ML20046C115

Summarizes Compensatory Actions Taken in Response to Generic Ltr 93-04, Rod Control Sys Failure & Withdrawal of Rccas

ML20046C115
Person / Time
Site:	Vogtle
Issue date:	08/03/1993
From:	Mccoy C GEORGIA POWER CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
GL-93-04, GL-93-4, LCV-0069, LCV-69, NUDOCS 9308090214
Download: ML20046C115 (4)

Text

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LCV-0069 August 3, 1993 Docket Nos. 50-424 50-425 i

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATrN: Document Control Desk i

Washington, D. C. 20555 Gentlemen:

VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT RESPONSE TO NRC GENERIC LETTER 93-04 ROD CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE AND WITHDRAWAL OF RCCAs On June 21,1993 the NRC issued Generic Letter 93-04 " Rod Control System Failure and Withdrawal of Rod Control Cluster Assemblies,10 CFR 50.54(f)." The generic letter requires licensees with Westinghouse rod control systems to respond within 45 days by providing an assessment of whether or not the licensing basis for their plant is satisfied with regard to the requirements for system response to a single failure in the rod control system. If the assessment indicates the licensing basis is not satisfied, then each licensee must describe short-term compensatory actions consistent with the guidance in the generic letter and within 90 days provide a plan and schedule for long-term resolution. The generic letter applies to Georgia Power Company's Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP). Subsequent correspondence between the Westinghouse Owners Group (WOG) and the NRC resulted in schedular relief for the requirement to determine compliance with the licensing basis. That portion of the response will be included with the 90-day response.

Georgia Power Company (GPC) is participating with the WOG to evaluate the significance of the Salem event relative to Westinghouse full length, solid state rod control systems. In accordance with the schedule for this program as described to the NRC during its meeting with the WOG representatives on July 9,1993, GPC expects to complete the response to the generic letter by the end of the 90-day period.

The NRC's letter dated July 26,1993, which granted the schedular relief, requested that the interim response include the results of the generic analyses being performed by the WOG and a discussion of compensatory actions. The generic analyses evaluated a series of asymmetric rod withdrawal cases. The generic analyses and their plant-specific application to the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant indicate that departure from nucleate boiling (DNB) does not occur for the worst-case asymmetric red withdrawal. A summary of the generic safety analysis program and its applica'sility will be reported in

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k Georgia Power n U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 2 WCAP-13803 which is scheduled for submittal to the NRC by the WOG by August 5, 1993. The attachment to this letter summanzes the compensatory actions that have been taken by GPC in response to the Salem rod control system failure event or that may be taken should the final results of the WOG invest;gation indicate that VEGP is operating outside of the licensing basis.

Mr. C. K. McCoy states that he is a vice president of Georgia Power Company and is authorized to execute this oath on behalf of Georgia power company and that, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the facts set forth in this letter and enclosures are true.

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY By:

C. K. McCoy Sworn to and subscribed before me thisEday of Aaqush

,1993.

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1. t' F 9 6 Notary Public CKM/HWM/gmb Enclosure c(w): ficorgia Power Company Mr. J. B. Beasley, Jr.

Mr. M. Sheibani NORMS U. S. Nuclear Reculatory Commission Mr. S. D. Ebneter, Regional Administrator Mr. D. S. Hood, Licensing Project Manager, NRR Mr. B. R. Bonser, Senior Resident Inspector, Vogtle LCV-0069 m rs

ENCLOSURE VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT RESPONSE TO NRC GL 93-04 ROD CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE AND WITHDRAWAL OF RCCAs Compensatory Actions -

Section 1(b) of the generic letter requested a description of compensatory shon-term actions that were taken or will be taken if the assessment concludes that the licensing basis is not being met. The results of the assessment of compliance with the licensing basis will not be available until the submittal of the 90-day response. In accordance with the NRC's letter ofJuly 26,1993, the following discussion describes compensatory action that has been taken and that may be taken in the event it is determined that the licensing basis is t

not met. It addresses the three areas of compensatory short-term actions identified in j

Generic Letter 93-04.

1. Additional Cautions or Modifications to Surveillance and Preventive Maintenance Procedures.

q Based on the current knowledge and performance of the rod control system, including the recent testing of the appropriate alarm functions, GPC believes that the surveillance l

and preventive maintenance programs currently in place at VEGP are adequate. If the results of the WOG investigations identify potential single failures that could result in operation of the rod control system outside of the licensing basis, GPC will evaluate the information and determine if additional action is necessary. In addition, GPC has completed a review of the rod control system surveillance procedure, in response to Westinghouse Nuclear Safety Advisory Letter 93-007, and determined that no additional enhancements or precautions are needed at this time.

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2. Additional Administrative Controls for Plant Startup_and Power Operation i

The preliminary results of the WOG analyses indicate that DNB will not occur even if an asymetric rod withdrawal occurs. Georgia Power Company has co'ncluded that the l

current administrative controls for plant startup, shutdown, and power operation are acceptabic. Currently the rod control system is normally operated manually during--

f reactor startup and shutdown. During power operation the rod control system is normally maintained in the manual mode, however, the operator can place the system in automatic when deemed appropriate. Georgia Power Company is aware of the 1

additional administrative controls for plant stanup and power operation that were implemented at the Salem Plant. If the results of the WOG investigations and 1

evaluations indicate that similar additional administrative restrictions are required to assure operation within the licensing basis, they will be developed and implemented based on the results of the WOG program.

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ENCLOSURE (CONTINUED)

VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT RESPONSE TO NRC GL 93-04 ROD CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE AND WITHDRAWAL OF RCCAs i

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3. Additional Instructions and Training to Heich_ ten Operator Awareness of Potential Rod Control System Failure and to Guide Operator Resnonse in the Event of a Rod Control System Malfunction

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The event has been discussed with operators on each shift and has been included in licensed operator training requalification. Operators were made aware of the need to I

verify proper rod speed and direction anytime rod motion is required and to be sensitive to proper functioning of the rod deviation alarm, initiating corrective actions if needed.

This will assure that operators are aware of the importance ofverifying proper rod j

movement and of the potential for unexpected control rod system responses.

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