ML23109A069

Letter to K. Brown, Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Regarding VEGP 3&4 ISI1-ALT-18

ML23109A069
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	05/04/2023
From:	Lauren Nist NRC/NRR/VPOB
To:	Brown K Southern Nuclear Operating Co
Shared Package
ML23109A067	List: ML23109A069 ML23109A070
References
EPID L-2022-LLR-0079
Download: ML23109A069 (1)

Text

May 4, 2023 Mr. Keith R. Brown, Director Regulatory Affairs Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.

3535 Colonnade Parkway, Bin N-274-EC Birmingham, AL 35243

SUBJECT:

ALTERNATIVE FOR USE OF CODE CASE N-648-2 FOR INSERVICE INSPECTION OF REACTOR VESSEL NOZZLE INSIDE RADIUS SECTIONS (VEGP-3&4-ISI1-ALT-18) (EPID L-2022-LLR-0079)

Dear Mr. Brown:

By letter dated November 4, 2022 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML22308A156), Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC or the licensee), submitted a request to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the use of an alternative to certain American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPV Code),Section XI requirements at Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP), Units 3 and 4.

Specifically, pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.55a(z)(1), the licensee requested the use of proposed alternative VEGP 3&4-ISI1-ALT-18 on the basis that the alternative provides an acceptable level of quality and safety.

The NRC staff has reviewed the subject request and concludes, as set forth in the enclosed safety evaluation, that SNC has adequately addressed all of the regulatory requirements set forth in 10 CFR 50.55a(z)(1). The staff also recognizes that this alternative request aligns inservice inspections with previously performed preservice inspections of these nozzles.

Therefore, the staff authorizes VEGP 3&4-ISI1-ALT-18 for the inservice inspection during the first inservice inspection interval at VEGP Units 3 and 4. All other ASME BPV Code,Section XI requirements for which an alternative was not specifically requested and approved remain applicable, including third-party review by the Authorized Nuclear Inservice Inspector.

In accordance with 10 CFR Part 2, Agency Rules of Practice and Procedure, a copy of this letter will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records component of ADAMS. ADAMS is accessible from the NRC website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.

K. Brown If you have any questions, please contact Cayetano Santos Jr., Project Manager at (301) 415-7270 or Cayetano.Santos@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, Signed by Nist, Lauren on 05/04/23 Lauren Nist, Acting Director Vogtle Project Office Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos.: 52-025 and 52-026

Enclosure:

Safety Evaluation cc: Listserv

ML23109A067; Ltr ML23109A069 OFFICE NRR/VPO/VPOB NRR/VPO/VPOB NRR/DNRL/NVIB NRR/DRO/IOLB NAME CSantos CS RButler RB ABuford AB LNist LN DATE Apr 21, 2023 Apr 25, 2023 Apr 26, 2023 May 4, 2023