ML20247J777
| ML20247J777 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | River Bend |
| Issue date: | 05/23/1989 |
| From: | Paulson W Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Deddens J GULF STATES UTILITIES CO. |
| References | |
| TAC-73115, NUDOCS 8906010129 | |
| Download: ML20247J777 (3) | |
Text
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',7 UNITED STATES
~ iA
-t NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION p,; -
J.
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20655
/
34
%,... Docket No. 50-458
-Gulf States Utilities ATTN: Mr. James C. Deddens SeniorVicePresident(RBNG)
Post Office Box 220 St. Francisv111e,_ Louisiana 70775
Dear Mr. Deddens:
SUBJECT:
. INDICATION IN THE.. INLET FEEDWATER N0ZZLE (N4-A) TO SAFE END WELD - RIVER BEND STATION (TAC NO. 73115)
The NRC staff has reviewed your May.15 and 19,1989 submittals regarding the
~ ircumferential indication identified in the N4-A feedwater nozzle to safe end c
weld. This' indication was identified during the inservice inspection performed during the current: refueling outage.
Gulf States Utilities.(GSU), as a result of a crack growth and fracture mechanics
. evaluation, has shown.that the crack growth at the end of. the next fuel cycle will not exceed the ASME Code' allowable. We find that this flaw evaluation is acceptable particularly in consideration of GSU's comitment to perform a
-mid-cycle (approximately nine months after startup) ultrasonic er. amination to confirm the predicted extent of crack growth in weld N4-A.
Consequently, we have concluded that the River Bend Unit I plant can be safely operated for at least one additional IP-month fuel cycle in its present configuration pending satisfactory results from the mid-cycle ultrasonic examination of weld N4-A.
We request that the results of the mid-cycle ultrasonic examination be submitted to NRC for review prior to plant start up from the mid-cycle outage to ensure that the structural integrity of the piping is maintained.
The Safety Evaluation which provides the basis for the above conclusion will be issued at a later date. The reporting and/or recordkeeping requirements contained in this letter affect fewer than ten respondents; therefore, OMB
. clearance is not required under P.L.96-511.
Since ely, alter A. Paulson, Project Manager
" Project Directorate - IV Division of Reactor Projects - III, IV, Y and Special Projects Office'of Nuclear Reactor Regulation ec: See next page Db
., 8
L.
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i.'
6' e
Mr. James C. Deddens i
Gulf States Utilities Company River Bend Nuclear Plant cc:
Troy B. Conner, Jr., Esq.
Mr. J. E. Booker Conner and Wetterhahn Manager-River Bend Oversight 1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW P. O. Box 2951 Washington, D.C.
20006 Beaumont, TX 77704 Mr. Les England Mr. William H. Spell, Administrator
. Director - Nuclear Licensing Nuclear Energy Division Gulf States Utilities Company Office of Environmental Affairs P. O. Box 220 -
P. O. Box 14690 St. Francisv111e, LA 70775 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70898 Richard M. Troy, Jr., Esq.
Assistant Attorney General in Charge Mr. J. David McNeill','III State of Louisiana Department of Justice William G. Davis, Esq.
234 Loyola Avenue Departraent of Justice New Orleans, Louisiana 70112 Attorney General's Office 7434 Perkins Road
' Resident Inspector Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808 P. O. Box 1051 St. Francisville, Louisiana 70775 H. Anne.P1ettinger 3456 Villa Rose Drive Gretchen R. Rothschild-Reinike Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806 Louisianians for Safe Energy, Inc.
2108 Broadway Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70118-5462 President of West Feliciana Police Jury Regional Administrator, Region IV P. O. Box 1921 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Consnission St. Francisville, Louisiana 70775 Office of Executive Director for Operations Mr. Frank J. Uddo 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 Uddo & Porter Arlington, Texas 76011 6305 Elysian Fields Avenue Suite 400 i
Philip G. Harris New Orleans, Louisiana 70122 Cajun Electric Power Coop. Inc.
10719 Airline Highway P. O. Box 15540 Baton Rouge, LA.70895
=_ ____ _
7
)
- e. 7 -
May 23, 1989
,k.
T Docket No. 50-458 Gulf ~ States Utilities ATTN: Mr. James-C. Deddens
~'
SeniorVice~ President (RBNG)-
. Post Office Box 220 i
St. Francisv111e, Louisiana' 70775 4
Dear Mr. Deddens:
SUBJECT:
INDICATION IN THE INLET FEEDWATER N0ZZLE (N4-A) TO SAFE END WELD - RIVER. BEND STATION (TAC NO. 73115)
The NRC staff. has reviewed your May 15 and'19,1989 ~submittals regarding the circumferential indication. identified in the N4-A feedwater nozzle to safe end
, weld. This indication was identified during the inservice inspection u
- performed during the current refueling outage.
Gulf States Utilities (GSU),~ as a result of a crack growth and fracture mechanics evaluation, has shown that the crack growth.at the end of the next fuel cycle will not exceed the ASME Code allowable.
We find-that this flaw evaluation is acceptable particularly in consideration of GSU's commitment to perform a mid-rvele(approximatelyninemonthsafterstartup).ultrasonicexaminationto confirm the predicted extent of crack growth.in weld N4-A.
Consequently.. we have concluded that the River Bend Unit 1 plant can be safely operated for at least one additional 18-month fuel cycle in its present configuration pending satisfactory results from the mid-cycle ultrasonic examination of weld N4-A.
We request that the results of the mid-cycle ultrasonic examination be submitted to NRC for review prior to plant start up from the mid-cycle outage to ensure that the structural integrity of the piping is maintained.
The Safety Evaluation which provides the basis for the above conclusion will be issued at a later date. The reporting and/or recordkeeping requirements
- contained in this letter affect fewer than ten respondents; therefore, OMB clearance is not required under P.L.96-511.
Sincerely, Original signed by G. F. Diw for Walter A. Paulson, Project Manager Project Directorate - IV Division of Reactor Projects - III, IV, Y and Special Projects Office of Nuclear Reacter Regulation cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION
' DecAetaF11eT NRC PDR Local PDR PD4 Reading G. Holahan L..Rubenstein F. Hebdon P. Noonan W. Paulson 0GC-Rockville C. Y. Cheng E. Jordan B. Grimes ACRS (10)
PD4 Plant File PD4/LA h
/PM EMUk PD4/QM.
PNoona Paulson:sr CYChehg FHebdon
- 05/ @ 89 05//p/89 05/LV89 05/.23/89
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