Bulletin 84-01: Cracks in Boiling Water Reactor Mark I Containment Vent Headers

                                                   SSINS No.: 5820         
                                                   OMB No.: 3150-00011     
                                                   Expiration Date: 4/30/85 
                                                   IEB 84-01               
 
                                UNITED STATES
                        NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                    OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555

                              February 3, 1984

IE BULLETIN NO. 84-01:   CRACKS IN BOILING WATER REACTOR MARK I CONTAINMENT 
                         VENT HEADERS 

Addressees: 

For Action - All Boiling Water Reactor nuclear power reactor facilities 
having a Mark I containment and currently in cold shutdown and holding an 
operating license. 

For Information - All other Boiling Water Reactor nuclear power reactors 
having an operating license or construction permit. 

Purpose: 

The purpose of this bulletin is to determine whether cracks exist in the 
Mark I containment vent header (located inside the torus) in any boiling 
water reactor currently in cold shutdown. 

Description of Circumstances: 

On February 3, 1984, the Hatch Unit 2 licensee reported a through wall crack 
which appears to be 3600 around the vent header within the containment 
torus. 

Actions to be taken by all BWRs having Mark I Containments and Currently 
Shutdown: 

1.   Plants that are currently in cold shutdown should visually inspect for 
     cracks in the entire vent header and in the main vents in the region 
     near the intersection with the vent header. To the extent practicable, 
     the inspection should include the entire surfaces of the 
     aforementioned components. The inspection should be completed within 
     36 hours of receipt of this bulletin. 

2.   If cracks are found, the containment should be declared inoperable. 

3.   The results of the inspection are to be reported by telephone to the 
     NRC Operations Center within 8 hours after the inspection has been 
     completed. A written report describing the areas inspected and the 
     results should be submitted within seven days of receipt of this 
     bulletin. 


8401190017 
.

                                                           IEB 84-01       
                                                           February 3, 1984 
                                                           Page 2 of 2     

The written report required shall be submitted to the appropriate Regional 
Administrator under oath or affirmation under provisions of Section 182a, 
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. Also, the original copy of the cover 
letter and a copy of the report shall be transmitted to the U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Document Control Desk, Washington, D.C. 20555 for 
reproduction and distribution. 

Although not a requirement of this bulletin, Boiling Water Reactor plants 
that are currently operating which have Mark I type containments should 
review their plant data on differential pressure between the wetwell and 
drywell for anomalies that could be indicative of cracks. Any such anomalies 
should be reported to the NRC in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72 and 10 CFR 
50.73. This request for information was approved by the Office of Management 
and Budget under a blanket clearance number 3150-00011 which expires April 
30, 1985. Comments on burden and duplication may be directed to the Office 
of Management and Budget, Reports Management, Room 3208, New Executive 
Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20503. 

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Regional 
Administrator of the appropriate NRC Regional Office or the technical 
contacts listed below. 


                                   Richard C. DeYoung, Director 
                                   Office of Inspection and Enforcement 

Technical Contact:  R. Baer, IE
                    301-492-4780

                    C. E. Rossi, IE
                    301-492-4944

Attachment: List of Recently Issued IE Bulletins