ML18066A407
| 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: |
| 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
ADOCK 05000255
G
T. Palmisano
-2-
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
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 *
-2-
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.
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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