ML17191B181
| ML17191B181 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Dresden  |
| Issue date: | 12/18/1998 |
| From: | Ring M NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Kingsley O COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17191B182 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-237-98-26, 50-249-98-26, NUDOCS 9812300068 | |
| Download: ML17191B181 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000237/1998026
Text
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
REGION 111
Mr. Oliver D. Kingsley
President, NuClear Generation Group
Commonwealth Edison Company
ATTN: Regulatory Services
Executive Towers West Ill
1400 Opus Place, Suite 500
Downers Grove, IL 60515.
801 WARRENVILLE ROAD
LISLE. ILLINOIS 60532-4351
December 18, 1998
SUBJECT:
DRESDEN INSPECTION REPORT 50-237/98026 (DRP); 50-249/98026 (DRP)
Dear Mr. Kingsley:
On October 7 through November 24, 1998, the NRC performed an inspection at your Dresden
Nuclear Power Station. The enclosed report presents the results of this inspection.
During the inspection period, a safety-conscious approach characterized the overall conduct of.
activities at the Dresden station. No cited violations of NRC requirements were identified.
However, several issues demonstrated that challenges to smooth unit operations remain at the
station. These challenges arose from both material condition failures and personnel errors.
For example, the high pressure coolant injection system again was declared inoperable due to
failures associated with the gland seal leakoff condenser. Additionally, unit derates were
required to resolve reactor recirculation system issues (Unit 2) and in response to a failed open
circulating water pump discharge valve (Unit 3).
During the inspection period, high level activitieswere performed well. Examples included the
increase in thermal reactor power due to removing some steam flow limits, the single loop
operation evolution to address reactor recirculating system issues, and the operator response
to a stuck open circulating water discharge valve. While high level activities were performed
well, personnel performance during the conduct of routine, day-to-day activities was not always
as good and presented challenges to the operators and unit operation. Examples included an
inadvertent reactor protection system half-scram conditior:i generated during surveillance
testing, an automatic initiation of the safety-related standby gas treatment system caused by
personnel error, and maintenance errors associated with the repair of the 3C circulating water
pump discharge valve. The failure of the circulating water discharge valve required the
operators to respond immediately to the decrease. in main condenser vacuum; this error was
especially significant since the Unit 3 high pressure coolant injection system was inoperable
during the time when the circulating water valve failed and would have been unavailable had the
operators needed to manually scram the reactor on an impending loss of main condenser
vacuum. Also of concern to the NRC was the fact that these errors were generally identified
through self-revealing events, and not as a result of problem identification activities by the plant
staff.
~BA2aooo60 901210
(J .
ADOCK 05000237
0. Kingsley
-2-
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its
enclosure will by placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Sincerely,
/s/Hark A. Ring
Mark A. Ring, Ctiief
Reactor Projects Branch 1
Docket Nos.: 50-237; 50-249
Enclosure:
Inspection Report 50-237/98026(DRP);
cc w/encl:
50-249/98026(DRP)
D. Helwig, Senior Vice President
H. Stanley, PWR Vice President
C. Crane, BWR Vice President
R. Krich, Regulatory Services Manager
D. Greene, Licensing Director
DCD - Licensing
M. Heffley, Site Vice President
P. Swafford, Station Manager.
F. Spangenberg, Regulatory
Assurance Manager
R. Hubbard
M. Aguilar, Assistant Attorney General
State Liaison Offieer
.
Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\DRES\\DRE98026.DRP
To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box "C" =Copy w/o attach/encl "E" =
Co
w/attach/encl "N" = No co
NAME
Lerch/ml
12// <J /98
12/ 15)(98
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
.*
0. Kingsley
Distribution:
SAR (E-Mail)
RPC (E-Mail)
Project Mgr., NRR w/encl
J. Caldwell, Riii w/encl
C. Pederson, Riii w/encl
B. Clayton, Riii w/encl
SRI Dresden w/encl
DRPw/encl
TSS (P. Pelke) w/encl
DRS (2) w/encl
Rill PRR w/encl
PUBLIC IE-01 w/encl
Docket File w/encl
GREENS
IEO (E-Mail)
DOCDESK (E-Mail)
290009
-3-
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