ML17311A849
| ML17311A849 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 05/03/1995 |
| From: | Callan L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Stewart W ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE CO. (FORMERLY ARIZONA NUCLEAR |
| References | |
| NOED-95-4-004, NOED-95-4-4, NUDOCS 9505090012 | |
| Download: ML17311A849 (5) | |
Text
t UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION IV 611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 400 ARI.INGTON, TEXAS 76011 6064 Arizona Public Service Company ATTN:
William L. Stewart Executive Vice President, Nuclear P.O.
Box 53999
- Phoenix, Arizona 85072-3999
SUBJECT:
NOTICE OF ENFORCEHENT DISCRETION FOR ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY (APS)
REGARDING PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION UNIT 1
(NOED TRACKING 95-4-0004)
By letter dated Hay 1, 1995, for Palo Verde Unit 1, APS requested that the NRC exercise enforcement discretion not to enforce compliance with Technical Specification (TS) 3.9.6 related to the refueling machine overload cut off limit of 1600 pounds.
That letter documented information previously discussed with the NRC in a telephone conversation on April 30, 1995, at 6 p.m.
(HST).
You stated that during proposed attempts to retrieve a stuck fuel assembly, you would need to increase the overload limit above 1600 pounds and therefore would not be in compliance with TS 3.9.6.
In our telephone discussion on Hay 1, 1995, at 8:45 a.m.
(HST) you requested that a
HOED be issued and be effective until Hay 3, 1995, at 9:20 a.m.
(HST).
You stated that the need for this HOED occurred during performance of core reload in Unit 1, when a
new fuel assembly became stuck in an intermediate position (not fully inserted into the core),
and the subsequent discovery of another fuel assembly which was not properly seated on the lower core support plate pins.
The need for a NOED arises now based on the need to properly position these two fuel assemblies.
You had discussions with the fuel vendor ABB-CE and have made various attempts of freeing the stuck fuel assembly without success.
You propose to increase the overload limit in 50 pound increments up to 1800 pounds (200 pounds above the 1600 limit) in order to withdraw the assembly.
You indicated in telephone discussions that'the grid straps of adjacent fuel assemblies appear to be causing the interference.
Prior to withdrawal
- attempts, you plan to view the interface between fuel assemblies to minimize any damage and instal'I a restraining device to prevent movement of the adjacent assembly which is not properly seated on the core support plate pins.
During attempts to remove the fuel assembly, you plan to provide management oversight of the activity and that personnel access to the containment will be limited.
Following removal of the stuck fuel assembly, you plan a visual examination of the stuck fuel assembly and those assemblies adjacent to it.
The staff has evaluated your proposal and accepts the arguments provided in support of the request.
The bases for the NOED is to minimize shutdown risk by restoring the alignment of fuel assemblies.
To do so requires exceeding 95050900%2 950503 PDR ADQCtl'5000528 P
PDR ggQOO f
Arizona Public Service Company the overload limits of TS 3.9.6 as other means of freeing the stuck assembly have not been successful.
On the basis of the staff's evaluation of your request, the visual reviews prior to and after the withdrawal attempts, management oversight of the
- activity, and restriction of personnel from entering containment, the staff has concluded that the exercise of enforcement discretion is warranted because we are clearly satisfied that this action involves minimal or no safety impact and has no adverse impact on public health and safety.
Therefore, it is our intention to exercise discretion not to enforce compliance with TS 3.9.6 until the assembly is free, but not to exceed May 3,
- 1995, 9:20 a.m.
(MST).
This letter documents our telephone conversation on May 1,
- 1995, 8:45 a.m.
(MST),
when we orally issued this notice of enforcement discretion.
We understand that the condition causing this NOED was corrected by you causing you to exit from the TS 3.9.6 condition and from this NOED on May 1,
- 1995, at approximately 1:30 p.m.
(MST).
- However, as stated in Appendix C to 10 CFR Part 2, enforcement action will normally be taken, to the extent that violations were involved, for the root cause that led to the noncompliance for which this discretion was used.
Sincerely, Docket:
50-528 License:
. J. Callan gional Administrator CC:
Arizona Corporation Commission ATTN:
Mr. Steve Olea 1200 WE Washington Street
- Phoenix, Arizona 85007 Southern California Edison Company ATTN:
T.
E. Oubre, Esq.
P.O.
Box 800
- Rosemead, California 91770 Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency'TTN:
Aubrey V. Godwin, Director 4814 South 40 Street
- Phoenix, Arizona 85040
Arizona Public Service Company Haricopa County Board of Supervisors ATTN:
Chairman ill South Third Avenue
- Phoenix, Arizona 85003 Palo Verde Services ATTN:
Curtis Hoskins, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer 2025 N. 3rd Street, Suite 220
- Phoenix, Arizona 85004 Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld El Paso Electric Company ATTN:
Roy P.
Lessey, Jr.,
Esq.
1333 New Hampshire Avenue, Suite 400 Washington, D.C.
20036 Arizona Public Service Company ATTN:
Angela K. Krainik, Manager Nuclear Licensing P.O.
Box 52034
- Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2034
Arizona Public Service Company MAY 3 l995 bcc to DMB (IE51) bcc distrib.
by RIV:
L. J. Callan DRSS-F IPB Branch Chief (DRP/F, WCFO)
Senior Project Inspector (DRP/F, WCFO)
Leah Tremper (OC/LFDCB, MS:
TWFN 9E10)
R.
Zimmerman, NRR A. Thadani, NRR J.
- Roe, NRR E.
- Adensam, NRR J.
Lieberman, OE PDR LPDR Technical Assistant, DRP I/II, NRR Resident Inspector MIS System RIV File Branch Chief (DRP/TSS)
B. Henderson (PAO, WCFO)
L. Thomas (DRP)
DOCUMENT NAME:
R:/HOED/PV5-004.DRP To receive copy of document, indicate in box: "C" ~ Copy without enclosures "E" ~ Copy with encfosures "N" ~ No copy BC:DRP Q~
HJWong D:WCF Q
D:
RP hl EPerki PD:N HBat a
J M
tgomery 05/1. /95 RA LJ an 05
/95 05/2 /95 05/
/95 05/g. /95 05/
/95
Arizona Public Service Company MAY 3 l995 bcc to DMB (IE51) bcc di strib.
by RIV:
L. J. Callan DRSS-F IPB Branch Chief (DRP/F, WCFO)
Senior Project Inspector (DRP/F, WCFO)
Leah Tremper (OC/LFDCB, MS:
TWFN 9E10)
R.
Zimmerman, NRR A. Thadani, NRR J,
- Roe, NRR E.
- Adensam, NRR J.
Lieberman, OE PDR LPDR Technical Assistant, DRP I/II, NRR Resident Inspector MIS System RIV File Branch Chief (DRP/TSS)
B. Henderson (PAO, WCFO)
L. Thomas (DRP)
DOCUMENT NAME:
R:/NOED/PV5-004.DRP Tc receive copy of document, indicate in botu "C" ~ Copy without enclosures "E
~ Copy with enclosures "N" a No copy BC:DRP Qcn)
HJWong 0:WCFEPerk':
RP l4 PD:N HBat a
J M
tgomery 05/1, /95 RA LJ an 05
/95 05/2 /95 05/
/95 05/g. /95 05/
/95