The inspectors identified an unresolved item for failure to perform adequate monitoring of the condition of three structures. The suppression chamber, the standby
service water spray ponds, and condensate storage tank were within the scope of the maintenance rule, but the condition monitoring that was being done did not include the submerged portions of these structures, which is critical to the safety function. Until the submerged portions of these structures are examined, the inspectors cannot determine the safety significance, therefore, this issue is unresolved. Failure to perform adequate condition monitoring for safety-related structures within the scope of the maintenance rule and in accordance with licensee technical instructions is a performance deficiency and affects the
Mitigating Systems Cornerstone. However, the inspector was unable to determine whether the performance deficiency involved degradation of the structures. In order to assess the significance of this issue, additional information is needed to determine whether degradation exists. The inspectors will review the results of the next inspection that includes the submerged portions of these structures. The suppression chamber, the standby
service water spray ponds, and condensate storage tank are structures within the scope of the Maintenance Rule. These structures were all scheduled for periodic monitoring but the licensee\'s monitoring consisted of walkdowns of the above water portions of these structures, yielding little information concerning the actual condition of the structures\' ability to meet their intended safety function. Because the licensee performed some monitoring of these structures, this performance deficiency did not rise to the level of a violation of the Maintenance Rule. Until the submerged portions of these structures are examined, the inspectors cannot complete the inspection to determine the safety significance, therefore, this issue is considered an unresolved item (
URI 05000397/2007005-02, Failure to perform adequate structural monitoring of submerged structures).
