCS 9711130413
Download: ML20198R983 (4)

Text

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.V Mr. Gary R. P;t:rson

. Sit)Vice Pr:sident October 30, 1997 y

Citawba Nucle:r Station Duke Energy Corporation 4800 Concord Road York, South Carolina 29745-9635

SUBJECT:

CATAWBA NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - EVALUATION OF THE AUGMENTED EXAMINATION OF REACTOR VESSELS (TAC NOS. M98040 AND M98041)

By letter dated February 18,1997, Duke Energy Corporation (DEC) requested the NRC staff to approve an alternative to the examination requirement of reactor vessel shell weld, pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(A)(5) for Catawba Units 1 and 2. The staff requested additional information by a letter dated April 17,1997, to which DEC responded by letter dated September 2,1997.

The staff has reviewed your submittals and concludes that DEC is unable to completely satisfy the augmented examination requirements due to hardship or unusual difficulty. DEC has maximized examination coverage for the Catawba reactor vessel welds and service-induced degradation, if present, would have been detected. You proposed an attemative in Requests for Relief No. 97-01 and 97-02 that provides an acceptable level of quality and safety.

Therefore, compliance with the Code will result in hardship without a compensating increase in the level of quality and safety and the proposed alternative is authorized pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(A)(5) and (a)(3)(ii) for Catawba Units 1 and 2, during the second 10-year interval. The staff's evaluation of your proposed alternative is provided in the enclosed Safety Evaluation.

Sincerely, Original signed by-Herbert N. Berkow, Director Project Directorate 11-2 Division of Reactor Projects - l/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos 50-413 and 50-414

Enclosure:

Safety Evaluation

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UNITED STATES j

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION t

WASHINGTON, D.C. ma' *1 i

October 30, 1997 l

Mr. Gary R. Peterson Site Vice President Catawba Nuclear Station Duke Energy Corporation l

4800 Concord Road i

York, South Carolina 29746 9635

SUBJECT:

CATAWBA NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - EVALUATION OF THE AUGMENTED EXAMINATION OF REACTOR VESSELS (TAC NOS. M98040 AND M98041)

By letter dated February 18,1997, Duke Energy Corporation (DEC) requested the NRC staff to approve an attemative to the examination requirement of reactor vessel shell weld, pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(A)(5) for Catawba Units 1 and 2. The staff requested 1

additional Information by a letter dated April 17,1997, to which DEC responded by letter dated September 2,1997.

The staff has reviewed your submittals and concludes that DEC is unable to completely satisfy the augmented examination requirements due to hardship or unusual difficulty. DEC has i

maximized examination coverage for the Catawba reactor vessel welds and service-induced degradation, if present, would have been detected. You proposed an altemative in Requests for Relief No. 97-01 and 97-02 that provides an acceptable level of quality and safety.

Therefore, compliance with the Code will result u. hardship without a compensating increase in the level of quality and safety and the proposed attemative is authorized pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(A)(5) and (a)(3)(ii) for Catawba Units 1 and 2, during the second 10-year interval. The staff's evaluttion of your proposed attemative is provided in the enclosed Safety Evaluation.

1 Si i

O b~-

He rt N. Berko, Director Project Directorate 11-2 Division of Reactor Projects -l/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-413 and 50-414 2

Enclosure:

Safety Evaluation cc w/ encl: See next page l

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Catawba Nuclear Station-North Carolina Electric Membership i

cc:

Corporation -

Mr. M. S. KM!an P. O. Box 27306 Regulatory Compliance Manager Raleigh, North Carolina 27611 Duke Energy Corporation 4800 Concord Road Senior Resident inspector-j York. South Carolina 29745 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

~ 4830 Concord Road

~ Mr. Paul R. Newton York, South Carolina 29745

- Legal Department (PB05E)

Duke Energy Corporation Regional Administrator, Region ll -

i-422 South Church Street-U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission jl -

Charlotto, North Carolina 28242 -

Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Suite 23T85-1-

J. Michael McGarry, Ill, Esquire Atlanta, Georgia - 30303 i

Winston and Strawn 1400 L Street, NW Max Batavia, Chief Washington, DC 20005

- Bureau of Radiological Health _.

South Carolina Department of North Carolina Municipal Power Health and Environmental Control Agency Number 1 2600 Bull Street 1427 Meadowwood Boulevard Columbia, South Carolina 29201 -

L P. O. Box 29513 Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-Mr. G. A. Copp Licensing - EC050

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Mr. Peter R. Harden, IV Duke Energy Corporation i

Account Sales Manager 526 South Church Street l

Westinghouse Electric Corporation Charlotte, North Carolina 28242-0001 Power Systems Field Sales -

P.- O. Box 7288 Saluda River Electric Charlotte, North Carolina 28241 P. O. Box 929 -

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Laurens, South Carolina 29360-p County Manager of York County-York County Courthouse Ms. Karen E. Long York, South Carolina 29745 Assistant Attorney General North Carolina Department of Justice Richard P. Wilson, Esquire P. O. Box 629 -

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- Assistant Attorney General Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 South Carolina Attorney General's

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' Office Elaine Wathen, Lead REP Planner P. O. Box 11549 Division of Emergency Management Columbia, South Carolina 29211 116 West Jones Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 1335 Piedmont Municipal Power Agency 121 Village Drive Greer, South Carolina 29651

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Catawba Nuclear Station

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Mr. T. Richard Puryear Owners Group (NCEMC)

Duke Energy Corporation 4800 Concord Road York, South Carolina 29745 Richard M. Fry, Director Division of Radiation Protection North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources 3825 Barrett Drive Raleigh,' North Carolina 27609 7721

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