ML080370031
| ML080370031 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Waterford  |
| Issue date: | 02/08/2008 |
| From: | Kalyanam N NRC/NRR/ADRO/DORL/LPLIV |
| To: | Walsh K Entergy Operations |
| Kalyanam N, NRR/DORL/LP4, 415-1480 | |
| References | |
| TAC MD5388 | |
| Download: ML080370031 (5) | |
Text
February 8, 2008 Mr. Kevin T. Walsh Vice President of Operations Entergy Operations, Inc.
17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-3093
SUBJECT:
WATERFORD STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNIT 3 - REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RE: REQUEST FOR ALTERNATIVE W3-R&R-006, PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE TO ASME CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR WELD OVERLAY REPAIRS (TAC NO. MD5388)
Dear Mr. Walsh:
By letter dated April 26, 2007, Entergy Operations, Inc., submitted an application requesting the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval of Request for Alternative W3-R&R-006, Proposed Alternative to ASME Code [American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code] Requirements for Weld Overlay Repairs After reviewing your request, the NRC staff has determined that additional information outlined in the enclosure is needed to complete the review. We discussed this information with your staff by telephone and they agreed to provide the additional information requested within 30 days of the receipt of this letter.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-1480.
Sincerely,
/RA/
N. Kalyanam, Project Manager Plant Licensing Branch IV Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-382
Enclosure:
Request for Additional Information cc w/encl: See next page
(*)No major change from Staff-provided RAI OFFICE NRR/LPL4/PM NRR/LPL4/LA NRR/DCI/CPNB NRR/LPL4/BC NAME NKalyanam JBurkhardt TChan (*)
THiltz DATE 2/7/08 2/7/08 1/24/08 2/8/08
Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 (November 2007) cc:
Senior Vice President Entergy Nuclear Operations P.O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1995 Senior Vice President and COO Entergy Operations, Inc.
P.O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1995 Vice President, Operations Support Entergy Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1995 Site Vice President Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 Entergy Operations, Inc.
17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-3093 General Manager, Plant Operations Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 Entergy Operations, Inc.
17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-3093 Director, Nuclear Safety & Licensing Entergy Services, Inc.
440 Hamilton Avenue White Plains, NY 10601 Director, Nuclear Safety Assurance Entergy Operations, Inc.
17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-3093 Senior Manager, Nuclear Safety
& Licensing Entergy Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 31995 Jackson, MS 39286-1995 Manager, Licensing Entergy Operations, Inc.
17265 River Road Killona, LA 70057-3093 Mr. Timothy Pflieger Environmental Scientist - Supervisor REP&R-CAP-SPOC Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality P.O. Box 4312 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4312 Parish President Council St. Charles Parish P.O. Box 302 Hahnville, LA 70057 Chairman Louisiana Public Services Commission P.O. Box 91154 Baton Rouge, LA 70825-1697 Mr. Richard Penrod, Senior Environmental Scientist/State Liaison Officer Office of Environmental Services Northwestern State University Russell Hall, Room 201 Natchitoches, LA 71497 Resident Inspector Waterford NPS P.O. Box 822 Killona, LA 70057-0751 Regional Administrator, Region IV U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011
4 REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WATERFORD STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNIT 3 REQUEST FOR ALTERNATIVE W3-R&R-006 PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE TO ASME CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR WELD OVERLAY REPAIRS TAC NO. MD5388 By letter dated April 26, 2007, Entergy Operations, Inc. (the licensee), proposed an alternative (W3-R&R-006) to the requirements of American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME Code), for mitigating primary water stress-corrosion cracking on dissimilar metal welds using full structural weld overlays at Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3. To complete its review, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is requesting the following additional information:
- 1.
In the April 26, 2007, letter, the licensee requested NRC approval of Request for Alternative W3-R&R-006 to support the spring 2008 refueling outage (RF15).
However, the duration of the proposed alternative is not specified in the April 26, 2007, submittal other than for the spring 2008 refueling outage. Please confirm/clarify the duration of the proposed alternative. Include the dates of the current inservice inspection (ISI) interval.
- 2.
In Section V.A.3.c of Request for Alternative W3-R&R-006, the licensee discussed the inspection issues regarding cast austenitic stainless steel (CASS) safe ends as listed in Attachment 1 of the licensees submittal dated April 26, 2007. The licensee stated correctly that the ultrasonic examination (UT) has not been qualified in accordance with Appendix VIII, Supplement 11 of the ASME Code,Section XI, in the examination of cast austenitic stainless steel. The licensee stated further that a flaw with a depth of 75 percent of pipe thickness and circumference of 360 degrees will be assumed in the crack-growth calculation for the cast stainless steel safe ends. In light of the limiting capability of the current UT technology in the CASS examination, the postulated 75 percent depth flaw may not be adequate to assess the structural integrity of the CASS component. In view of this, the licensee might consider options such as:
- 1.
Sizing the initial flaw depth at 100 percent through-wall for the crack-growth calculations.
- 2.
If the 100 percent through-wall flaw is impractical or creates a hardship in the overlay design or installation, assuming an initial flaw with 75 percent through-wall depth in the crack-growth calculation and adjusting inspection frequency for the inspection volume.
5 The licensee is requested to provide an approach to resolve the CASS issue in Alternative W3-R&R-006.
- 3.
On page 6, second paragraph, of the April 26, 2007, submittal, the licensee stated that it may apply a butter (transitional) layer of austenitic stainless steel filler metal across the austenitic stainless steel base metal.
1, Discuss whether paragraph (e) of Code Case N-504-2 is applicable to the butter layer if austenitic stainless steel filler metal is applied. Paragraph (e) requires existence of certain delta ferrite content in the welded metal when austenitic stainless steel weld metal is used.
- 2.
Identify the austenitic stainless steel weld filler metal that will be used for the butter layer.
- 3.
Confirm that the Certified Material Test Report (CMTR) for the austenitic stainless steel filler wire shows a minimum delta ferrite of a specified amount. Please provide the maximum and minimum delta ferrite content for the heat of austenitic stainless steel filler wire to be used, as stated on the CMTR.