ML18100A582
| ML18100A582 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 08/26/1993 |
| From: | Cooper R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Miltenberger S Public Service Enterprise Group |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9309070182 | |
| Download: ML18100A582 (5) | |
Text
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Docket No.
NOED No.
50-272 93~I-002.
Mr. Steven E. Miltenberger AOO 26 Im Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Public Service Electric and Gas Company P. 0. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038
Dear Mr. Miltenberger:
SUBJECT:
NOTICE OF ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION FOR SALEM NUCLEAR GENERA TING STATION REGARDING SALEM UNIT 1 By letters dated August 24 and 25, 1993, you requested the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to exercise its discretion not to enforce compliance with certain required actions in Unit 1 Technical Specification Limiting Condition for Operation for Electrical Power Systems. You informed the NRC on August 24, 1993, at about 10:00 a.m. tl).at Unit 1 could not demonstrate that Salem Unit 1 meets operability requirements for TS 3.8.2.3 for the 125 Volt DC system as required by TS Surveillance Requirement 4.8.2.3.2.b.1 in that one battery cell, in a bank of 60 cells for the "C" Vital 125 Volt DC Battery, could not meet the minimum cell voltage requirement of 2.13 volts. This condition was observed at 7:04 a.m. on August 24, and as a result, you began to shut down the plant at 8:49 a.m. per your TS. In order to have sufficient time to repair the battery; prevent a plant transient that may occur during such repairs; and, to avoid an unnecessary plant shut down, you requested enforcement discretion for 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> commencing at 9:04 a.m. on August 24. You provided as justification for.continued operation an analysis of the "C" 125 Volt DC Battery's capability to fulfill its intended safety functions
- per design while relying on the performance of the remaining 59 cells with the connected
. degraded c.ell. Also, you affirmed through discussions with your battery supplier that a new, fully tested replacement cell could be provided to the station within the period to make this repair, and that the repair was appropriate. You concluded in your analysis that all required safety functions would be unaffected during the period while repairs were made; that this request would not (1) result in a condition potentially detrimental to public health and safety; (2) involve adverse environmental consequences; or, (3) involve a significant safety hazard. In addition, you identified that your repairs could be completed safely, resulting in replacing the degraded cell with a new cell, within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />.
Following verbal agreement by NRC to grant enforcement discretion, you terminated th,e unit shutdown and appropriately completed the repairs to the battery within the requested 24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> period~ -**However;- on August 25; 1993; at-abput 1~30 a.m-.-,--you-identified that,the-new cell individual voltage had decreased to below the 2.13 volt TS limit. Your assessment at that time was that such performance was not unusual for this type of repair, was not indicative of a faulty or bad cell performance, and would require a period of about 3 days on an "equalize" charge 9309070182 930826 PDR ADOCK 05000272 P
AUG 261m Mr. Steven E. Miltenberger 2
(charging voltage of 139 V vice 135 V normal or "float" charging voltage) followed by three days to monitor the cell's performance to ensure proper operation and determination that the new cell is capable of maintaining a cell voltage greater than 2~ 13 volts.
At 10:45 a.m., on August 25 you requested enforcement discretion for an additional 6 day.
period, for a total of 7 days commencing at 9:04 a.m.. on August 24.
You provided an additional written request for this action using the same justification as was provided in the August 24. request, with additional justification that the new battery cell's performance was not indicative of a bad cell and only required sufficient time on an equalizing charge to become demonstrably operable.
Based on our review of your justification(s); including the necessary measures identified above to fully charge the repaired battery, we have concluded that this course of action involves.
-minimum or no safety impact, and we are clearly satisfied that this exercise of enforcement dis~retion is warranted from a public health and safety perspective.
Therefore, we are exercising discretion not to enforce compliance with TS 3.8.2.3 for the 7-day period from 9:04 a.m., August 24 to 9:04 a.m., August 31, 1993 as discussed by our respective staffs on August 25.
However, we will be considering enforcement action, as appropriate, for the conditions that led to the need for this exercise of enforcement discretion.
Sincerely, ORIGINAL SIGN~D BY:
Richard W. Cooper, II, Director Division of Reactor Projects
Mr. Steven E. Miltenberger 3
AUG 2 6 11D cc w/encl:
- J. J. Hagan, Vice President, Nuclear Operations C. Schaefer, External Operations - Nuclear, Delmarva Power & Light Co.
C. Vondra, General Manager - Salem Operations R. !Iovey, General Manager - Hope Creek Operations F. Thomson, Manager~ Licensing and Regulation R. Swanson, General_ Manager - QA and Nuclear Safety Review J. Robb, Director, F'-~1nt Owner Affairs
~-*/
A.* Tapert, Program Administrator R. Fryling, Jr., Esquire M. Wetterhahn, Esquire
~- J. Curham, Manager, Joint Generation Department, Atlantic Electric Company Consumer Advocate, Office of Consumer Advocate William Conklin, Public _Safety Corisultant, Lower Alloways Creek Township K. Abraham, PAO (24) SALP, AIT, Special Insp. Reports and (2) Inspection Reports Public Document Room (PDR)
Local Public Document Room (LPDR)
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
NRC Resident Inspector State of New Jersey
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AUG 26 ~
Mr. Steven E. Miltenberger 4
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