ML20216A399
| ML20216A399 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vogtle  |
| Issue date: | 08/06/2020 |
| From: | Markley M Plant Licensing Branch II |
| To: | Gayheart C Southern Nuclear Operating Co |
| Lamb J | |
| References | |
| EPID L-2020-LLR-0101 | |
| Download: ML20216A399 (5) | |
Text
August 6, 2020 Ms. Cheryl A. Gayheart Regulatory Affairs Director Southern Nuclear Operating Co., Inc.
3535 Colonnade Parkway Birmingham, AL 35243
SUBJECT:
VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 - REQUEST TO USE A PROVISION OF A LATER EDITION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE, SECTION XI (EPID L-2020-LLR-0101)
Dear Ms. Gayheart:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has authorized your request to use a provision of a later edition of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPV Code),Section XI for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Vogtle), Units 1 and 2. This action is in response to your request dated July 31, 2020 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML20213C712).
Specifically, pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.55a(g)(4)(iv),
the Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC, the licensee) proposed to use IWA-4540(b) of the 2017 Edition of the ASME BPV Code,Section XI.
The NRC staff authorizes the use of IWA-4540(b) of the 2017 Edition of ASME BPV Code Section XI for Vogtle, Units 1 and 2, for the duration of the fourth inservice inspection interval that runs from May 31, 2007, to May 30, 2027. All other ASME BPV Code,Section XI requirements which are not modified by the staffs approval of the licensees request remain applicable, including third-party review by the Authorized Nuclear Inservice Inspector.
Enclosed is the NRC staffs safety evaluation.
Sincerely, Michael Markley, Chief Plant Licensing Branch II-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-424 and 50-425 cc: Listserv Michael T.
Markley Digitally signed by Michael T.
Markley Date: 2020.08.06 12:19:02 -04'00'
- via email OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPLII-1/PM*
NRR/DORL/LPLII-1/LA*
NRR/DNRL/NPHP/BC*
NAME JLamb KGoldstein MMitchell DATE 08/01/2020 08/05/2020 08/3/2020 OFFICE NRR/DNRL/NVIB/BC*
NRR/DORL/LPLII-1/BC*
NRR/DORL/LPLII-1/PM*
NAME HGonzalez MMarkley JLamb DATE 08/3/2020 08/6/2020 08/6/2020
SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION REQUEST TO USE A PROVISION OF A LATER EDITION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE, SECTION XI SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 DOCKET NOS. 50-424 AND 50-425
1.0 INTRODUCTION
By application dated July 31, 2020 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML20213C712), Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC, the licensee) submitted a request to use a provision of a later edition of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel (BPV) Code,Section XI for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Vogtle), Units 1 and 2.
Specifically, pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.55a(g)(4)(iv),
the SNC proposed to use IWA-4540(b) of the 2017 Edition of the ASME BPV Code,Section XI.
2.0 REGULATORY EVALUATION
The regulation 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(4)(iv) states:
Inservice examination of components and system pressure tests may meet the requirements set forth in subsequent editions and addenda that are incorporated by reference in paragraph (a) of this section, subject to the conditions listed in paragraph (b) of this section, and subject to Commission approval. Portions of editions or addenda may be used, provided that all related requirements of the respective editions or addenda are met.
The regulations in 10 CFR 50.55(g)(4)(iv) permit the NRC staff to authorize the use of subsequent ASME BPV Code edition and addenda,Section XI. The licensee proposed to use IWA-4540(b) of the 2017 Edition of the ASME BPV Code,Section XI, and the NRC staff has the regulatory authority to approve the use of this portion of the later edition and addenda of the ASME BPV Code,Section XI.
3.0 TECHNICAL EVALUATION
3.1 The Licensees Request 3.1.1 ASME Code Requirement The licensee proposes to use IWA-4540(b) of the 2017 Edition of the ASME BPV Code,Section XI.
3.1.2 Applicable Code Edition and Addenda - Duration of Request The licensee provided the Code of record, and the duration of the fourth inservice inspection (ISI) interval in the table below.
Plant 10-Year ISI Interval ASME Code of Record Interval Start Interval End Vogtle, Units 1 and 2 4th 2007 Edition and 2008 Addenda May 31, 2017 May 30,2027 The duration of the request is until the end of the fourth ISI interval.
3.1.3 Reason for Request In its letter dated July 31, 2020, the licensee stated:
Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(4)(iv), SNC requests permission to utilize IWA-4540(b) from the 2017 Edition. This subparagraph outlines items that are exempt from pressure testing after repair/replacement activities.
3.1.4 Licensees Proposed Request Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(4)(iv), SNC requests to utilize IWA-4540(b) from the 2017 ASME BPV Code edition,Section XI.
3.1.5 Basis for Request The regulation 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(4)(iv) states:
Portions of editions or addenda may be used, provided that all related requirements of the respective editions or addenda are met.
3.1.6 Duration of Proposed Request The licensee is requesting approval of this request until the end of the fourth ISI interval.
3.2
NRC Staff Evaluation
Prior to approving the use of a subsequent edition and addenda of the ASME BPV Code,Section XI under 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(4)(iv), the NRC staff must find that (1) the proposed subsequent edition and addenda are incorporated by reference in 10 CFR 50.55a(a); (2) the licensee has identified any conditions listed in 10 CFR 50.55a(b) appropriate to the request and will comply with those conditions; (3) the licensee has requested approval to use the subsequent edition and addenda; and (4) if only portions of edition or addenda are to be used, all related requirements of the respective edition or addenda are met. If these criteria are met, the NRC staff finds the use of the subsequent edition and addenda of the ASME BPV Code,Section XI to be acceptable.
In evaluating the first criterion, 10 CFR 50.55a(a) incorporates by reference the ASME BPV Code,Section XI, from the 1970 Edition through the 1976 Winter Addenda, and the 1977 Edition through the 2017 Edition. The licensee proposed to use the IWA-4540(b) of the 2017 Edition of ASME Section XI, which is included in the list of editions and addenda incorporated by reference in the current edition of 10 CFR 50.55a(a). Therefore, the NRC finds that the first criterion has been satisfied.
In evaluating the second criterion, the NRC staff notes that 10 CFR 50.55a(b) contains no conditions relevant to this request. Therefore, the NRC staff finds that the second criterion has been satisfied.
In evaluating the third criterion, the licensee's request dated July 31, 2020, constitutes a request to the Commission for approval to use a subsequent edition of the ASME BPV Code,Section XI. Therefore, the NRC staff finds that the third criterion has been satisfied.
In evaluating the fourth criterion, the NRC staff finds that there are no related requirements relevant to this request. Therefore, the NRC staff finds that the fourth criterion has been satisfied.
Based on the above, the NRC staff finds that the licensee has adequately addressed all of the regulatory requirements set forth in 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(4)(iv).
4.0 CONCLUSION
As set forth above, NRC staff finds that the licensee has adequately addressed all of the regulatory requirements set forth in 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(4)(iv). Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that the use of IWA-4540(b) of the 2017 Edition of ASME BPV Code,Section XI to all the Class 1, 2, and 3 items located in the ASME Section XI boundaries is acceptable. The NRC staff authorizes the use of IWA-4540(b) of the 2017 Edition of ASME BPV Code,Section XI for Vogtle, Units 1 and 2, for the duration of the fourth ISI interval.
All other ASME BPV Code,Section XI requirements, which are not modified by the NRC staffs approval of the licensees request, remain applicable, including third-party review by the Authorized Nuclear Inservice Inspector.
Principal Contributor: J. Lamb, NRR Date: August 6, 2020