ML18345A016

NRR E-mail Capture - Verbal Authorization for Relief Request W3-ISI-0131, Proposed Alternative for ASME Code Case N-770-2 for Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3

ML18345A016
Person / Time
Site:	Waterford
Issue date:	12/10/2018
From:	April Pulvirenti Plant Licensing Branch IV
To:	Zamber M Entergy Nuclear Operations
References
L-2018-LLR-0125
Download: ML18345A016 (4)

Text

NRR-DMPSPEm Resource From: Pulvirenti, April Sent: Monday, December 10, 2018 3:18 PM To: Zamber, Maria Cc: Pascarelli, Robert; Ruffin, Steve; Cumblidge, Stephen; Fu, Bart

Subject:

Verbal Authorization for Relief Request W3-ISI-0131, Proposed Alternative for ASME Code Case N-770-2 for Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 (EPID No. L-2018-LLR-0125)

Maria, By telephone on December 10, 2018, The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff provided a verbal authorization to Entergy Operations, Inc. (Entergy, the licensee) for the requested alternative to the requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME Code), Code Case N-770-2, Section 2500(a), for Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 (Waterford 3). The licensee had submitted Request for Alternative W3-ISI-031 for NRC review and approval for use as an alternative to volumetric examination of dissimilar metal butt welds associated with the suction and discharge piping of the reactor coolant pumps. The NRC staffs evaluation and verbal authorization is repeated in the attachment to this email.

The following NRC and Licensee personnel participated in the conference call:

NRC:

Steven Ruffin, Chief, Piping and Head Penetrations Branch Robert Pascarelli, Chief, Plant Licensing Branch 4 Bart Fu, Materials Engineer, Piping and Head Penetrations Branch April Pulvirenti, Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch 4 Entergy:

William Steelman, Design and Programs Engineering Manager Maria Zamber, Senior Licensing Specialist John Signorelli, Regulatory Assurance Manager Gordon Chris Pickering, Code/Programs Engineering Supervisor Michael Brannin, Design Projects Senior Lead Engineer Please contact me if you have any questions.

April Pulvirenti Project Manager - Waterford 3 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Division of Operating Reactor Licensing April.Pulvirenti@nrc.gov 301-415-1390 1

DECEMBER 10, 2018 VERBAL AUTHORIZATION BY THE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION RELIEF REQUEST W3-ISI-031 PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE TO ASME CODE CASE N-770-2 WATERFORD STEAM ELECTRIC STATION UNIT 3 ENTERGY OPERATIONS INC DOCKET NO. 50-382 DECEMBER 10, 2018 Technical Evaluation read by Steve Ruffin, Chief of Piping and Head Penetrations Branch, Division of Materials and License Renewal, NRR By letter dated October 19, 2018 (ADAMS Accession Number ML18292A856), as supplemented by letter dated November 19, 2018 (ADAMS Accession Number ML18323A611), Entergy Operations Inc. (the licensee) requested alternative to the requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME Code), Code Case N-770-2, Successive Examinations, for Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3.

Specifically, pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.55a(z)(2), the licensee submitted Relief Request W3-ISI-031 on the basis that compliance with the specified ASME Code repair would result in hardship or unusual difficulty without a compensating increase in the level of quality and safety. The licensee requested relief from the Code Case N-770-2 examination coverage requirements until the examinations can be performed during Refueling Outage 22 with the alternative coverage requirements being the results obtained during the examinations performed during Refueling Outage 22 which will commence in January of 2019.

The NRC staff finds that the proposed alternative has already met the requirements specified under Section -

2500 of Code Case N-770-2. The NRC staff noted from the licensees submittal dated that October 19, 2018 that 100% of coverage has been achieved in volumetric examination of primary water stress corrosion cracking susceptible material for both axial and circumferential flaws during the 2014 inspection. The NRC staff also noted that Section -2500 (b) of Code Case N-770-2 specifies that For cast stainless steel items for which no supplement is available in Appendix VIII, the required examination volume shall be examined by Appendix VIII procedures to the maximum extent practical including 100% of the susceptible material volume (non-stainless steel volume), and noted this section is applicable to the components in the request by the licensee. The NRC staff determines that the licensees inspection in 2014 is in compliance with requirements of Code Case N-770-2.

Based on the above evaluation, the NRC staff finds that the licensees proposed alternative will provide an acceptable level of quality and safety, and is therefore authorized.

Authorization read by Robert Pascarelli, Chief of Plant Licensing Branch IV, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, NRR As chief of the Plant Licensing Branch IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, I concur with the conclusions of the Piping and Head Penetrations Branch.

2

The NRC staff concludes that the proposed alternative is in compliance with requirements of the subject Code Case. Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that the licensee has adequately addressed all of the regulatory requirements set forth in 10 CFR 50.55a(z)(2). Therefore, as of December 10, 2018, the NRC authorizes the use of Relief Request W3-ISI-031 until the end of Refueling Outage 22 at Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3.

All other requirements in ASME Code,Section XI, for which relief was not specifically requested and approved in this relief request remain applicable, including third-party review by the Authorized Nuclear Inservice Inspector.

This verbal authorization does not preclude the NRC staff from asking additional clarification questions regarding the proposed alternative while preparing the subsequent written safety evaluation.

3

Hearing Identifier: NRR_DMPS Email Number: 707 Mail Envelope Properties (April.Pulvirenti@nrc.gov20181210151700)

Subject:

Verbal Authorization for Relief Request W3-ISI-0131, Proposed Alternative for ASME Code Case N-770-2 for Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 (EPID No. L-2018-LLR-0125)

Sent Date: 12/10/2018 3:17:53 PM Received Date: 12/10/2018 3:17:00 PM From: Pulvirenti, April Created By: April.Pulvirenti@nrc.gov Recipients:

"Pascarelli, Robert" <Robert.Pascarelli@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Ruffin, Steve" <Steve.Ruffin@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Cumblidge, Stephen" <Stephen.Cumblidge@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Fu, Bart" <Bart.Fu@nrc.gov>

Tracking Status: None "Zamber, Maria" <mzamber@entergy.com>

Tracking Status: None Post Office:

Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 5479 12/10/2018 3:17:00 PM Options Priority: Standard Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date:

Recipients Received: