ML18066A407

Forwards Insp Rept 50-255/98-22 on 981126-990112 & Nov. Violation Identified Re Failure to Submit Engineering Analysis Pertaining to Degraded Studs on Primary Coolant Pump

ML18066A407
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	02/10/1999
From:	Grant G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Thomas J. Palmisano CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.)
Shared Package
ML18066A408	List: ML18066A407 ML18066A409 ML18066A410
References
50-255-98-22, NUDOCS 9902180048
Download: ML18066A407 (4)

See also: IR 05000255/1998022

Text

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGION Ill

Mr. Thomas J. Palmisano

801 WARRENVILLE ROAD

LISLE, ILLINOIS 60532-4351

February 10, 1999

Site Vice President and General Manager

Palisades Nuclear Generating Plant

27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway

Covert, Ml 49043-9530

SUBJECT:

PALISADES INSPECTION REPORT 50-255/98022(DRP) AND NOTICE OF

VIOLATION

Dear Mr. Palmisano:

On January 12, 1999, the NRC completed an inspection conducted at your Palisades Nuclear

Generating Plant. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection.

The inspection covered a 7-week period. Areas examined during the inspection are identified in

the report. Equipment reliability issues, specifically oil leaks on a primary coolant pump,

required a forced shutdown this inspection period. Several emergent equipment problems

extended the forced outage and challenged your operations, maintenance, and engineering

departments. The emergent issues were subsequently addressed in a deliberate manner which

demonstrated a positive focus on safety. Operator performance during the forced outage was

inconsistent. Control room operator's response to the loss of the safeguards transformer was

excellent, and the reactor shutdown and subsequent startup were performed in a controlled and

deliberate manner. In contrast to these positive operator performance observations, several

operator errors and operational problems occurred due to lack of rigor regarding attention to

detail during performance of assigned duties by the operators. You indicated at the exit

meeting on January 12, 1999, that an evaluation of operator performance during the outage

would be conducted.

During this inspection period, the NRC determined that a violation of NRC requirements

occurred regarding failure to submit an engineering analysis pertaining to degraded studs on a

primary coolant pump. This violation is of concern because your staff demonstrated a lack of

knowledge in applying the appropriate ASME Code requirements. Further, your staff missed an

earlier opportunity to identify the primary coolant pump casing leak that caused the primary

coolant pump stud degradation. Of particular concern is understanding whether the occurrence

of this issue is indicative of a weakness in your inservice inspection program implementation.

Understanding the root cause of this issue and establishing effective solutions to ensure code

compliance is essential for sustaining adequate plant system material condition.

• This violation*is*cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice), and the*circumstances

• --- * **-*---

surrounding the violation is described in detail in the enclosed report. You are required to

respond to this letter and should follow the instructio.ns specified in the enclosed Notice when

preparing your response. The NRC will use your response, in part, to determine whether

further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with regulatOry requirements .

9902180048 990210

PDR

ADOCK 05000255

G

PDR

T. Palmisano

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In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's *Rules of Practice,* a copy of this letter and the

enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

Docket No.: 50-255

License No.: DPR-20

Enclosures:

1.

2.

Sincerely,

~2;*ctr

~.~':,Y !~eactor Projects

Notice of Violation

Inspection Report 50-255/98022(DRP)

cc w/encls:

R. Fenech, Senior Vice President, Nuclear

Fossil and Hydro Operations

N. Haskell, Director, Licensing

R. Whale, Michigan, Public Service Commission

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Department of Attorney General (Ml)

Emergency Management Division, Ml Department

of State Police

T. Palmisano *

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In accordance with 10 CFR 2. 790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and the

enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

Sincerely,

/s/ Geoffrey E. Grant

Geoffrey E. Grant, Director

Division of Reactor Projects

Docket No.: 50-255

License No.: DPR-20

Enclosures:

1.

Notice of Violation

2.

Inspection Report 50-255/98022(DRP)

cc w/encls:

R. Fenech, Senior Vice President, Nuclear

Fossil and Hydro Operations

N. Haskell, Director, Licensing

R. Whale, Michigan, Public Service Commission

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Department of Attorney General (Ml)

Emergency Management Division, Ml Department

of State Police

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\PALl\\PAL98022.DRP

To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box "C" =Copy w/o attach/encl "E" =

Co

w/attach encl "N" = No co

- .. -- -eFFleE---- -Riii

NAME

Phillips:

DATE

02/ /99

~*

T. Palmisano

Distribution:

CAC (E-Mail)

RPC (E-Mail)

Project Mgr., NRR w/encls

J. Caldwell, Riii w/encls

B. Clayton, Riii w/encls

SRI Palisades w/encls

DRP w/encls

TSS w/encls

DRS (2) w/encls

Riii PRR w/encls

PUBLIC IE-01 w/encls

Docket File w/encls

GREENS

IEO (E-Mail)

DOCDESK (E-Mail)

170020

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