ML19309A780

Discusses Possible Reportable Deficiency Re Backfill Matl. Extent of Nonconforming Backfill Compaction Has Not Been Fully Defined.Initial Testing Indicates That Nonconformances Are Localized.Incident Will Be Reviewed Further

ML19309A780
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	03/21/1980
From:	Eric Turner HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO.
To:	Seidle W NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
References
ST-HL-AE-432, NUDOCS 8004010332
Download: ML19309A780 (5)

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The Light Company n-muromm m m>x nm n-naxami mmumn March 21,1980 ST-HL-AE-432 SFN: V-0530 Mr. W. C. Seidle, Chief Reactor Construction & Engineering Support Branch U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Office of Inspection and Enforcement Region IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drii e, Suite 1000 Arlington, TX '6S 2 South Texas Project Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. STN 50-498, STN 50-499 Possibly Reportable Deficiency Concerning Backfill Material

Dear Mr. Seidle:

On March 12, 1980, Mr. H. S. Phillips, Resident Reactor Inspector, notified Houston Lighting & Power Company (HL&P) that he had been informally notified on February 4,1980, of a possibly reportable incident concerning certain backfill material in the area of the South Texas Project Unit 2 Reactor Containment Build-ing. Mr. Phillips requested a written report regarding actions taken by HL&P to resolve this item. The information provided below should answer Mr. Phillips' concerns.

The Backfill Inspection and Testing Program was reviewed by HL&P and Brown

& Root Incident Review Comittees on Monday, February 6,1980. The Committee decided that based upon the information available, the incident was not report-able pursuant to 10CFR50.55(e). That same day, Mr. L. R. Jacobi notified Mr. Phillips via telephone of the Comittee's decision.

Mr. Phillips expressed his disagreement with the Comittee's decision. Mr. Jacobi agreed to provide him with a copy of the Comittee's meeting minutes which would outline the ra-tionale for the decision. A copy of those minutes was subsequently transmitted to Mr. Phillips by HL&P Site QA. As a result of that meeting, it was determined that:

1) The extent of nonconforming backfill compaction had not been fully defined.

2)

Initial testing, in conjunction with a review of the construc-tion records, indicates that these nonconfonnances are localized and that the conditions in an area designated as Area 204 are considered to be unique.

66 lll 80040103%?-

Houston Lighting & Power Company ST-HL-AE-432 March 21, 1980 Page Two

3) Based on present information, the probability of any significant safety hazard is low.

As a result of our Incident Review Comittee Meeting, the incident is being held open for further review by the Committee pending completion of the detailed test program as outlined on the attached logic. The NRC has sent Mr. Lansman, a Geotechnical Engineer, to witness these tests. Mr. Lansman and Mr. Phillips have been cognizant of all findings. The test program should be comoleted as shown in the attached logic.

Very truly yours,

)x j =- s -3 0 E. A. Turner, Vice President Power Plant Construction

& Technical Services MEP:rka Attachment cc:

G. W. Oprea, Jr.

D. G. Barker C. L. McNeese H. R. Dean G. B. Painter R. L. Waldrop A. J. Granger R. A. Frazar M. D. Schwarz (Baker & Botts)

R. Gordon Gooch (Baker & Botts)

J. R. Newman (Lowenstein, Newman, Reis, Axelrad & Toll)

Director, Office of Inspection and Enforcement [

Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington, D.C. 20555 M. L. Borchelt Executive Vice President Central Power & Light Company P. O. Box 2121 Corpus Christi, Texas 78403 1

R. L. Hancock l

Director of Electrical Utilities City of Austin P. O. Box 1088 i

Austin, Texas 78767

p O.

Houston Lighting & Power Company ST-HL-AE-432 March 21, 1980 Page Three cc:

J. B. Poston Assistant General Manager of Operations City Public Service Board P. O. Box 1771 San Antonio, Texas 78296 R. C. Mecke City Public Service Board P. O. Box 1771-San Antonio, Texas 78296 M. C. Nitcholas City of Austin P. O. Box 1088 Austin, Texas 78767 R. L. Range Central Power & Light Company P. O. Box 2121 Corpus Christi, Texas 78403 Charles Bechhoefer, Esquire Chairman, Atomic Safety & Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Dr. James C. Lamb, III 313 Woodhaven Road Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514 Dr. Emmeth A. Luebke Atomic Safety & Licensing Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Steven A. Sinkin, Esquire l

116 Villita Street San Antonio, Texas 78205 1

Citizens for Equitable Utilities c/o Ms. Peggy Buchorn j

Route 1, Box 432 Brazoria, Texas 77422

P-Houston Ughdng & Power Company l

ST-HL-AE-432 March 21, 1980 Page Four i

d cc: Richard W. Lowerre, Esquire Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas P. O. Box 12548 Capitol Station Austin, Texas 78711 Henry J. McGurren Esquire Hearing Attorney Office of the Executive Legal Director U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 i

I r

UNIT 2 BACKFILL PROBLEM 2/1B SEARCH II&R 3/7 Oc Hrconos WCCF..

WCC DEVELOP BORING PROGRAM MOBILIZE 2 DRILLING RIGS / CREWS / INSPECTORS (WCC) l s

a WCC IMPLEMENT BORING PROGR AM (WCCl/B&R ENGINEERING

[ FIELD COORD/B&R CONSTRUCTION, SUPPORT.

GEOMAP L

B&R/IlL&P APPROVE BORING PROGRAM 3/24 WCC PREPAREfSUBMIT BORING REPORT.

O 4/11 4/25 WCC/B&R GEOTECilNICAL

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CC SUBMIT REPORT 5/2 B&R/HL&P EVALUATION LIO. EXP.

5/9

+ DECIDE PROBLEM (S) OF NO SIGNIFICANCE B

WCC ESTABLISHES CONTACT WITH CLOSE NCR LIQUEFACTION EXPERT 3/24

+-DECIDE PROBLEM (S) OF SIGNIFICAR*CE CONDITIONS ACCEPTABLE PENDING a a ADDITIONAL. STLIDIES

PHASE 11 ALT. A WCC DEVE*. OPS SCOPEOF-WORK FOR LIQUEFACTION EXPERT AND REMEDIAL WOR K SUBMITS FOR HL&P/H&R APPHOVAL I PHASE ll ALT.8 HL&P/B&R APPROVE d@

2/15/80 3/14/80

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