ML19261F188

RO 76-047/01T:on 761216,sodium Hydroxide Tank Levels Fell Below Required Minimum.Caused by Personnel Misreading Tank Level Data & Technical Analyst Failing to Notice Mistake

ML19261F188
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	12/26/1976
From:	Creitz W METROPOLITAN EDISON CO.
To:
References
GQL-1771, NUDOCS 7910250608
Download: ML19261F188 (4)

Text

U.S. NUCLE AR REGULATORY '  ! 11SSION DOCKET NUMBE R

- 'CFORu 195 i ser 50-289 NRC DISTRIBUTION FOR PART 50 DOCKET MATERI AL

INbE!iT REPORT TO: J.P.0'REILLY . FROMBIETROPOIITAN EDISON CO. DATE OF DOCUMENT READING, PA. 12/2/9/76 LMM.CKEITZ DATE RECEIVED 1/6/77 OLETTER O NOTOR IZ E D PROP INPUT FORM NUMBER OF COPIES RECEIVED G ORIGIN AL QUNCLASSIFIED OcOPY 1 DESCRIPTION ENCLOSURE LTR. FURNISHING REPORTABLE OCCURRENCE # 76-4 7

/1T, ON 12/16/76, CONCERNING THE AMOUNT OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE IN THE SODIUM HYDROXIDE TANK LESS THAN THE SPECIFIED MINIMUM.... DO NOT REMOVE

( 1 SIGNED CY. RECEIVED)

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Dear Sir:

Decket No. 50-289 Operating License No. DPR-50 In accordance with the Technical Specifications of our Three Mile Island Nuclear Station Unit 1 (TMI-1), we are reporting the fcllowing reportable occurrence.

(1) Report Number: 76 L7/lT (2a) Required Report Date: 12/30/76 (2b) Date of Occurrence: 12/16/76 (3) Facility: Three Mile Island Nuclea - Station - Unit 1 (k) Identification of Occurrence:

Title:

? cunt of sodium hydroxide in the sodium hydroxide tank less than the specified minimum.

?/pe:

A reportable occurrence as defined by Technical Specification 6.9 2. A(2) in that the a=ount of sodium hydroxide in the sodiu= hydroxide tank was less than the specified minimu.n, thus , leading tu cperation of that system with a parameter subject to a limiting ecndition for operation less conservative than the least conservative aspect of that limiting conditien for operation established in Technical Specification 3.3.1.3.b.

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(5) Conditiens Prior to occurrence:

Power: Core: 2509 Wt F.le c : 851 We RC Flow IL2x106 lbs/hr RC Pressure: 2155 psig RC Temp.. 579 F PRZR Level: 220 inches FRZR Temp: 6h80F (6) Description of Occurrence:

On December 2, 1976, the total pcunds of sodium hydroxide in the Sodium Hydroxide Storage Tark (SEST) was determined to be 16,320 lbs. On December 15, 1976, after adding approximately 400 lbs. of sodiu= hydroxide, analysis shcVed only 16,139 lbs. of sodium hydroxide in the SEST.

Comparing the results from December 2 with those of December 15 showed that the sodium hydroxide concentraticn did not change. Inspe,; tion of the December 2 data showed that 2 procedural curves had been misinterpreted.

Therefore, the violation was frcs December 3, 1976, when the reactor was taken critical to December ik, 1976, when the sodium hydroxide was added.

(7) Designation of Apparent Cause of Cccurrence:

The cause of this occurrence has been determined to be due to personnel error in that, two precedural curves which provide data for the calculation of pounds of sodium h'/droxide contained in the SHST vere misread by both the technician who performed the analysis and the foreman who checked his verk.

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(8) Analysis of Occurrence:

It has been determined that thic cccurrence did not constitute a threat to the health and safety of the public in that the small quantity of sodium hydroxide the tank lacked would have a minimal effect en the Reactor Building sump pH.

(9) Corrective Action:

In addition to the action described above, the procedural curves which were misread vill be reviewed and modified as necessary to provide clarification.

(10) Failure Date: N/A Similar Events: Th-17 T6-13 Sincerely W. M. C eitz President

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