ML23116A146

NRR E-mail Capture - Entergy Fleet (Grand Gulf and River Bend) - Final RAI for Request to Update ASME Code Relief Request Safety Evaluations with NRC-Approved Revision of BWRVIP Guidelines (GG-ISI-020, and RBS-ISI-019)

ML23116A146
Person / Time
Site:	Grand Gulf, River Bend
Issue date:	04/26/2023
From:	Siva Lingam NRC/NRR/DORL/LPL4
To:	Norris G Entergy Nuclear Operations
References
L-2022-LLR-0090
Download: ML23116A146 (3)

Text

From: Siva Lingam Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2023 11:00 AM To: NORRIS, GREGORY P Cc: Jennifer Dixon-Herrity; Angie Buford; Carol Moyer; Mahan, Cecil; Couture III, Philip; Jason Drake

Subject:

Entergy Fleet (Grand Gulf and River Bend) - Final RAI for Request to Update ASME Code Relief Request Safety Evaluations with NRC-Approved Revision of BWRVIP Guidelines (GG-ISI-020, and RBS-ISI-019) (EPID L-2022-LLR-0090)

By letter dated December 6, 2022 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML22340A672), Entergy Operations Inc. (the licensee) submitted a proposed revision to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)-approved alternatives (GG-ISI-020 and RBS-ISI-019) to use Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) Vessel and Internals Project (BWRVIP) guidelines for Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1 (Grand Gulf), and River Bend Station, Unit 1 (River Bend).

The licensee requested to revise these NRC-authorized alternatives to allow the use of BWRVIP-48, Revision 2, BWR Vessel and Internals Project BWR Vessel ID [Inside Diameter]

Attachment Weld Inspection and Flaw Evaluation Guidelines, as applicable, instead of the currently authorized versions of these guidelines.

Regulatory Basis The regulations in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50.55a(g)(4),

Inservice Inspection Standards Requirement for Operating Plants, state, in part, that American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code Class 1, 2, and 3 components (including supports) must meet the requirements, except the design and access provisions and the preservice examination requirements, set forth in Section XI of the applicable editions and addenda of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME Code) to the extent practical within the limitations of design, geometry, and materials of construction of the components.

The regulations in 10 CFR 50.55a(z), Alternatives to Codes and Standards Requirements, state, in part, that alternatives to the requirements in paragraphs (b) through (h) of 10 CFR 50.55a, Codes and Standards may be authorized by the NRC if the licensee demonstrates that: (1) the proposed alternative provides an acceptable level of quality and safety, or (2) compliance with the specified requirements would result in hardship or unusual difficulty without a compensating increase in the level of quality and safety.

Request for Additional Information (RAI)-1 Issue:

Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 03-08, "Guideline for the Management of Materials Issues,"

Revision 4 (ADAMS Accession No. ML20315A536) provides the industrys process for determining when an updated industry inspection and evaluation guideline may be implemented by an industry licensee without NRC prior approval of the guideline. Grand Gulf and River Bend propose to use BWRVIP-48, Revision 2, as the basis for inspecting reactor pressure vessel (RPV) interior attachment welds in lieu of applicable ASME Section XI, Examination Category B-N-2 requirements. BWRVIP-48, Revision 2 was not submitted to the NRC staff for review and approval.

Request:

Describe the changes between BWRVIP-48-A and BWRVIP-48, Revision 2. Based on these changes, provide the plant-specific bases for Grand Gulf and River Bend to demonstrate that the proposed implementation of BWRVIP-48, Revision 2 provides an acceptable alternative to ASME Code requirements for the inspection of the applicable RPV interior attachments welds.

Please note that we sent a draft RAI on April 6, 2023, and you replied on April 11, 2023, that no clarification call is required. Please provide your response within 30 days from the date of this email. Thank you.

Siva P. Lingam U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Project Manager Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Entergy Fleet Location: O-9E22; Mail Stop: O-9E03 Telephone: 301-415-1564 E-mail address: Siva.Lingam@nrc.gov

Hearing Identifier: NRR_DRMA Email Number: 2055 Mail Envelope Properties (SJ0PR09MB6109EC01CCE2559B03E0BBA0F6659)

Subject:

Entergy Fleet (Grand Gulf and River Bend) - Final RAI for Request to Update ASME Code Relief Request Safety Evaluations with NRC-Approved Revision of BWRVIP Guidelines (GG-ISI-020, and RBS-ISI-019) (EPID L-2022-LLR-0090)

Sent Date: 4/26/2023 11:00:14 AM Received Date: 4/26/2023 11:00:00 AM From: Siva Lingam Created By: Siva.Lingam@nrc.gov Recipients:

"Jennifer Dixon-Herrity" <Jennifer.Dixon-Herrity@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Angie Buford" <Angela.Buford@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Carol Moyer" <Carol.Moyer@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Mahan, Cecil" <cmahan@entergy.com>

Tracking Status: None "Couture III, Philip" <pcoutur@entergy.com>

Tracking Status: None "Jason Drake" <Jason.Drake@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "NORRIS, GREGORY P" <GNORRIS@entergy.com>

Tracking Status: None Post Office: SJ0PR09MB6109.namprd09.prod.outlook.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 3569 4/26/2023 11:00:00 AM Options Priority: Normal Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date: