ML093080814

Email Verbal Authorization of Request for Alternative - W3-ISI-016

ML093080814
Person / Time
Site:	Waterford
Issue date:	11/04/2009
From:	Kalyanam N Plant Licensing Branch IV
To:	Murillo R, Joseph E Pollock Entergy Operations
Kalyanam N, NRR/DORL/LPL4, 415-1480
References
TAC ME2411
Download: ML093080814 (2)

Text

From: Kalyanam, Kaly Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 3:47 PM To: MURILLO, ROBERT J; POLLOCK, JIM

Subject:

Verbal Authorization of Request for Alternative - W3-ISI-016 Date: 3:10 PM, November 4, 2009

Subject:

Verbal Authorization of Request for Alternative - W3-ISI-016 Attendees: Entergy Operations Inc.: Robert Murillo, Jim Pollock

NRC - Fred Lyon (Acting Branch Chief, DORL/LPL4), John Tsao (Acting Branch Chief, DCI/CPNB), Jay Wallace (DCI/CPNB), and Kaly N. Kalyanam (DORL/LPL4)

By letter dated October, 19, 2009, Entergy Operations, Inc. (Entergy, the licensee) submitted the proposed alternative "Request for Alternative W3-ISI-016, Inspection of Reactor Vessel Head Control Mechanism Drive Element Nozzles during Third Ten-Year Inservice Inspection Interval" for Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3. This request was as amended by letter dated November 2, 2009 that provided responses to the request for additional information. The licensee requested use of an alternative to the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) section 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(D) which required augmentation of pressurized water reactor inservice inspection program with ASME Code Case N-729-1, subject to the conditions specified in paragraphs (g)(6)(ii)(D)(2) through (6). Specifically, the licensee proposed that performing a manual surface examination of the threaded connection at the bottom of the control element drive mechanism (CEDM) nozzle wetted surface would constitute a hardship due to high personnel radiological exposure without a compensating increase in the level of quality or safety.

Based on a review of Request for Alternative W3-ISI-016, the staff of the Piping and NDE Branch (CPNB) finds that the licensee has demonstrated that a postulated flaw in the lower part of the nozzle that cannot be examined by ultrasonic (UT) examination will not propagate to the toe of the J-groove weld in one operating cycle. Therefore, the staff finds that the proposed alternative provides an acceptable level of quality and safety, and provides reasonable assurance of structural integrity. The staff also finds that a manual surface examination to a distance "a" of the wetted surface that cannot be examined by UT, as defined in Code Case N-729-1, Figure 2, would present a significant hardship due to radiological exposure without a compensating increase in the level of quality or safety. Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.55a(a)(3)(ii), the use of the proposed alternative for the Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 is authorized for the 16'th refueling cycle, beginning in fall of 2009 until the commencement of the 17'th refueling cycle in spring of 2011.

All other requirements of Code Case N-729-1 and 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(D)(6) not specifically requested and approved in this relief request remain applicable, including third party review by the Authorized Nuclear Inservice Inspector.

E-mail Properties Mail Envelope Properties ()

Subject:

Verbal Authorization of Request for Alternative - W3-ISI-016 Sent Date: 11/4/2009 3:45:13 PM Received Date: 11/4/2009 3:47:00 PM From: Kalyanam, Kaly

Created By: Kaly.Kalyanam@nrc.gov

Recipients:

RMURILL@entergy.com (MURILLO, ROBERT J)

Tracking Status: None RPOLLOC@entergy.com (POLLOCK, JIM)

Tracking Status: None

Post Office:

Files Size Date & Time

MESSAGE 10681 11/4/2009

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Priority: olImportanceNormal ReplyRequested: False Return Notification: False

Sensitivity: olNormal Recipients received: