ML050060435

Response to Nuclear Regulatory Commission Bulletin 2003-02, Leakage from Reactor Pressure Vessel Lower Head Penetrations and Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Integrity

ML050060435
Person / Time
Site:	Oconee
Issue date:	01/06/2005
From:	Olshan L NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD2
To:	Rosalyn Jones Duke Energy Corp
Olshan L N, NRR/DLPM, 415-1419
References
BL-03-002, TAC MC0550, TAC MC0551
Download: ML050060435 (4)

Text

January 6, 2005 Mr. Ronald A. Jones Vice President, Oconee Site Duke Energy Corporation 7800 Rochester Highway Seneca, SC 29672

SUBJECT:

OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 - RESPONSE TO NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BULLETIN 2003-02, LEAKAGE FROM REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD PENETRATIONS AND REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY INTEGRITY (TAC NOS.

MC0550 AND MC0551)

Dear Mr. Jones:

On August 21, 2003, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued NRC Bulletin 2003-02, Leakage from Reactor Pressure Vessel Lower Head Penetrations and Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Integrity, to the industry. This bulletin informed addressees that current methods of inspecting the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) lower heads may need to be supplemented with bare-metal visual inspections in order to detect reactor coolant pressure boundary leakage. The bulletin also requested these addressees to provide the NRC with information related to inspections that have been performed to verify the integrity of the RPV lower head penetrations.

The bulletin requested that addressees provide a description of the RPV lower head penetration inspection program that would be implemented at their respective plants during the next and subsequent refueling outages. This description was to include the extent of the inspection, the inspection methods to be used, the qualification standards for the inspection methods, the process used to resolve the source of findings of boric acid deposits or corrosion, the inspection documentation to be generated, and the basis for concluding that their plant satisfied applicable regulatory requirements related to the structural and leakage integrity of the RPV lower head penetrations.

By letter dated September 18, 2003, Duke Energy Corporation (Duke) provided its response to this request for Oconee Nuclear Station (Oconee), Units 1 and 2. Duke indicated it planned to perform a bare-metal visual examination of the RPV lower head, including a 360 degree examination of all RPV lower head penetrations during the Fall 2003 and Spring 2004 refueling outages at Oconee, Units 1 and 2, respectively. Additionally, Duke stated that the information obtained from these inspection findings and industry developments on the RPV lower head penetrations will be used to determine the type of examinations that will be performed during future refueling outages, beyond the Fall 2003 and Spring 2004 refueling outages at Oconee.

The NRC staff notes that there are a number of ongoing industry and NRC staff activities related to developing criteria for RPV lower head penetrations inspections. As such, the NRC staff expect that the criteria for these inspections will involve periodic bare-metal visual examinations or their equivalent.

Ronald Jones The bulletin also requested that addressees provide a summary of the RPV lower head penetration inspection that was performed at their plants, the extent of the inspection and the methods used, a description of the as-found condition of the lower head, any findings of relevant indications of through-wall leakage, and a summary of the disposition of any findings of boric acid deposits and any corrective actions taken as a result of indications found.

By letter dated February 3, 2004, Duke provided a summary of its inspection results at Oconee, Unit 1. Duke reported it had performed a bare-metal visual inspection of the RPV lower head, including 360 degree examinations around 100 percent of the RPV lower head penetrations.

Duke did not observe any evidence of RPV lower head penetration leakage.

By letter dated July 1, 2004, Duke provided a summary of its inspection results at Oconee, Unit 2. Duke reported it had performed a bare-metal visual inspection of the RPV lower head, including 360 degree examinations around 100 percent of the RPV lower head penetrations.

Duke did not observe any evidence of RPV lower head penetration leakage.

Based on its review of Dukes responses to NRC Bulletin 2003-02, the NRC staff finds that Duke has met the reporting requirements of the bulletin for Oconee. Accordingly, TAC NOS.

MC0550 and MC0551 are closed for Oconee, Units 1 and 2, respectively.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Leonard N. Olshan, Sr., Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate II Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-269 and 50-270 cc: See next page

ML050060435 OFFICE PDII-1/PM PDII-1/LA LPM EMCB PDII-1/SC NAME LOlshan CHawes SMonarque ESullivan JNakoksi DATE 1/4/05 1/6/05 1/6/05 12/21/2004 1/6/05 Oconee Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 cc:

Ms. Lisa F. Vaughn Ms. Karen E. Long Duke Energy Corporation Assistant Attorney General Mail Code - PB05E NC Department of Justice 422 S. Church St. P.O. Box 629 P.O. Box 1244 Raleigh, NC 27602 Charlotte, NC 28201-1244 Mr. R. L. Gill, Jr.

Ms. Anne W. Cottingham, Esq. Manager - Nuclear Regulatory Winston and Strawn Issues and Industry Affairs 1400 L St, NW Duke Energy Corporation Washington, DC 20005 526 S. Church St.

Mail Stop EC05P Manager, LIS Charlotte, NC 28202 NUS Corporation 2650 McCormick Dr., 3rd Floor Mr. Richard M. Fry, Director Clearwater, FL 34619-1035 Division of Radiation Protection NC Dept of Environment, Health, & Natural Senior Resident Inspector Resources U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 3825 Barrett Dr.

7812B Rochester Highway Raleigh, NC 27609-7721 Seneca, SC 29672 Mr. Peter R. Harden, IV Mr. Henry Porter, Director VP-Customer Relations and Sales Division of Radioactive Waste Management Westinghouse Electric Company Bureau of Land and Waste Management 6000 Fairview Road Dept. of Health and Env. Control 12th Floor 2600 Bull St. Charlotte, NC 28210 Columbia, SC 29201-1708 Mr. Henry Barron Mr. Michael A. Schoppman Group Vice President, Nuclear Generation Framatome ANP and Chief Nuclear Officer 1911 North Ft. Myer Dr. P.O. Box 1006-EC07H Suite 705 Charlotte, NC 28201-1006 Rosslyn, VA 22209 Mr. B. G. Davenport Regulatory Compliance Manager Oconee Nuclear Site Duke Energy Corporation ON03RC 7800 Rochester Highway Seneca, SC 29672