ML17026A048
| ML17026A048 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hope Creek  |
| Issue date: | 02/01/2017 |
| From: | Juan Peralta NRC/OE |
| To: | Public Service Enterprise Group |
| Marshfield M | |
| References | |
| EA-16-184 EN-17-002 | |
| Download: ML17026A048 (2) | |
Text
February 1, 2017 EN 17-002 OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT NOTIFICATION OF SIGNIFICANT ENFORCEMENT ACTION Licensee: PSEG Nuclear LLC, New Jersey EA-16-184 Hope Creek Generating Station Docket No.: 50-354
Subject:
ISSUANCE OF A FINAL SIGNIFICANCE DETERMINATION AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION This is to inform the Commission that a Notice of Violation (NOV) will be issued on or about February 6, 2017, to PSEG Nuclear, LLC (PSEG), for a violation associated with a White Significance Determination Process finding identified during an inspection of Hope Creek Generating Station. The White finding, an issue of low to moderate safety significance, involved PSEGs failure to follow a procedure in place to detect and act upon intrusion of water into the high pressure core injection (HPCI) system lubricating oil. Specifically, PSEG put in place an adverse condition monitoring program plan, because of known steam leakage which could cause condensation to accumulate in the oil, but failed to execute the procedure and were unaware when the water level increased in the oil. As a result the electro-hydraulic actuator for the governor control valve corroded and the control valve failed to open when tested on August 6, 2016. The inability to provide steam to the turbine was recognized by PSEG as a likely safety system functional failure and an 8-hour report was made to the NRC. Further PSEG analysis of the situation showed that oil samples had been taken in April, June, and July but were not analyzed for water content. All three samples have since been analyzed and shown that excessive water was present in the turbine oil likely since the March/April 2016 time period.
An NOV is being issued based on PSEGs failure to meet the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50, Appendix B, Criterion V, Instructions, Procedures, and Drawings, which requires, in part, that activities affecting quality shall be prescribed by documented instructions and procedures and shall be accomplished in accordance with these instructions and procedures. The period of time analyzed for the risk analysis was since the last successful quarterly maintenance run of the HPCI system on June 23, 2016. Additionally, using this date as the reference date for system failure, a violation of the HPCI technical specification (TS 3.5.1.c) allowed outage time of 14 days will also be documented in the NOV. In accordance with the NRC Enforcement Policy, the NOV is considered an escalated enforcement action because it is associated with a White finding.
On November 14, 2016, the NRC issued a preliminary determination letter for this issue, provided PSEG the results of the inspection, and offered the opportunity to attend a Regulatory Conference or respond in writing. In a letter dated December 14, 2016, PSEG acknowledged that a performance deficiency occurred; however, PSEG disagreed with its characterization.
After considering the additional information provided by the licensee, the NRC has concluded that the associated finding is appropriately characterized as White.
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 February 6, 2017 Telephone Notification of Licensee February 6, 2017 The State of New Jersey will be notified.
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION - NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE UNTIL VERIFICATION THAT LICENSEE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED CONTACTS: Mark Marshfield, OE Juan Peralta, OE (301) 287-9421 (301) 287-9510 ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION: EN-17-002, February 1, 2017 OWFN OWFN TWFN Regional Offices Chairman Svinicki EDO OCFO RI RII Comm. Baran DEDR OIS RIII RIV Comm. Burns DEDMRT RES SECY OE ACRS OCA OGC NMSS MAIL OPA NRR NRO OE staff OIP OI OIG 3WFN NSIR OP Center DISTRIBUTION:
P. Holahan, OE P. Peduzzi, OE M. Marshfield, OE OE r/f EN Binder ADAMS Accession Number: ML17026A048 OFFICE OE/EB: ES OE/EB: BC NAME MMarshfield JPeralta DATE 1/31/2017 2/1/2017 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY PRELIMINARY INFORMATION - NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE UNTIL VERIFICATION THAT LICENSEE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED