ML14181A547
| ML14181A547 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Robinson  |
| Issue date: | 05/06/1994 |
| From: | Christensen H, Ogle C, William Orders NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML14181A546 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-261-94-13, NUDOCS 9406020039 | |
| Download: ML14181A547 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000261/1994013
Text
01-
"
REG&
UNITED STATES
o
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
REGION II
0
101 MARIETTA STREET, N.W., SUITE 2900
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30323-0199
Report No.:
50-261/94-13
Licensee:
Carolina Power and Lighf Company
P. 0. Box 1551
Raleigh, NC 27602
Docket No.:
50-261
License No.: DPR-23
Facility Name: H. B. Robinson Unit 2
Inspection Conducted* April 22 - April 29, 1994
Lead Inspector:
Orde
, Se ior kesident Inspector
Date Signed
Other Inspector:
C R Ogle,
sido t Inspector
Date Signed
Approved by:
5 6 A y
. 0. Christensen, Acting Chief
Date Signed
Reactor Projects Branch 1
Division of Reactor Projects
SUMMARY
Scope:
This special inspection consisted of an in-depth review of the circumstances
related to an event which occurred on April 22, 1994, in which the operator at
the controls, left the at-the-controls area while the unit was operating at
100 % power.
Results:
One apparent violation was identified involving the at-the-controls area being
left unattended. (paragraph 4)
9406020039 940506
ADOCK 05000261
Q
REPORT DETAILS
1.
Persons Contacted
- R. Barnett, Manager, Projects Management
S. Billings, Technical Aide, Regulatory Compliance
- B. Clark, Manager, Maintenance
- D. Crook, Senior Specialist, Regulatory Compliance
- D. Gudger, Specialist, Regulatory Affairs
- J. Harrison, Manager, E&RC Technical Support
- S. Hinnant, Vice President, Robinson Nuclear Project
- K. Jury, Manager, Licensing, Regulatory Programs
J. Kozyra, Acting Manager, Licensing/Regulatory Programs
- R. Krich, Manager, Regulatory Affairs
R. Moore, Acting Operations Manager
- M. Pearson, Plant General Manager
D. Winters, Shift Supervisor, Operations
- L. Woods, Manager, Technical Support
- Attended exit interview.
Other licensee employees were contacted.
Acronyms and initialisms used throughout this report are listed in the
last paragraph.
2. Event Summary
On April 22, 1994, Robinson Unit 2 was operating at 100% power. At
approximately 4:00 p.m. that afternoon, the acting on-shift control
operator, who at the time, was the only operator in the at-the-controls
area, briefly departed the area. This resulted in the at-the-controls
area of the control room not being manned by a licensed operator for a
short period of time. The on-duty Shift Technical Advisor, who was in
the at-the-controls area, noted that the operator had departed, and
informed the operator that he was required to stay in the at-the
controls area. The operator returned immediately. The licensee
estimates that the operator was out of the area for 5 to 10 seconds.
3.
Event Details
On April 22, 1994, the inspectors were notified that all on-shift
licensed operators had departed the on-shift control operators station
earlier that afternoon. This resulted in a failure to man the at-the
controls area in the control room by a licensed operator with the
reactor at 100% power. In response to this notification, the inspectors
immediately interviewed the on-watch Shift Supervisor, Reactor Operator,
and Balance of Plant Operator. The inspectors subsequently reviewed the
ACR and personnel statements generated in response to the event.
2
The inspectors determined that the Balance of Plant Operator had
relieved the Reactor Operator in order for the Reactor Operator to go to
the control room rest room or kitchen, both of which are located in the
control room complex, adjacent to the at-the-controls area. The Senior
Control Operator was not in the control room at the time and the Shift
Supervisor was in his office which is adjacent to, but outside the at
the-controls area, separated from the at-the-controls area by a full
height, glass partition. Subsequent to having assumed the duties of
Reactor Operator, the Balance of Plant Operator proceeded to the Shift
Supervisor's office to return a key which was in his possession. While
in the hallway adjacent to the Shift Supervisor's office, his departure
from the at-the-controls area was noted and questioned by the Shift
Technical Advisor. The Balance of Plant Operator then immediately
returned to the at-the-controls area. The Shift Supervisor and the
Balance of Plant Operator estimated that the at-the-controls area was
without a licensed operator for 5-10 seconds.
The inspectors also interviewed a non-licensed reactor engineer who was
present in the control room during this time. He indicated that he was
updating administrative documents, was not monitoring the reactor, and
was unaware that the operator was leaving the at-the-controls area. The
Balance of Plant Operator, Reactor Operator, and Shift Supervisor all
stated that no change in plant status or configuration occurred during
this time.
The non-licensed Shift Technical Advisor indicated that he had his back
to the door in the full height, glass partition which separates the at
the-controls area from the hallway, but heard the door close as the
Balance of Plant Operator left the area. Upon recognizing that there
were no licensed operators in the area, he went to the doorway and
reminded the Balance of Plant Operator of his need to be in the at-the
controls area. The Balance of Plant Operator immediately returned.
This event represented an operator's inattention to licensed duties.
4.
Requirements
10 CFR 50.54 (k) requires that an operator or senior operator, licensed
pursuant to Part 55 of 10 CFR, shall be present at the controls at all
times during the operation of the facility.
Technical Specification 6.5.1.1, Procedures, Tests, and Experiments
requires, in part, that written procedures be established, implemented,
and maintained covering the activities recommended in Appendix A of
Regulatory Guide 1.33, Rev. 2. 1978. Paragraph 2.g of that Appendix
requires that reactor operation and process monitoring be performed in
accordance with written procedures.
Operations Management Manual Procedure OMM-001, Operations-Conduct of
Operations, requires in part, that the control operator on duty must
3
remain within the area inside the control room defined by "...the walled
partition, 230 K line panel and the black stripes bordering the control
room carpet."
On the afternoon of April 22, 1994, with the unit operating at 100%
power, the control operator on duty departed his official duty station,
leaving the reactor controls unattended. This is an apparent violation
(94-13-01) of TS 6.5.1.1 and 10 CFR 50.54(k).
5.
Previous Performance Trends
Based on the event, the inspectors performed a review of inspection
reports spanning the period between January 1993 and the present. The
last SALP report (93-30), noted weakness in control room performance and
professionalism during routine plant operations. Examples of laxness in
formality included a Shift Technical Advisor leaving the operating shift
without requesting permission or conducting watch turnover; operators
not noticing a control room alarm for an extended period (about nine
hours); operators being unaware that their keys would not provide access
to certain plant areas because the health physics staff had changed all
high radiation area locks; and operators in the control room taking
direction for power ascension via electronic mail without the approval
of the operations manager. The control operator leaving the reactor
controls unattended is a continuation in the decline in the level of
operator performance.
6.
Exit Meeting
The inspection scope and findings were summarized on April 29, 1994,
with those persons indicated in paragraph 1. The inspector described
the areas inspected and discussed in detail the inspection findings
listed below. No dissenting comments were received from the licensee.
The licensee did not identify as proprietary any of the material
provided to or reviewed by the inspectors during this inspection.
Item Number
Description/Reference Paragraph
APPARENT VIOLATION 94-13-01
Failure of Licensed Operator to Remain in
the at-the-Controls Area. (paragraph 4)
7.
List of Acronyms and Initialisms
ACR
Adverse Condition Report
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
ERFIS
Emergency Response Function Indication System
Motor Control Center
OMM
Operations Management Manual
OP
Operations Procedure
OST
Operations Surveillance Test