ML20207M177

Forwards SE Accepting Relief Request for Authorization of Alternative Reactor Pressure Vessel Exam for Circumferential Welds

ML20207M177
Person / Time
Site:	Hatch
Issue date:	03/11/1999
From:	Berkow H NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Sumner H SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING CO.
Shared Package
ML20207M184	List: ML20207M177 ML20207M189
References
TAC-MA3843, NUDOCS 9903190008
Download: ML20207M177 (4)

Text

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g* 4 UNITED STATES g g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION t WASHINGTON, D C. 2055 5 0001 March 11, 1999

.. x Mr. H. L. Sumner, Jr.

Vice President - Nuclear Hatch Project N Southern Nuclear Operatinp Company, Inc.

Post Office Box 1295 Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295

SUBJECT:

. EDWIN 1. HATCH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNIT 1 - RELtEF REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION OF ALTERNATIVE REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL EXAMINATIONS FOR CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELDS (TAC NO. MA3843)

Dear Mr. Sumner:

By letters dated De: m.._,vr 2,1998, and January 19 and February 5,1999, Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC/the licensee) submitted a request seeking approval for an alternative examination program to the inservice inspection (ISI) examination requirements for circun,ferential welds in the Edwin 1. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 (Hatch-1). Title 10 of the Code of Federal Reaulations (10 CFR) Section 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(A)(2) requires nuclear licensees to augment their inspection programs by implementing once, as part of the ISI interval that was effective on Septembe'r 8,1992, examinations of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) shell welds, as specified in item B1.10 of Examination Category B-A," Pressure Retaining Welds in [the]

Reactor Vessel," to Table IWB-2500 in Subsection IWB of the 1989 Edition to Section XI of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME Code). SNC is seeking approval under the provisions of 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(A)(5) for an g alternative inspection program that would allow SNC to permanently defer the volumetric I

. examinations covered by those provisions for the examination of the circumferential shell welds in the Hatch-1 RPV. In its letter of January 19,1999, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(A)(5),

SNC requested approval to achieve reduced coverage for the scheduled examinations of the longitudinal welds in the Hatch-1 RPV, and approval te use tho GERIS-2000 ultrasonic '\.

examination system as the ultrasonic technology for performing the volumetric examinations of dO

- the longitudinal welds.

The staff has reviewed SNC's alternative proposals for the examination of the circumferential and longitudinal shell welds in the Hatch-1 RPV. The staff has also determined that SNC's alternative proposals for the circumferential and longitudinal shell welds are acceptable pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(A)(5). The staff's Safety Evaluation is enclosed. However, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(A), the staff will still require a volumetric inspection of C-4-B weld, if or when SNC determines it is necessary to remove the obstructing tie rod from 990319 COO 8 990311'^"

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H. L. Sumner, Jr. March 11, 1999 l

the shroud design or if ultrasonic inspection technology is improved to the point where a  :

qualified inspection of the C-4-B weld could be accomplished without necessitating removal of  !

the tie rod. I l

Therefore, the staff concludes that the proposed alternatives for the examination of the '

circumferential and longitudinal shell wolds in the Hatch-1 RPV provide an acceptable level of quality and safety and, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55(a)(3)(i), are authorized as you proposed.  :

I Sincerely, Original signed by:

i Herbert N. Berkow, Director Project Directorate 11-2 Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation l Docket No. 50-321

Enclosure:

Safety Evaluation cc w/ encl: See next page Distribution: OGC GHill (4) KKavanagh

f. Docket File 3 HBerkow ACRS ,

PUBLIC LBerry MTschiltz, EDO 1 PD ll-2 Rdg. LOlshan COgle, Ril JZwolinski e-mail RCN - SE only JMedoff I

To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure

"L" = Copy with attachment / enclosure "N" = No copy , r)

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OFFICE PM:PDil-2 l LA:PDil-2 l OGC/ i,W 4 D:PDif-K\(2_ l l NAME LOlshan:en1 LBerry & @9WA liBefrkos

• DATE / /99 / /99 I/10/99 'b/ i) /99 / /99 / /97 i DOCUMENT NAME: G:\ HATCH \3843SER.WPD OFFICIAL HECORD COPY 4 p gror Umt.htrete

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H. L. Sumner, Jr. the shroud design or if ultrasonic inspection technology is improved to the point where a qualified inspection of the C-4-B weld could be accomplished without necessitating removal of 1 the tie rod.

Therefore, the staff concludes that the proposed alternatives for the examination of the circumferential and bngitudinal shell welds in the Hatch-1 RPV provide an acceptable level of quality and safety and, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55(a)(3)(i), are authorizt.3 as you proposed.

Sincerely, j

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H rbert N. Berkowl irector Project Directorate ll-2 Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-321

Enclosure:

Safety Evaluation '

cc w/ encl: See next page i

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Edwin I. Hatch Nuc! ear Plant l-cc: )

Mr. Ernest L. Blake, Jr. Charles A. Patrizia, Esquire Shaw, Pittman, Potts Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker and Trowbridge 10th Floor 2300 N Street, NW. 1299 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20037 Washington, DC 20004-9500 ,

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Mr. D. M. Crowe Chairman  !

Manager, Licensing Appling County Commissioners Southern Nuclear Operating County Courthouse Company, Inc. Baxley, Georgia 31513 l P. O. Box 1295  !

Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295 Mr. J. D. Woodard l Executive Vice President 1 Resident inspector Southern Nuclear Operating Plant Hatch Company, Inc.

11030 Hatch Parkway N. P. O. Box 1295 Baxley, Georgia 31531 Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295 Mr. Charles H. Badger Mr. P. W. Wells Office of Planning and Budget General Manager, Edwin I. Hatch Room 610. Nuclear Plant 270 Washington Street, SW. Southern Nuclear Operating Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Company, Inc.

U.S. Highway 1 North Harold Reheis, Director P. O. Box 2010 Department of Natural Resources Baxley, Georgia 31515 205 Butler Street, SE., Suite 1252 Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Mr. R. D. Barke-Program Manager Steven M. Jackson Fossil & Nuclear Operations Senior Engineer- Power Supply Oglethorpe Power Corporation Munleipal Electric Authority 2100 East Exchange Place of Georgia P. O. Box 1349 1470 Riveredge Parkway, NW Tucker, Georgia 30085-1349 Atlanta, Georgia 30328-4684