ML18065B136

Discusses Insp Rept 50-255/97-201 on 970916-1114.Purpose of Insp Was to Evaluate Capability of Selected Sys to Perform Safety Functions Required by Design Bases & Adherence of Sys to Respective Design & Licensing Bases

ML18065B136
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	12/30/1997
From:	Richards S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Thomas J. Palmisano CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.)
Shared Package
ML18065B137	List: IR 05000255/1997201 ML18065B136
References
50-255-97-201, NUDOCS 9801130388
Download: ML18065B136 (5)

See also: IR 05000255/1997201

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UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Mr. Thomas J. Palmisano

Site Vice President

Palisades Plant

27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway

Covert, Ml 49043

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555--0001

December 30, 1997

SUBJECT:

PALISADES PLANT DESIGN INSPECTION (NRC INSPECTION REPORT

NO. 50-255/97-201)

Dear Mr . .Palmisano:

From September 16 through November 14, 1997, the staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (NRC), Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), Events Assessments, Generic

Communications and Special Inspection Branch, performed a design inspection of the Safety

Injection (SI) and Component Cooling Water (CCW) systems, and their support systems at the

Palisades Plant. The purpose of the inspection was to evaluate the capability of the selected

systems to perform the safety functions required by their design bases, as well as the adherence

of the systems to their respective design and licensing bases, and the consistency of the as-built

configuration and system operations with the final safety analysis report (FSAR). The team

discussed significant findings of the inspection with your staff during the team exit meeting on

November 14, 1997.

The design basis documents (DBDs) reviewed by the team provided comprehensive design

information. As discussed in the enclosed report, the team concluded that the SI and the CCW

systems were capable of performing their intended safety functions although some discrepancies

were identified regarding adherence of the systems to their design and licensing bases.

The team identified deficiencies in the control and performance of calculations. These

deficiencies involved not updating the calculations when analytical inputs were changed; errors in

some calculations; failure to specify uncertainty values in instrument setpoint calculations; a

calculation which contained inadequate analysis to support the conclusion; and a de short circuit

calculation issued without verifying all input parameters or providing any conclusion on the

acceptability of the de system.

The team identified many inconsistencies between the installed configurations of instrument

tubing and the design basis in the CCW and SI systems. As a result of these inconsistencies,

the team had concerns with potential air entrapment into the instrument sensing lines for the high

and low head SI flow transmitters.

The team had questions on some calculations for which the adequacy of the design basis could

not be verified. For example, no analysis was available to demonstrate that the de loads would

operate at the minimum battery voltage stated in the FSAR; no analysis was available to

demonstrate adequate ac voltage at the 120 volt safety-related loads; and no analysis was

available to demonstrate that the battery could carry all required de loads during a design-basis

accident with the battery chargers cross-connected.

9801130388 971230

PDR

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Thomas J. Palmisano

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December 30, 1997

. Please provide* a* schedule, within 6o' days, detajling your plans to tomplete the corrective actions

required to resolve the open items listed in "Appendix A to the enclosed report. This schedule will

enable the NRC staff to plan for the reinspectlon and closeout of these items.

In addition, as with all NRC inspections, we expect that.your staff will evaluate the applicability of

the results and specific findings of this inspection to other systems and components throughout

,,the plant. In addition, please evaluate the inspection findings, both specific and programmatic,

against your response to NRC's request (October 9, 1996) for information pursuant to 1 O CFR

50.54(f) regarding adequacy and availability of design bases information.

• 1n accordance with Title 10, Section 2:790(a) of the Code of Federal Regulations, a copy of this

letter and the en~losure will be placed in the NRC's Public Document Room. Any enforcement

action resulting from this inspection will be handled by NRC Region Ill via separate

• correspondence.

Should you ~ave any questions concerning the enclosed inspection report, please contact the

project manager, Mr. Robert Schaaf at (301) 415-1312, or the inspection team leader, Mr. James

A. Isom, at (301) 415-1109. *

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Docket No.: 50-255

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Sincerely,

Original signed by

Donald P. Norkin FOR

Stuart A. Richards, Chief

Events Assessment, Generic Communications,

and Special Inspection Branch

Division of Reactor Program Management

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosure:

li1~pecti~n Report 50-255/97-201

cc:. see next page

DOCUMENT NAME:*G:\\JAI\\PALRPT.WPD "

To receive a copy* of this document. Indicate In the box: *c.~ = Copy without enclosures. *e* = Copy with enclosures "N" = No *copy

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OFFICE

NAME

DATE

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Thomas J. Palmisano

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December 30, 1997

Please provide a schedule, within 60 days, detailing your plans to complete the corrective actions

required to resolve the open items listed in Appendix A to the enclosed report. This schedule will

enable the NRC staff to plan for the reinspection and closeout of these items.

In addition, as with all NRC inspections, we expect that your staff will evaluate the applicability of

the results and specific findings of this inspection to other systems and components throughout

the plant. In addition, please evaluate the inspection findings, both specific and programmatic,

against your response to NRC's request (October 9, 1996) for information pursuant to 10 CFR

50.54(f) regarding adequacy and availability of design bases information.

In accordance with Title 10, Section 2. 790(a) of the Code of Federal Regulations, a copy of this

letter and the enclosure will be placed in the NRC's Public Document Room. Any enforcement

action resulting from this inspection will be handled by NRC Region Ill via separate

correspondence.

0

Should you have any questions concerning the enclosed inspection report, please conta.ct the

• project manager, Mr. Robert Schaaf at (301) 415-1312, or the inspection team leader, Mr. James

A. Isom, at (301) 415-1109.

Docket No.: 50-255

Sincerely,

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Stuart A. Rich rds, Chief

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Events Assessment, Generic Communications,

and Special Inspection Branch

Division of Reactor Program Management

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosure: Inspection Report 50-255/97-201

cc: see next page

_. * .

Consumers Energy Company

cc:

Mr. Thomas C. Berdine

Palisades Plant

27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway

Covert, Michigan 49043

Mr. Robert A. Fenech, Sr Vice Pres

Nuclear, Fossil, and Hydro Operations

• Consumers Energy Company

212 West Michigan Avenue

Jackson, Michigan 49201

M. I. Miller, *Esquire

Sidley & Austin

54th Floor

One First National Plaza

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Mr. Thomas A. McNish

Vice President & Secretary

Consumers Energy Company *

212 West Michigan Avenue

Jackson, Michigan 49201

Judd L. Bacon, Esquire

Consumers Energy Company

212 West Michigan Avenue

Jackson, Michigan 49201

Regional Administrator,* Region Ill

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

801 Warrenville Road

Lisle, Illinois 60532-4351

Jerry Sarno

Township Supervisor

Covert Township

36197 M-140 Highway

Covert, Michigan 49043

Office of the Governor

Room 1 - Capitol Building

Lansing, Michigan 48913

Palisades Plant

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Resident Inspector's Office

Palisades Plant

27782 Blue Star Memorial Highway

Covert, Michigan 49043

Drinking Water and Radiological

Protection Division

Michigan Department of

Environmental Quality

3423 N. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd

P. 0. Box 30630 CPH Mailroom

Lansing, Michigan 48909-8130

Gerald Chamoff, Esquire

Shaw, Pittman, Potts and Trowbridge

2300 N Street, N. W.

Washington DC 20037

Michigan Department of Attorney

General

Special Litigation Division

630 Law Building

P.O. Box 30212

Lansing, Michigan 48909

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