ML103410506

December 1, 2010, Summary of Telephone Conference Call Held Between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., Concerning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station License Renewal Application

ML103410506
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	01/07/2011
From:	Lisa Regner License Renewal Projects Branch 2
To:
Regner L M, NRR/DLR, 415-1906
References
TAC MC9669
Download: ML103410506 (6)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 January 7, 2011 LICENSEE:

Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

FACILITY:

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station

SUMMARY

OF TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL HELD ON DECEMBER 1, 2010, BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC., CONCERNING THE PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (TAC NO. MC9669)

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the staff) and representatives of Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (the applicant) held a telephone conference call on December 1, 2010, to discuss and clarify the staff's draft request for additional information (RAI) concerning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (Pilgrim) license renewal application. The draft RAI was associated with a review of NUREG-1891, "Safety Evaluation Report Related to the License Renewal of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station," issued on June 28,2007, and supplemented on September 28, 2007. The telephone conference call was useful in clarifying the intent of the staff's draft RAI. provides a listing of the participants and Enclosure 2 includes the draft RAI discussed with the applicant, including a brief description on the status of the item.

The applicant had an opportunity to comment on this summary.

Lisa M. Regner, Sr. Project Manager Projects Branch 2 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-293

Enclosures:

As stated cc w/encls: Distribution via Listserv

PARTICIPANTS Lisa Regner Bart Fu Allen Hiser Joe Lynch Fred Mogolesko Dave Heard Paul Smith TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION LIST OF PARTICIPANTS DECEMBER 1, 2010 AFFILIATIONS U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

NRC NRC Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Entergy)

Entergy Entergy Entergy ENCLOSURE 1

DRAFT REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (RAI)

PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION (PNPS)

LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (LRA)

DECEMBER 1, 2010 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the staff) and representatives of Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (the applicant) held a telephone conference call on December 1, 2010, to discuss and clarify the following draft request for additional information (RAI) concerning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station license renewal application (LRA).

DRAFT RAI B.1.23 Small Bore Piping Socket Welds

Background:

During the past year, the staff has worked extensively with license renewal applicants, the NEI, and the industry on socket weld examination issues for license renewal. The efforts also included reviews of operating experience and various techniques for examination of socket welds.

The staff finds that volumetric examination of Class 1 small bore socket welds recommended by the GALL Report AMP XI.M35, "One-Time Inspection of ASME Code Class 1 Small-Bore Piping," is warranted based on the operating experience review. It provides additional assurance that either aging of small-bore ASME Code Class 1 piping is not occurring or the aging is insignificant.

The staff noted that a VT-2 examination is required for socket welds by ASME Code,Section XI, but it is only for leakage detection. This examination is not adequate for license renewal aging management since cracking of socket welds, in most cases, starts from the inside surface. By the time a flaw is detected by VT-2 (or a surface examination), the subject component has failed and cannot perform its intended function. This is the reason the GALL Report AMP recommends one time volumetric examinations of small-bore piping including socket welds, because examination of the external surface is not an adequate way to detect cracks initiating on the interior surface of a pipe.

The staff also finds that several demonstrated ultrasonic testing (UT) techniques have recently been developed and used by the nuclear industry. They provide a pass or fail result that is adequate in the examination of socket welds. Recently developed and improved techniques have increased the capability to differentiate construction flaws and service induced flaws.

Measures have been made to minimize the possibility of false-positive indications.

Nonetheless, the staff understands that, based on the GALL Report, license renewal applicants have the option of performing available industry demonstrated UT, opportunistic destructive examinations, or qualified UT when available, on socket welds.

Issue:

A supplemental review of the One-Time Inspection of ASME Code Class 1 Small-Bore Piping Program in the LRA for PNPS revealed that the examination of socket welds only includes VT-2 and surface examinations. This is not consistent with the recommendation of the GALL Report AMP.

ENCLOSURE 2

- 2 Request:

Update the One-Time Inspection of ASME Code Class 1 Small-Bore Piping Program to include volumetric examinations or opportunistic destructive examinations of socket welds.

Discussion: the applicant stated that it understands the question and will respond to the staff's concern.

January 7, 2011 LICENSEE:

Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

FACILITY:

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station

SUMMARY

OF TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL HELD ON DECEMBER 1, 2010, BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC., CONCERNING THE PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION (TAC NO. MC9669)

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the staff) and representatives of Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (the applicant) held a telephone conference call on December 1, 2010, to discuss and clarify the staff's draft request for additional information (RAI) concerning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (Pilgrim) license renewal application. The draft RAI was associated with a review of NUREG-1891, "Safety Evaluation Report Related to the License Renewal of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station," on June 28,2007, and supplemented on September 28, 2007. The telephone conference call was useful in clarifying the intent of the staff's draft RAI. provides a listing of the participants and Enclosure 2 includes the draft RAI discussed with the applicant, including a brief description on the status of the item.

The applicant had an opportunity to comment on this summary.

IRA!

Lisa M. Regner, Sr. Project Manager Projects Branch 2 Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-293

Enclosures:

As stated LA:RPOB:DLR IKing B2:DLR LRegner 12/13/10 12/22/10 PM:RPB2:DLR LRegner (Signature) 1/7/11 BC:RPB2:DLR DWrona 117/11 OFFICIAL RECORD COpy

Memorandum to Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. from L. Regner dated January 7, 2010

SUMMARY

OF TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL HELD ON DECEMBER 1, 2010, BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC., CONCERNING THE ANNUAL UPDATE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION DISTRIBUTION:

HARD COPY:

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