IR 05000424/1999006

Insp Repts 50-424/99-06 & 50-425/99-06 on 990725-0904. Violations Noted.Major Areas Inspected:Licensee Operations, Engineering,Maint & Plant Support

ML20217B022
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	10/01/1999
From:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:
Shared Package
ML20217B018	List: IR 05000424/1999006 ML20217B014
References
50-424-99-06, 50-425-99-06, NUDOCS 9910120144
Download: ML20217B022 (7)

Text

U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC)

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REGION ll Docket Nos. 50-424 and 50-425 License Nos.- NPF-68 and NPF-U'

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Report No: 50-424/99-06 and 50-425/99-06 )

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Licensee: Southern Nuclear Operating Company, In Facility: Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 Location: 7821 River Road Waynesboro, GA 30830 Dates: July 25 through September 4,1999 Inspectors: J. Zeiler, Senior Resident inspector K. O'Donohue, Resident inspector D. Roberts, Senior Resident inspector - Catawba R. Baldwin, Operator Licensing Inspector (Section 05)

L Approved by: P. Skinner, Chief l Reactor Projects Branch 2 l Division of Reactor Projects l

l Enclosure 9910120144 991ogg

{DR ADOCK 05000424 PDR

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 1 and 2 NRC Inspection Report 50-424/99-06 and 50-425/99-06

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This integrated inspection included aspects of licensee operations, engineering, maintenance, and plant support. The report covers a six-week period of resident inspection. It also includes the results of an announced inspection by a regional operator licensing inspecto Operations e The licensed operator requalification examinations were challenging and operators'

performances matched testing objectives. Post-examination discussions l

comprehensively assessed individual and crew performance. The content of the annual l operating tests, written and operating test sample plan development, security program, j feedback program and the remediation program were considered satisfactory (Section l 05.1). {

Maintenance . 4 o The failure to adequately test the High-Energy Line Break (HELB) circuits from initial plant startup in 1987 until the requirement was remov6d from the Technical ,

Specifications in January 1997, is a violation. This violation is identified as Non-Cited i Violation 50-424,425/99-06-01, " Failure to Adequately Test HELB Circuits Leads to Operation Outside of Technical Specifications," This violation was in the licensee's corrective action program as LER 50-424/99-002 and CR 119990611 (Section M8.1).

Plant Suocort e The temporary removal of a section of the Protected Area (PA) fence and vehicle barrier system was well planned and coordinated. Conservative security compensatory measures were implemented during the period that the PA fence and vehicle barrier system was degraded (Section S1.1).

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Report Details i l

Summarv of Plant Status Both Unit 1 and Unit 2 operated at or near 100% Rated Thermal Power (RTP) throughout the inspection perio . Operations 01 Conduct of Operations 01.1 General Comments (71707)

' The inspectors conducted routine control room tours, observed operations shift turnovers, and attended daily management plant status meetings. Operator logs were reviewed to verify compliance with Technical Specifications (TS). Instrumentation, computer indications, and safety system lineups were periodically reviewed to assess .

system availability. No problems were identified in the above area l 02 Operational Status of Facilities and Equipment <

i O2.1 Enaineered Safetv Feature System Walkdowns (71707) l The inspectors toured various areas containing components of the Residual Heat l Removal (RHR) system on both units. The inspectors reviewed TS requirements, system lineup, surveillance and operating procedures, engineering drawings, system design documents, and the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report. No significant issues were identifie Operator Training and Qualification 0.5.1 Reaualification Annual Operatina anj !!yJnial Written Examinations inspection Scope (71001)

- The inspector reviewed the licensees' examination development procedures and the current annual requalification examinations. The inspector also observed the licensee administer simulator and job performance measures (JPMs) examination O'oservations and Findinas The inspector reviewed the current written examination and two Part A (Static Simulator)

examinations. The inspector noted that the licensee attempted to eliminate test material overlap between examination intervals. Additionally, minimal test material overlap war achieved between examination weeks. The inspector also reviewed the annual simulator examination scenarios and found that they were comprehensive and allowed for the determination of acceptable operator performance. The inspector noted that the licenses followed their examination development procedure _____ ______ ___

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The inspector observed examination security practices during the inspection. The licensee maintains a separate examination development room with limited personnel access. The inspector noted that the licensee followed their examination security procedure The inspector reviewed the operator feedback program. The inspector found that the licensee maintained the feedback program in accordance with plant procedures. The inspector found an isolated example of a feedback report which requested additional shutdown panel training that was not captured in the feedback progra The inspector reviewed the remedial training packages for three written and two walkthrough individual examination failures. Although the training packages followed the licensee's proceduta, the inspector could not verify the specific remedial training areas for each individual because the procedures did not require detailed documentation. All operators who received remedial training passed subsequent re-test examination The inspector observed the licensee administer four simulator scenarios to three operating crews. Overall performance of each operating crew was considered satisfactory by the inspectors. The inspectors found that the licensee's evaluators identified operator performance errors. The inspector also observ d one post examination review. Specific operating crew and individual strengths and weaknesses were identified during post-examination discussions. One member of each evaluation team was either an operations or management representative. The inspector noted that these individuals provided additional insight to the evaluation team. Additionally, the inspector noted management support of the licensed operator requalification progra Conclusions The licensed operator requalification examinations were challenging and operators'

performances matched testing objectives. Post-examination discussions comprehensively assessed individual and crew performance. The content of the annual operating tests, written and operating test sample plan development, security program, feedback program and the remediation program were considered satisfactor . Maintenance M1 Conduct of Maintenance M1.1 General Maintenance Work Order and Surveillance Observations (61'726) (62707)

The inspectors observed or reviewed portions of selected maintenance and surveillance activities. The observed maintenance and surveillance activities were completed by qualified personnel. Procedures were present and being used at the work locatio Problems encountered during the performance of activities were resolved. No significant issues were identified.

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M8 Miscellaneous Maintenance issues (92700) (92902) - ,

- M8.1 (Closed) Licensee Event Report (LER) 50-424/99-002-00: Hiah-Enerav Line Break j Instrument Channels inadeauatelv Calibrated J The inspectors reviewed the LER and Condition Report (CR) 119990611 and verified )

that the corrective actions identified in the LER for this event were satisfactorily l J- implemented. The licensee attributed the cause of the event to be inadequate i surveillance test pr_ocedures which did not verify proper operation of the high-energy line l

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break (HELB) instrumentation channel circuits in accordance with TS Surveillance !

Requiremnt 4.3.3.11. The failure to adequately test the HELB circuits had existed ;

since initial plant startup in 1987 until the requirement was removed from the TS in '

' Janucry 1997. This is a violation of TS Surveillance Requirement 4.3.3.11, which was in

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effect at that time. This TS requirement was removed from the TS and incorporated into the Technical Requirements Manualin 1997. This violation of the TS is identified as Non-Cited Violation (NCV) 50-424,425/99-06-01, " Failure to Adequately Test HELB Circuits Leads to Operation Outside of Technical Specifications," consistent with Appendix C of the NRC Enforcement Policy. This violation was in the licensee's 4 corrective action program as LER 50-424/99-002 and CR 11999061 Ill. Enaineerina

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E1 Conduct of Engineering E General Observations (37551) ,

The inspectors observed engineering support e ctivities for emergent and day-to-day operational and maintenance issues, and CR evaluations. Timely and effective engineering support was noted in the areas reviewed. Engirvarirg involvement and evaluations of equipment problems were thorough end techrkany soun IV. Plant Suonort R1 Radiological Protection and Chemistry Controls R General Observations (71750)

. The inspectors routinely observed radiologically controlled activities and reviewed chemistry results. Personnel were attentive to radiological conditions and followed I posted requirements. Area surveys were properly performed. Radiation pre-job briefings were detailed and performed when necessary. The licensee provided good i management oversight of radiation and chemistry activitie ;

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S1 Conduct of Secur4y E.1d Safeguards Activities S Temocrary Protectec' Area Fence Removal (71750)

The inspectors observed licensee activities to temporarily remove a section of the )

Protected A ea (PA) fence and vehicle barrier system in order to bring a replacement main generator step-up transformer into the PA. The inspectors observed the implementation of compensatory merr res when the section of the PA fence and vehicle barrier system were removed. i dicaing the fence and vehicle barrier !

restoration, the inspectors performec: an inspection of the are !

The inspectors concluded that the security activity was well planned and coordinated. ;

Conservative security compensatory measures were implemented during the period that the PA fence and vehic!e barrier system was degrade E Manaaement Meetinas and Other Areas X1 Exit Meeting Sumraary The inspectors presented the inspections results to licensee management on September 9,1999. An interim exit was held on September 3,1999, to discuss the findings of a regional-based operator licensing inspector. The licensee acknowledged the findings presented. No proprietary information was identifie PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED Licensee R. Brown, Manager, Training and Emergency Preparedness W. Burmeister, Manager, Engineering Support l S. Chesnut, Plant Operations Assistant General Manager l G. Frederick, Manager, Operations 1 J. Gasser, Nuclear Plant General Manager  !

K. Holmes, Manager, Maintenance P. Rushton, Plant Support Assistant General Manager INSPECTION PROCEDURES USED IP 37551: Onsite Engineering IP 61726: Surveillance Observation IP 62707: Maintenance Observation IP 71001: Licensed Operator Requalification Program Evaluation IP 71707: Plant Operations IP 71750: Plant Support IP 92700: Onsite Followup of Written Reports of Nonroutine Events at Power Reactor Facilities IP 92902: Followup - Maintenance l

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ITEMS OPENED AND CLOSED ITEM NUMBER TYPE DESCRIPTION Closed i

50-424,425/99-06-01 NCV Failure to Adequately Test HELB Circuits Leads to Operation Outside of Technical Specifications

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(Section M8.1) ,

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50-424/99-002-00 LER High-Energy Line Break Instrument Channels inadequately Calibrated (Section M8.1) l

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