ML25196A297
| ML25196A297 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000025, 05000026 |
| Issue date: | 07/24/2025 |
| From: | Markley M NRC/NRR/DORL/LPL2-1 |
| To: | Coleman J Southern Nuclear Operating Co |
| References | |
| EPID L-2025-LLR-0053 | |
| Download: ML25196A297 (1) | |
Text
July 24, 2025 Ms. Jamie M. Coleman Regulatory Affairs Director Southern Nuclear Operating Company 3535 Colonnade Parkway Birmingham, AL 35243
SUBJECT:
VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT UNITS 3 AND 4 -
AUTHORIZATION TO USE A LATER EDITION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE, SECTION XI FOR INSERVICE INSPECTION (EPID L-2025-LLR-0053)
Dear Ms. Coleman:
By letter NL-25-0111 dated May 20, 2025, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML25140A970), Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC, the licensee) submitted request VEGP3&4-ISI-ALT-2025-01 to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to utilize a later edition of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel (BPV) Code,Section XI requirements at the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Vogtle or VEGP), Units 3 and 4, for the remainder of the first 10-year inservice inspection (ISI) interval.
Specifically, pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 55.55a(g)(4)(iv),
the licensee requested to use the 2019 Edition of the ASME BPV Code,Section XI, in its entirety for the ISI.
The NRC staff has reviewed the subject request and concludes, as set forth in the enclosed safety evaluation, that SNC has adequately addressed the requirements in 10 CFR 50.55a(a)(1)(ii) and 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(4)(iv). Therefore, the NRC staff authorizes the use of the 2019 Edition of the ASME Code,Section XI, in its entirety for ISI inspections for the remainder of the First 10-year ISI interval at Vogtle, Units 3 and 4.
If you have questions, please contact the Project Manager, Zach Turner, at 301-415-2258 or Zachary.Turner@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Michael Markley, Chief Plant Licensing Branch II-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulations Docket Nos.: 52-025 and 52-026
Enclosure:
Safety Evaluation cc: Listserv MICHAEL MARKLEY Digitally signed by MICHAEL MARKLEY Date: 2025.07.24 14:44:07 -04'00'
Enclosure SAFETY EVALUATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION AUTHORIZATION TO USE A PROVISION OF A LATER EDITION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 3 & 4 DOCKET NOS.52-025 AND 52-026
1.0 INTRODUCTION
By letter dated May 20, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession Package No. ML25140A970), in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.55a(g)(4)(iv), Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC, the licensee) submitted a request to use provisions of a later edition of the Inservice Inspection (ISI)
Code for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Vogtle), Units 3 and 4. SNCs request, VEGP3&4-ISI-ALT-2025-01, would allow use of the 2019 Edition of Section XI of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel (BPV) Code in its entirety for the remainder of the current inservice inspection (ISI) interval at Vogtle, Units 3 and 4. The licensee requested approval by September 30, 2025, to accommodate for the Vogtle, Units 3 and 4, Spring 2026 outage preparation. Vogtle, Units 3 and 4, are currently in their First ISI interval which started on July 31, 2023, and April 29, 2024, respectively, and is scheduled to end on July 30, 2033, and April 28, 2034, respectively.
2.0 REGULATORY EVALUATION
Specific editions and addenda, or portions thereof, of the ASME BPV Code,Section XI, have been incorporated by reference into 10 CFR 50.55a(a)(1)(ii). The editions and addenda of the ASME BPV Code,Section XI, are subject to the limitations in 10 CFR 50.55a(b)(2).
The regulations in 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(4) state, in part, that ASME Code Class 1, 2, and 3, MC
[metallic containment] and CC [concrete containment] 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 Code to the extent practical within the limitations of design, geometry, and materials of construction of the components. Paragraph 50.55a(g)(4)(iv) of 10 CFR states:
Applicable ISI Code: Use of subsequent Code editions and addenda. lnservice 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 [10 CFR 50.55a], 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.
3.0 TECHNICAL EVALUATION
3.1 Licensees Request 3.1.1 Components for Which the Subsequent Code Edition is Requested All Class 1, 2, and 3, MC and CC items.
3.1.2 Current Code Edition and Addenda of Record The application identified the currently applicable editions and addenda of the ASME BPV Code,Section XI, for each unit, as shown in Table 1 below. In addition, Table 1 shows the associated 10-year inservice inspection (ISI) interval, including the start and end dates, for each unit.
Table 1: Current ASME BPV Code,Section XI, Code of Record PLANT ISI INTERVAL ASME BPV CODE, SECTION XI START END VEGP Unit 3 1st 2017 Edition 7/31/2023 7/30/2033 VEGP Unit 4 1st 2017 Edition 4/29/2024 4/28/2034 3.1.3 Proposed Subsequent Code Edition Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(4)(iv), the licensee proposed to use the 2019 Edition of ASME BPV Code Section XI for the remainder of the first ISI interval at Vogtle, Units 3 and 4.
3.1.4 Duration of the Use of the Later Code Edition The duration of this request is for the remainder of the current ISI interval for each unit, as shown in Table 1 in Section 3.1.2, above.
3.2
NRC Staff Evaluation
Based on the requirements in 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(4)(iv), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) staff considered the following criteria in its review of the submittal:
- 1. The proposed edition or addenda of the ASME BPV Code are incorporated by reference in 10 CFR 50.55a(a)(1)(ii).
- 2. The proposed edition or addenda of the ASME BPV Code are subject to the conditions listed in 10 CFR 50.55a(b).
- 3. The licensee requested NRC approval to use the subsequent edition or addenda of the ASME BPV Code.
- 4. If only portions of editions or addenda are to be used, all related requirements of the respective editions or addenda are met.
SNC requested to use the 2019 Edition of the ASME BPV Code,Section XI, which has been incorporated by reference in 10 CFR 50.55a(a). Therefore, the first criterion above has been satisfied.
The licensee requested to use the 2019 Edition of ASME BPV Code Section XI in its entirety, which is subject to the conditions listed in 10 CFR 50.55a(b). Therefore, the second criterion above has been satisfied.
The NRC staff determined that the licensees letter dated May 20, 2025, constitutes a request to the Commission for approval to use a subsequent edition of ASME BPV Code Section XI.
Therefore, the third criterion above has been satisfied.
The licensee requested to use the 2019 Edition of ASME BPV Code,Section XI in its entirety.
Therefore, the fourth criterion is not applicable.
The NRC staff finds that the licensee has adequately addressed all regulatory requirements set forth in 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(4)(iv) since the four criteria above have been satisfied.
4.0 CONCLUSION
As set forth 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). Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that the use of the 2019 Edition of the ASME BPV Code Section XI for the first ISI interval at Vogtle, Units 3 and 4, is acceptable. The NRC staff approves the use of 2019 Edition of the ASME BPV Code Section XI for the remainder of the first ISI interval at Vogtle, Units 3 and 4.
All requirements of the ASME BPV Code Section XI, as incorporated by reference in 10 CFR 50.55a, for which relief were not specifically requested and approved remain applicable, including third-party review by the Authorized Nuclear Inservice Inspector.
Principal Contributors: Eric Palmer, NRR John Tsao, NRR Ali Rezai, NRR Date: July 24, 2025
ML25196A297 NRR-028 OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL2-1/PM NRR/DORL/LPL2-1/LA NRR/DNRL/NVIB/BC NAME ZTurner KZeleznock ABuford DATE 07/16/2025 07/17/2025 06/04/2025 OFFICE NRR/DNRL/NPHP/BC NRR/DORL/LPL2-1/BC NRR/DORL/LPL2-1/PM NAME MMitchell MMarkley ZTurner DATE 07/17/2025 07/24/2025 07/24/2025