IR 05000498/1989012

Ack Receipt of Informing NRC of Steps Taken to Correct Violations Noted in Insp Repts 50-498/89-12 & 50-499/89-12

ML20247M274
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	07/27/1989
From:	Milhoan J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:	Goldberg J HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO.
References
NUDOCS 8908020025
Download: ML20247M274 (3)

Text

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gg7q E In' Reply Refer To:

< Dockets: 50-498/89-12-50-499/89-12

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Houston Lighting & Power Company .

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= ATTN: J. H. Goldberg, Group Vice

. President, Nuclea ,, P.O. Box 1700 Houston, Texas 7700 Gentlemen:

Thank y'ou for .your letter of- June 26, 1989, in response to our letter and inspection report dated May 19, 1989. .We have reviewed your reply and find.it responsive to the concerns raised in ourJ;nspection report. We will-review the implementation 'of your corrective actions during a. future inspectio

Sincerely,

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f-ames.L. Milhoan, Director Division of Reactor Projects

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CC Chief Technological-Hazards. Branch FEMA Region 6 Federal Cente I800 North Loop 288 Denton,1 Texas 76201-3698 Houston Lighting & Power Company ATTN: M. A. McBurnett, Manager Operations Support Licensing P.O.. Box 289 Wadsworth, Texas 77483 Houston. Lighting & Power Company l: ATTN: Gerald E. Vaughn, Vice President Nuclear Operations P.O. Box 289

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' Houston Lighting & Power Company ATTN: J. T Westermeier, General Manager

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South-Texas Proje-t P.O. Box 289 Wadsworth, Texas 77483 Central Power & Light Company ATTN: R. L. Range /R.' P. Verret P.O. Box 2121 Corpus Christi, Texas 78403 City of Austin Electric Utility ATTN: R. J. Miner, Chief Operating T Officer (2 copies)

721 Barten Springs Road Austin, Texas' 78704 Newman & Holtzinger, P.. ATTN: J. R. Newman, Esquire 1615 L Street, Washington, Houston Lighting & Power Company ATTN: S. L..Rosen P.O. Box 289 Wadsworth, Texas 77483

' Houston Lighting & Power Company ATTN: R. W. Chewning, Chairman Nuclear Safety Review Board P.O. Box 289 Wadsworth, Texas 17483 City Public Service Board ATTN: R. J. Costello/M. Hardt P.O. Box 1771 San Antonio, Texas 78296 Houston Lighting & Power Company-ATT1 Licensing Representative Suite 610 Three' Metro Center Bethesda, Maryland 20814 Houston Lighting & Power Company ATTN: Rufus S. Scott, Associate l General Counsel P-.0, Box 1700 Houston, Texas 77001 l

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50 Bellport Lane Bellport New York 11713 Texas Radiation Control Program Director bec to DMB (IE-35)

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R. D. Martin, RA DRP Resident Inspector-OPS Section Chief DRP/D RPB-DRSS MIS-System RIV' File Lisa Shea, RM/ALF RSTS Operator R. Bachmann, OGC DRS Inspector Section Chief B. Murray-B. Beach D. M. Hunnicutt G. Dick, NRR Project Manager

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Houston Lighting & Power P.O. Box 1700 Houston. Texas 77001 (713) 228 9211 June 26, 1989 ST-HL.AE-3148 File No.: CO2.04 10cm2.20 1 ~j@@%[),

J U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attention: Document Control Desk

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Washington DC 20555 JV - - - ~'"

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South Texas Project Electric Cenerating Station Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. STN 50-498, STN 50-499 Response'to NRC Emergency Preparedness Exercise Weaknesses 1498/8912-01. 02. 03. 04: 499/8912-01. 02. 03. 04)

Houston Lighting & Power Company has reviewed Inspection Report 89-12 dated May 19, 1989, and submits the following responses to the identified exercise weaknesse ) 498/8912-01: 439/8912-Ql:

Dose projections performed after the IDCA did not take into consideration high range containment monitor readings indicating core damage, resulting in inaccurate dose projection Plan eD# Schedule:

The STAMPEDE program will be revised by February 28, 1990 to incorporate the high range containment monitor which indicates core damage. This will require the Technical Support Center staff and/or dose assessors at the Emergency Operations Facility to correlate core damage to j high range containment monitor readings. This will facilitate more accurate dose assessment projection In the interim, nomographs will be develop'ed to enable more accurate definition of source terms. This will be completed by August 1, 198 ) 498/8912-02: 49248912-92:

Several enors were noted on Site Area Emergency and General Emergency notification message I

A1/009.NL4 A Subsidiary of Houston Industries Incorporated l

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ST-HL-AE-3148 g File No.: G02.04 q Page 2 j

Plan and Schedule:  !

l Emergency Response personnel involved will be reinstructed in completion of messages by July 31, 1989. Messages will be reviewed during subseq2ent quarterly drills / exercises, and additional corrective actions will be taken if the problem persist i 3) 498/8912-03: 499/8912-03:

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The medical team did not establish priorities properly, safety precautions were not taken, and proper radiological controls were not observe Plan and Schedule:

The following steps will be taken to address this concern:

an) An additional 40-hour course will be conducted to certify the remainder of medical emergency l response personnel. This will be completed by June 30, 198 b) Medical emergency response personnel will participate in one drill per quarte c) During the fourth quarter 1989, selected medical emergency response personnel vill work in a local area hospital emergency room to obtain practical experienc d) Medical emergency response personnel will be decertified by the State of Texas. This will be done by June 30, 199 The results of these steps will be evaluated to ensure that they have been effective in correcting this weakness. Additional actions will be taken if necessar ) 498/8912-04: 499/8912-04':

Adequate accountability of personnel remaining onsite was not provided promptly. In addition, continuous accountability of essential Operations Support Center personnel after the site evacuation needs to be improve A1/009.NL4 j

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Houston 1.ighting & Powcr ('omli.my

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ST-HL AE-3148

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Page 3 Plan and Schedule:

A revised accountability method has been developed and tested'successfully, and the requisite procedure has been revised. A Plant Modification has been initiated to iristall card readers at' selected assembly areas and

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Emergency Response Facilities. As noted in our-correspor$ence of May 22, 1989'(ST-HL-AE-3111), this will be completed by March 31, 199 If you should have any questions on this matter, please contact Mr. M. A. McBurnett at (512) 972-853 .- W S. L. Rosen Vice President-Nuclear En5i neering end Construction SLR/PLW/km

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Regional Administrator, Region IV Rufus S. Scott Nuclear Regulatory Commission Associate Ceneral Counsel 611 Ryan Plaza Drive Suite 1000 Houston Li 6hting & Power Company Arlington, TX 76011 P. O. Box 1700 Houston, TX 77001 Ceorge Dick, Project Manager U. S Nuclear Regulatory Commission INPO

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Washington, DC 20555 Records Center 1100 Circle 75 Parkway Jack E. Bess Atlanta, CA 30339-3064 i

i Senior Resident Inspector - Unit 1 c/o U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Dr. Joseph M. Hendrie P. O. Box 910 50 Be11 port Lane Bay City. TX 77414 Be11 port, NY 11713 J. I. Tapia D. R. lacker .

Senior Resident Inspector - Unit 2 Bureau of Radiation Control c/o U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Texas Department of Health P. O. Box 910 1100 West 89th Street Bay City TX 77414 Austin, TX 78756-3189 J. R. Newman, Esquire Newman & Holtzinger, P. L Street, N. Washington, DC 20036 l

R. L. Range /R. P. Verret 4 Central Power & Light Company P. O. Box 2121 Corpus Chrisci, TX 78403 R. John Hiner (2 Copies)

Chief Operating Officer City of Austin Electric Utility 721 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 R. J. Costello/M. T. Hardt City Public Service Board j

P. O. Box 1771 San Antonio, TX 78296 i Revised 06/16/89 A1/009.NLA  ;

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MAY l 91989

!' In Reply Refer To:

, Dockets: 50-498/89-12 l 50-499/89-12 Houston Lighting & Power Company ATIN: J. H. Goldberg, Group Vice President, Nuclear P.O. Box 1700 Houston, Texas 77001 Gentlemen:

This refers to the inspection conducted by Mr. Nemen M. Terc of this office and other accompanying personnel during the period April 24-28, 1989, of activities authorized by NRC Operating Licenses NPF-76 and NPF-78, for South Texas Project, and to the discussion of our findings with you and members of your staff at the conclusion of the inspectio Areas examined during the inspection included the implementation of the emergency plan and procedures during the annual emergency response exercis Within these areas, the inspection consisted of selective examination of procedures and representative records, interviews with personnel, and observations by the NRC inspection team. The inspection findings are documented in the enclosed inspection repor Within the scope of the inspection, no violations or deviations were identifie The enclosed report identifies four exercise weaknesses in your emergency preparedness program. Exercise weaknesses, according to 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E.IV.F.5, are inspection findings that need to be corrected by the licensee. You are requested to provide this office with a description of your corrective actions and your schedule for completing these actions within 30 days after receipt of this lette We also examined actions you have taken with regard to previously identified inspectico findings. The status of these items is identified in paragraph 2 of the enclosed repor Should you have any questions concerning this inspection, we will be pleased to discuss them with yo

Sincerely, e rFnhd L. J. Callan, Director Division of Reactor Projects Ep osure: (see next page)

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Houston Lighting & Power Company -2-

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Enclosure:

.Apperdix - NPC Inspection Report

50-408/89-17 50-499/69-12

REGION IV

NRC luspection Reporte 50-498/89-12- Operating. Licenses: NPF-76 50-499/89-12' NPF-78'

Dockets: 50-498 L, 50-499 Licensee: .H6uston Lighting & Power' Company (HL&P)

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P.O. Box'1700 Houston,-Texas 77001 Facility Name: . South' Texas Project (STP), Units 1-and 2 Inspection At: STP,.Matagorda County, Texas-Inspe-tion Conducted:

- April.2 -28, 1989

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Inspector:

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.h M. Terc, Emergency Preparedness Anal st 7 #~ M Date (NRC Team Leader)

, Accompanying; Personnel:' J. Tapia, Senior NRC Resident. Inspector, STP Unit 1

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iJ.-Sears, Comex Corporation

, -D. Schultz, Comex Corporation

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o Approved: [ R. J. Everellt, Chief, Security and Emergency C/7/E9 Date Preparedness Section

_ Inspection Summa,_ry

, Inspection Conducted April 24-28, 1989 (Report 50-U28/89-12; 50-499/89-12) _

Areas Inspected: Routine, announced inspection of the licensee's performance and capabilities during an annual exercise of the emergency plan and

procedures. The NRC inspection team observed activities in the Control

. Room (CR), Technical Sucport Center (TSC), the Emergency Operations

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Facility (EOF), and the Operations Support Center (OSC) during the exercis i l. . ..

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Results: Within the areas inspected, no violations or deviations were identifie Four exercise weaknesses were identified by the' NRC inspection te.am-(paragraphs 4-6). Weaknesses identified include inadequate personnel accountability methods, inattentiveness to personnel safety during the medical emergency scenario,- errors in notification messages, and inaccurate dose projections. Generally, the licensee's response was adequate to protect the

. health and safety of the publi *

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DETAILS p

. Persons Contacted HL&P

• H. Kinsey, Plant Manager-

• G. E. Vaughn, Vice President, Nuclear Operations

• M. A. McBurnett, Licensing Manager

• A. Randlett, Security Manager

• S. L. Rosen, Vice President, Nuclear Engineering & Construction

• J. A. Brady, Manager, Emergency Preparedness

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• S. M. Head, Supervising Licensing Engineer

• C. G. Walker, Site Public Affairs Manager

• P. L. Walker, Senior Licensing Engineer

• R. Wisenburg, Plant Superintendent, Unit 1

• D. A. Leazar, Reactor Support Manager

• J. E. Geiger, General Manager, Nuclear Assurance

"J. R. Loven, Technical Services Manager NRC

• J. Bess, Senior Resident Inspecter, STP, Unit 2 The'NRC inspection team also held discussions with other station and corporate personnel in the areas of security, health physics, operations, training, and emergency respons * Denotes those present at the exit-intervie . Followup on Previous Inspection Findings (92701)

(Clos'ed) Exercise Weakness (498/8842-01; 499/8842-01): Ineffective Control Room Communicator - The NRC inspection team noted that the control room communicators had been retrained and demonstrated their proficiency during the 1989 exercis (Closed) Exercise Weakness (498/8842-02; 499/8842-02): Delay of Repair-Teams - During the 1988 exercise, a repair team was delayed due to the lack of personnel exposure data. The NRC inspection team noted that during the 1989 exercise, repair teams were not delayed for lack of u personnel exposure data. A new method for obtaining personnel exposure

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histories was in place. This method provides necessary data to allow higher emergency exposure ,

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1s Program Areas Inspected The NRC inspection team observed licensee activities in the CR, TSC, OSC, and EOF during the exercise. The NRC inspection team also observed emergency response organization staffing; facility activation; detection, classification, and operational assessment; notifications of licensee personnel; notifications of offsite agencies; formulation of protective action recommendations; offsite dose assessment; in plant corrective actions and medical rescue; Security / Accountability activities; and recovery operations. Inspection findings are documented in the following paragraph There were no findings for the CR, TSC, or OSC during the exercis . Emercency Operations Facility (82301) (3)

The NRC inspection team noted that dose projections performed after the Loss of Coolant Accident did r at take into consideration high range containment monitor readings indicating core damage. As a consequence, dose projections underestimated radioactive releases by an order of magnitude. The NRC inspection team also cetermined that Procedure OPEP02-26-0007, " Coolant Activity and Radionuclides Trend for Failed Fuel," which correlates core damage to high range containment monitor readings was not implemented either by the TSC staff or by dose assessors at the EOF. As a consequence, dose projections were not based on the extent of existing core damage. This was due, in part, to the fact that this procedure does not specify implementation duties and responsibilitie The above is an exercise weaknes (498/8912-01; 499/8912-01)

Several errors were noted on the Site Area Emergency (SAE) and General Emergency notification raessages as follows:

%AE Message No. 4, sent at 9:52 a.m., stated, in Block 8 that the message included new radioactive release information. Block C reflected a release was in progress with an expected duration of 8 hours9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br /> which started at 8:39 a.m. However, the pat,',way to the environment did not cccur until 9:30 a.m. due to the failure of the containment auxiliary hatch, and the EOF staff was not made aware of the leak to the environment until 9:54 a.m. based on a visual report of steam leaking from the hatc SAE Message No. 4 stated, in Block 9, that projected offsite doses were not available because the release rate was too low, at 9:41 a.m., to generate dose projections. However, licensee's dose projections available at that time reflected a child thyroid dose of 2.3 rem The above is an exercise weaknes (498/8912-02,499/8912-02)

No violations or deviations were identified in this program area.

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[. Corrective Actions / Rescue and Medical Team (82301) (7) and (10) I l l The NRC inspection team noted that during the medical emergency scenario, the medical team did not establish priorities properly. The extent of the

- simulated injuries was of such a nature that the medical team should have i immediately recognized their precedence over the radioactive contamination on the victim. Instead of providing the victim with urgently needed medical attention, the responders gave priority to matters pertaining to contaminatio In addition, the medical team did not properly secure the stretcher, nor the victim, and did not take proper precautions with the oxygen bottle when transporting the victi Furthermore, several L responders failed to observe proper radiological controls and l cross-contaminated themselves, the victim, and equipmen The licensee identified this item as a weakness in their critique with the NR Tne above is an exercise weakness. (498/8912-03; 499/8912-03)

No violations or deviations were identified in this program are . Security / Accountability (82301) (8)

The NRC inspection team noted that during the site evacuation, the licensee was unable to promptly provide adequate accountability of personnel that remained onsite. Site evacuation was started at 9:45 At 10:15 a.m., the security staff at the East Gate Security Gate reported that 65 persons were still unaccounted fo This delay in accountability during site eva:uation was noted in the previous exercise. The licensee identified this item as a weakness in their critique with the NR In additir;n, the NRC inspection taam noted that continuous accountability of essential OSC personnel after the site evacuation was poo The apove is an exercise weaknes (498/8912-04; 499/8912-04)

No violations or deviations were identified in this program are . Exit Interview The NRC inspection team met with the NRC resident inspectors and licensee representatives indicated in paragraph I on April 28, 1909, and summarized the scope and findings of the inspection as presented in this report. The licensee acknowledged their understanding of weaknesses and agreed to examine them to find root causes in order to take adequate corrective action .

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