ML19262C412

Responds to NRC 791219 Ltr Re Violations Noted in IE Insp Rept 50-458/79-05.Corrective Actions:Petrographic Exam Performed & Reviewed Re Test of Rejection of Concrete Matls

ML19262C412
Person / Time
Site:	River Bend
Issue date:	01/21/1980
From:	Weigand J GULF STATES UTILITIES CO.
To:	Seidle W NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
Shared Package
ML19262C410	List: ML19262C412
References
RBG-7147, NUDOCS 8002120207
Download: ML19262C412 (4)

Text

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GULF STATES UTILITIES CODIPANY AOST CFciOE 90x 295.

• 8 tE A U V C N T TEXAS ?7701 4 AEA COOE 713 838-663:

January 21, 1980 RBG - 7147 File No. 9.5 Mr. W. C. Seidle, Chief Reactor Construction and Engineering Support Branch U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 Arlington, Texas 76012

Dear Mr. Seidle:

RIVER BEND STATION Docket No. 50-458/79-05 This letter responds to the infractions contained in your IE Report No. 50-458/79-05. This inspection of River Bend site construction activities was performed by Mr. C. R. Oberg, October 29--November 1,1979.

Only the cited infractions mentioned in your report are discussed in this reply, as required by Section 2.201 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice",

Part 2, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations. The unresolved items have been acted on. We will be prepared to report in detail on our progress and corrective action on these matters to your inspectors on their next visit.

The enclosed response is arranged to correspond to the sequence of items cited in the body of your report.

We trust this letter satisfactorily answers the concerns raised in your report. We shall be glad to discuss any further points that you may have.

Very truly yours,

. . E mv

. G.WeigandhcePresident Operations & Technical Systems JGW:TCC:bb Enclosure

}g48 234 8002120 2O4

Page 1 of 3 NRC Findings 50-458/79-05:

A. Failure to provide Information in a Petrographic Report:

10 CFR 50, Appendix B, Criterion V states: " activities affecting quality shall be prescribed by documented in-structions, procedures, or drawings of a type appropriate to the circumstances and shall be accomplished in accord-ance.with these instructions, procedures, or drawings."

Stone & Webster Specification 210.360, " Concrete Testing Services", page 1-17, paragraph on " Petrographic Examinations" requires that the report on petrographic examination of aggregate include the following items:

1. Gradation of each sample and conformance to ASTM C33.

2. Compatibility of the fine aggregate with the coarse aggregate and with regular Type II Portland cement.

Also, the advisability of using Type II, low alkali Portland cement.

3. Recommendation for any additional petrographic, chemical, physical or geological invectigations that may be re-quired for evaluation of adverse properties that are indicated in the examination that has been performed.

Contrary to the above:

The petrographic report transmitted by Delta Testing and Inspection Inc., dated June 12, 1979, did not contain the required information pertaining to gradation of samples; compatibility of aggregates and Type II cement; and re-commendation for additional testing or investigations.

This is an infraction.

GSL Response Action Taken and Results Achieved:

The petrographic examination was performed again by Erlin, Hime Associates in November, 1979. The I&E inspector has reviewed this new petrographic report dated November 20 and 21, 1979, which now contains the missing information.

Corrective Action Taken to Avoid Further Noncompliance:

Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation FQC has issued inspection plan No. R1-210.361-502, Rev. N/A, dated 1-7-80, to include those specific attributes concerning petrographic examination. This plan replaces R1-210.360-501. Specifi-cation 210.360 is being replaced by specification No. 210.361.

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Page 2 of 3 Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation FQC is also reviewing

. all issued inspection plans dealing with site documentation review to assure that similar information was not omitted .

from those plans.

Date When Full Compliance Will be Achieved:

February 29, 1980.

B. Failure to Provide Timely Notification of Construction Deficiencies.

i 10 CFR 50.55 (e) (2), " Conditions of Construction permits",

states: "The holder of a construction permit shall within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> notify the appropriate Nuclear Regulatory Commission Inspection and Enforcement Regional Office of each reportable deficiency".

I Contrary to the above:

Gulf States Utilities did not promptly inform (within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br />) Region IV that results of tests on concrete materials had been rejected as a result of an audit con-ducted on September 25-27, 1979, by Southwestern Labora-tories. The information, identifying a reportable recurrence, was given to the IE inspector on October 29, 1979. Safety-related concrete has been placed using the suspect materials.

Three additional examples of f ailure to promptly report potential construction deficiencies are given in paragraph 5 of the report.

This is an infraction.

GSU Response:

Action Taken and Results Achieved:

The rejection of concrete materials test results (reported by Southwestern Laboratories) was reported as a potential reportable deficiency on November 1, 1979.

December 1, 1979, GSU reported the condition as a significant breakdown of t1e quality assurance program.

All materials have been retested by an independent testing facility and evaluated against the revised specification requirements and found to be acceptable. A detailed analysis was submitted to the NRC for their review and was accepted.

Corrective Action Taken to Avoid Further Noncompliance:

GSU was complying with our interpretation of 10 CFR 50.55 (e) (2): "The holder of a construction permit shall within 1948 236

Page 3 of'3

,. 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> notify the appropriate Nuclear Regulatory Commission Inspection and Enforcement Regional Office of each reportable deficiency", and have in the past reported all significant deficiencies within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> after determination of their reportability, and as such were in compliance with the Gulf States Utilities Nuclear Quality Assurance Manual, in that all retests of concrete materials were not complete at the date of your inspection.

In the future Gulf States Utilities will inform the NRC Regional Office by telephone call within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> when a problem or deficiency is discovered that could possibly be a reportable deficiency but adequate information will not be available to determine the reportability within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> of discovery of the problem or deficiency.

Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation is reviewing their QA program to assess how they will interface with Gulf States Utilities to comply with the requirements to report deficiencies or problems as explained above. Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation will advise Gulf States Utilities of the proposed method of implementation.

Date When Full Compliance Will Be Achieved:

March 3, 1980.

1948 237