ML023330203

Project No. 704 - BWRVIP-108: BWR Vessel & Internals Project, Technical Basis for Reduction of Inspection Requirements for Boiling Water Reactor Nozzle-to-Vessel Shell Welds & Nozzle Blend Radii

ML023330203
Person / Time
Site:	Nine Mile Point, PROJ0704
Issue date:	11/25/2002
From:	Terry C Electric Power Research Institute
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
BWRVIP-108
Download: ML023330203 (4)

Text

ELECTRIFY THE WORLD f='- I B W R VIP BWR Vessel & Internals Project 2002-323 November 25, 2002 Document Control Desk U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852 Attention: Meena Khanna

Subject:

Project No. 704 - BWRVIP-108: BWR Vessel and Internals Project, Technical Basis for the Reduction of Inspection Requirements for the Boiling Water Reactor Nozzle-to-Vessel Shell Welds and Nozzle Blend Radii Enclosed are ten (10) copies of the report "BWRVIP-108: BWR Vessel and Internals Project, Technical Basis for the Reduction of Inspection Requirements for the Boiling Water Reactor Nozzle-to-Vessel Shell Welds and Nozzle Blend Radii," EPRI Technical Report 1003557, October 2002. This report is being transmitted as a means of exchanging information with the NRC for the purpose of supporting generic regulatory improvements related to inspections of BWR nozzle-to-vessel shell welds and nozzle blend radii.

Currently, BWR reactor pressure vessel welds are inspected in accordance with American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,Section XI requirements, which requires 100% inspection each 10-year interval. The enclosed report provides the technical basis for the reduction of the nozzle-to-vessel shell welds and nozzle blend radii inspections to 25% of the nozzles every 10 years.

In order to effect this change, the BWRVIP is pursuing a revision to ASME Code Section XI.

Thus, the BWRVIP is not requesting a Safety Evaluation from the NRC at this time. However, if the staff desires, the BWRVIP will meet with the NRC to discuss the technical justification contained in BWRVIP-108 and proposed Code actions.

Please note that the enclosed report contains proprietary information. A letter requesting that the report be withheld from public disclosure and an affidavit describing the basis for withholding this information are provided as Attachment 1.

If you have any questions on this subject, please call Robin Dyle (Southern Nuclear), BWR VIP Assessment Committee Technical Chairman, at 205.992.5885.

Sincerely, q,

Carl Terry L BWRVIP Chairman Constellation Nuclear - Nine Mile Point, LLC CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 3412 Hillview Avenue I Palo Alto CA 94304-1395 USA I 650 855 2000 I Customer Service 800 313 3774 1www epri.com

Attachment 1 ELECTRIFY THE WORLD r= ra2I November 25, 2002 Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike Washington DC, 20555

Subject:

"BWRVIP-108: BWR Vessel and Internals Project, Technical Basis for the Reduction of Inspection Requirements for the Boiling Water Reactor Nozzle-to Vessel Shell Welds and Nozzle Blend Radii," EPRI Technical Report 1003557, October 2002.

Gentlemen:

This is a request under IOCFR2.790(a)(4) that the NRC withhold from public disclosure the information identified in the enclosed affidavit consisting of EPRI owned Proprietary Information identified above (the "Report"). Copies of the Report and the affidavit in support of this request are enclosed.

EPRI desires to disclose the Report in confidence to the NRC as a means of exchanging information in support of generic regulatory improvements relating to repair of BWR internal components.

Further, EPRI welcomes any discussion with the NRC regarding the Report that the NRC desires to conduct.

The Report is for the NRC's internal use and may be used only for the purposes for which it is disclosed by EPRI. The report should not be otherwise used or disclosed to any person outside the NRC without prior written permission from EPRI.

If you have any questions about the legal aspects of this request for withholding, please do not hesitate to contact me at (650) 855-2997. Questions on the contents of the Report should be directed to Mr. Tom Mulford of EPRI at (650) 855-2766.

Sincerely, Theodore U. Marston, Ph.D.

Vice President & Chief Nuclear Officer Enclosures c: Licensing CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 3412 Hiliview Avenue I Palo Alto CA 94304-1395 USA 1 650 B55.2000 I Customer Service 800 313 3774 I www epri cam

= RI AFFIDAVIT RE: "BWRVLP-108: BWR Vessel and Internals Project, Technical Basis for the Reduction of Inspection Requirements for the Boiling Water Reactor Nozzle-to-Vessel Shell Welds and Nozzle Blend Radii," EPRI Technical Report 1003557, October 2002.

I, THEODORE U. MARSTON, being duly sworn, depose and state as follows:

I am a Vice President at the Electric Power Research Institute ("EPRI") and I have been specifically delegated responsibility for the report listed above that is sought under this affidavit to be withheld (the "Report") and authorized to apply for their withholding on behalf of EPRI. This affidavit is submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC") pursuant to 10 CFR 2.790 (a)(4) based on the fact that the Report consists of trade secrets of EPRI and that the NRC will receive the Report from EPRI under privilege and in confidence.

The basis for withholding such Report from the public is set forth below:

(i) The Report has been held in confidence by EPRI, its owner. All those accepting copies of the Report must agree to preserve the confidentiality of the Report.

(ii) The Report is a type customarily held in confidence by EPRI and there is a rational basis therefor. The Report is a type, which EPRI considers as a trade secret(s) and is held in confidence by EPRI because to disclose it would prevent EPRI from licensing the Report at fees, which would allow EPRI to recover its investment. If consultants and/or other businesses providing services in the electric/nuclear power industry were able to publicly obtain the Report, they would be able to use it commercially for profit and avoid spending the large amount of money that EPRI was required to spend in preparation of the Report. The rational basis that EPRI has for classifying this/these Report(s) as a trade secrets is justified by the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, which California adopted in 1984 and which has been adopted by over twenty states. The Uniform Trade Secrets Act defines a "trade secret" as follows:

"Trade secret" means information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process, that:

(1) Derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to the public or to other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and (2) Is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.

(iii) The Report will be transmitted to the NRC in confidence.

2EI (iv) The Report is not available in public sources. EPRI developed the Report only after making a determination that the Report was not available from public sources. It required a large expenditure of dollars for EPRI to develop the Report. In addition, EPRI was required to use a large amount of time of EPRI employees. The money spent, plus the value of EPRI's staff time in preparing the Report, show that the Report is highly valuable to EPRI. Finally, the Report was developed only after a long period of effort of at least several months.

(v) A public disclosure of the Report would be highly likely to cause substantial harm to EPRI's competitive position and the ability of EPRI to license the Report both domestically and internationally. The Report can only be acquired and/or duplicated by others using an equivalent investment of time and effort.

I have read the foregoing and the matters stated therein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. I make this affidavit under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America and under the laws of the State of California.

Executed at 3412 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, being the premises and place of business of the Electric Power Research Institute:

November 25, 2002 Theodore U. Marston Subscribed and sworn before me this day: November 25, 2002 SUMI YAMASHITA 0 CO~MM 111215553

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