ML072410535

Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station - Evaluation of Finite Element Analysis in Support of Alloy 82/102 Pressurizer Butt Weld Inspections in 2008 as Provided by Confirmatory Action Letter NRR-07-002 (TAC MD4188)

ML072410535
Person / Time
Site:	Summer
Issue date:	09/07/2007
From:	Catherine Haney Plant Licensing Branch III-2
To:	Archie J B South Carolina Electric & Gas Co
Martin R E, NRR/DORL, 415-1493
References
TAC MD4188, NRR-07-002
Download: ML072410535 (4)

Text

September 7, 2007

Jeffrey B. Archie Vice President, Nuclear Operations Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station P.O. Box 88 Jenkinsville, SC 29065

SUBJECT:

VIRGIL C. SUMMER NUCLEAR STATION - EVALUATION OF FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS IN SUPPORT OF ALLOY 82/182 PRESSURIZER BUTT WELD INSPECTIONS IN 2008 AS PROVIDED BY CONFIRMATORY ACTION LETTER NRR-07-002 (TAC NO. MD4188)

Dear Mr. Archie:

On March 15, 2007, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL) No. NRR-07-002 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession Number ML070730269) regarding dissimilar metal welds in the pressurizer surge, spray, and safety/relief nozzle-to-safe end welds at Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station (VCSNS). The CAL and the supporting commitment letter (ADAMS Accession No.

ML070520146) indicate that inspection and mitigation actions may be conducted during your spring 2008 refueling outage, contingent on the industry providing an analysis that demonstrates an acceptable level of safety to the NRC for the operation of these welds until the spring of 2008.

This letter acknowledges receipt of your letter dated August 1, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No.

ML072190080), informing the NRC that the analysis referred to by this CAL and the supporting commitment letter has been completed, and that the analysis is applicable to your plant.

The NRC received MRP-216, Rev. 1, AMaterials Reliability Program: Advanced FEA [Finite Element Analysis] Evaluation of Growth of Postulated Circumferential PWSCC [Primary Water Stress-Corrosion Cracking] Flaws in Pressurizer Nozzle Dissimilar Metal Welds,@ on August 13, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No. ML072410235). Based on our review of this report, the NRC concludes that the analysis provides adequate justification to permit inspections during your spring 2008 refueling outage, and that the analysis is applicable to VCSNS. The results of the staff=s review are contained in a safety assessment dated August 31, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No. ML072400199) and the associated contractor report (ADAMS Accession No. ML072470394).

Based on the above, the NRC concludes that a plant shutdown by December 31, 2007, is no longer required. Therefore, the pressurizer surge, spray, and safety/relief nozzle-to-safe end Alloy 82/182 butt weld inspections for VCSNS must be performed prior to exiting your scheduled spring 2008 refueling outage. All other requirements of the CAL and the supporting commitment letter regarding enhanced inspection and leakage monitoring requirements for the reactor coolant system and associated reports remain valid.

J. Archie The CAL will remain open until all CAL commitm ents pertaining to VCSNS are complete.

Current NRC guidance regarding CALs is contained in the NRC Enforcement Policy and the NRC Enforcement Manual, which are available at the NRC web site at http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/enforcement.html (click on Enforcement Policy or Enforcement Guidance) or by contacting the Government Printing Office (GPO) toll-free at 1-888-293-6498. The GPO is open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays).

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter will be made available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the NRC=s document system (ADAMS), accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm.html.

Sincerely, /RA/ Catherine Haney, Director Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Docket No. 50-395

cc: See next page

ML072410535 OFFICE DCI/CPNB DCI/CPNB LPL2-1/PM LPL2-1/LA LPL2-1/BC

NAME TLupold TChan RMartin CSola EMarinos DATE 9/6/07 9/6/07 9/5/07 9/5/07 9/6/07

OFFICE DCI/D DRP/D, RGN2 DORL/D NAME MEvans CCasto CHaney DATE 9/7/07 9/7/07 9/7/07 Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station

cc:

Mr. Jeffrey B. Archie Vice President, Nuclear Operations South Carolina Electric & Gas Company Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station Post Office Box 88 Jenkinsville, SC 29065

Mr. R. J. White Nuclear CoordinatorS.C. Public Service Authority c/o Virgil C. Summer Nuclear StationPost Office Box 88, Mail Code 802 Jenkinsville, SC 29065

Resident Inspector/Summer NPS c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 576 Stairway Road Jenkinsville, SC 29065

Chairman, Fairfield County Council Drawer 60 Winnsboro, SC 29180

Mr. Henry Porter, Assistant Director Division of Waste Management Bureau of Land & Waste Management Dept. of Health & Environmental Control 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201

Mr. Thomas D. Gatlin, General Manager Nuclear Plant Operations South Carolina Electric & Gas Company Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station Post Office Box 88, Mail Code 300 Jenkinsville, SC 29065

Mr. Robert G. Sweet, Manager Nuclear Licensing South Carolina Electric & Gas Company Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station Post Office Box 88, Mail Code 830 Jenkinsville, SC 29065

Ms. Kathryn M. Sutton Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP 111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

Washington, DC 20004