ML22307A284

Summary of Public Meeting with Southern Nuclear Operating Company to Have a Pre-Submittal Discussion of Two Potential Requests for Alternative to Inservice Inspection Requirements in Section XI of the American Society of Mechanical Engineer

ML22307A284
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	11/10/2022
From:	Cayetano Santos NRC/NRR/VPOB
To:	Southern Nuclear Operating Co
References
Download: ML22307A284 (3)

Text

LICENSEE:

Southern Nuclear Operating Company FACILITY:

Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 3 and 4

SUMMARY

OF OCTOBER 27, 2022, MEETING WITH SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY On October 27, 2022, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held a virtual public meeting with representatives of Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC or the licensee).

The purpose of the meeting was to have a pre-submittal discussion of two potential requests for alternatives to the inservice inspection requirements in Section XI of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP), Units 3 and 4:

VEGP 3&4ISI1ALT17, Alternative Inspection Requirements for Steam Generator Nozzle to Reactor Coolant Pump Casing Welds

VEGP 3&4ISI1ALT18, Alternative for Use of Code Case N-648-2 for Inservice Inspection of the Reactor Vessel Nozzle Inside Radius Sections The meeting notice and agenda are available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) at Accession No. ML22294A121. A list of attendees is enclosed.

SNC representatives described the proposed alternatives, the bases for these requests, and a schedule for their submission and requested approval. These code alternatives are based on similar alternatives to pre-service inspection requirements that were previously approved by the NRC for VEGP, Units 3 and 4. SNCs presentation and draft code alternative submittals are available at ML22293A244.

Below is a summary of the general comments and discussions:

Regarding VEGP 3&4-ISI1-ALT-17, SNC representatives confirmed that 100 percent of the inner one-third of the weld thickness (as well as some base material) would be examined using ultrasonic examination techniques. The NRC staff stated that because of the novel design of this weld, prior NRC approval is needed to apply these examinations.

Regarding VEGP 3&4-ISI1-ALT-17, the NRC staff asked if the postulated flaws were analyzed for potential stress corrosion cracking and fatigue degradation mechanisms.

SNC representatives confirmed that both of these degradation mechanisms were November 10, 2022 analyzed, and this information is included in the attachments to the draft submittal. (Note some of the attachments contain proprietary information.)

Regarding VEGP 3&4-ISI1-ALT-18, SNC representatives confirmed that inservice examinations will include 100 percent coverage of the inner radius nozzles using VT1 visual inspection.

The NRC staff asked about the draft schedules requested approval date of February 2023. SNC representatives stated they would reconsider this requested approval date.

The NRC staff noted that these two code alternatives are for VEGP, Units 3 and 4.

Unit 3 has received NRC authorization to load fuel while Unit 4 is still under construction.

Members of the public were in attendance. There were no comments or questions from the public. The staff did not receive any Public Meeting Feedback forms.

In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 2, Agency Rules of Practice and Procedure, a copy of this letter will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records component of ADAMS. ADAMS is accessible from the NRC website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.

Please direct any inquiries to me at 301-415-7270 or Cayetano.Santos@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, Cayetano Santos Jr., Senior Project Manager Vogtle Project Office Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos.52-025 and 52-026

Enclosure:

List of Attendees cc: Listserv Signed by Santos, Cayetano on 11/10/22

Enclosure LIST OF ATTENDEES OCTOBER 27, 2022, MEETING WITH SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY Name Organization Cayetano (Tanny) Santos Christopher Welch Victor Hall Phil OBryan Stephen Cumblidge Matthew Mitchell John Honcharik Carol Nove John Tsao Cory Parker Brian Wittick Mat Burton Joseph Donoghue NRC/Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation William Truss Anthony Ponko NRC/Region II Nathan Chapman Keith Dorsey Corey Thomas Amy Chamberlain Eddie Grant Steve Leighty Tanner Cauthen Will Garrett Southern Nuclear Operating Company Jana Bergman Daniel Lamond Matthew King Mary Miller Members of the Public

Ltr ML22307A284 OFFICE NRR/VPO/VPOB NRR/VPO/VPOB NRR/DNRL/NPHP NRR/DNRL/NVIB NAME CSantos RButler MMitchell ABuford DATE Nov 4, 2022 Nov 9, 2022 Nov 10, 2022 Nov 10, 2022 OFFICE NRR/VPO/VPOB NRR/VPO/VPOB NAME VHall CSantos DATE Nov 10, 2022 Nov 10, 2022