ML12279A146
| ML12279A146 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Catawba  |
| Issue date: | 10/05/2012 |
| From: | Nick Hilton NRC/OE |
| To: | Duke Energy Carolinas |
| Casey L | |
| References | |
| EA-12-153 EN-12-044 | |
| Download: ML12279A146 (2) | |
Text
October 5, 2012 EN 12-044 OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT NOTIFICATION OF SIGNIFICANT ENFORCEMENT ACTION Licensee:
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC EA-12-153 Catawba Nuclear Station, Unit 1 Docket No.: 50-413
Subject:
ISSUANCE OF FINAL SIGNIFICANCE DETERMINATION AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION This is to inform the Commission that a Notice of Violation associated with a White Significance Determination Process finding will be issued on or about October 11, 2012, to Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC), as a result of inspections at Catawba. The White finding, an issue of low to moderate safety significance, will require additional U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) inspections. This violation involved an incorrect modification to the Unit 1 generator protective relaying that resulted in an inoperable offsite power supply to Unit 1.
The Notice of Violation is based on DECs failure to meet Technical Specification 3.8.1, AC Sources - Operating, which requires that two qualified circuits between the offsite transmission network and the Onsite Essential Auxiliary Power System shall be operable when operating in MODES 1, 2, 3 or 4. Specifically, from July 23, 2011, until November 11, 2011, one qualified circuit between the offsite transmission network and the Onsite Essential Auxiliary Power System was inoperable, and from November 11, 2011, until April 4, 2012, two qualified circuits between the offsite transmission network and the Onsite Essential Auxiliary Power System were inoperable, due to a modification error which resulted in any generator trip from high power resulting in the opening of the Unit 1 switchyard breakers causing a loss of offsite power (LOOP). On April 4, 2012, Unit 1 tripped from 100 percent power and due to the modification error in the Unit 1 generator protective relaying, a LOOP occurred.
In response to the preliminary determination letter, DEC attended a Regulatory Conference and provided information on the risk characterization of the finding and corrective actions. After reviewing the information developed during the inspection, and the information provided by DEC, the staff concluded that the inspection finding is appropriately characterized as White.
DEC has informed the NRC that multiple corrective actions are in place and/or planned. Their corrective actions include, but are not limited to, revising their engineering change procedures to require additional detail in critical design function identification and testing, and requiring explicit documentation of vendor check responsibilities and vendor oversight.
It should be noted that the licensee has not been specifically informed of the enforcement action. The schedule of issuance and notification is:
Mailing of Final Significance Determination October 11, 2012 Telephone Notification of Licensee October 11, 2012 The State of South Carolina will be notified.
CONTACTS: Lauren Casey, OE, (301) 415-1038 Nick Hilton, OE, (301) 415-2741
Distribution: EN-12-044, October 5, 2012 OWFN Chairman Macfarlane Comm. Svinicki Comm. Apostolakis Comm. Magwood Comm. Ostendorff SECY OCA OPA OIP OWFN EDO DEDR DEDMRS OE OGC NRR OI OIG TWFN OCFO OP CENTER FSME RES ACRS OIS NSIR NRO EBB NMSS Regional Offices RI RII RIII RIV MAIL ADAMS OE staff Electronic DISTRIBUTION:
R. Zimmerman, OE N. Hilton, OE L. Casey, OE OE r/f EN binder X PUBLIC X NON-SENSITIVE ADAMS ML12279A149 OFFICE OE:ES OE:Acting BC NAME L. Casey D. Furst DATE 10/5/2012 10/5/2012 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY