ML071000141

Request for Additional Information (RAI) - Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 (SSES 1 and 2) - Extended Power Uprate Application Piping and Nondestructive Examination Technical Review

ML071000141
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	04/10/2007
From:	Richard Guzman NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLI-1
To:	Mckinney B Susquehanna
Guzman R, NRR/DORL, 415-1030
References
TAC MD3309, TAC MD3310
Download: ML071000141 (4)

Text

April 10, 2007 Mr. Britt T. McKinney Sr. Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 Berwick, PA 18603-0467

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI) - SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 (SSES 1 AND 2) - EXTENDED POWER UPRATE APPLICATION RE: PIPING AND NONDESTRUCTIVE EXAMINATION TECHNICAL REVIEW (TAC NOS. MD3309 AND MD3310)

Dear Mr. McKinney:

In reviewing your letter dated October 11, 2006, concerning the request to increase the maximum steady-state power level at the SSES 1 and 2 from 3489 megawatts thermal (MWt) to 3952 MWt, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has determined that additional information contained in the enclosure to this letter is needed to complete its review. These questions were discussed with your staff on March 29, 2007. As agreed to by your staff, we request you respond by May 4, 2007.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-1030.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Richard V. Guzman, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch I-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-387 and 50-388

Enclosure:

RAI cc w/encl: See next page

April 10, 2007 Mr. Britt T. McKinney Sr. Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 Berwick, PA 18603-0467

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI) - SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 (SSES 1 AND 2) - EXTENDED POWER UPRATE APPLICATION RE: PIPING AND NONDESTRUCTIVE EXAMINATION TECHNICAL REVIEW (TAC NOS. MD3309 AND MD3310)

Dear Mr. McKinney:

In reviewing your letter dated October 11, 2006, concerning the request to increase the maximum steady-state power level at the SSES 1 and 2 from 3489 megawatts thermal (MWt) to 3952 MWt, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has determined that additional information contained in the enclosure to this letter is needed to complete its review. These questions were discussed with your staff on March 29, 2007. As agreed to by your staff, we request you respond by May 4, 2007.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 301-415-1030.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Richard V. Guzman, Senior Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch I-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-387 and 50-388

Enclosure:

RAI cc w/encl: See next page DISTRIBUTION:

Public RidsOgcMailCenter RidsNrrPmRGuzman RidsNrrCpnbBC WKoo LPLI-1 R/F RidsNrrDorlLpl1-1 RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter RidsNrrLaSLittle Accession Number: ML071000141 OFFICE NRR/LPLI-1/PM NRR/LPLI-1/LA NRR/CPNB/BC NRR/LPLI-1/BC(A)

NAME RGuzman SLittle TChan DPickett DATE 4/9/07 4/9/07 4/9/07 4/10/07 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

Enclosure REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO THE APPLICATION FOR EXTENDED POWER UPRATE (EPU)

SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1 AND 2 (SSES 1 AND 2)

PPL SUSQUEHANNA, LLC DOCKET NOS. 50-387 AND 50-388 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is reviewing the request from PPL Susquehanna, LLC (PPL, the licensee) to support the application of the EPU for SSES 1 and 2.

The NRC staff has determined that additional information requested below will be needed to complete its review.

1.

Identify the materials of construction for the reactor coolant pressure boundary (RCPB) piping and safe-ends. Discuss and explain the effect of the requested power uprate on the RCPB piping and safe-end materials and its impact on the potential degradation mechanisms.

2.

Identify the RCPB piping and safe-end components that are susceptible to intergranular stress-corrosion cracking (IGSCC). Discuss any augmented inspection programs that have been implemented and the adequacy of the augmented inspection programs in light of the EPU.

3.

Identify all flawed components including overlay repaired welds that have been accepted for continued service by analytical evaluation based on the American Society for Mechanical Engineers,Section XI rules. Discuss the adequacy of such analyses considering the effect of the EPU on the flaws.

4.

Identify the mitigation processes being applied at SSES 1 and 2 to reduce the RCPB components susceptibility to IGSCC, and discuss the effect(s) of the requested EPU on the effectiveness of these mitigation processes. For example, if hydrogen water chemistry (HWC) was applied at the plant, it would be necessary to perform the electrochemical potential measurements at the most limiting locations to ensure that the applied hydrogen injection rate is adequate to maintain the effectiveness of HWC (since oxygen content in the coolant is expected to increase due to the increased radiolysis of water from extended power uprate).

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 cc:

Robert A. Saccone Vice President - Nuclear Operations PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Terry L. Harpster General Manager - Plant Support PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Rocco R. Sgarro Manager - Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Supervisor -

Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Michael H. Crowthers Supervising Engineer Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Steven M. Cook Manager - Quality Assurance PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB2 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Luis A. Ramos Community Relations Manager, Susquehanna PPL Susquehanna, LLC 634 Salem Blvd., SSO Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Bryan A. Snapp, Esq Assoc. General Counsel PPL Services Corporation Two North Ninth Street, GENTW3 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Supervisor - Document Control Services PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Richard W. Osborne Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc.

212 Locust Street P.O. Box 1266 Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266 Director, Bureau of Radiation Protection Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Rachel Carson State Office Building P.O. Box 8469 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8469 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 35, NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0035 Regional Administrator, Region 1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Board of Supervisors Salem Township P.O. Box 405 Berwick, PA 18603-0035 Dr. Judith Johnsrud National Energy Committee Sierra Club 443 Orlando Avenue State College, PA 16803