ML20214Q144

Discusses ASLB 860827 Partial Initial Decision Re Several Contentions,Incuding Contention 10.1 Addressing dose-rate Effects & Applicant Submittal of Addl Info on Subj.Addl Info Should Not Change ASLB Conclusions.Svc List Encl

ML20214Q144
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	09/18/1986
From:	Doris Lewis GEORGIA POWER CO., SHAW, PITTMAN, POTTS & TROWBRIDGE
To:	Edles G, Kohl C, Wilber H NRC ATOMIC SAFETY & LICENSING APPEAL PANEL (ASLAP)
References
CON-#386-766 OL, NUDOCS 8609240190
Download: ML20214Q144 (5)

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• acas.nto ies vipe'*pa WRtTER S Dis.ECt OtAL asuasgER 822-1474 September 18, 1986 Gary J. Edles, Chairman Morton B. Margulies, Chairman Christine N. Kohl Gustave A. Linenberger, Jr.

Howard A. Wilber Dr. Oscar A. Paris Atomic Safety and Licensing Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Washington, D.C. 20555 y

In the Matter of et al.

(Vogtle Electric GeorgiaGenerating Power Company, Plant TUnTts 1 and 2)

Docket Nos. 50-424 and 50-4256/ _

Dear Administrative Judges:

On August 27, 1986, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board issued a Partial Initial Decision ("PID") resolving several con-tentions, including contention 10.1 which addressed dose-rate ef-fects. Subsequent to this decision, Applicants received addi-tional information relevant'to contention 10.1. Applicants bring 8609240190 860918 PDR ADOCK 05000424 p% G PDR

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• SHAw, PITTMAN POTTs & TROWBRIDGE A PARTNES$pelp lNCLUDING PROFES$cNAL CORPORAftQqg Judges Edles, Kohl, Wilber, Margulies, Linenberger and Paris September 18, 1986 Page 2 this information to your attention in accordance with NRC prece-dents. See, e.g., Tennessee Valley Authority (Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2 and 3), ALAB-677, 15 N.R.C. 1387, 1394 (1982).

Contention 10.1 addressed four polymers that were evaluated by Sandia in NUREG/CR-2157, " Occurrence and Implications of Radi-ation Dose-Rate Effects for Material Aging Studies." This study examined variations in the degradation of tensile properties (elongation and tensile strength) of the four polymers when they were irradiated at different dose rates. One of the polymers studied was identified as cross-linked polyolefin (XLPO). The XLPO sample evaluated by Sandia was the only one that exhibited discernible dose rate effects at total doses pertinent to VEGP.1/

PID at 42-43.

XLPO does not refer to a specific Dolymer, but instead re-fers to a group of cross-linked polymers that are based on aliphatic alkene monomers. Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) is the polymer most often referred to generically as XLPO. Appli-cants learned from Sandia, however, that the polymer designated as XLPO in the Sandia study was a co-polymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate (EVA). PID at 43.

To demonstrate that the dose rate effects observed in EVA by Sandia did not compromise the qualification of safety-related equipment subject to a harsh environment at VEGP, Applicants presented two arguments. First, Applicants concluded that EVA was not used in any safety-related applications subject to a harsh environment at VEGP. Nor can the effects observed by Sandia in the tensile properties of EVA be used to predict simi-lar effects in other cross-linked polyolefins. Another study by Sandia (NUREG/CR-4358) demonstrated that dose-rate effects in tensile properties of XLPE are insignificant below a 20 megarad total integrated dose. PID at 44.

1/ At VEGP, no safety-related equipment containing any of the four polymers addressed in NUREG/CR-2157 will receive more than 10 megarads over a 40-year normal life. Dose-rate effects were not discernible in the tensile properties of the three polymers other than XLPO at or below a 10 megarad total integrated dose.

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SH Aw, PITTM AN, PoTTs & TROWBRIDGE A PARTNtnsenp eNCLUOiNG PROFES$eONAL CORPORAteOns Judges Edles, Kohl, Wilber, Margulies, Linenberger and Paris September 18, 1986 Page 3 Applicants' second argument was that even if the effects ob-served in EVA were applicable to other types of XLPO, such ef-fects were irrelevant to the application of XLPO at VEGP. The dose-rate effects observed in EVA were in tensile properties, whereas Applicants determined that cable insulation is the only 4

application ~of XLPO in safety-related equipment subject to a harsh environment at VEGP. Subsequent to NUREG/CR-2157, Sandia conducted a further study of XLPO in cable insulation. This study (NUREG/CR-2932) demonstrated that the degradation of ten-sile properties of XLPO does not prevent XLPO insulation from performing its required electrical function. Sandia therefore concluded that the methodology employed by the nuclear industry to qualify electrical equipment is adequate despite the dose rate effects on tensile properties observed in NUREG/CR-2157. PID at 44-45.

4 Applicants' first argument, that EVA is not used in j safety-related applications subject to a harsh environment at VEGP, was based on the compilation of a list of the polymers used in such applications at VEGP. EVA was not found. For polymers 2 identified simply as XLPO, Applicants reviewed vendor data and contacted vendors to ascertain the polymers more precisely.

Based on these efforts, it was Applicants' understanding that all polymers identified as XLPO were in fact XLPE.

i i In very recent conversations with Eaton Corporation (a sup-olier of instrumentation cable for VEGP), Applicants learned that the XLPO insulation on certain Eaton cable contains 10-20% vinyl i acetate. This cable should have been classified as EVA.

For completeness, Applicants are now recontacting the ven-dors of VEGP safety-related cable that is insulated with XLPO and 4

subject to a harsh environment, and will determine in each in-stance whether vinyl acetate is a constituent. Applicants will confirm that any type of cable found to contain EVA is subject to i the VEGP cable surveillance program.2/ This program provides a means whereby unanticipated radiation-induced degradation of polymeric materials can be detected and remedied before opera-i tional safety is compromised. PID at 48-49.

2/ The program is described in Applicants' Testimony of George Bockhold, Jr. and Harold J. Quasny on Contention 10.1 (Dose Rate Effects), ff. Tr. 561.

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S SHAw, PITTM AN, PoTTs & TROWBRIDGE A PARTNERSMip tNCLUOaNG PRossSSiONAL CORPOR4TiQq3 Judges Edles, Kohl, Wilber, Margulies, Linenberger and Paris September 18, 1986 Page 4 Applicants do not believe that the additional information above should change the conclusions reached by the Licensing Board. As noted above, Sandia has determined that dose rate ef-fects observed in tensile properties of XLPO do not prevent XLPO insulation from performing its intended electrical function and has concluded that the procedures used by the industry to qualify electrical equipment remain valid. Thus, even if one assumes that the insulation on Eaton cable exhibits the same dose rate effects that Sandia observed in EVA, one must still conclude that such cable is properly qualified; and Applicants' surveillance program provides additional assurance that even in the unlikely event that greater than anticipated degradation should occur, it would be detected and remedied.

Sincerely, David R. Lewis Counsel for Applicants cc: Service List

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. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board In the Matter of )

)

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY, -- ~~et al. ) Docket No. 50-424

) 50-425 (Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, )

Units 1 and 2) )

SERVICE LIST Gary J. Edles, Chairman Bernard M. Bordenick, Esquire Atomic Safety and Licensing Office of the Executive Appeal Board Legal Director U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Washington, D.C. 20555 Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Christine N. Kohl Atomic Safety and Licensing Bradley Jones, Esquire Appeal Board Regional Counsel U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Washington, D.C. 20555 Commission 101 Marietta Street, Suite 3100 Howard A. Wilber Atlanta, GA 30303 Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board Danny Feig U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1130 Alta Avenue Washington, D.C. 20555 Atlanta, GA 30307 Morton B. Margulies, Chairman Atomic Safety and Licensing Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Washington, D.C. 20555 Gustave A. Linenberger Atomic Safety and Licensing Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board Panel Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Washington, D.C. 20555 Dr. Oscar H. Paris Docketing and Service Section Atomic Safety and Licensing Office of the Secretary Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Washington, D.C. 20555 Carol Stangler 425 Euclid Terrace Atlanta, GA 30307