ML15261A357
| ML15261A357 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oconee  |
| Issue date: | 06/03/1998 |
| From: | Plisco L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | Mccollum W DUKE POWER CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML15261A358 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-269-98-12, 50-270-98-12, 50-287-98-12, EA-98-268, NUDOCS 9806160195 | |
| Download: ML15261A357 (5) | |
See also: IR 05000269/1998012
Text
June 3, 1998
EA 98-268
Duke Energy Corporatioh
ATTN: Mr. W. R. McCollum
Vice President
Oconee Nuclear Station
P. 0. Box 1439
Seneca, SC 29679
SUBJECT:
NRC SPECIAL INSPECTION REPORT NOS. 50-269/98-12. 50-270/98-12,
50-287/98-12
Dear Mr. McCollum:
On May 20, 1998, the NRC completed a special inspection of identified
deficiencies with the borated water storage tank level instrumentation and
emergency operating procedures for all three units of the Oconee Nuclear
Station. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection.
Based on the results of this inspection, two apparent violations were
identified and are being considered for escalated enforcement action in
accordance with the "General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC
Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), NUREG 1600. Both of these apparent
violations concern the potential inoperability of emergency core cooling
system pumps and interruption of long-term core cooling during a loss of
coolant accident in any of the three Oconee Units. The first involves an
apparent violation of Technical Specifications and 10 CFR 50.46 due to
inoperable (i.e., uncompensated for instrument tap height differences) borated
water-storage tank level instruments. The second is an apparent violation of
10 CFR 50 Appendix B, Criterion III design .control requirements involving
failures to appropriately account for the as-built height configuration of the
borated water storage tank level instrument taps (in
system design drawings
and calibration procedures) and the reactor building emergency-sump level
instrument uncertainties (in
emergency operating procedures). In addition to
the concern of long-term core cooling interruption, these identified
deficiencies raise questions regarding emergency operating procedure set
points, the application of instrument uncertainties in other safety-related
systems, and the application of as-built configuration into other procedures
and engineering calculations.
Accordingly, with apparent violations being identified for these findings, no
Notice of Violation is presently being issued. In addition, please be advised
that the number and characterization of the apparent violations described in
the enclosed inspection report may change as a result of further NRC review.
An open predecisional enforcement conference to discuss these apparent
violations has been scheduled for June 22, 1998. The decision to hold a
predecisional enforcement conference does not mean that the NRC has determined
that a violation occurred or that enforcement action will be taken. This
9806160195 980603
ADOCK 05000269
G
.2
conference is being held to obtain information to enable the NRC to make an
enforcement decision, such as a common understanding of the facts, root
causes, missed opportunities to identify the apparent violation sooner,
corrective actions, significance of the issues and the need for lasting and
effective corrective action. In addition, this is an opportunity for you to
point out any errors in our inspection report and for you to provide any
information concerning your perspectives on: (1)
the severity of the
violations, (2)
the application of the factors that the NRC considers when it
determines the amount of a civil penalty that may be assessed in accordance
with Section VI.B.2 of the Enforcement Policy, and (3)
any other application
of the Enforcement Policy to this case, including the exercise of discretion
in accordance with Section VII.
You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our
deliberations on this matter. No.response regarding the apparent violations
is required at this time.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of
this letter and its enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Charles A. Casto (for)
Loren R. Plisco, Director
Division of Reactor Projects
Docket Nos. 50-269, 50-270, 50-287, 72-04
License Nos. DPR-38, DPR-47, DPR-55, SNM-2503
Enclosure:
NRC Special Inspection Report Nos. 50-269/98-12,
50-270/98-12, 50-287/98-12
cc w/encl:
Mr. J. E. Burchfield
Compliance
Duke Power Company
P. 0. Box 1439
Seneca, SC 29679
Mr. Paul R. Newton
Legal Department (PB05E)
Duke Power Company
422 South Church Street
Charlotte, NC 28242-0001
(cc w/encl cont'd - See page 3)
3
(cc w/encl cont'd)
Mr. Robert P. Gruber
Executive Director
Public-Staff - NCUC
P. 0. Box 29520
Raleigh, NC 27626-0520
Mr. Robert B. Borsum
Framatome Technologies
1700 Rockville Pike, Suite 525
Rockville, MD 20852
Mr. J. Michael McGarry, III, Esq.
Winston and Strawn
1400 L Street, NW
Washington, D. C. 20005
Mr. Mel.Fry, Acting .Director
Division of Radiation Protection
N. C. Department of Environmental
Health & Natural Resources
P. 0. Box 27687.
Raleigh, NC 27611-7687
Mr. Max Batavia, Chief
Bureau of Radiological Health
South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
County Supervisor of
Oconee County
Walhalla, SC 29621
Manager, LIS
NUS Corporation
2650 McCormick Drive
Clearwater, FL 34619-1035
Mr. G. A. Copp
Licensing - ECO50
Duke Power Company
P. 0. Box 1006
Charlotte, NC 28201-1006
Ms. Karen E. Long
Assistant Attorney General
N. C. Department of Justice
P. 0. Box 629
Raleigh, NC 27602
Distribution w/encl:
(See page 4)
4
Distribution w/encl:
D. LaBarge. NRR
R. Carroll, RII
K. Landis, RII
C. Ogle, RII
H. Berkow, NRR
C. Casto, NRR
C. Payne, RII
J. Lieberman, OE
B. Summers, OE (2 letterhead)
PUBLIC
NRC Resident Inspector
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
7812B Rochester Highway
Seneca, SC 29672
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE PAGE FOR SIGNATURE.
OFFICE
R
onee
RII:DRP
RII:DRP
,
RII:EI
SIGNATURE ::
--- - -
J
NAME
U Bi LEings:saju
RO ,oL L
COgLe
Allotn
DATE
6/
/9
6///98,6/
8
6/
7
/98
6/
8
6ES
/9886/
_/98
COPY?
YES)
NO
NES
NOo
YES
N
FML
RECORD COPY
DOCUMENT
AME:
G:1C98-12.RVO
.4
Distribution w/encl: (See page 4)
Distribution w/encl:
D. LaBarge, NRR
R. Carroll, RII
K. Landis, RII
C. Ogle, RII
H. Berkow, NRR
C. Casto, RII
C. Payne, RII.
J. Lieberman. OE
B. Summers, OE (2 letterhead)
PUBLIC
NRC Resident Inspector
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
7812B Rochester Highway
Seneca, SC 29672
OFFICE
RII:Oconee
RII:DRP
RII:DRP
RII:EICs
RII:0conee
SIGNATURE
)
NAME
DBitlings:saju RCarroll
COgLe
ABoLand
Mcot
DATE
6/
98
6/
/9
6/
/98
6/
/98
6/
/98-
6/
/98
6/
/98
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
DOCUMENT NAME:
G:\\OCO98-12.RVO