IR 05000397/1992037
| ML17289B059 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Columbia  |
| Issue date: | 12/14/1992 |
| From: | Martin J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | Oxsen A WASHINGTON PUBLIC POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17289B060 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-92-206, NUDOCS 9212290001 | |
| Download: ML17289B059 (7) | |
Text
FORD l REGULATORY INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (RIDS)
ACCESSION NBR:9212290001 DOC.DATE: 92/12/14 NOTARIZED: NO WACIL:50-397 WPPSS Nuclear Project, Unit 2, Washington Public Powe AUTH.NAME AUTHOR AFFILIATION TIN,J.B.
Region 5 (Post 820201)
ECIP.NAME RECIPIENT AFFILIATION XSEN,A.L.
Washington Public Power Supply System DOCKET ¹ 05000397 SUBJECT: Discusses insp rept 50-397/92-37 on 921005-21 6 forwards NOV a proposed imposition of civil penalty in amount of
$75,000 a notice of deviation. Enforcement conference summarized in meeting rept 50-397/92-42.
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TITLE: General (50 Dkt)-Insp Rept/Notice of Violation Response NOTES:
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REGION V
1450 MARIALANE WALNUTCREEK, CAUFORNIA94596-5368 Docket No.
50-397 License No.
NPF-21 ZA 92-206 DEC 14 592 Washington Public Power Supply System ATTN:
Mr. A. L. Oxsen Acting Managing Director Post Office Box 968 Richland, Washington 99352 SUBZECT:
NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND PROPOSED IMPOSITION OF CIVIL PENALTY - $75,000 (NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-397/92-37)
This refers to the special inspection conducted by Mr. W. P. Ang and Mr. D. L. Proulx of this office on October 5 through 21, 1992.
The results of this inspection were documented in the referenced NRC inspection report, which was transmitted to you on November 5, 1992.
These issues were discussed with you during an
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enforcement conference held in the Region V Office on November 10, 1992.
Our discussion during the enforcement conference was summarized in Meeting Report No. 50-397/92-42, transmitted to you on December 1, 1992.
The five apparent violations identified in our inspection report resulted in four violations as listed in the enclosed Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty (Notice).
Three of these violations resulted from weaknesses in your management oversight of core stability concerns, and were directly related to the August 15, 1992, power oscillation event.
These involved:
(1) the use of procedures which did not provide adequate instructions or acceptance criteria for developing control rod patterns which would prevent core power oscillationsg (2) the failure of your Nuclear Safety Assurance Group (NSAG) to review a BWR Owners'roup letter regarding potential reactor power oscillationsg and (3) an inadequate design review of the mixed core design used for the Cycle 8 reload core.
The fourth violation involved the failure to adjust the average power range monitor (APRM) flow-biased scram and rod block setpoints as required by the plant's Technical Specifications.
In addition, the enclosed Notice of Deviation addresses the failure to meet a commitment regarding the installation and use of a stability monitor.
921229000i 92i2i4 PDR ADOCK 05000397
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Washington Public Power Supply System Collectively, the first three violations contributed to the August 15 event, and demonstrated a lack of adequate management oversight and involvement in those areas necessary to ensure reactor core stability.
In addition, these violations indicate a
continued failure to take advantage of industry experience to prevent or mitigate the occurrence of similar events or problems at WNP-2, such as past problems in the areas of motor-operated valves and emergency operating procedures.
In accordance with the "General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy),
10 CFR Part 2, Appendix C, the three violations related to the reactor power oscillation event (Violations I.A, I.B, and I.C in the enclosed Notice) have been classified in the aggregate as a Severity Level IIIproblem.
The violation regarding failure to adjust the APRM flow-biased scram and rod block setpoints has been classified as a Severity Level IV violation.
To emphasize the importance the NRC attaches to the need for appropriate management oversight of important core operating parameters such as core stability, I have been authorized, after consultation with the Director, Office of Enforcement, and the Deputy Executive Director for Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Regional Operations, and Research, to issue the enclosed Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty in the amount of $75,000 The base value of a civil penalty for a Severity Level III problem is
$50,000.
The escalation and mitigation factors in the Enforcement Policy were considered as described below.
Your response to the management problem that underlies these violations has been aggressive.
Your October 30, 1992, response indicates that you understand that the power oscillation event resulted from a failure to provide adequate management oversight and involvement, and that you have initiated actions that emphasize responsibility and accountability at all management levels.
In addition, the actions taken to address each of the individual violations and findings appear to be comprehensive.
Normally we would not provide full mitigation for these corrective actions, since some members of licensee management were slow in recognizing and correcting the deficiencies associated with the cited violations.
In fact, it was only after repeated NRC inspection team questions and concerns that broad corrective actions were undertaken to address the technical concerns.
However, we note that once your senior management recognized the fundamental management problem, which was the most significant root cause of these violations, prompt and aggressive corrective actions were taken to address both the management and technical concerns.
Those corrective actions included significant disciplinary action against managers who were slow to
Washington Public Power Supply System undertake the corrective actions necessary to broadly address the technical issues.
Accordingly, despite the initial delay and narrow scope of your initial corrective actions, we have decided, given the aggressive action that was ultimately taken, that mitigation equal to 50 percent of the base civil penalty is appropriate for your corrective actions.
With respect to past performance, the failure to provide effective management and quality oversight has been manifested in other recent programmatic breakdowns.
Most notable were the operator requalification failures, weaknesses in the implementation of the plant emergency operating procedures, and weaknesses in the plant motor operated valve testing program.
Accordingly, we have escalated by an amount equal to 50 percent of the base civil penalty for past performance.
In addition, industry and NRC guidance regarding reactor power oscillations was available to several key members of your staff in addition to the NSAG, but was not effectively used.
In that this represented a prior opportunity to identify and prevent or mitigate the August 15 event, we have escalated by 50 percent of the base civil penalty for this factor.
The full escalation of 100 percent permitted for this factor under the NRC Enforcement Policy was not applied in this case because the NSAG's failure to act on this information has already been considered in the determination that this event constituted a Severity Level III problem.
The other adjustment factors in the Enforcement Policy were considered, and no further adjustment to the base civil penalty is considered appropriate.
Although you identified Violation I.A, the NRC identified Violations I.B and I.C.
Therefore, adjustment for identification was not warranted.
Based on the above, the base civil penalty has been increased by 50 percent.
Also included as Violation II in the enclosed Notice is a finding of the Augmented Inspection Team (AIT) that the flow-biased thermal power trip setpoints for the reactor scram and control rod block had not been set as prescribed in your Technical Specifications.
This violation was not directly related to the August 15, 1992, event, and has been classified as a Severity Level IV violation.
In addition, a deviation from a previous commitment was identified involving the installation of filters in the inputs to your stability monitor.
You are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed Notice of Violation when preparing your response.
In your response, you should document the specific actions taken and any additional actions you plan to prevent recurrence.
You are also requested go respond to the
Washington Public Power Supply System enclosed Notice of Deviation, as described therein.
After reviewing your responses to these Notices, including your proposed corrective actions and the results of future inspections, the NRC vill determine whether further NRC enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with NRC regulatory requirements.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice,"
a copy of this letter and its enclosure vill be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
The responses directed by this letter and the Enclosed Notice are not subject to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Pub. L.96-511.
Sincerely, Enclosures:
AjgJ Regional Adm
'wtrator 1.
Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty 2.
Notice of Deviation cc: J. V. Parrish, Assistant Managing Director for Operations J.
C. Gearhart, Quality Assurance Director J.
W. Baker, WNP-2 Plant Manager G-C. Sorensen, Manager,, Regulatory Programs A. G. Hosier, WNP-2 Licensing Manager G. E. Doupe, Esq.
Winston t Strawn State of Washington
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