ML043270002

Response to Nuclear Regulatory Commission Bulletin 2003-02, Leakage from Reactor Pressure Vessel Lower Head Penetrations and Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Integrity (TAC Nos. MC0561 and MC0562)

ML043270002
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	12/06/2004
From:	Dan Collins NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD1
To:	Bakken A Public Service Enterprise Group
Collins D S, NRR/DLPM, 415-1427
References
BL-03-002, TAC MC0561, TAC MC0562
Download: ML043270002 (4)

Text

December 6, 2004 Mr. A. Christopher Bakken, III President and Chief Nuclear Officer PSEG LLC - X04 P. O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038

SUBJECT:

SALEM NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION, UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 -

RESPONSE TO NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BULLETIN 2003-02, LEAKAGE FROM REACTOR PRESSURE VESSEL LOWER HEAD PENETRATIONS AND REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY INTEGRITY (TAC NOS. MC0561 AND MC0562)

Dear Mr. Bakken; On August 21, 2003, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued NRC Bulletin 2003-02, Leakage from Reactor Pressure Vessel Lower Head Penetrations and Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Integrity, to the industry. This bulletin informed addressees that current methods of inspecting the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) lower heads may need to be supplemented with bare-metal visual inspections in order to detect reactor coolant pressure boundary leakage. The bulletin also requested these addressees to provide the NRC with information related to inspections that have been performed to verify the integrity of the RPV lower head penetrations.

The bulletin requested that addressees provide a description of the RPV lower head penetration inspection program that would be implemented at their respective plants during the next and subsequent refueling outages. This description was to include the extent of the inspection, the inspection methods to be used, the qualification standards for the inspection methods, the process used to resolve the source of findings of boric acid deposits or corrosion, the inspection documentation to be generated, and the basis for concluding that their plant satisfied applicable regulatory requirements related to the structural and leakage integrity of the RPV lower head penetrations.

By letter dated September 11, 2003, PSEG Nuclear, LLC (PSEG) provided its response to this request. As part of its response, PSEG committed to perform a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination of each penetration at the interface between the penetration and the RPV lower head, during future refueling outages at Salem Generating Station (Salem), Unit Nos. 1 and 2.

PSEG is requested to notify the NRC staff in writing of any changes to this regulatory commitment prior to implementation.

C. Bakken The bulletin also requested that addressees provide a summary of the RPV lower head penetration inspection that was performed at their plants, the extent of the inspection and the methods used, a description of the as-found condition of the lower head, any findings of relevant indications of through-wall leakage, and a summary of the disposition of any findings of boric acid deposits and any corrective actions taken as a result of indications found.

By letter dated December 23, 2003, PSEG provided a summary of its inspection results at Salem, Unit No. 2. PSEG reported it had performed a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination on all 58 RPV lower head penetrations. PSEG did not observe any evidence of RPV lower head penetration leakage.

By letter dated July 6, 2004, PSEG provided a summary of its inspection results at Salem, Unit No. 1. PSEG reported it had performed a 360-degree bare-metal visual examination on all 58 RPV lower head penetrations. PSEG did not observe any evidence of RPV lower head penetration leakage.

Based on its review of PSEGs responses to NRC Bulletin 2003-02, the NRC staff finds that Salem has met the reporting requirements of the bulletin. Accordingly, TAC Nos. MC0561 and MC0562 are closed for Salem, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Daniel S. Collins, Senior Project Manager, Section 2 Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-272 and 50-311 cc: See next page

Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 cc:

Mr. Michael H. Brothers Lower Alloways Creek Township Vice President - Site Operations c/o Mary O. Henderson, Clerk PSEG Nuclear - X15 Municipal Building, P.O. Box 157 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Dr. Jill Lipoti, Asst. Director Mr. John T. Carlin Radiation Protection Programs Vice President - Nuclear Assessments NJ Department of Environmental PSEG Nuclear - N10 Protection and Energy P.O. Box 236 CN 415 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Trenton, NJ 08625-0415 Mr. Patrick S. Walsh Brian Beam Vice President - Eng/Tech Support Board of Public Utilities PSEG Nuclear - N28 2 Gateway Center, Tenth Floor P.O. Box 236 Newark, NJ 07102 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Regional Administrator, Region I Ms. Christina L. Perino U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Director - Licensing & Nuclear Safety 475 Allendale Road PSEG Nuclear - N21 King of Prussia, PA 19406 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Senior Resident Inspector Salem Nuclear Generating Station Jeffrie J. Keenan, Esquire U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission PSEG Nuclear - N21 Drawer 0509 P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 Mr. Carl J. Fricker Ms. R. A. Kankus Plant Manager Joint Owner Affairs PSEG Nuclear - N21 PECO Energy Company P.O. Box 236 Nuclear Group Headquarters KSA1-E Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 200 Exelon Way Kennett Square, PA 19348

ML043270002 OFFICE PDI-2/PM PDI-2/LA LPM EMCB PDI-2/SC NAME DCollins CRaynor SMonarque ESullivan DRoberts DATE 11/28/04 11/26/04 11/29/04 11/30/04 12/02/04