ML071790100

Y020070131 - Letter Response to T. Gurdziel, RPV Head Inspections and the Exponent Report

ML071790100
Person / Time
Site:	Davis Besse
Issue date:	06/27/2007
From:	Grobe J NRC/NRR/ADES
To:	Tom Gurdziel - No Known Affiliation
Jay W. Collins, DCI/CPNB, 415-4038
Shared Package
ML071790106	List: ML071640348 ML071790100
References
BN63097.001, FOIA/PA-2007-0299, Y020070131
Download: ML071790100 (2)

Text

June 27, 2007Mr. Thomas Gurdziel9 Twin Orchard Drive Oswego, NY 13126

Dear Mr. Gurdziel:

This letter is in response to your letter addressed to Luis A. Reyes, Executive Director forOperations, dated May 22, 2007, in which you requested action relative to reactor pressure vessel (RPV) head inspections at each domestic pressurized water reactor (PWR) plant. In your letter, you requested the NRC to consider the Exponent Failure Analysis Associates and Altran Solutions Corporation (jointly referred to as "Exponent") Report Project Number BN63097.001, "Review & Analysis of the Davis-Besse March 2002 Reactor Pressure Vessel Head Wastage Event," as accurate until the NRC or industry proves it is not. Further, until this action is complete you recommended increasing RPV head inspection frequency to a four (4) month interval.The NRC does not plan to perform a detailed engineering review of the Exponent report. The NRC has evaluated its current reactor vessel head and penetration nozzle inspection requirements assuming that the Exponent results are technically correct and concluded that the NRC inspection requirements remain adequate to assure the safety of operating pressurized water reactors and detect vessel penetration flaws before significant degradation occurs. This NRC assessment is publicly available and a copy has been attached to this letter.Thank you for your interest in this matter.Sincerely, /RA/John A. Grobe, Associate Director for Engineering and Safety Systems, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation,

Enclosure:

Assessment of Exponent Report ML071240254 June 27, 2007Mr. Thomas Gurdziel9 Twin Orchard Drive Oswego, NY 13126

Dear Mr. Gurdziel:

This letter is in response to your letter addressed to Luis A. Reyes, Executive Director forOperations, dated May 22, 2007, in which you requested action relative to reactor pressure vessel (RPV) head inspections at each domestic pressurized water reactor (PWR) plant. In your letter, you requested the NRC to consider the Exponent Failure Analysis Associates and Altran Solutions Corporation (jointly referred to as "Exponent") Report Project Number BN63097.001, "Review & Analysis of the Davis-Besse March 2002 Reactor Pressure Vessel Head Wastage Event," as accurate until the NRC or industry proves it is not. Further, until this action is complete you recommended increasing RPV head inspection frequency to a four (4) month interval.The NRC does not plan to perform a detailed engineering review of the Exponent report. The NRC has evaluated its current reactor vessel head and penetration nozzle inspection requirements assuming that the Exponent results are technically correct and concluded that the NRC inspection requirements remain adequate to assure the safety of operating pressurized water reactors and detect vessel penetration flaws before significant degradation occurs.

This NRC assessment is publicly available and a copy has been attached to this letter.Thank you for your interest in this matter.Sincerely, /RA/John A. Grobe, Associate Director for Engineering and Safety Systems, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation,

Enclosure:

Assessment of Exponent Report ML071240254DISTRIBUTION w/o encl

JDyer, NRRJWiggins, NRRJGrobe, ADESMEvans, DCI BBateman, DCITChan, DCIWCullen, RESTWengert, DORLDCI R/F Y020070131ADAMS ACCESSION NO.: Package No.:ML071790106; Report:ML071240254 Letter: ML071790100 OFFICECPNB/DCICPNB/DCIDCIADESNAMEJWCollins*TLChan*MGEvans*JGrobeDATE06/26/0706/26/0706/26/0706/27/07 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY