ML20059K812
| ML20059K812 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Duane Arnold  |
| Issue date: | 11/05/1993 |
| From: | Greenman E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Leslie Liu IES UTILITIES INC., (FORMERLY IOWA ELECTRIC LIGHT |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20059K813 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-93-255, NUDOCS 9311160205 | |
| Download: ML20059K812 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000331/1993015
Text
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.
NOV 0 51993
Docket No. 50-331
EA 9';-255
Iowa Electric Light and Power
Company
ATTN: Mr. Lee Liu
Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive
Officer
IE Towers
P. O. Box 351
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406
Dear Mr. Liu:
SUBJECT:
ROUTINE RESIDENT INSPECTION AT DUANE 'RN0LD ENERGY CENTER
This refers to the inspection conducted by Messrs. J. Hopkins and C. Miller of
this office on August 24 through October 14, 1993. The inspection included a
review of activities authorized for your Duane Arnold Energy Center (DAEC)
facility. At the conclusion of the inspection, the findings were discussed
with those members of your staff identified in the enclosed report.
Areas examined during the inspection are identified in the' report. Within
these areas, the inspection consisted of a selective examination of procedures
and representative records, interviews with personnel, and observation of-
activities in progress.
Based on the results of this inspection, (50-331/93015(DRP)), one apparent
violation was identified and is being considered for escalated enforcement
actica in accordance with the " General Statement of Policy and Procedure for
NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), 10 CFR Part 2,- Appendix C.
-
This apparent violation with two examples is of concern to us because the
"B"
standby diesel generator (SBDG) was inoperable for a time in excess of that-
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allowed by your technical specifications. During this time, including a.
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period when the "A" SBDG was also inoperable and core alterations were in -
progress, the "B" SBDG would not have been able to perform its design function
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to automatically supply power to essential bus lA4 had offsite power been
lost. Additionally, we are concerned that the inadequate maintenance
procedures and practices that allowed this condition to occur had the
potential for multiple failures of logic functions in a number of systems-
important to safety.
Inasmuch as these inspection findings are being considered for escalated
enforcement action, no Notice of Violation is presently being issued.
Please
be advised that the number and characterization of apparent violations
described in the enclosed inspection report may change as a result of further
NRC review.
9311160205 931105
ADOCK0500g1
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lowa Electric Light and
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An enforcement conference to discuss this apparent violation has been
scheduled for November 19, 1993, at 10:00 a.m. (CST) in the Region III office
,
in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. This enforcement conference will be closed to public
>
observation. The purposes of this conference are to discuss the apparent
,
violations, their causes and safety significance; to provide you the
'
opportunity to point out any errors in our inspection report; and to provide
an opportunity for you to present your proposed corrective actions.
In
particular, we expect you to address the root cause of the SBDG output- breaker
,
failure to close and your corrective actions, and actions you are taking to
ensure that maintenance procedures incorporate appropriate checks to ensure
.,
that system operability is not affected when the maintenance is complete.
In
addition, this is an opportunity for you to provide any information concerning
'
your perspectives on 1) the severity of the violations, 2) the factors that
the NRC considers when it determines the amount of a civil penalty that may be
assessed in accordance with Section VI.B.2 of the Enforcement Policy, and
,
'
3) the possible basis for exercising discretion in accordance with Section VII
of the Enforcement Policy. You will be advised by separate correspondence of
the results of our deliberations on this matter. No response regarding these
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apparent violations is required at this time.
,
In addition, based on the results of this inspection, certain other of your
activities appeared to be in violation of NRC requirements, as specified in
the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice). The first violation is of
particular concern because the inadequate foreign material exclusion (FME)
controls for areas which communicate with the reactor coolant system presented
'
a potential for equipment damage, including fuel failure.
Fuel failures that
'
have occurred at other plants have been attributed to foreign material coming
in contact with the fuel rod cladding, ultimately resulting in cladding
failure. The weaknesses in your FME program that allowed inadequate controls
to exist in areas which communicate with the reactor coolant system demand
your prompt and continuing attention. We will closely follow your fuel
performance monitoring over the next several fuel cycles. The second
violation meets the criteria for a non-cited violation; however, we have
chosen not to exercise this option because of the number of occurrences, and
because nearly every occurrence could have been prevented by a second person
who was available to provide back-up verification for the activities which
were taking place.
These examples of a breakdown in the verification process
had the potential to affect the overall quality of plant activities.
Certain other of your activities also appeared to be in violation of NRC
requirements. However, as described in the enclosed inspection report, you
identified this violation. Therefore,-the violation will not be subject to
.
enforcement action because your efforts in identifying and correcting the
'
violation meet the criteria specified in Section VII.B of the " General
Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions," (Enforcement
Policy, 10 CFR Part 2, Appendix C).
You are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions
specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response.
In your
y
i
.,
.
NOV 0 51993-
Iowa Electric Light and
3
-
Power Company
response, you should document the specific actions taken and any additional
actions you plan to prevent recurrence. For the first violation, you should
-
address how the foreign material exclusion program for the overall plant and
the refuel floor will be improved, and why corrective actions for the spent
fuel pool cooling pump trips were not taken in. a timely fashion.
For the
second violation, you should indicate what steps you will_take to improve
verification processes and how personnel errors will be reduced. After
reviewing your response to this Notice, including your proposed corrective
,
actions and the results of future inspections, the NRC will determine whether
further NRC enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with NRC
regulatory requirements.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the Commission's regulations, a copy of
this letter, the enclosures, and your responses to this letter will be placed
in the NRC Public Document Room.
'
i
The response directed by this letter and the accompanying Notice are not
subject to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, PL 96-511.
We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this inspection.
Sincerely,
'
onigir41 uignA ty. E. c. Gro nm
Edward G. Greenman, Director
Division of Reactor Projects
Enclosures:
1.
,
2.
Inspection Report
No. 50-331/93015(DRP)
cc w/ enclosure:
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D. Wilson, Plant
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Superintendent - Nuclear
K. Young, Manager, Nuclear
Licensing
OC/LFDCB
Resident Inspector, RIII
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Stephen Brown, Iowa Dept.
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of Commerce
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Licensing Project Mgr., NRR
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James Luehman, OE
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James Lieberman, OE
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James Goldberg, OGC
,
James Partlow, NRR
Technical Support Section, RIII
SEE ATTACHED CONCURRENCE
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Iowa Electric Light and
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fuel pool cooling pump trips were not taken in a timely fashion.
For the
second violation, you should indicate what steps you will take to improve
verification processes and how personnel errors will be reduced. After
reviewing your response to this Notice, including your proposed corrective
actions and the results of future inspections, the NRC will determine whether
further NRC enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with NRC
regulatory requirements.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the Commission's regulations, a copy'of
.
this letter, the enclosures, and your responses ta this letter will be placed
l
in the NRC Public Document Room.
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The response directed by this letter and the accompanying Notice are not
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subject to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget. as
,
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, PL 96-511.
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We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this inspection.
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Sincerely,
,
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Edward G. Greenman, Director
Division of Reactor Projects
,
Enclosures:
1.
2.
Inspection Report
No. 50-331/93015(DRP)
cc w/ enclosure:
D. Wilson, Plant
Superintendent - Nuclear
K. Young, Manager, Nuclear
i
Licensing
.;
OC/LFDCB
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Resident Inspector, RIII
Stephen Brown, Iowa Dept.
of Commerce
Licensing Project Mgr., NRR
James Luehman, OE
-
James Lieberman, OE
James Goldberg, OGC
',
James Partlow, NRR
Technical Support Section, RIII
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