05000498/FIN-2013002-01
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Finding | |
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| Title | Failure to Initiate a Condition Report for Spent Fuel Pool Cooling LOW Flow Alarms |
| Description | The inspectors identified a Green finding for the failure to follow Procedure 0PGP03-ZX-0002, Condition Reporting Process, Revision 43, step 4.2.1, which required initiation of a condition report for an abnormal or unexpected condition on a structure, system, or component. On October 11, 2012, the inspectors toured the Unit 1 control room and observed operators starting the spent fuel pool cooling pumps. Shortly after starting the pumps, a low flow annunciator alarm was received. The operators dismissed the alarm as expected. However, the inspectors questioned the response to the alarm and determined that there was no documented explanation for the alarm to be expected. The inspectors reviewed several years of historical pump starts and determined that the alarms were not consistent between the trains, and the licensee failed to evaluate the inconsistency. The inspectors concluded this condition warranted the initiation of a condition report. During troubleshooting, the licensee concluded that they had installed the incorrect type of pulsation dampener (snubber) in the flow line which caused the low flow annunciator alarm. The licensees corrective actions included replacing the snubber, updating procedures, and training of maintenance and operations personnel about the condition. This finding was more than minor because it affected the Barrier Integrity Cornerstone attribute of Structures, Systems, and Components Performance (area of instrumentation to maintain functionality of the spent fuel pool cooling system), and it affected the cornerstone objective to provide reasonable assurance that physical design barriers (fuel cladding) protect the public from radionuclide releases caused by accidents or events. Specifically, if left uncorrected it would have the potential to become a more significant safety concern because it could have resulted in unreliable instrumentation, or alarms, that are used to ensure adequate cooling to the spent fuel pool. The inspectors performed the significance determination using NRC Inspection Manual Chapter 0609 because the finding affected the Barrier Integrity Cornerstone while the plant was at power. Attachment 0609.04, Initial Characterization of Findings, dated June 19, 2012, evaluates the finding using Appendix A. Using Appendix A, Exhibit 3, Barrier Integrity Screening Questions, the finding was determined to be of very low safety significance because the finding did not: (1) result in the spent fuel pool temperature exceeding the maximum analyzed temperature limit; (2) result from fuel handling errors that caused fuel cladding damage; (3) result in a loss of inventory below the minimum analyzed level limit; and (4) affect the spent fuel pool neutron absorber, fuel pattern loading, or soluble boron concentration. In addition, the NRC determined the finding had a human performance cross-cutting aspect associated with decision making because the licensee did not use conservative assumptions when dismissing the low flow alarm instead of having it evaluated to ensure that it was safe to proceed |
| Site: | South Texas  |
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| Report | IR 05000498/2013002 Section 1R15 |
| Date counted | Mar 31, 2013 (2013Q1) |
| Type: | Finding: Green |
| cornerstone | Barrier Integrity |
| Identified by: | NRC identified |
| Inspection Procedure: | IP 71111.15 |
| Inspectors (proximate) | J Dixon B Tharakan W Walker J Laughlin E Uribe J Dykert |
| CCA | H.14, Conservative Bias |
| INPO aspect | DM.2 |
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Finding - South Texas - IR 05000498/2013002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Finding List (South Texas) @ 2013Q1
Self-Identified List (South Texas)
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