ML18100A815
| ML18100A815 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem, Hope Creek  |
| Issue date: | 01/10/1994 |
| From: | Cooper R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Miltenberger S Public Service Enterprise Group |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18100A816 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-94-003, EA-94-3, NUDOCS 9401210106 | |
| Download: ML18100A815 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000272/1993023
Text
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Docket Nos. 50-272
- 50-311
50-354
Mr. Steven E. Miltenberger
JAN f 0 1994
Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer
Public Service Electric and Gas Company
P.O. Box 236
Hancocks Bridge, NJ * 08038
Dear Mr. Miltenberger:
SUBJECT:
SALEM AND HOPE CREEK RESIDENT INSPECTION NOS. 50-272/93-23;
50-311193-23; 50-354/93-25
The enclosed report documents an inspection to assure public health and safety, conducted by
Mr. C. Marschall, Senior Resident Inspector and other members of the NRC resident and
regional staff at the Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations for the period between
October 17, 1993 and November 27, 1993. The inspectors discussed the findings of this
inspection with Messrs. C. Vondra and R. Hovey of your staff.
Based on the results of this inspection, a violation was identified and is set forth in Appendix
A, Notice of Violation. The violation refers to the long-standing failure to consider each
emergency diesel generating unit inoperable and initiate the required actions specified by
technical specifications whenever one of the two redundant air start systems available for
each engine was isolated for routine surveillance. We have considered this apparent violation
as Severity Level IV since only two of three diesels are required for operatipn of emergency
core cooling and associated safety functions, each diesel *is supported by dual air start
systems, and a single air*start system has been demonstrated sufficient to start an emergency
diesel. You are required to respond to this letter relative to this matter, and should follow
the instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response. . Your
response should document the specific actions taken and any additional actions you plan to
prev~nt recurrence. Upon review of your response, we will determine if further NRC
enforcement action is necessary.
During this inspection we also noted numerous examples of failure to follow procedures
relative to the controi of maintenance work activities. These examples are detailed in the
inspection report and summarized ill Appendix B to this letter. Your failure to effectively
assess these occurrences, determine root cause and establish appropriate corrective measures
to prevent recurrence appears to be a factor that contributed to the repeated instances of
failure to control work activities. It was not apparent that your staff recognized or
considered the generic deficiency in performance that these examples demonstrated, or
- ' orn *. *")
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9401210106 940110
ADDCK 05000272
.. PDR_
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JAN I 0 1994
Mr .. Steven E. Miltenberger
2
initiated any effective corrective action. Similar weaknesses were noted during the last
Systematic AppraiSal of Licensee Performance_ (SALP) of Salem relative to deficiencies in
the application and approach to root cause analysis for certain abnormal conditions and
situations, and the consequent ineffectiveness of assessment and corrective efforts. Further,
though none of these events significantly affected plant safety, we are concerned that the
potential existed for more serious consequences,* particularly with regard to personnel safety~ .
Due to the. numerous examples and the reeurrent nature of this type of finding, we are
considering these items for escalated enforcement action in a.cCordance with the "General
Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions (Enforcement Policy), 10
CFR Part 2, Appendix C. Acci>rdingly, a Notice of Violation relative tO these findings will
not be issued at this time. The nu!llber and characterization of the apparent violations .
described in the enclosed inspection report arid the attached summary may change as a result
of further NRC review and assessment.
On January 5, 1994, Messrs. Wenzinger and White discussed this matter with you in a
telephone conversation. Accordingly, an enforcement conference was scheduled for
February 1, 1994, 10:00 a.m., at the NRC Region I office. The purposes of this conference
are to: discuss the apparent violations, including causes and safety significance; provide an
. opportunity for you to present your proposed corrective actions; and discuss any other ,
information that will help us determine the appropriate enforcement action in accordance with
the Enforcement Policy.* Accordingly, you should be prepared to present your own
assessment of the cause(s) of these deficiencies and describe how your proposed corrective
measures will be effective relative to these specific cases and the general conduct of other
plant activities. You should also be prepared to discuss the application and expectation (if
any) of the Safety Review Group or other Quality Assurance activity, and any improvements,
taken or planned relative to such efforts. No response relative to th_is matter is required at
this time. In accordance with NRC policy, this conference will be closed to public
observation.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2. 790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter and
its enclosures will be pJaced in the NRC Public Document Room. The responses directed by
this letter and the enclosed Notice of Violation are not subject to the clearance procedures of
the Office of Management and Budget as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980,
Public Law No. 96.511 .
JAN I 0 1994
Mr. Steven* E. Miltenberger
Your cooperation with us is appreciated.
Enclosures:
1.
Appendix A, Notice of Violation
3
Sincerely,
Ortgbat Signed By~
Richard W. Cooper, Director
Division of Reactor Projects
2.
Appendix B, Summary of Apparent Examples of Deficient Performance
3.
NRC Inspection Report Nos. 50-272/93-23; 50-311/93-23; 50-354/93-25
cc w/encls:
S. La Bruna, Vice President - Nuclear Engineering
J. Hagan, Vice President - Nuclear Operations
C. Vondra, General Manager, Salem Operations
R. Hovey, General Manager, Hope Creek Operations
C. Schaefer, External Operations - Nuclear, Delmarva Power & Light Co.
F. Thomson, Manager, Licensing and Regulation *
J. Robb, Director, Joint Owner Affairs
A. Tapert, Program Administrator
R. Swanson, General Mcuiager, Quality Assurance and Nuclear Safety Review
M. Wetterhahn, Esquire
R. Fryling, Jr., Esquire
P. Curham, Manager, Joint Generation Department, Atlantic Electric Company
Consumer Advocate, Office of Consumer Advocate
William Conklin, Public Safety Consultant, Lower Alloways Creek
K. Abraham, PAO (2)
Public Document Room (PDR)
Local Public Document Room (LPDR)
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
NRC Resident Inspector
State of New Jersey
.
'*
/'
- Mr. Steven E. Miltenberger
bee w/encls:
T. Martin, RI
Region I Docket Room (with concurrences)
D. Holocly, Enforcement Officer, RI
R. Cooper, DRP
J. White; DRP
E. Wenzinger, DRP
bee w/enels via E-.Mail:
J ~ Stone, NRR
S. Dembek, NRR
V. McCree, OEDO.
C. Miller, PDI-2, NRR
- J. Lieberman, OI
J. Goldberg, OGC
T. Murley, NRR
L. Callan, NRR
E. Jordan, AEOD
M. Shannon, ILPB
4
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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