ML052990411

RAI - Request for Additional Information Related to Request for Relief from ASME Section XI Code Requirements for Repair of Pressurizer Nozzle Penetrations - Use of Code Case N-638 with Three Exceptions

ML052990411
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	10/28/2005
From:	Padovan L NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD3
To:	Harden P Nuclear Management Co
Padovan L, NRR/DLPM, 415-1423
References
TAC MC7993
Download: ML052990411 (4)

Text

October 28, 2005 Mr. Paul A. Harden Site Vice President Nuclear Management Company, LLC Palisades Nuclear Plant 27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway Covert, MI 49043-9530

SUBJECT:

PALISADES PLANT REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATED TO REQUEST FOR RELIEF FROM ASME SECTION XI CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR REPAIR OF PRESSURIZER NOZZLE PENETRATIONS

- USE OF CODE CASE N-638 WITH THREE EXCEPTIONS (TAC NO. MC7993)

Dear Mr. Harden:

Your letter of July 22, 2005, requested relief from certain requirements of the 1989 Edition of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section XI, related to repair of pressurizer nozzle penetrations. The specific relief requested is to use Code Case N-638, Similar and Dissimilar Metal Welding Using Ambient Temperature Machine [Gas Tungsten Arc Welding] GTAW Temper Bead Technique with three exceptions.

We are reviewing your request, and find that we need additional information as shown in the enclosed request for additional information (RAI). I discussed this RAI with Ms. Amy Hazelhoff of your organization on October 26, 2005, and she agreed to respond by November 30, 2005.

Please contact me at (301) 415-1423 if you have questions.

Sincerely,

/RA/

L. Mark Padovan, Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate III Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-255

Enclosure:

RAI cc w/encl: See next page

October 28, 2005 Mr. Paul A. Harden Site Vice President Nuclear Management Company, LLC Palisades Nuclear Plant 27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway Covert, MI 49043-9530

SUBJECT:

PALISADES PLANT REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATED TO REQUEST FOR RELIEF FROM ASME SECTION XI CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR REPAIR OF PRESSURIZER NOZZLE PENETRATIONS

- USE OF CODE CASE N-638 WITH THREE EXCEPTIONS (TAC NO. MC7993)

Dear Mr. Harden:

Your letter of July 22, 2005, requested relief from certain requirements of the 1989 Edition of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section XI, related to repair of pressurizer nozzle penetrations. The specific relief requested is to use Code Case N-638, Similar and Dissimilar Metal Welding Using Ambient Temperature Machine [Gas Tungsten Arc Welding] GTAW Temper Bead Technique with three exceptions.

We are reviewing your request, and find that we need additional information as shown in the enclosed request for additional information (RAI). I discussed this RAI with Ms. Amy Hazelhoff of your organization on October 26, 2005, and she agreed to respond by November 30, 2005.

Please contact me at (301) 415-1423 if you have questions.

Sincerely,

/RA/

L. Mark Padovan, Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate III Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-255

Enclosure:

RAI cc w/encl: See next page DISTRIBUTION PUBLIC OGC LRaghavan DLPMDPR CLipa, RGN-III PDIII-1 Reading ACRS LPadovan THarris ADAMS Accession Number: ML052990411 OFFICE PDIII-1/PM PDIII-1/LA PDIII-1/SC NAME LPadovan THarris LRaghavan DATE 10/28/05 10/27/05 10/28/05 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

Palisades Plant cc:

Robert A. Fenech, Senior Vice President John Paul Cowan Nuclear, Fossil, and Hydro Operations Executive Vice President & Chief Nuclear Consumers Energy Company Officer 1945 Parnall Rd. Nuclear Management Company, LLC Jackson, MI 49201 700 First Street Hudson, WI 54016 Arunas T. Udrys, Esquire Consumers Energy Company Jonathan Rogoff, Esquire 1 Energy Plaza Vice President, Counsel & Secretary Jackson, MI 49201 Nuclear Management Company, LLC 700 First Street Regional Administrator, Region III Hudson, WI 54016 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 801 Warrenville Road Douglas E. Cooper Lisle, IL 60532-4351 Senior Vice President - Group Operations Palisades Nuclear Plant Supervisor Nuclear Management Company, LLC Covert Township 27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway P. O. Box 35 Covert, MI 49043 Covert, MI 49043 Stephen T. Wawro, Director Office of the Governor of Nuclear Assets P. O. Box 30013 Consumers Energy Company Lansing, MI 48909 Palisades Nuclear Plant 27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Covert, MI 49043 Resident Inspector's Office Palisades Plant Laurie A. Lahti, Manager 27782 Blue Star Memorial Highway Regulatory Affairs Covert, MI 49043 Nuclear Management Company, LLC Palisades Nuclear Plant Michigan Department of Environmental Quality 27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway Waste and Hazardous Materials Division Covert, MI 49043 Hazardous Waste and Radiological Protection Section Nuclear Facilities Unit Constitution Hall, Lower-Level North 525 West Allegan Street P.O. Box 30241 Lansing, MI 48909-7741 Michigan Department of Attorney General Special Litigation Division 525 West Ottawa St.

Sixth Floor, G. Mennen Williams Building Lansing, MI 48913

Request for Additional Information Related to Request for Relief from ASME Section XI Code Requirements for Repair of Pressurizer Nozzle Penetrations - Use of Code Case N-638 with Three Exceptions Palisades Nuclear Plant Docket No. 50-255

1. Item 6, Duration of Proposed Alternative, on page 4 of Enclosure 1 to Nuclear Management Companys (NMCs) letter of July 22, 2005, says NMC requests approval of the proposed alternative for the remainder of the third ten-year interval of the Inservice Inspection Program for the Palisades Nuclear Plant, which will conclude on or before December 12, 2006. Please state the outage date, and the specific conditions for using this relief request (such as is shown in Attachment 1 to the relief request). All other requests for relief shall be made on a case-by-case basis.

2. On page 4 of its relief request, NMC took exception to the ultrasonic testing acceptance criteria shown in Code Case N-638, Similar and Dissimilar Metal Welding Using Ambient Temperature Machine [Gas Tungsten Arc Welding] GTAW Temper Bead Technique. NMC proposed using the acceptance standard for ultrasonic testing shown in NB-5244(a) of the 1992 Edition of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section IIII. Code Case N-638-1 has been conditionally accepted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in Regulatory Guide 1.147, Inservice Inspection Code Case Acceptability, ASME Section XI, Division 1, Revision 14, dated August, 2005. The condition NRC has placed on this Code Case is that UT examinations shall be demonstrated for the repaired volume using representative samples which contain construction type flaws. The acceptance criteria of NB-5330 of Section III edition and addenda approved in 10 CFR 50.55a apply to all flaws identified within the repaired volume. The staff expects NMC to comply with the acceptance criteria shown in the regulatory guide for Code Case N-638-1. Please modify your submittal to indicate that you will use the acceptance criteria shown in Regulatory Guide 1.147 for Code Case N-638-1.

ENCLOSURE