IR 05000309/1997003

Ack Receipt of Informing NRC of Steps Taken to Correct Violations Noted in Insp Rept 50-309/97-03

ML20216G873
Person / Time
Site:	Maine Yankee
Issue date:	08/28/1997
From:	Cowgill C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Sellman M Maine Yankee
References
50-309-97-03, 50-309-97-3, NUDOCS 9709160076
Download: ML20216G873 (3)

Text

,.

!

4-

!

. August 28,1997 -

,

Mr. Michael President Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company 329 Bath Road Brunswick, Maine 04011 SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50 309/97-03 - REPLY

Dear Mr. Sellman:

This letter refers to your July 3,1997 correspondence, in response to our June 6,1997 letter.

Our inspectors reviewed the immediate corrective actions taken to address the inadvertent start of the Low Pressure Safety injection (LPSI) pump and found them appropriate.

However, it appears that those actions taken to avoid future violations were not broad enough to preclude similar problems that occurred in late June,1997.. These recent events involved inadequacies in operator performance that resulted in significant valve lineup errors. As a result, you initiated an " operations stand down" on June 30,1997. Also, in NRC Inspection Report 50-309/97 06, dated August 14,1997, we issued a violation for additional operator errors. We expect that your corrective actions for these later events will be broad and comprehensive in order to avoid future similar violations. The effectiveness of your actions will be reviewed at a future date.

Your cooperation with us is appreciated.

Sincerely, Original Signed By:

' Curtis J. Cowgill, Ill, Chief Projects Branch 5 Division of Reactor Projects

,

. .)

v\

9709160076 970828 ,

PDR -ADOCK 05000309 PDR-o

. - - . - . .

..

[

b e

Michael B. Sellman. 2 ,.

Docket No. 50 309 cc:

G. Leitch, Vice President, Operations M. Meisner, Vice President, Licensing and Regulatory Compliance R. Fraser, Vice President, Engineering J. M. Block, Attorney at Law-P. L. Anderson, Project Manager (Yankee Atomic Electric Company)

R. Blackmore, Plant Manager cc w/ copy of Licensee Response Latter:

L. Diehl, Manager of Public and Governmental Affairs J.' A. Ritsher,' Attorney (Ropes and Gray)

- P. Dostle,- State Nuclear Safety inspector P. Brann, Assistant Attorney General

'U. Vanags, State Nuclear Safety Advisor C. Brinkman, Combustion Engineering, Inc.

W. D. Meinert, Nuclear Engineer First Selectmen of Wiscasset Maine State Planning Officer - Nuclear Safety Advisor State of Maine, SLO Designee State Planning Officer - Executive Department Friends of the Coast ~

Distribution w/cy of Licensee Response Letter:

,

Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)

Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)

PUBLIC -

NRC Resident inspector H. Miller, RA W. Axelson, DRA D, Serenci, PAO C. Cowgill, DRP D. Bearde, DRP W. Dean, OEDO S. Varga, NRR ~

D.' Dorman, PM, NRR M. Callahan, OCA -

R. Correia, NRR F. Talbot, NRR

. Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)

DOCDESK

- .. . _ . . . - - - . _ . . - .

,-

=e Michael Distribution w/cy of Licensee Response Letter:-

Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)

Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)

- PUBLIC NRC Resident inspector H. Miller, RA W. Axelson, DRA D. Screncl, PAO C. Cowgill, DRP D. Bearde, DRP W. Dean, OEDO S. Varga, NRR D. Dorman, PM, NRR M. Callahan, OCA ,

R. Correia, NRR t F. Talbot, NRR Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)

DOCDESK-

.

?

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\ BRANCH 5\MY97 03.RPY To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure "N" = No copy

-

'

OFFICE Rl/DRP - Rh /- /

NAME C lCOWGILE/Ja DATE- Og%'97 OFFICIAL- RECORD COPY

,

-

, , ..

-

MaineYankee AELI ABLE ELECT AtCITY SINCE 1972

-; 329 BATH ROAD + SMUNSWICK MANE 04011 * (207) 796 4100 -

July 3,1997 MN 97 82 JRH 97168 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Attention: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555 References: (a) License No. DPR 36 (Docket No. 50-309)

(b) USNRC Letter to MYAPCo, dated June 05,1997, Notice of Violation for NRC Inspection Report 50-309 / 97-03

,

Subject: Reply to Notice of Violation Associated with NRC Inspection Report No. 50-309/97-03.

Gentlemen:

The attachment to this letter provides Maine Yankee's reply to the Notice of Violation contained in reference (b). Included in this response is the reason for the violation, corrective actions / actions taken to prevent recurrence and the full compliance date.

Please contact us should you have further questions regarding this matter.

Very truly yours,

...

'

- , hhv (

James R. Hebert, Manager Reguiatory Affairs Department JVW/mwr Ericlosure

,

ci" Mr. Hubert Miller Mr. J. T. Yerokun Mr. D. H. Dorman Mr. Patrick J. Dostic

.Mr. Uldis Vanags -

'0 707//O ? W kk 1

. . . . - . . _ - . .

-. - - . . _ - . - _ - - .. .-- . _-. - -

- -.'

y

>

.

Reply To Notlee of Viniatlan

m .

-

- During an NRC inspection conducted on-March 16 to April 26, 1997, a violation of NRC requuements was identi6ed. In accordance with the " General Statement of Policy and Pmoodure for -!

NRC En'orcement Actions," NUREG 1600, the violation is listed below:

'

A. Technical Specification S.8.2. requires, in part, that written procedures shall be established, implemented and maintained covering the activities referenced in Appendix "A" of Regulatory .

Guide 1.33, (Rev. 2), Febmary 1978. Regulatory Guide 1.33,(Revision 2 ), dated February 1978,  ;

4 recommends in Appendix "A", Section 1, administrative procedures for authorities and responsibilities for safe operation and shutdown.

. Maine Yankee Procedure No.1-24-4, Responsibilities and Authorities of Operating Personal, revision 9, step 3.2.3, requires that the Shift Operating Supervisor ensure that his personnel stop evolutions when unexpected conditions arise. Step 3.3.3 of the procedure requires that the

Control Room Operator stop evolutions when unexpected conditions arise.

Contrary to the above, dusing the testing of a containment spray pump on April 9,19%,

operators failed to stop the test when the control room operator unexpectedly started a low pressure safety injection pump instead of the spray pump being tested.

t

i

, . , - ~ _ _ r-y _., .,- . y. , _ , ,_ -

- _ - _ - - . - - - . - . . - - - - . - - - -

'*

.

hialme Yankee Response:

Maine Yankee agrees with this violation. Procedure 1-26-4 requires that the test be stopped. When the incorrect pump was started the test should have been stopped and a determination made on how to proceed.

The performance of the Shi A Operating Supervisor (SOS) and the Control Room Operator (CRO)

were contrary to managements expectations and operator training. The pmcedure clearly states the requirements, Operators are trained on these expectations, and management expects procedure compliance.

Immediate Corrective Actions:

P 12A was evaluated for the effects of the rapid start /stop cycle. The pump was aligned with a :

. suction and discharge path with LSI F 59 throttled 10% open. It was determined that inadvertent start of P 12A had no detrimental effects on pump operability.

Both operators were taken off shin pending management review of their actions and corrective actions.

'

Corrective Actions Taken to Avoid Further Violation:

Disciplinary actions was taken for both operators. The Plant Shin Superintendent (PSS) the ShiR Operating Supervisor (SOS), and the Control Room Operator (CRO) received counseling on management expectations.

A Training Review Board was convened to determine what retraining should be administered. The CRO was decertified subject to training including Stop, Think, Act, and Review (STAR),

Responsibilities & Authorities of Operating Personnel, communications, and simulator training and evaluation. This event was reviewed with all crews with an emphasis on STAR, Operations Philosophy Guidelines and Operations Communication Standards.

Procedure 1-300-6. OPERATIONAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS, has been revised to more clearly define managements expectations concerning communication.

Full Comollance Date-Full compliance was achieved on April 10,1997 when the individuals were counseled concerning management expectations and the CRO was decertified subject to retraining and evaluation.

-. --