ML17292B370
| ML17292B370 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Columbia  |
| Issue date: | 05/08/1998 |
| From: | Howell A NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Parrish J WASHINGTON PUBLIC POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17292B371 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-397-98-01, 50-397-98-1, EA-98-228, NUDOCS 9805140311 | |
| Download: ML17292B370 (9) | |
See also: IR 05000397/1998001
Text
CATEGORY 2
REGULATORY INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
(RXDS)
Pl
ACCESSION NBR:9805140311
DOC.DATE: 98/05/08
NOTARIZED: NO
DOCKET ¹
FACZL'.50-397
WPPSS Nuclear Project, Unit 2, Washington Public Powe
05000397
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AUTH.NAME
AUTHOR AFFILIATION
OWELL,A.T.
'egion
4 (Post
820201)
RECIP.NAME
RECIPXENT AFFILIATION
PARRZSH,J.V.
Washington Public Powe'r Supply System
SUBJECT: Forwards insp rept 50-397/98-01
on 980209-0422.0ne
apparent
violation identified
& being considered for escalated
EA.
Violation involved vendor development of operating
R safety
limits for min critical power ratio that were inaccurate.
DISTRIBUTION CODE: IEOIT
COPIES
RECEIVED:LTRl ENCLl SIZE:
IS
7. /
TITLE: General
(50 Dkt) -Insp Rept/Notice of Violation Response
NOTES:
E
RECIPIENT
ID CODE/NAME
PD4-2
INTERNAL: ACRS
XLE CENTER
NRR DR
PECB
NUDOCS-ABSTRACT
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TERNAL: LXTCO BRYCE,J H
NRC PDR
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ZD CODE/NAME
POSLUSNY,C
AEOD/SPD/RAB
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NUDOCS FULLTEXT
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NOTE TO ALL "RIDS" RECIPIENTS:
PLEASE HELP US TO REDUCE WASTE. TO HAVE YOUR NAME OR ORGANIZATION REMOVED FROM DISTRIBUTION LISTS
OR REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COPIES RECEIVED BY YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION," CONTACT THE DOCUMENT CONTROL
DESK
tDCD)
ON EXTENSION 415-2083
FULL TEXT CONVERSION REQUIRED
TOTAL NUMBER OF COPIES
REQUIRED:
LTTR
19
ENCL
19
UNITE O STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
REGION IV
611 RYAN PLAZA ORIVE, SUITE 400
ARLINGTON,TEXAS 76011 8064
May 8, 1998
EA 98-228
Mr. J. V. Parrish (Mail Drop 1023)
Chief Executive Officer
Washington Public Power Supply System
P.O. Box 968
Richland, Washington
99352-0968
SUBJECT:
NRC INSPECTION REPORT 50-397/98-01
Dear Mr. Parrish:
An NRC special inspection was conducted to review your response to three unresolved items
related to core power distribution limits that were previously identified in NRC Inspection
Report 50-3S7/97-11, dated November 6, 1997. The inspection included activities onsite
between February 9-12, 1998, at your Washington Nuclear Project-2 reactor facility, with
continuing in office review through April22, 1998.
The onsite activity dealt primarily with the
review of your response to the unresolved items, dated November 25, 1997. The in-office
inspection was mainly concerned with the review of additional information provided by your staff
on March 9, 1998.
A debrief with members of your staff was held on February 12, 1998, during which they
disagreed with our position that during a limiting anticipated operational occurrence, it was
possible that the minimum critical power ratio safety limitfor the Siemens fuel that should have
been in place could have been exceeded during Core Cycles 7-12. As a result, your staff
agreed to provide the additional information referenced above that was intended to refute our
position. During a telephone conversation with your licensing staff on February 17, 1998, it was
stated that we would have the additional information by February 19, 1998.
During a
subsequent telephone conservation with a licensing representative
on February 19, 1998, we
were informed that the information we required to make a decision would not be available until
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March 5, 1998.
Following review of the information that was provided on March 9, 1S98, an exit
meeting was held on April22, 1998.
Based on the results of this inspection, one apparent violation was identified and is being
considered for escalated enforcement action in accordance with the "General Statement of
Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), NUREG-1600. The
apparent violation concerns the failure of the design control process to assure that design basis
and regulatory requirements were correctly translated into the facilityTechnical Specification
limit. This apparent failure involved vendor development of operating and safety limits for
minimum critical power ratio that were not accurate and conservative.
We are aware that the
revised safety limitwas not actually exceeded during any of the transients experienced by the
plant during Core Cycles 7-12. However, due to the decreased
safety margin that resulted from
nonconservative operating limits, we believe it was possible to exceed the revised minimum
critical power ratio safety limitduring a limiting anticipated operational occurrence during Core
9805i403ii 980508
ADQCK 050003'P7
6
Washington Public Power Supply System
-2-
Cycles 7-12. A Notice of Violation is not presently being issued for these inspection findings.
We are concerned that the failure of the design control process in this instance caused an
apparent unanticipated reduction in margin of safety and, therefore, the administrative controls
for operating limits may not have functioned to ensure that a safety limitwas maintained.
Additionally, please be advised that the number and characterization of apparent violations
described in the enclosed inspection report may change as a result of further NRC review.
An open, predecisional enforcement conference willbe scheduled to discuss the apparent
violation. The date for the conference to discuss the apparent violation will be coordinated with
your staff. The decision to hold a predecisional enforcement conference does not mean that the
NRC has determined that a violation has occurred or that enforcement action willbe taken. This
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 violations sooner, corrective actions, significance of the issues, and the
need for lasting and effective corrective
action.'t
the conference, we would like to establish a common understanding of the apparent violation
and the implication of the nonconservative determination and implementation of license core
power distribution limits. It is of particular importance that you discuss all implications of the
inspection findings. In addition, this is an opportunity for you to point out any errors in our
inspection report and to provide any information concerning your perspectives
on 1) the severity
of the violation, 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 Se'ction 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 willbe advised by separate correspondence
of the results of our deliberations on this
matter.
No response regarding this apparent violation 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 willbe placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).
Should you have any questions concerning this inspection, we willbe pleased to discuss them
with you.
Sincerely,
Arthur T. Howell III, Director
Division of Reactor Safety
)
II
Washington Public Power Supply System
-3-
Docket No.: 50-397
License No.: NPF-21
Enclosure:
NRC Inspection Report 50-397/98-01
cc w/enclosure:
Chairman
Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council
P.O. Box 43172
Olympia, Washington
98504-3172
Mr. Rodney L. Webring (Mail Drop PE08)
Vice President, Operations Support/PIO
Washington Public Power Supply System
P.O. Box 968
Richland, Washington
99352-0968
Mr. Greg O. Smith (Mail Drop 927M)
WNP-2 Plant General Manager
Washington Public Power Supply System
P.O. Box 968
Richland, Washington
99352-0968
Mr. David A. Swank (Mail Drop PE20)
Manager, Regulatory Affairs
Washington Public Power Supply System
P.O. Box 968
Richland, Washington
99352-0968
Mr. Albert E. Mouncer (Mail Drop 396)
Chief Counsel
Washington Public Power Supply System
P.O. Box 968
Richland, Washington
99352-0968
Mr. Paul Inserra (Mail Drop PE20)
Manager, Licensing
Washington Public Power Supply System
P.O. Box 968
Richland, Washington
99352-0968
Washington Public Power Supply System
-4-
Perry D. Robinson, Esq.
Winston 8 Strawn
1400 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005-3502
Washington Public Power Supply System
-4-
E-Mail report to T. Ffye (TJF)
E-Mail report to D. Lange (DJL)
E-Mail report to NRR Event Tracking System (IPAS)
E-Mail report to Document Control Desk (DOCDESK)
bcc to DCD (IE01)
bcc distrib. by RIV:
Regional Administrator
DRP Director
Branch Chief (DRP/E, WCFO)
Senior Project Inspector (DRP/E, WCFO)
Branch Chief (DRP/TSS)
WCFO File
Lieberman,
D/OE (07H5)
OE:EA File (07H5)
G. Sanborn
Resident Inspector
DRS-PSB
MIS System
RIV File
M. Hammond (PAO, WCFO)
DocuMENT NAME: R:twN2'IWN801RP.JEw
To receive cop
of document, Indicate ln box: "C" = Cop
without encios
"
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p with enclosures
"N". = No cop
RIV:SRI:M
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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GF anborn
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/98
Washington Public Power Supply System
-4-
E-Mail report to T. Frye (TJF)
E-Mail report to D. Lange (DJL)
E-Mail report to NRR Event Tracking System (IPAS)
E-Mail report to Document Control Desk (DOCDESK)
bcc to DCD (IE01)
bcc distrib. by RIV:
Regional Administrator
DRP Director
Branch Chief (DRP/E, WCFO)
Senior Project Inspector (DRP/E, WCFO)
Branch Chief (DRP/TSS)
WCFO File
Lieberman,
D/OE (07H5)
OE:EA File (07H5)
G. Sanborn
Resident Inspector
DRS-PSB
MIS System
RIV File
M. Hammond (PAO, WCFO)
DOCUMENT NAME: R:tWN2tWN801RP.JEW
To receive copy of document, Indicate in box: "C" = Copy without enctos
py with enctosures
"N"= No cop
RIV:SRI:M
NRR:NE
JEWhittem
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THua
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