NUREG-1339, Summarizes Resolution of GI 29 Bolting Degradation or Failure in Nuclear Power Plants
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OCT 2 5 1991 MEMORANDUM FOR:
James M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations FROM:
Eric S. Beckjord, Director Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research lSSUE 29;!" BOLTING
SUBJECT:
RESOLUTIONOFGENERICSAFETIl i
DEGRADATION OR FAILURE ~IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS" The purpose of this memorandum is to summarize the resolution of the referenced generic safety issue.
Summar_y Generic Safety Issue (GSI) 29 was established in 1982 to address staff concerns about degradation and failure of safety-related bolting in nuclear power plants.
The RES staff has prepared a Regulatory Analysis (NUREG-1445,
" Regulatory Analysis for the Resolution of Generic Safety Issue 29: Bolting Degradation or Failure in Nuclear Power Plants") and concluded that sufficient basis now exists for the resolution of GSI-29. A proposed generic information letter together with a supporting staff NUREG report (NUREG-1339, " Resolution of Generic Safety Issue 29: Bolting Degradation or Failure in Nuclear Power Plants") were forwarded to NRR for issuance to plants currently holding an OL or CP, to inform them of the technical findings and resolution of GSI-29.
The generic information letter (Generic Letter 91-17) and NUREG-1339 were issued to licensees on October 17, 1991.
Background
The resolution of GSI-29 is based largely on work performed by the industry through a program developed by the Joint Task Group on Bolting (formed by the Atomic Industrial Forum, the Materials Properties Council, and the Electric Power Research Institute), and resulted in' two volumes of EPRI Report NP-5769
("Degradat'on and Failure of Bolting in Nuclear Power Plants"), two volumes of EPRI " Good Bolting Practices - A Reference Manual for Nuclear Power Plant Maintenance Personnel", and three EPRI video training tapes on " Pressure Boundary Bolting Problems."
As discussed in NUREG-1339, with some exceptions and qualifications, the staff endorses the industry findings and the industry recommended actions.
The resolution of GSI-29 is also based on the fact that the staff has already taken actions on several specific issues related to threaded fasteners in a number of bulletins, generic letters and information notices. Major areas of concern which have been addressed are: PWR Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary (RCFB) bolting and component degradation due to boric acid corrosion (Bulletin d2-02 and Generic Letter 88-05), stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of internal bolting in c.vtain types of check valves (Bulletin 89-02), non-conforming, misrepresented, counterfeit and fraudulent bolting (Bulletin 87-02, Information Notices 89-22, 89-56, 89-70, Generic Letter 87-02), and traceability and material control of fasteners (Information Notice 86-25).
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n James A. Taylor Executive Director for Operations j
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Besides short-term actions to resolve the problems, many of the above mentioned bulletins and generic letters required continuing programs to minimize the likelihood of recurrence. Details are discussed in NUREG-1339.
1 Although value-impact studies on GSI-29 were performed by our contractors (Appendices A and B of Regulatory Analysis, NUREG-1445), the staff judged the studies to be inconclusive regarding a mandatory program-on safety-related bolting for operating plants, and, therefore, additional requirements could not be justified in accordance with the provisions of 10 CFR 50.109 for operating plants.
In addition, based on (1) bolting operating experience in both nuclear and conventional power plants, (2) the actions already taken through bulletins, generic letters, and information notices, and (3) the industry proposed actions; the Regulatory Analysis concluded that a sufficient technical basis e ists for the resolution of GSI-29.
The staff further concluded that leakage of bolted pressure joints is possible but catastrophic RCPB joint failure which will lead to significant accident sequences is highly unlikely.
Description of Resolution Generic Letter 91-17 and the accompanying NUREG-1339 suggest (but do not require) that the best way to resolve GSI-29 would be for utilities (1) to implement the industry bolting integrity program as presented in EPRI reports and video tapes and (2) to continue their actions in accordance with commitments made in response to a number of generic letters and bulletins.
RES believes that it is desirable to document guidance regarding bolting for future plants.
In order to improve the review of future plants and the review of submittals from operating plants for significant plant modifications, it is recommended that a new Standard Review Plan (SRP) Section on " Safety-Related Bolting" be developed by NRR to codify existing guidance and industry-developed recommendations. This new SRP should be included in a future revision to the SRP. As part of the resolution of GSI-29, RES has transmitted to NRR specific recommendations for bolting-related topics to be addressed in i
the SRP.
1 Conclusion With the issuance of the Generic Letter 91-17 and NUREG-1339, and the proposal to develop a new Standard Review Plan Section; Generic Safety Issue 29 is considered resolved.
For further information, please contact T.Y. Chang (X-23922).
8e S.<q7w Eric S. Beckjord, i ector Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research cc: See Next Page i
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James M. Taylor
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Executive Director for Operations CCT : 5 799, l'
cc:
T. Murley, NRR J. Richardson, NRR F. Gillespie, NRR C. Cheng, NRR P. Cota, NRR R. Hermann, NRR D. Oudinot, NRR J. Davis, NRR W. Minners, RES T. King, RES L. Shao, RES R. Baer, RES F. Cherny, RES D. Thatcher, RES R. Johnson, RES T. Chang, RES PCG PDR f
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