ML060740158

Y020060048 - Nuclear Regulatory Commission'S Approval of the Bar-Lock Reinforcing Bar Splice

ML060740158
Person / Time
Site:	Sequoyah
Issue date:	03/17/2006
From:	Sheron B NRC/NRR/ADES
To:	Rich Smith Erico International
John Ma, NRR/DE/EGCB, 415-2732
Shared Package
ML060740040	List: ML060720094 ML060740158
References
TAC MD0314, Y020060048
Download: ML060740158 (4)

Text

March 17, 2006 Mr. Robert G. Smith Erico International PO Box 1921 Southern Pines, NC 28388

Dear Mr. Smith:

This is in response to your letter, dated February 23, 2006. Your letter was in regards to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) approval (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession Number ML031140078) of the Bar-lock reinforcing bar splice as requested by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 (SQN1). You described your concern regarding the lack of submittal of the Bar-lock splice to American Concrete Institute - American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ACI-ASME)

Committee 359 for approval.

I previously described the NRC's review and approval of TVA's request in my letter to you, dated October 27, 2003 (ML032880023), in response to an earlier letter of yours dated September 23, 2003 (ML032880494). My prior letter explained that the NRC's approval of the Bar-lock coupler assembly for SQN1 was for that specific application, and was based on the justification submitted by the licensee. The NRC occasionally reviews and approves devices for specific applications. For SQN1, the staff concluded that the device met ACI-ASME Code requirements for that specific application.

In the third paragraph of your recent letter, you asserted that my prior letter of October 27, 2006, stated that we have a shared interest in clarification in this matter. My letter, in fact, stated that "it is evident that we share your same view on the limitations for use of Bar-Lock coupler assemblies, and believe that our letters of March 13 and April 24, 2003, to TVA clearly articulate the NRC position without any ambiguity." I do not believe additional clarification of this issue is needed.

Should you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Mr. John Ma at (301) 415-2732.

Sincerely, Brian Sheron, Associate Director /RA/

for Engineering and Safety Systems Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-327

Mr. Robert G. Smith Erico International PO Box 1921 Southern Pines, NC 28388

Dear Mr. Smith:

This is in response to your letter, dated February 23, 2006. Your letter was in regards to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) approval (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession Number ML031140078) of the Bar-lock reinforcing bar splice as requested by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 (SQN1). You described your concern regarding the lack of submittal of the Bar-lock splice to American Concrete Institute - American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ACI-ASME)

Committee 359 for approval.

I previously described the NRC's review and approval of TVA's request in my letter to you, dated October 27, 2003 (ML032880023), in response to an earlier letter of yours dated September 23, 2003 (ML032880494). My prior letter explained that the NRC's approval of the Bar-lock coupler assembly for SQN1 was for that specific application, and was based on the justification submitted by the licensee. The NRC occasionally reviews and approves devices for specific applications. For SQN1, the staff concluded that the device met ACI-ASME Code requirements for that specific application.

In the third paragraph of your recent letter, you asserted that my prior letter of October 27, 2006, stated that we have a shared interest in clarification in this matter. My letter, in fact, stated that "it is evident that we share your same view on the limitations for use of Bar-Lock coupler assemblies, and believe that our letters of March 13 and April 24, 2003, to TVA clearly articulate the NRC position without any ambiguity." I do not believe additional clarification of this issue is needed.

Should you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Mr. John Ma at (301) 415-2732.

Sincerely, Brian Sheron, Associate Director for Engineering and Safety Systems Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-327 DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC RidsNrrDe RidsNrrAdes Mwidmann, RII OGC MMarshall RidsNrrOd CHaney ACRS DPickett MWeber BClayton RidsNrrWpcMail Y020060048 ADAMS Package Accession Number: ML060740040 ADAMS Incoming Accession Number: ML060720094 ADAMS Response Accession Number: ML060740158 OFFICE EGCB EGCB/BC NRR/ADES/DE/D NRR/ADES NAME JMa RKaras MMayfield BSheron DATE 03/13/2006 03/13/2006 03/16/2006 03/17/2006 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY