ML18101A615
| ML18101A615 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 03/30/1995 |
| From: | Wiggins J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Eliason L Public Service Enterprise Group |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18101A616 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9504070103 | |
| Download: ML18101A615 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000272/1994032
Text
"* .
Mr. Leon R. Eliason
Chief Nuclear Officer & President
Nuclear Business Unit
March 30, 1995
Public Service Electric and Gas Company
P. 0. Box 236
Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey 08038
SUBJECT:
SALEM ENGINEERING FOLLOWUP INSPECTION 94-32
Dear Mr. Eliason:
This letter refers to the safety inspection conducted by Mr. B. McDermott of
this office on December 5-19, 1994, and March 14-15, 1995, at the Salem
Generating Stations and on February 13-24, 1995, at the NRC Region I office.
The inspection was focused on issues important to public health and safety,
specifically, your actions taken in response to industry and NRC information
regarding nonconservatisms in the setpoint of the Pressurizer Overpressure
Protection System (POPS) for brittle fracture protection of the reactor
vessel.
The preliminary results were discussed with Mr. J. Summers, and
others of your staff, on December 19, 1994. A second exit meeting was
conducted by telephone with Mr. Summers on March 23, 1995 .
Four apparent violations were identified during our review of your actions to
resolve the POPS setpoint nonconservatisms, specifically:
(1) your reliance
on an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 50.60 without NRC approval;
(2) failing to report a condition outside the plant's design basis (10 CFR
50.72 and 50.73); (3) revising the plant's design basis without the safety
evaluation required by 10 CFR 50.59; and (4) failing to take appropriate
corrective actions for a significant condition adverse to quality (10 CFR 50,
Appendix B, Criterion XVI).
The details of these apparent violations are
discussed in the attached inspection report.
We acknowledge your position that the engineering significance of the problem
was considered to be low by engineering personnel and that the plant was
adequately protected. However, the fact that the issue was not entered into
an appropriate system for resolution of engineering discrepancies for over a
year indicates a significant weakness in your ability to understand and effect
prompt resolution of problems.
Even after the issue was entered into an
appropriate system, seven months passed before you determined that the plant
was outside it's design basis. Further, failure to perform a safety
evaluation for changes to the POPS design bases, as required by 10 CFR 50.59,
reflects a continuing weakness in your process for developing and implementing
effective corrective action .
070040
9504070103 950330
ADOCK 05000272
G
. . '
Mr, Leon R. Eliason
2
March 30, 1995
The apparent violations discussed above are being considered for appropriate
enforcement action and, accordingly, no Notice of Violation is presently being
issued for these findings.
You will be informed by separate correspondence of
any subsequent action required in response to the apparent violations.
Your cooperation in this matter was appreciated, and we would be pleased to
discuss the conclusions described in this report with you.
Docket Nos. 50-272; 50-311
Sincerely,
ORIGINAL SIGNED
BY~
James T. Wiggins, Director
Division of Reactor Safety
Enclosure:
Salem Inspection Report 94-32
cc w/encl:
J. J. Hagan, Vice President-Operations
S. LaBruna, Vice President - Engineering and Plant Betterment
C. Schaefer, External Operations - Nuclear, Delmarva Power & Light Co.
R. Burricelli, General Manager - Informations systems & External Affairs
J. Summers, General Manager - Salem Operations
J. Benjamin, Director - Quality Assurance & Safety Review
F. Thomson, 'Manager, Licensing and Regulation
R. Kankus, Joint Owner Affairs
A. Tapert, Program Administrator
R. Fryling, Jr., Esquire
M. Wetterhahn, Esquire
P. J. Curham, Manager, Joint Generation Department,
Atlantic Electric Company
Consumer Advocate, Office of Consumer Advocate
William Conklin, Public Safety Consultant, Lower Alloways Creek Township
Public Service Commission of Maryland
D. Screnci, PAO (2)
PUBLIC
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
NRC Resident Inspector
State of New Jersey
State of Delaware
Mr. Leon R. Eli aso.n
3
Distribution w/encl:
Region I Docket Room (with concurrences)
J. Wiggins, DRS
E. Ke 11 y, DRS
Kay Gallagher, DRP
DRS Files (2)
Distribution w/encl: (Via E-Mail)
L. 01 sh an, NRR
W. Dean, OEDO
J. Stolz, PDI-2, NRR
M. Callahan, OCA
Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
DOCUMENT NAME:
OFFICE
NAME
E
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
March 30, 1995