ML20212G458
| ML20212G458 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Peach Bottom  |
| Issue date: | 10/27/1997 |
| From: | Stolz J NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | Hunger G PECO ENERGY CO., (FORMERLY PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC |
| References | |
| TAC-M98058, NUDOCS 9711060188 | |
| Download: ML20212G458 (4) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION t
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20666 4 001 October 27, 1997 Mr. George A. Hunger, Jr.
Director-Licensing, MC 62A-1 PECO Energy Company Nuclear Group Headquarters Correspondence Control Desk P.O. Box No. 195 Wayne, PA 19087-0195
SUBJECT:
CORE SHROUD INSPECTION DEFERRAL, PEACH BOTTOM ATOMIC POWER STATION (PBAPS), UNIT 3 (TAC NO. M98058)
Dear Mr. Hunger:
We have reviewed your January 30, 1997, letter which indicated that you intend to operate PBAPS Unit 3 for another cycle without reinspecting flawed core shroud welds. On November 3, 1995, you submitted results of inspections for FJAPS Unit 3 core shroud performed in September 1995.
The inspections were required by NRC Generic Letter 94-03, "Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking of Core Shrouds in Boiling Water Reactors." You inspected the H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, and H7 welds and found cracking in the Hl. H3, H4, and H5 welds. The H3 and H4 welds were cracked the worst, with 203.2 inches and 186 inches of cracking, respectively. The percentages of cracking were 35 percent and 32 percent of the examined lengths, respectively. The H1 and H5 welds were cracked considerably less; 28 inches and 45 inches (under 10 percent of the total weld length), respectively.
The NRC staff's January 29, 1996, Safety Evaluation (SE) determined that the results justified operation for only one operating cycle. Your current justification for deferring the inspections is that the schedule is supported by the BWR Vessel and Internals Project (BWRVIP) reinspection guidance, j
" Guidelines for Reinspection of BWR Core Shrouds," BWRVIP-07, dated
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February 1996.
The staff has recently completed the review of the BWRVIP-07 document. The results of the staff's evaluation have shown that the staff does not agree completely with the core shroud reinspection guidelines proposed in the subject document.
In the staff's SE, the staff provided
%j) extensive comments including acceptable alternatives. The staff is currently in the process of discussing the staff's comments with BWRVIP representatives.
The BWRVIP-07 document needs tc be revised to incorporate the staff's comments.
For the reins 7ection of the core shroud in future refueling outages, you should folliw the revised BWRVIP-07 guidelines, which have incorporated the staff's comments.
In a separate September 17, 1997, conference call with the staff, PECO Energy Company (PECO Energy) personnel stated that PECO Energy had performed both visual examination and ultrasonic testing on about 90% of the H3 and H4 welds in its last shroud weld inspection.
PECO Energy further stated that the shroud inspections and evaluations indicated that the PBAPS Unit 3 shroud has 4
adequate safety margins for the next two operating cycles, even when assuming 97110601EB 971027 hf",( ]b "C %%Q $o"t"V 7
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G. Hunger conservative crack growth rates.
Considering this information, along with the fact that the staff issued the BWRVIP-07 document SE shortly before the beginning of your present Unit 3 outage, we find that your plans to defer core shroud inspections for one more operating cycle are acceptable.
If you have any questions, please contact Mark Padovan, Project Manager, at (301) 415-1423.
Sinceroly,
/S/
John F. Stolz, Director Project Directorate I-2 Division of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-278 cc:
See next page DISTRIBUTION:
Docket File ACRS-PUBLIC CCarpenter PDI-2 Reading ESullivan BBoger KWichman JStolz MBanic LPadovan RHermann M0'Brien CAnderson, RGN-I
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0FFICIAL RECORD COPY DOCUMENT NAME:
PB98058. GEN
i' G. Hunger' A conservative crack growth rates. Considering this inforr.ation, along with the fact that the staff issued the BWRVIP-07 document SE shortly before the beginning of your present Unit 3 outage, we find that your plans to defer core shroud inspections for one more operating cycle are acceptable.
If you have any questions, please contact Mark Padovan, Project Manager, at (301) 415-1423.
Sincerely,
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o n'F. Stoiz, Direct P ject Directorate I-2 ivision of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-278 cc: See next page 4
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s Mr. George A. Hunger, Jr.
Peach Botto:D Atomic Power Station, 4
PECO Energy Company-Units 2 and 3 CC:
4 J. W. Durham, Sr., Esquire Chief-Division of Nuclear Safety Sr. V.P. & General Counsel PA Dept. of PECO Energy Company Environmental Resources 2301 Market Street, S26-1 P.O. Box 8469 Philadelphia, PA 19101 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8469 PECO Energy Company ATTN: Mr. T. N. Mitchell, Vice President Board of Supervisors Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station Peach Bottom Township 1848 Lay Road R. D. #1 l
Delta, PA 17314 Delta, PA 17314 PECO Energy Company Public Service Commissinn of Maryland ATTN:
Regulatory Engineer, A4-5S Engineering Division Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station Chief Engineer 1848 Lay Road 6 St. Paul Centre Delta, PA 17314 Baltimore, MD 21202-6806 Resident Inspector Mr. Richard McLean U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Power Plant and Environmental Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station Review Division P.O. Box 399 Department of Natural Resources Delta, PA 17314 B-3, Tawes State Office Building Annapolis, MD 21401 Regional Administrator, Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Dr. Judith Johnsrud 475 Allendale Road National Energy Committee King of Prussia, PA 19406 Sierra Club 433 Orlando Avenue Mr. Roland Fletcher State College, PA 16803 Department of Environment 201 West Preston Street Manager-Business & Co-owner Affairs Baltimore, MD 21201 Public Service Electric and Gas Company A. F. Kirby, III P.O. Box 235 External Operations - Nuclear Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038-0236 Delmarva Power & Light Company P.O. Box 231 Wilmington, DE 19899 Manager-Peach Bottom Licensing PECO Energy Company PECO Energy Company Nuclear Group Headquarters Plant Manager Correspondence Control Desk Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station P.O. Box No. 195 1848 Lay Road Wayne, PA 19087-0195 Delta, PA 17314
. arren Bilanin, EPRI Task Manager Robin Dyle, Technical Chairman W
3412 Hillview Ave.
BWRVIP Assessment Task Palo Alto, CA 94303 Southern Nuclear Operating Company Post Office Box 236 40 Inverness Center Parkway Birmingham, AL 35201 l