At 1100 EDT on October 7, 2003, Seabrook Station concluded that the source of small
boron deposits on the Reactor Vessel Head was a leaking conoseal weld on a
CRDM housing.
The defect in primary coolant is not acceptable per ASME XI. This condition is reportable pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72 (b)(3)(ii).
The caller stated that through testing it is indicated that the leak had occurred in the last 2 months. A small amount of boric acid crystals was found.
The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of this event by the licensee.
- * * UPDATE ON 10/14/03 @ 1709 BY BEMIS TO GOULD * * *
This report supplements and retracts the 8 hour9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br /> notification (Event Number 40228) made on October 7, 2003 pursuant to 10CFR50.72(b)(3)(ii)(A) documenting reactor coolant system pressure boundary leakage. FPL Energy Seabrook has determined that the initial report, although conservative, inappropriately interpreted canopy seal degradation to be pressure boundary leakage. The canopy seal weld is neither a structural weld nor a pressure retaining weld comprising the reactor coolant system pressure boundary. Therefore, the initial report is being retracted. A permanent plant design is being developed to repair the canopy seal using a standard canopy seal clamp and will be installed prior to startup from the current refueling outage.
The NRC Resident Inspector was notified.
Notified Reg 1 RDO (MCDERMOTT)
