ML20207E813

Responds to Re Concern for Core Shroud Insp Plan for Plant,Unit 1.Insp Results Cannot Be Made Available Before Plant Restarts

ML20207E813
Person / Time
Site:	Nine Mile Point
Issue date:	05/28/1999
From:	Hood D NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Mary Spencer AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
NUDOCS 9906070160
Download: ML20207E813 (5)

Text

7 t Ms. Mary Spencer '

May 28, 1999 k4 C L 8281 Oswego Road -

Livirpool, NY: 13090-1541 i

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Dear Ms.' Spencer:

< , in a letter to me, postmarked April 21,1999, you expressed concern for the core shroud

' inspection plan at Nine Mile Plant Nuclear Station, Unit No.1. You requested that "Before the

' reactor is restarted, please include the areas outside the core shroud welds in Niagara ,

Mohawk's inspection plan, and please disclose the results of the core shroud inspection to the

. public at least a week before the restarting date."

Since the date of your letter, the licensee has completed the reinspection of the shroud and has repaired the two shroud vertical welds (V9 and V10) that have significant cracks. The repair used special clamps that the NRC approved by letter dated April 30,1999. The repair clamps .

structurally restore the design bases for the vertical welds. The licensee has verbally informed l the NRC staff that the reinspection of other vertical welds during the current refueling outage indicates that repairs are not needed. The shroud horizontal welds were structurally replaced

- by four tie-rod assemblies that were installed in 1995 due to extensive cracking. The licensee has verbally informed the NRC staff that, based upon the inspections during the current outage, the tie rods are satisfactorily performing their intended function of maintaining a' predetermined compressive force ("preload") on the shroud during power operation.

The licensee has also verbally informed us that ultrasonic examinations were performed in the -

accessible areas of base metal 12 to 18 inches along either side of shroud vertical welds V9 and V10. These inspections were performed voluntarily by the licensee as no NRC regulation or industry standard requires the inspection of the base metal.

- NRC inspectors have monitored the licensee's shroud reinspection and repair activities during the current refueling outage. Their observations indicate the licensee has followed the reinspection plan that the NRC approved on March 24,1999. An NRC inspection report will be

- issued in the near future. The licensee's reinspection results and the licensee's analysis to disposition these reinspection findings are required to be submitted to the NRC within 30 days of completing the reinspection and will be made publicly available. Therefore, the inspection results cannot be made available to you before the plant restarts.

Thank you for sharing your concerns with the NRC. I trust this reply has been responsive to the .

concems in your letter. l Sincerely, l

Original signed by:

Darl S. Hood, Sr.' Project Manager, Section i l g  !

Project Directorate 1 Division of Licensing Project Management (F/0()38 Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 7

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Ms. Miry Sp:nc:r 8281 Oswego Ro:d _

May 28, 1999 Liv:rpool, NY 13090-1541 3

Dear Ms. Spencer:

In a letter to me, postmarked April 21,1999, you expressed concern for the core shroud .

Inspection plan at Nine Mile Plant Nuclear Station, Unit No.1. You requested that "Before the

- reactor is restarted, please include the areas outside the core shroud welds in Niagara

. Mohawk's inspection plan, and please disclose the results of the core shroud inspection to the public at least a week before the restarting date."

Since the date of your letter, the licensee has completed the reinspection of the shroud and has

. repaired the two shroud vertical welds (V9 and V10) that have significant cracks. The repair used special clamps that the NRC approved by letter dated April 30,1999. The repair clamps structurally restore the design bases for the vertical welds. The licensee has verbally informed .

' the NRC staff that the reinspection of other vertical welds during the current refueling outage indicates that repairs are not needed. The shroud horizontal welds were structurally replaced by four tie-rod assemblies that were installed in 1995 due to extensive cracking. The licensee has verbally informed the NRC staff that, based upon the inspections during the current outage, the tie rods are satisfactorily performing their intended function of maintaining a predetermined compressive force ("preload") on the shroud during power operation.

The licensee has also verbally informed us that ultrasonic examinations were performed in the accessible areas of base metal 12 to 18 inches along either side of shroud vertical welds V9

&1 V10. These inspections were performed voluntarily by the licensee as no NRC regulation or industry standard requires the inspection of the base metal.  !

NRC inspectors have monitored the licensee's shroud reinspection and repair activities during the current refueling outage. Their observations indicate the licensee has followed the

. reinspection plan that the NRC approved on March 24,1999. An NRC inspection report will be issued in the near future. The licensee's reinspection results and the licensee's analysis to disposition these reinspection findings are required to be submitted to the NRC within 30 days of completing the reinspection and will be made publicly available. Therefore, the inspection j results cannot be made available to you before the plant restarts. l Thank you for sharing your concerns with the NRC. I trust this reply has been responsive to the concerns in your letter.

Sincerely, Original signed by: ,

Darl S. Hood, Sr. Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate l Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation DISTRIBUTION:

See next page DOCUMENT NAME: G:\PDI-1\NMP1\ SPENCER.WPD To receive a copy of this document, Indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure "N" = No copyn NFICE. PM:PDI-1 [E LA:PDl-l J 1 l D:PDI-1 M l l l NAME DHood/rsi,)3ff Slittle W SBajwa 4 ' U DATE 05/ d 99 05/c4/99 05/d/99 05/ /99 05/ /99 Official Record Copy i

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.....!. Phy 28,1999 Ms. Mary Spencer.

' 8281 Oswego Road L Liverpool, NY 13090-1541

Dear Ms. Spencer:

In a letter to me, postmarked April 21,1999, you expressed concern for the core shroud inspectica plan at Nine Mile Plant Nu.nlear Station, Unit No.1. You requested that "Before the reactor is restarted, please include the areas outside the core shroud welds in Niagara Mohawk's inspection plan, and please disclose the results of the core shroud inspection to the public at least a week before the restarting date."

,' Since the date of your letter, the licensee has completed the reinspection of the shroud and has

. repaired the two shroud vertical welds (V9 and V10) that have significant cracks. The repair -

used special clamps that the NRC approved by letter dated April 30,1999. The repair clamps structurally restore the design bases for the vertical welds. The licensee has verbally informed the NRC staff that the reinspection of other vertical welds during the current refueling outage

indicates that repairs are not needed. The shroud horizontal welds were structurally replaced by four tie-rod assemblies that were installed in 1995 due to extensive cracking. The licensee j has verbally informed the NRC staff that,' bas'ed upon the insoections during the current outage,

' the tie rods are satisfactorily oerforming their intended function of maintaining a predetermined compressive force ("preload") on the shroud during power operation.

The licensee has also verbally informed us that ultrasonic examinations were performed in the accessible areas of base metal.12 to 18 inches along either side of shroud vertical welds V9

. and V10. These inspections were performed voluntarily by the licensee as no NRC regulation or industry standard requires the inspection of the base metal.

l NRC inspectors.have monitored the licensee's shroud reinspection and repair activities during the current refueling outage. Their observations indicate the licensee has followed the reinspection plan that the NRC approved on March 24,1999. An NRC inspection report will be I

issued in the near future. The licensee's reinspection results and the licensee's analysis to

disposition these reinspection findings are required to be submitted to the NRC within 30 days 3

'of completing the reinspection and will be made publicly available. Therefore, the inspection.  :

results cannot be made available to you before the plant restarts.  !

Thank you for sharing your concerns with the NRC. I trust this reply has been responsive to the concerns in'your letter.

~

Sincerely,  !

hk l

, Darl S. Hood, Sr. Project Manager, Section l l Project Directorate I '

, Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation s 2  !

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DISTRIBUTION:

Docket File PUBLIC

- PD l-1 R/F S. Bajwa S. Little' D. Hood.

OGC ACRS-

M. Oprendek, Region 1 -

D. Screnci, Region I W. Bateman