ML18045A649
| ML18045A649 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 09/16/1980 |
| From: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | Dewitt R CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18045A651 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-80-049, EA-80-49, NUDOCS 8009290160 | |
| Download: ML18045A649 (4) | |
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Consumers Power Company
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Distribution:
.REGULATORY DOCKET FIL£ COPY.
PDR NSIC LPDR TIC State of Michigan ACRS (3)
SECY D. Thompson, IE CA (3)
F. Ingram, PA o J. P. Murray, ELD J. Lieberman, ELD R. Tedesco, NRR.
J. Crooks, OMPA J. J. Cummings, OIA Enforcement Coordinators:
Regions I, II, III IV T
. Wanbach, NRR D. Cratchfield, NRR T. W. Brockett, IE S.. E. Byran, IE P. McKee, IE J. G. Keppler, RIII IE Files I Ceo+azal Viles Civil Penalty Book CON XOOS Reading File EDO Reading File IE Reading Fi 1 e MAIL STOP H-1016 H-1149 H-.1057 MNBB-3709 MNBB-9604 MNBB-9604 P-1122 MNBB-: 12105 Landow..:1200 v
P-314 P-314 L-316 SEP 1 6 1980
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UNITED STATES e
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 Docket No. 50-255 EA-80-49 Consumers Power Company
- ATTN:.Mr. R. 8. DeWitt Vice President Nuclear Operations 212 West Michigan Avenue Jackson, MI.. 49201 Gentlemen:
SEP 1 6 1980 This letter is in reference to two recent events at the Palisades nuclear power facility.
On July 28, 1980, the NRC was notified that during the period from 7:36 p.m. on July 25 through 7:36 a.m. on July 27, 1980, containment sump isolation valve CV-3030 was open.
The effect of this incorrect valve positi0n during a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) would have been a degradation of the ECCS and containment cooling system.
In additio~, during a LOCA containment integrity would have been degraded for at least several minutes.
An Immediate Action Letter was issued by the Region III office on July 31, 1980, confirming the specific short-term actions taken to correct the problem.
On August 19, 1980, the NRC was notified that the Safety Injection Refueling Water (SIRW) tank outlet valve CV-3031 was cycled (from open to closed to open) in one
- train of the safeguard pumps during power operation.
The effect of this brief (approximat~ly two (2) minutes) incorrect positioning during a LOCA would have been a degradation of the ECCS and the containment cooling system.
These two events occurring within a period of a month demo~strated a continued weakness in your controls over licensed activities, specifically, controls over*activities involving positipning of valves in systems important to safety:
Our current concern is similar to our concerns expressed to you in our November 9, 1979.letter involving the misalignment of the containment purge bypass isolation valves.
While I recognize that the 1979 matter is* still*
-under adjudication, I am concerned that the actions you took following that event to assure that valves were correctly positioned were not adequate to avoid those recent events which were caused in part by incomplete valve check
_ lists and inattention to the importance of following procedures:
Consequently,
~~* ___________ we.Rl'.'C?POSe to impose civil penalties for the 'items of noncompliance set forth I
in Appe-ncHx _A_ -to--th*;-s*-i-etter--1-n--the--amount _o_L Sj_~:t~en ___ Thousand Do 11 ars.
. Appendix B to this letter is a Notice of Proposed ImposH fo-n---Of-civH-Pena-l-t--i-es~--------'- CERTIFIED MAiL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
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Consumers Power Company SEP l G 1980 Part of the initial function on each shift change is to review the operating panels to confirm proper alignment of systems important to safety.
Considering
- the heightened attention given to detection of incorrect valve lineups as a result of the containment purge bypass line valves being found incorrectly positioned and in light of increased emphasis placed on shift and relief turnover procedures imposed by TMI short-term lessons learned requirements, it is of particular concern to us' that once the error of July 25 wa$ m~de, it was not *recognized by the operator who made it, by other operators ori\\ that shift, or by the next succeeding four shift changes.
To emphasize our concern. in this area, we are providing copies of this letter to the licensed operators who were on watch when valve CV-3030 was out of position and to NRC 1 s Operator Licensing Branch.
We recognize that licensee management, upon learning of the event early on July 28, 1980, began immediately to evaluate the matter, and upon determination of the potential significance of the event, made a prompt report to the NRC.
However, we are concerned that more than one day elapsed after discovery that valve CV-3030 had been opened befqre the potential signifi~ance of the opened valve was recognized.
You are required to respond to this letter and in preparing your response you s~ould follow the instructions in Appendices A and 8.
Please include in your response to this letter detailed information regarding your actions taken to prevent the occurrence of improper valve line-ups; actions taken to provide for prompt ide~tification of improper valve line-ups should they occur (including instructions to operatori during shift turnover); and actions t~ken to provide for prompt evaluation to determine the potential significance of a valve(s) being out of. position.
As part of the immediate actions taken as a result of valve* CV-3030 being found in an incorrect position, you committed to retraining of licensed reactor operators on the importance of avoiding valving errors.
- Clearly, further effort in this area i~ needed in light of the event reported on August 19~ 1980, which represents a case where lack of* attention by watchstanders to their. assigned duties resulted in the brief mispositioning of valve CV-3031..
In addition to the item of noncompliance regarding this event issued you
- (Item 4 of Appendix A), we are issuing a Notice of Violation to the licensed Senior Reactor Operator employed in the position of Shift Supervisor during the August 19, 1980 event involving the mispositioni.ng of CV-3031.
A copy of the Notice of yiolation issued to the operator will be frirwarded to you.
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We are also requir1ng-ttiat-you-me-et-*with--Sen-ior--NRCr.epr_es.~ntatJves at a public meeting to be held near the Palisades facility to discuss*-*t$e--events*;---T:-~---c----
NRC concerns, and Consumers Power Company corrective actions.
Arrangements for this meeting, which will be held after we have reviewed your response to this letter,.will be made with you by J. G. Keppler, Director, Region III.
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Consumers Power Company SEP 16 1980 In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice, 11 Part 2, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, a copy of this letter and the enclosures will be placed in the Commission's Public Document Room.
Enclosures:
- 1.
Appendix A, Notice of Violation
- 2.
Appendix 8, Notice of Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalties Sincerely,
~.IO:r1giml s1gn.e;:1 by
~or Stel.l.o.
- Victor Stello, Jr.
Director Office of Inspection and Enforcement cc:
Charles E. Smith, Shift Supervi~or
- Aaron F. Brookhouse, Shift Supervisor
- Enos I. Thompson, Shi ft Supervisor Jerry F. Ford, Reactor Operator William E. Drummond, Reactor Operator Dirk E.. Wellington, Reactor Operator Richard S. Carter, Reactor Operator Gary L. Pothoff, Reactor Operator
. Walter E. Stearns, Reactor Operator Paul F. Collins, Operator Licensing Branch, NRR
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