ML24093A061
| ML24093A061 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Farley, Vogtle  |
| Issue date: | 04/18/2024 |
| From: | John Lamb Plant Licensing Branch II |
| To: | Southern Nuclear Operating Co |
| References | |
| EPID L-2024-LRM-0043, EPID L-2024-LRM-0044 | |
| Download: ML24093A061 (1) | |
Text
April 18, 2024 LICENSEE:
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
FACILITIES: Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF APRIL 1, 2024, OBSERVATION PRE-SUBMITTAL MEETING HELD WITH SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY, INC.,
REGARDING PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE REQUESTS TO THE EXTEND EXAMINATION INTERVALS FOR JOSEPH M. FARLEY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2, AND VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 (EPID NO. L-2024-LRM-0043 AND L-2024-LRM-0044)
On April 1, 2024, an Observation meeting was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and representatives of Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC, the licensee). The purpose of the meeting was for SNC to describe its plan to submit two alternative requests to extend the examination intervals for specific components at Joseph M.
Farley Nuclear Plant (Farley), Unis 1 and 2, and Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Vogtle), Units 1 and 2.
The first proposed alternative request for Farley, Units 1 and 2, and Vogtle, Units 1 and 2, is to extend the examination interval for the steam generator (SG) pressure retaining welds, and the second proposed alternative request for Farley, Units 1 and 2, and Vogtle, Units 1 and 2, is to extend the examination interval for pressurizer pressure retaining welds.
A list of attendees is provided as an Enclosure.
On March 15, 2024 (Agencywide Documents and Access Management System (ADAMS)
Accession No. ML24075A183), the meeting was noticed on the NRC public webpage.
The NRC staff opened the meeting with introductory remarks and a roll call of the attendees.
The SNC representative presented slides contained in ML24087A097.
SNC representatives discussed the following topics: (1) background, (2) affected components, (3) proposed alternative, (4) basis, (5) precedents, and (6) schedule.
Background
The current code for Farley, Units 1 and 2, and Vogtle, Units 1 and 2, is the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section XI, 2007 Edition with 2008 Addenda. IWB-2500(a), Table IWB-2500-1, IWC-2500(a), and Table IWC-2500-1 requires inspections for affected components each Section XI inspection interval. The affected components at Farley, Unit 1 and 2, and Vogtle, Unit 1 and 2, Class 1 and 2 pressure-retaining welds on the SGs and pressurizer.
The affected SG components are:
ASME Category Item No.
Description B-B B2.40 SGs (primary side) tubesheet-to-head weld C-A C1.10 Shell circumferential welds C-A C.1.20 Head circumferential welds C-A C1.30 Tubesheet-to-shell welds The affected pressurizer components are:
ASME Category Item No.
Description B-B B2.11 Pressurizer, shell-to-head welds, circumferential B-B B2.12 Pressurizer, shell-to-head welds, longitudinal B-D B3.110 Pressurizer, nozzle-to-vessel welds Proposed Alternatives SNC is proposing an alternative to the examination requirements in IWB-2500-1 and IWC-2500-1 for the affected SG components to extend the examination interval to every other interval.
SNC is proposing an alternative to the examination requirements in IWB-2500-1 for the affected pressurizer components to extend the examination interval to every other interval.
SNC is proposing the alternative duration for the remainder of 5th inspection interval through the 6th interval at Farley, Units 1 and 2.
SNC is proposing the alternative duration for the remainder of 4th inspection interval through the 5th interval at Vogtle, Units 1 and 2.
Basis for Request SNC representative said that the applicability of the Electric Research Power Institute (EPRI) technical bases will be demonstrated in plant specific analyses for Farley, Units 1 and 2, and Vogtle, Units 1 and 2.
Precedents SNC stated that the following precedents apply to the proposed alternatives:
Millstone, Unit 2, dated July 16, 2021 (ML21167A355),
Duke Energy fleet (Catawba, Millstone, Oconee, Harris, and Robinson) dated September 25, 2023 (ML23256A088),
Duke Energy fleet dated October 19, 2023 (ML23264A853), and
Salem, Unit 1, dated June 10, 2021 (ML21145A189).
Schedule SNC representative stated that SNC plans to submit the SG Alternative request by the end of April 2024, and the pressurizer alternative request in May 2024. SNC plans to request that the NRC staff complete its review 12 months after the acceptance review for each Alternative request.
Discussion The NRC staff questioned if there were any dissimilar welds in the affected components. SNC stated that there are no dissimilar welds in the affected weld list.
The NRC staff asked when will the edition of the ASME Code change for Farley and Vogtle.
SNC said that the updated ASME Code would be adopted in 2027.
The NRC asked about the alternative request over two 10-year intervals. SNC stated that it completed inspections for the first two periods out of three periods of the current 10-year interval. SNC said its Alternative request would skip inspections in the third period of the current 10-year interval and the first two periods of the next 10-year interval.
The NRC asked if a table could be provided in the submittal to clearly show what welds are being requested for the alternative. SNC agreed to consider it in preparing its submittal.
The NRC staff questioned the inspection history of the welds and be provided information on any flaws and what would be the expansion criteria.
The NRC staff asked if there will be a discussion of the performance measuring in the submittal.
SNC agreed to consider the suggestion.
The NRC staff questioned if SNC will submit the Alternative requests under 10 CFR 50.55a(z)1 or (z)2. SNC stated that it would submit the alternative requests under (z)1.
The NRC staff asked SNC about the reason for the request. The licensee described its desire for the request authorizations but did not express an explicit need.
Closing Remarks There were no members of the public in attendance.
The NRC staff did not consult with the SNC personnel, and the NRC staff did not make any regulatory decisions during the meeting. Once received, the NRC staff will perform a thorough review of the proposed alternative requests. The NRC staff will make any regulatory decisions in writing in a timely manner. Public Meeting Feedback forms were available, but no comments were received.
The meeting adjourned at 11:44 am Eastern Time (ET).
Please direct any inquiries to me at John.Lamb@nrc.gov or 301-415-3100.
/RA/
John G. Lamb, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch, II-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-348, 50-364, 50-424 and 50-425
Enclosure:
List of Attendees cc w/encls: Distribution via Listserv
Enclosure LIST OF ATTENDEES APRIL 1, 2024, PRE-SUBMITTAL MEETING WITH SOUTHERN NUCLEAR COMPANY REGARDING A PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE TSTF-339 LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 ATTENDEE REPRESENTING John G. Lamb U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Mike Markley NRC John Tsao NRC Dave Dijamco NRC Dan Widrevitz NRC Eric Palmer NRC Jay Robinson NRC Zach Turner NRC DeLisa Pournaras Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC)
Ryan Joyce SNC Aaron Knighton SNC Wes Montgomery SNC Jordan Rice SNC Corey Thomas SNC Nat Cofie SNC Scott Chesworth Structural Integrity Dave Suddabda Westinghouse Robert Grizzi Electric Power Research Institute
PKG ML24093A065 Meeting Notice ML24075A183 Meeting Summary ML24093A061 SNC Slides ML24087A097 OFFICE DORL/LPL2-1/PM DORL/LPL2-1/LA DNRL/NVIB/BC DORL/LPL2-1/BC DORL/LPL2-1/PM NAME JLamb KGoldstein ABuford MMarkley JLamb DATE 04/01/2024 04/02/2024 04/10/2024 04/10/2024 04/18/2024