ML070090028

Bulletin 2004-01, Inspection of Alloy 82/182/600 Materials Used in the Fabrication of Pressurizer Penetrations and Steam Space Piping, Response for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 (TAC Nos. MC3522 and MC3523)

ML070090028
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	02/06/2007
From:	Martin R, Balwant Singal NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLII-1
To:	Tynan T Southern Nuclear Operating Co
Martin R, NRR/DORL, 415-1493
References
BL-04-001, TAC M93451, TAC MC3522, TAC MC3523
Download: ML070090028 (5)

Text

February 6, 2007Mr. Tom E. TynanVice President - Vogtle Vogtle Electric Generating Plant 7821 River Road Waynesboro, GA 30830

SUBJECT:

RESPONSE TO BULLETIN 2004-01, "INSPECTION OF ALLOY 82/182/600MATERIALS USED IN THE FABRICATION OF PRESSURIZER PENETRATIONS AND STEAM SPACE PIPING CONNECTIONS AT PRESSURIZED-WATER REACTORS," FOR VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 (TAC NOS. MC3522 AND MC3523)

Dear Mr. Tynan:

On May 28, 2004, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued Bulletin 2004-01,"Inspection of Alloy 82/182/600 Materials Used in the Fabrication of Pressurizer Penetrations and Steam Space Piping Connections at Pressurized-Water Reactors," to the industry. This bulletin informed addressees that current methods of inspecting the pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections fabricated from Alloy 82/182/600 materials may need to be supplemented with additional measures (e.g., bare-metal visual inspections) to detect pressurizer penetration and steam space piping connection flaws or leakage. The bulletin requested that addressees provide the NRC with information related to the materials of construction, the inspections that have been performed, and the inspections which will be performed to verify the integrity of the pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections. By letter dated July 26, 2004, and supplemental letter dated October 21, 2004, SouthernNuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC), provided its responses to items 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d of Bulletin 2004-01 for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP), Units 1 and 2. SNC's responses described its materials of fabrication and past, current and future pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping inspection programs at VEGP.

SNC's response to item 1a reported that some of the materials used in the fabrication of thepressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections were Alloy 82/182/600 materials.

This reply required you to provide further responses to the remaining items in the bulletin.In response to item 1b, SNC described prior inspections and inspection results of pressurizerpenetrations and steam space piping connections which had been performed at VEGP. SNC's response included the basis for concluding that VEGP satisfies the applicable regulatory requirements related to the integrity of pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections.

T. Tynan- 2 -In response to item 1c in the bulletin, SNC provided a description of the Alloy 82/182/600pressurizer penetration and steam space piping connection inspection program that will be implemented at your plant during the next and subsequent refueling outages. The description included the items to be inspected as follows: 1) the percent of coverage that would be performed at each location, 2) the inspection methods to be used, 3) the qualification standards for the inspection methods and personnel, 4) the process used to resolve any inspection indications, 5) the inspection documentation to be generated, and 6) the basis for concluding that your plant will satisfy the applicable regulatory requirements related to the structural and leakage integrity of pressurizer penetrations and steam space piping connections. If leaking pressurizer penetrations or steam space piping connections are found, SNC indicated that follow-up nondestructive examination (NDE) will be performed to characterize flaws in the leaking penetrations. SNC provided its plans for expansion of the scope of NDE to be performed if circumferential flaws are found in any portion of the leaking pressurizer penetrations or steam space piping connections.In response to item 1d in the bulletin, SNC explained why the inspection program identified inthe response to item 1c in the bulletin is adequate for the purpose of maintaining the integrity of the VEGP reactor coolant pressure boundary and for meeting all applicable regulatory requirements which pertain to your facility.By letters dated June 6, 2005, for VEGP Unit 1 and December 12, 2005, for VEGP Unit 2, youprovided a response to item 2a in Bulletin 2004-01. These letters provided statements to the NRC indicating that the inspections described in your response to item 1c of the bulletin were completed during recent outages and a description of the as-found condition of the locations inspected was provided. The NRC staff has completed its activities associated with the review of SNC's responses toBulletin 2004-01 and finds SNC's response to be acceptable. It should be noted that industry commitments or staff regulatory actions may result in the need for you to modify your plans for the inspection and repair of items discussed in Bulletin 2004-01. It is the staff's expectation that you will revise your plan for the inspection and repair of items discussed in Bulletin 2004-01 consistent with other industry commitments or staff regulatory actions.

T. Tynan- 3 -Based on the review of SNC's responses to NRC Bulletin 2004-01, the NRC staff finds thatSNC has met the requirements of the bulletin. Accordingly, TAC Nos. MC3522 and MC3523 are closed for VEGP Units 1 and 2. Please contact me at (301) 415-3016 if you have any questions on this issue.Sincerely,/RA/Balwant K. Singal, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch II-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor RegulationDocket Nos. 50-424 and 50-425 cc: See next page

ML070090028OFFICENRR/LPL2-1/PMNRR/LPL2-1/LANRR/CVIBNRR/LPL2-1/BCNAMEBSingal:bksMOBrienMMitchellEMarinos DATE02/01/07 2/1/07 2/5/07 2/6/07 Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 & 2 cc:

Mr. Tom E. TynanVice President - Vogtle Vogtle Electric Generating Plant 7821 River Road Waynesboro, GA 30830Mr. N. J. StringfellowManager, Licensing Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295Mr. Jeffrey T. GasserExecutive Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201-1295Mr. Steven M. JacksonSenior Engineer - Power Supply Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia 1470 Riveredge Parkway, NW Atlanta, GA 30328-4684Mr. Reece McAlisterExecutive Secretary Georgia Public Service Commission 244 Washington St., SW Atlanta, GA 30334Mr. Harold Reheis, DirectorDepartment of Natural Resources 205 Butler Street, SE, Suite 1252 Atlanta, GA 30334Attorney GeneralLaw Department 132 Judicial Building Atlanta, GA 30334Mr. Laurence BergenOglethorpe Power Corporation 2100 East Exchange Place P.O. Box 1349 Tucker, GA 30085-1349Arthur H. Domby, EsquireTroutman Sanders Nations Bank Plaza 600 Peachtree Street, NE Suite 5200 Atlanta, GA 30308-2216Resident InspectorVogtle Plant 8805 River Road Waynesboro, GA 30830Office of the County CommissionerBurke County Commission Waynesboro, GA 30830