ML19262C216
| ML19262C216 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 12/26/1979 |
| From: | Lainas G Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Ippolito T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8002080342 | |
| Download: ML19262C216 (5) | |
Text
o 98#tc,o UNITED STATES
[,*,-,cy%i NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
'. E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
,y
'%f DEC 2 61970 MEMORANDUM FOR:
T. Ippolito, Chief Operating Reactors Branch #3 Division of Operating Reactors FROM:
G. Lainas, Chief Plant Systems Branch Division of Operating Reactors
SUBJECT:
STAFF EVALUATION OF INCOMPLETE ITEMS IN VERMONT YANKEE'S FIRE PROTECTICN 3AFETY EVALUAT!CN REPORT (TAC NO. 11115)
Plant Name: Verment Yan?ee Licensee: Yankee Atomic Electric Company Docket No. : 50-271 Responsible Branch: ORS #3 Project Manager:
V. Rconey Reviewing Branch: Plant Systems Branch S tatus : SER issued, evaluation of incomplete items on-going.
Our initial Safety Evaluation Report for the reevaluation fire crotection at the Ver,ont Yankee facility was issued on January 13, 1978. This SER indicated that the licensee's initial description of the fire protection's administrative controls was not adeauate to permit a conclusion by tne staff. We then recontended the licensee folicw ths guidelines set forth in " Nuclear Plant Fire Protection Functional
. Responsibilities, Administratise Controls and Quality Assurance." The licensee agreed and has addressed these guidelines and ensuing questions and positions in a series of submittals dated September 13, 1977; January 30,1978; April 3,1978; August 14, 1978; Septes er 7, 1978; October 13, 1978; and September 10, 1979.
We have evaluated these submittals, and find that the licensee ccmplies with our administrative control guidelines except for:
(1) training of fire brigade su; cort personnel; (2) fire brigade drill frequency; (3) controls to be used for untreated wood; (4) the assignment of the shift supervisor as the fire brigade leader; and (5) control of ignition sources in safety related areas. The results of our evaluation are described in Enclosure 1.
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T. Ippolito DEC 261979 This completes our evaluation of SER item 3.2.9.
/ ph w G. Lainas, Chief Plant Systems Branch Division of Operating Reactors
Contact:
C. Heit, X27270
Enclosure:
Evaluation of Incomclete Items cc w/ enclosure:
D. Eisennut G. Lainas R. Ferguson C. Heit V. Rocney 1945 009 t
3.2.9 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS - EVALUATION OF INCOMPLETE ITEMS Our SER indicated that 'he licensee agreed to provide a description of his admnistrative controls for fire protection to the guidelines in NRC.'s document, " Nuclear Plant Fire Protection Functic7al Responsibilities, Administrative Controls and Quality Assurance."
By letter of September 13, 1977, the licensee addressed these controls in his Fire Protection Plan. On July 31, 1978, we fonvarded the licensee our evaluation of this plan. By letters dated Jenuary 30,1978, April 13,1978, August 14, 1978, September 7,1978, October 13, 1978, and September 10, 1979, tne licensee provided the requested additional infomation about their procosed administrative controls. We have evaluated these submittals and find that the licensee comolies with our admini-strative control guidelines except for our concerns about:
(1) training of fire brigace support personnel; (2) fire brigade drill frequency; (3)-controls to be used for untreated wood; (4) tne assignment of the Shift Supervisor as the Fire Brigade Leader; and (5) control of ignition sources in safety related areas. These concerns and their evaluations and required resolutions are as described herein.
By letter dated August 14, 1978, the licensee indicates their five man brigade has two levels of training, i.e., three members of the crimary fire fignting team will be fully trained whereas the t'.. assigned security personnel will receive only training necCsary to perfom their support roles. We have evaluated this proposal and find that it does not comply with the provisions of the staff position for the training of support personnel assigned to the fire brigade. We will require the licensee to comply with this staff position, " Minimum Fire Brigade Training," as noted in Enclosure No. 2.
By letter dated October 13, 1978, tne licensee proposed to provide:
(1) two drills per year for each fire brigade; (2) one drill on the back shift for each brigace and one drill to be unannounced for each brigade; and (3) one drill out of ten, each year with tne Tcwn of Vernon Fire Cepartment. By letter dated Septenter 10, 1979, the licensee then proposed a different drill program which concerns only three primary fire fighting team members and the two security support personnel. This program essentially requires that the primary team members will drill two times per year and security personnel would drill two times or less per year. We nave evaluated these proposals and we find they do not satisfy the provisions of our guidelines or our July 31, 1978 staff position on this matter and, therefore, 1945 010 t
2-are not acceptatele. To resolve our concerns, we wili require that fire drills shall be performed at regular intervals but not to exceed three months for each fire brigade.
Each individual member of the fire brigade, including the support personnel, shall participate in at least two drills per year.
At least one drill per year shall be performed on a back shift for each fire brigade. A sufficient number of these drills, not less than one for each fire brigade per year, shall be unannounced.
By letters dated August 14, 1978 and September 10,1973, the licensee indicates that the Shift Supervisor will be the on-scene Fire Brigade Leader because:
(1) in his absence the Supervisory Control Room Operator who is equally qualified is autnorized by position and licensee to respond to all normal and emergency conditions,and (2) the Shif t Supervisor is most familiar with the plant layout and is frequently outside tne control room to investigate any abnornal conditions. We have evaluated the licensee's responses and we find they do not satisfy the provisions of our July 31, 1978 staff positions on this matter and are, therefore, not acceptable. To resolve our concern, we recommend that the licensee:
(1) submit a commitment that the Shift Supervisor (s) responsibilities for the overall operation and safety of the plant would not conflict, in any way, with the responsibilities of an "on the scene" Fire Brigade Leader during a fire emergency; (2) provide assurance that tne Supervisory Control Room operator assigned to supervise the control room in the absence of the Shift Supervisor has equivalent qualifications to the St.i't Supervisor and meets the requirements of Section 4.3.1 ANSI /ANS-3.1-1978, "American National Standard for Selection and Training of Nuclear Power Plant Person cl;" and (3) assure an approved procedum is available which clear'y defines the Supervisory Control Room Operator's duties and responsibilities in assuming the position of Shift Supervisor during a fire emergency.
The licensee by letter dated September 7,1978, indicates that smoking, welding cutting, grinding and open flamework (hotwork) are controlled in accordance with their APC042 procedure. This procedure requires a pennit and a fire watch for hotwork in certain plant areas with high combustible loading, and only in safety related areas with a significant camoustible loading.
The plant fire protection coordinator reviews the exceptions to these controls. We have evaluated the licensee's response and we find it dces not satisfy the provisions of our July 31, 1973 staff position and is, therefore, not accectable. To resolve tnis concern, we will require that administrative controls be prepared and instituted to assure all safety related araas and areas hazardous to safety related equipment are protected from fire damage or loss resulting from work involving ignition sources, sucn as welding, cutting, grinding or open flamework.
I945 011 STAFF POSITION MINIMUM FIRE BRIGADE TRAINING CONCERN During our evaluation of
- training given to fire brigade members, the issue of whether all a....Jers of a five man fire brigade need be given identical training has been considered.
In several instances licensees have proposed two levels of training for fire brigade memoers. These evaluations 'iave established the minimum acceptable level of training.
STAFF POSITION We prefer that all fire brigade memoers receive training in accordance witn tne staff guicelines set forth in " Nuclear Plant Fire Protection Functional Respcnsibilities, Administrative Controls and Quality As surance," June 14, 1977:
Attacnment 1: Fire Protection Organization : Fire Brigade Training :
Fire Fighting Procedures Where the five man fire brigade has two levels of training, at least three members shall have training whicn fully conforms to the staff guidelines; however, two members may be expected from the training requirements listed belcw:
1.
Attacnment 2:
1.0a (6) The direction and coordination of the fire fighting activities.
1.0a (9)
Detailed review of fire fighting procedures and procedure changes.*
1.0a (10) Review of tne latest plant modifications and changes in fire fighting plants.
The excepted personnel should have general training in these subjects.
- The cniy portion of tnis item excepted is that associated witn the which have been develoced to conform witn fire fighting strategies,he strategies establ1sned for t1gnting fires Attacnment :, item d.
i in all safety-related areas and areas presenting a hazard to safety-related equi; ment.
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