ML20003B715

Interim Deficiency Rept,Opening Previously Closed Deficiency Re Beam to Column Connection Design,Initially Reported on 800924.Reverification Has Shown Addl Design Load Omissions or Misapplications.Next Rept Will Be Sent on 801024

ML20003B715
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	09/30/1980
From:	Oprea G HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO.
To:	Seyfrit K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
References
10CFR-050.55E, 10CFR-50.55E, ST-HL-AE-551, NUDOCS 8102250298
Download: ML20003B715 (5)

Text

/n w The Light Company n-,,umim- m m,e n-,% mm m3msan September 30, 1980 ST-HL-AE-551 SFN: V-0530 Mr. Karl Seyfrit Directcar, P.egion IV g Nuclear Regulatory Commission a e 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000

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O Arlington, Texas 76102 p //[

Dear Mr. Seyfrit-

'4 IBo'O [8 23 /Sg7 South Texas Project A Units 1&2 y  % , A. /

Docket Nos. STN 50-498, STN 50-499 Reopening of Previously Closed ,g , ,~

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Deficiency Concerning Beam to Column Connection Desian On Septen5ber 24,1980, pursuant to 10CFR50.55(e), Houston Lighting &

Power Company notified your office of a reportable item concerning Reactor Containment Building (RCB) Structural Steel Beam to Column Connection Design.

At that time, HL&P requested to reopen a previously closed deficiency con-cerning this same subject. This deficiency involves the failure to properly consider application of certain postulated loads on the interior structural steel beam design. Based on the results of the on-going process of reverifi-cation of the design of the RCB structural steel, HL&P requests the previously established and previously closed Reportable Deficiency, concerning this same subject, should be reopened. The following discussion is intended to satisfy Mr. H. S. Phillips' (NRC resident inspector) request for a letter stating the reasons why HL&P wishes the previously closed 10CFR50.55(e) item to be reopened.

On October 25, 1978, Houston Lighting & Power Company (HL&P) notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of a potentially reportable deficiency under 10CFR50.55(e). This deficiency concr.rned the failure of Brown & Root,-

Inc. (B&R) to properly consider the application of certain postulated loads in the interior structural steel beams design for the Reactor Containment Building (RCB) of the South Texas Project Electric Generating Station (STPEGS).

Further investigation of design calculations revealed numerous examples of design errors involving improper consideration of loads, loading combinations, allowable stresses and design inputs. Accordingly, on November 27, 1978, HL&P notified the NRC that HL&P considered this to be a reportable deficiency.

Subsequently, in HL&P's first interim report on this deficiency (Ref.

ST-HL-AE-314, December 27,1978) a detailed description of all findings to that point was provided. Toward ultimate resolution and closure of this deficiency, certain commitments were made for specific action, including the following:

8102250 g

Houston bghting & Power Comparw J

September 30, 1980 ST-HL-AE-551 SFN: V-0530 page 2 (1) Detailed investigation of the specific findings reported at that time, (2) Complete reverification of all RCB structural steel calculations, correction of calculations as necessary, and changes to any members whose design may be found to be inadequate.

Investigations required under (1) above were performed during the early part of 1979 and a report was provided in the " Final Report" of this deficiency dated June 5, 1979 (ST-HL-AE-346). In this activity, affected calculations were corrected without necessity for changes to the design. Progress on Item (2) was only beginning at that time; however, based on the results of Item (1) investigation, the matter was considered closed by the June report.

Subsequently, pursuant to the connitment identified as Item (2) above, B&R Engineering has been involved in a program to define and refine loads and loading conditions for the RCB structural steel, investigation o# original design calculation, reanalysis of substantial portions of the structures, and identification of certain required design changes. During the course of this reverification, other significant design deficiencies have become evident, in-

, volving, as before, omissi.on or misapplication of design loads. In numerous instances, it has been determined that correction of these errors involves modification to steel members and/or connections.

In view of the above developments, it is apparent that closure of this deficiency was effected prematurely, and it is now requested that the matter be reopened in order to permit regular reporting on progress of the planned resolution. The next interim report will be sent to you on Oct. 24, 1980, and will contain additional details of our findings and progress to date.

If there are any questions, please contact Mr. Michael E. Powell at (713) 676-8592.

Very truly your -

I I gf ,m-f (ff a dic c ; n G. W. Oprea , Jr. /

Executive Vice President MEP/prg

Houston Lighting & Power Compan' September 30, 1980 ST-HL-AE-551

SFN: V-0530 cc: -D. G. Barker

- Howard Pyle R. L. Waldrop

.. H. R. Dean i D. R. Beeth

J. D.-Parsons l L. K. English'-

A. J.. Granger

, R. A. Fra:ar H. S. Phillips

, -J. O. Read (Read-Poland, Inc.)

M. D. Schwarz- (Baker 6 Botts)

! R. Gordon Gooch (Baker 6 Botts)

J. R. Newman (Lowenstein, Newman, Reis, Axelrad 5 Toll) d Director,- Office of Inspection 6 Enforcement Nuclear Regulatory Commission i Washington, D. C. 20555 i

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Housion Lightii g & Power Compan) September 30, 1980

, ST-HL-AE-551 SFN: V-0530 Page 4 M. L. Borchelt i

Executive Vice President Central Power 6 Light Company P. O. Box 2121 s

Corpus Christi, Texas 78403 j .R.'L.. Range 4 Central Power 6 Light Company P.'O. Box 2121 Corpus Christi.. Texas .

78403

! R..L. Hancock Director of Electrical Utilities

, City of Austin

, P. O. Box 108S' Austin, Texas 78767 i~ T. H. Muehlenbeck City of Austin P. O. Box 1088 Austin, Texas 78767 J.-B. Poston Assistant General Manager of Operations

. City.Public Service. Board P. 0. Box 1771 San ~ Antonio, Texas 78296

. .A. vonRosenberg _

i City Public Service Board

. P. 0~ Box 1771~

San Antonio,. Texas 78296 l-u l

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L Houston Lighting & Power Comp :-r September 30, 1980 ST-HL-AE-551 SFN: V-0530 Charles Bechoefer, Esquire Page 5 Chairman, Atomic Safety 6 Licensing Board U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 Dr. James C. Lamb, III 313 Woodhaven Road Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514 4

Dr. Emmeth A. Luebke Atomic Safety 6 Licensing Commission U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 Steven A. Sinkin, Esquire 116 Villita Street San Antonio, Texas 78205 Citizens for Equitable Utilities e/o Ms. Peggy Buchorn Route 1, Box 432 Brazoria,' Texas 77422 i

Richard W. .,owerre, Esquire Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas P. O. Box 12548 Capitol Station Austin, Texas 78711 Bernard M. Bordenick Hearing Attorney Office of the Executive Legal Director D. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 l

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