ML17306A817
| ML17306A817 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 06/17/1992 |
| From: | Martin J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | Conway W ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE CO. (FORMERLY ARIZONA NUCLEAR |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17306A818 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9207090211 | |
| Download: ML17306A817 (7) | |
See also: IR 05000528/1992015
Text
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UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORYCOMMISSION
REGION V
1450 MARIALANE
WALNUTCREEK. CAUFORNIA94596-5368
pug jv $92
Docket Nos. 50-528,
50-529,
50-530
License
Nos.
and
Arizona Public Service
Company
P. 0.
Box 53999, Station
9012
Phoenix,
Arizona 85072-3999
Attention:
Mr.
W. F.
Conway
Executive Vice President,
Nuclear
SUBJECT:
NRC SPECIAL INSPECTION
(REPORT
NOS. 50-528/92-15,
50-529/92-15,
50-530/92-15)
(PALO VERDE)
This letter refers to the inspection
conducted
by L. Miller, D. Acker,
F. Ringwald, J. Sloan,
and
F.
Gee
on April 4-10,
1992 of activities authorized
by
NRC License Nos..NPF-41,
51,
and
74 at Palo Verde Units 1, 2,
and 3.
At
the conclusion of the inspection
on April 10,
1992, the inspectors
met with
Mr. Levine and other members of your staff to discuss
the findings of the
inspection.
In addition,
on June
1-2,
1992, additional information relevant
to this inspection
was provided to Mr. D.'Acker.
This inspection
was
a special,
announced
team inspection of the failure of the
"C" reactor trip breaker at Unit 3 to open
on March 31,
1992 during
a routine
surveillance test.
In addition, the inspection
reviewed the intermittent
failures of the "A" reactor trip breaker at Unit 3 to close beginning
on March
10,
1992.
The inspection consisted
of selective
examinations of procedures
and representative
records,
interviews with personnel,
and observations
by the
inspectors.
The inspection
noted that the licensee's
incident investigation initiated on
April 2,
1992 was thorough,
and clearly defined the mechanical
causes
of
failure of both circuit breakers.
The inspection
concluded that the failures of both circuit breakers
to perform
properly were due to a combination of mechanical
misalignments of the breaker
mechanisms.
Results of the inspection
show it likely that they resulted
from
use of partially incomplete,
outdated,
and incorrect maintenance
practices for
the circuit breakers.
The inspection
also found that the initial troubleshooting of these
breakers
was informal.
As a consequence,
the breakers
were not preserved
in their
failed condition prior to formal troubleshooting
as well as
was possible.
lted n'gg; ~ g
9207090211
920617
ADOCK '05000528
8
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Your failure to develop appropriate
maintenance
procedures
in response
to
vendor information about
a potential failure mode for-your Westinghouse
reactor trip breakers,
and your improper lubrication of your reactor trip
breakers,
are considered
an apparent violation.
Your initially uncontrolled
troubleshooting for the Westinghouse
reactor trip breaker which failed is also
considered
an apparent violation.
I am particularly concerned that the
circumstances
of these violations appear to represent
a fundamental
lack of
safety consciousness
and sensitivity, considering
the industry's experience
with reactor trip breaker events.
These two apparent violations are being considered for escalated
enforcement
action in accordance
with the "General
Statement of Policy and Procedure for
NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy),
Accordingly,
no Notice of Violation is presently
being issued for these
inspection findings.
In addition, 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 enforcement
conference
to discuss
these
apparent violations will be
scheduled
in the near future.
The purposes of this conference will be to
discuss
the apparent violations; their causes
and safety significance; to
provide you the opportunity to point out any errors in our inspection report;
to provide
an opportunity for you to present your proposed corrective actions;
and to discuss
any other information that will help us determine the
appropriate
enforcement
action in accordance
with the Enforcement Policy.
You will be advised
by separate
correspondence
of the results of our
deliberation
on this matter.
No responses
regarding these
apparent violations
is required at this time.
In accordance
with 10 CFR 2.790 (a),
a copy of this letter, enclosure,
and
your response will be placed in the
NRC Public Document
Room.
Should you have
any question
concerning this letter,
we will be glad to
discuss
them with you.
in erely,
.
B. Martin
Regional Administrator
Enclosure:
Inspection Report
Nos. 50-528/92-15,
50-529/92-15
and 50-530/92-15
Docket File
Resident
Inspector
Project Inspector
G.
Cook
B. Faulkenberry
J. Hartin
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Hr. 0. Hark DeHichele,
Hr. James
H. Levine,
Mr. R. Stevens,
Hr. E.
C. Simpson,
Hr. S. Guthrie,
Hr. Thomas
R. Bradish,
Hr. Robert
W. Page,
Ms. Nancy C. Loftin, Esq.,
Mr. Al Gutterman,
Newman
8 Holtzinger P.C.
Mr. James
A. Boeletto,
Esq., Assistant
Counsel,
SCE Company
Hr. Charles
B. Brinkman,
Combustion Engineering,
Inc.
Hr. William A. Wright, Acting Director, Arizona Radiation Regulatory
Agency
Chairman,
Haricopa County Board of Supervisors
Hr. Steve
M. Olea, Chief Engineer,
Arizona Corporation
Commission
Hr. Curtis Hoskins,
El Paso Electric Company
Roy P. Lessy, Jr.,
Esq., Akin, Gump, Strauss,
Hauer
and Feld
Bradley
W. Jones,
Esq. Akin, Gump, Strauss,
Hauer
and Feld
Mr. Jack
R.
Newman,
Esq.
(Newman
8 Holtzinger)