ML19269F646
| ML19269F646 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane, Davis Besse  |
| Issue date: | 07/23/1979 |
| From: | Deyoung R NRC - NRC THREE MILE ISLAND TASK FORCE |
| To: | Gossick L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| References | |
| TASK-TF, TASK-TMR NUDOCS 8001220716 | |
| Download: ML19269F646 (2) | |
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a DISTRIBUTION dRA Tfil TF #1-Reading July 23,1979 DEvans FHebdon WParler IN REPLY REFER TO:
RCDeYoung ffTFTf! 790723-02 GFrampton EKCornell PNorry ffEMORAflDUM FOR: Lee V. Gossick, Executive Director for Operations FROM:
Richard C. DeYoung, Deputy Staff Director NRC TffI Special Inquiry Staff
SUBJECT:
STAFF KNOW1. EDGE OF B&W El!PLOYEES' ATTEMPTS TO RAISE SAFETY CONCERNS The Washington Post of July 19, 1979, contained an article entitled,
" Engineers Say Reactor Builder Ignored Warnings," (copy enclosed) in which it was reported that Joseph J. Kelly and Bert M. Dunn, Babcock & !!ilcox engineers, attempted to have BAW customers alerted to a transient which occurred at Davis-Besse Unit 1 on September 24, 1977.
It has been alleged that this transient is similar in many ways to the transient at TMI-2 on f3. arch 28, 1979. According to the Washington Post article, B&W supervisors refused to send customers the notification recomended by its engineers.
We would appreciate knowing whether the NRC is looking into this from the standpoint of 10 CFR Part 21. Also, please provide any information which NRC already has developed or is developing on this matter.
We would appreciate your prompt attention to this natter.
If further infor-mation is Ncessary, please contact Fred Hebdon of this staff, who is avail-able at 492-8947,it/S AR-400.
Richard C. DeYoung, Deputy Staff Director NRC TNI Special Inquiry Staff
Enclosure:
Copy of 7-19-79 2370 298 Post article
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RDeYoung PNorry WParler DEvans In RephNer toy' NTFTH MEMORANDUM FOR: Lee V. Gossick, Executive Director for Oper tions FROM:
Richard DeYoung, Deputy Staff Director NRC/TMI Special Inquiry Group
SUBJECT:
STAFF KNOWLEDGE OF B&W EMPLOYEES' A EMPTS TO RAISE SAFETY CONCERNS The Washington Post of July 19, 1979 containedjan article entitled
" Engineers Say Reactor Builder Ignored Warnings," (copy enclosed) in which it was reported that Joseph J. Kelly and Bert M. Dunn, Babcock &
Wilcox engineers, attempted to have B&W customers alerted to a transient which occurred at Davis-Besse Unit 1 on Sjeptember 24, 1977.
It has been alleged that this transient is similar ih many ways to the transient at TMI-2 on March 28, 1979. According to the Washington Post article, B&W supervisors refused to send customer the notification recommended by its engineers.
In connection with this Group's amination of precursor events to the THI-2 accident, we would request /your determination of the following, in connection with this newspaper 'rticle:
1.
A description of w within the NRC became aware of this event, by what me44s was knowledge of this event formally or infonnally rec 61ved by the NRC, and when was knowledge of the event acq'uired.
2.
What are the C requirements for allowing dissatisfied vendor emplofees to make known to the Commission safety concerns w ch are overruled by their supervisors?
3.
Are therp any existing or proposed rules or regulations which uld address the situation discussed in 2., above?
We would appr. ciate your prompt attention to this matter.
If further infor-mation is nec'essary, please contact Fred Hebdon of this staff, who is avail-able at 492,.8947, AR 400.
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THE WASHINGTON POST July 19, 1979 page A16 Engineers Say Reactor Buile/Ieuored Warnings e
By Thomas O'Toole "One difference in the two acei. him to address the aceldent at Davis.
wae.: r.a: Post s:str wnter dents was that the Davis Bessie opera. Bessie in a more constructive way.
So nuclear safety engineers at for quickly realized his emergency "I beUeve ttat Toledo iDavis Bessle) s,h-cet & Wilcox Co. testified yester. ; valve was stuck open and closed it was fortunate." Dunn said in the U.e. tried unsuccessfully to warn l after 20 minutes." Kelly testified.
memo. "Had this event ocettrred in a,
. ~t re of the possibility of a nu., "The other difference was that the reactor at fun power... it is quite
. '..v ulent similar to the one that
- Davis Bessie people throttled back possible. Perhaps probable, that ecte
- -.cn Taree '.Ille Island.
'two pumps: the Three 3111e Island uncovery and possible fuel damage i
e- :ncers. Joseph J. Kelly and 'E.enple stopped all four-To me, would have resalted."
- '~ Isun. told the Kemeny Com.
taa,t's a signtficant difference.
Dunn said Taylor responded by re.
- .m er:,esting Three AIUe Is.
'ne accident at Davis Bessie routing his memo back to the Nuclear t:.c Wh:te House that they prompted KeUy to write a memo to Service Didsion, where Kelly had run w emos ta Rabeeck supervisors seven B&W supervisors in which he ; into his original obstacle. D.=n said e? r..u! rerwa:cd discussions with recommended that all Babcock cus I he never heard back and assumed that
.n. cers over s hat they felt was a tomers be given guidance as to bow to I customers had been notified of his
- -2 ts s a n Labeoek customers of. avoid a suniliar accident at their ' concern.
- es'ib
- !:ty of a losMf<oolant ae, plants.
e
..:ent !!ke the one eventually suf.
"Do not bypass or otherwise pre-
- cred at Three 3ille Island.
vent the actuation of high or low pres-Tne date of Ke!!y's first memo was sure injection (emergency cooling) un-Nov. 1.1977. while Dunn wrote his der any conditions except a normal, first inemo Feb. 9.19"8, more than a controlled plant shutdown," KeUy year before Three 3IUe Island. Bab.
said the new instructions should read.
cock customers were never notiffed of "Once injection is initiated, do not their concerns.
stop it unless temperature is stable or "I wrote follow up memo and had
.cecreasing and pressunzer levelis in.
. discussions with people about the r creasing..."
{[J) l Q@
lneed to notify customers and I oper.
KeUy said that 10 days after he p
- q.,;q, yly g
- ated under the assumption that new wrote his memo be received a me=o S tj i gbl!jl], n p
- 0 g
, instructions would be distributed to from F.J. Walter.s. a supervisor in the customers," said Dunn who is man.
Nuelear Service Division, who said he
!ager of emerge =ey cor,e cooling sys. disagreed with Kelly's concerns. Wa1 lLynchburg. Va. "Buttem analysis for Babcock & Wucot in ters told Kelly be thought the opera.
to my knowl. tors at Davis Bessie had acted cor.
' edge customers were never notified.' rectly; besides, he said, the accident KeDr and Duns told the Kemeny was "of no magnitude."
Comrnission their concerns were trig-
"He was confused." Kelly said of cered by an accident Sept.24,1977, at Walters. "Its (the Walters memo) only Dans Eessie nuclear plant of value to me was to escalate the prob-me Qhio's Toledo,sEdison Co whleh. like lem to Sir. Dunn."
. ennelvania 3Ietropo11 tan Edison Kelly and Dunn said they talked a.. had bou;ht its nuclear plant over the " lack of response" among 2 rom Babeoek & Wilcox-The Das s Bessie accident involved Babcock supervisors to Kelly's memo
- udden loss of cooling water that and decided to pursue the issue more mut down the nuclear reactor. The ae. - ngerously. Dunn said he wrote a memo to Jim Taylor, manager of the c$cet occu" red when a pressure re.
Licensing didsion at Babcock, urging Vah e stuck open. venting thou.
- nds o'
- allons of cooling water away '
- - ~ - - '
. rom the reactor, and plant operaJors l
mstakenly throttled back the pumps !
-aurin; c ner;ener coolin: mater onto,'
inc reactor to msne up the d:ffe ence. l Wnae the nuelcar core at 1)svt.6 Bes t
sie was never enc <cd tne way the I
cere at Three Mie Island was, there w ere striking similarities in the events that led to both accidents. The
. ressure relief valves at both places I stuck open. releasing essential cooling ;
water from the reactort the pumps.
feeding emergency coolant to the_
cores were throttled back or turned '
cff-denying replacement cooling.
water to the cores.