IR 05000298/1989020
| ML20247R348 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Cooper  |
| Issue date: | 05/25/1989 |
| From: | Barnes I, Gilbert L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20247R335 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-298-89-20, NUDOCS 8906070211 | |
| Download: ML20247R348 (4) | |
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L APPENDIX
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U.S.' NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION.
REGION IV
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,s NRCLInspection Report:
50-298/89-20 Operating License: DPR-46
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Docket: 50-298 Licensee: Nebraska Public Power District H
Facility Name: Cooper Nuclear Station Inspection'at:
Cooper Nuclear Station, Brownville, Nebraska
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Inspection-Conducted: May 15-19, 1989.
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-Inspector:
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LA D.41bert, Reactor-Inspector, Materials
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'y and Quality Programs, Section, Division of Reactor Safety
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Approved:
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.5 25 W
. Bafhes, Ch)tf, M erials an'o Quality Datt.
Programs: Sq[ction Division of Reactor Safety j
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--Inspection Summary-
Inspection Conducted May 15-19, 1989 (Report 50-298/89-20)
Areas Inspected: Reactive, unannounced inspection of the commitments made regarding the Cooper Nuclear Station Welding Program enhancements.
'Results:
A weakness was identified in the welding program enhancements, in that, the welders did not have a viable means to assure themselves that they
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were setting the weldirg machines within the amperage range specified in the
- welding procedure specification. The licensee self imposed a stop work order
for all welding activities until this issue could be resolved. An unresolved item'is. identified in paragraph 2 concerning welding of A500 materials.
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8906070211 8905N
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PDR ADOCK 05000298
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i DETAILS
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1.: - Persons Contacte'd
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- G. R. Horn, Division Manager of-Nuclear Operrtions
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- E.:M. Mace,' Engineering Manager
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- G. E. Smith, Quality Assurance Manager J"
- R. L. Gardner, Maintenance Manager _
- S. S. Freborg, Assistant, Plant Engineering-Supervisor
'J. ~ M. Meacham, Senior Manager of Operations
- L.fE. Bray, Regulatory Compliance Specialist
- R. Brungardt, Operations Manager
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- R. A. Jansky, Outage and. Modifications Manager
- B. Fehnnan, Project Manager
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B. C.,Toline. Quality Assurance Specialist D. Torczon, Quality Assurance Specialist.
B. L.! Crow, Mechanical Engi_neer.(Welding):
BechtelNational,Inc.fBechtel)
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R. Fisher,(Senior' helding(Engineer.
- Power Plant' Maintenance-B. Ollis, Site Superintendent M. French, Mechanical Coordinator E. Arms, Welded Foreman Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company-J. Tetreault, Authorized Nuclear Inspector NRC
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- J.~P. Jaudon, Deputy Director -Division of Reactor Safety, Region IV
- W. ~ R. Bennett, Senior Resident Inspector
~The NRC inspector also interviewed other licensee employees during the inspection.
- * Denotes attendance at exit interview conducted on May 19, 1989.
2.
. Welding Activities (55050 and 55100)
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Review of Welding Program Enhancements cThe NRC inspector verified that the licensee had implemented the commitments made to NRC in Letter CNSS895719 dated May 8, 1989, regarding
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'the Cooper Nuclear Station Welding Program enhancements. This
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' verification was performed by interviewing personnel, observing the work activities, and review of surveillance reports.
The welding program enhancements verified consisted of:
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Programmatic Changes l
Welding procedures were available to welders o
Welders were reading'the welding procedures o
Welders were acknowledging by signature their understanding of the welding procedure o --
Temporary changes were issued for the required welding procedures to correct the discrepancies iden.tified during Bechtel's' third party review o
Welders were counselled regarding adherence to procedures.
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b.
Third Party Review
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A third party review'of the welding program and procedures was j
accomplished by Bechtel during the period of April 19-27, 1989..The L
Qnsee is evaluating the findings and taking the actions necessary
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to correct program and procedure deficiencies.
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Surveillance Activities
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l Surveillance of the welding activities was accomplished by 0A and QC personnel. Approximately ten surveillance reports were reviewed for the period of May 6-15, 1989. An additional QA Specialist from the corporate office was provided to assist in performing the surveillance.
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Although the licensee was complying with the commitments stated in the letter of May 8, 1989, the NRC inspector met with plant management on May 18, 1989, to discuss the inspector's concern regarding the ability of the welders to assure themselves that they were setting the welding machine within the amperage range of the welding procedure. The welding l
machines do not have meters; the dials on the welding machines are marked in percentage and are potentially inaccurate; and amperage meters are not available to the welders. When the plant manager became aware of the situation, he issued a stop work order for all welding activities until the issue could be resolved. The licensee planned to develop calibration curves for each welding machine. These calibration curves were to be
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checked every 30 days for machines in use.
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On reviewing the information obtained while # ;erving welding activities
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l and reviewing surveillance reports, the NRC h.)ector noted that the A500, Grade B tube steel material was not included in the welding procedure specified on the welding check lists. The welding procedure specified for welding A500 material is WPS 7.7.16.
The design change for the high pressure core injection piping supports is DC88-302, Amendment 1, which
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specifies that A500 material shall be welded as indicated on Drawings
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SKE-HPCI28~and SKE-HPCI-35 with Procedure WPS 7.7.16.
Since the A500 material has been approved for welding in ASME. Code Cases on the bases of SA-36 material-qualifications and the licensee has committed to reviewing
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E and improving the welding program and procedures, this discrepancy will-
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.not' be a violation in' this report, but it is considered another example of the
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welding program. deficiencies documented as a violation in NRC Inspection
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l Report 50-298/89-15.. The licensee has committed to clarifying the welding
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procedures for welding A500 materials. This item will.be considered unresolved pending review of the upgraded welding program.
(289/8920-01)
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3.'
Exit Interview
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-An exit interview was conducted on May'19, 1989, with those personnel denoted in paragraph 1.
At the exit interview, the licensee provided the NRC inspector.with additional information for consideration in evaluating
.the111censee's procedures for welding A500 tube steel pipe supports. No information was presented to the'NRC inspector that was identified by the-licensee as proprietary.
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