ML20059K932

Forwards Insp Repts 50-498/90-28 & 50-499/90-28 on 900730- 0808 & Notice of Violation.Violation Re Mixed Bed Demineralizer of Particular Concern Because Potential for Inadvertent Reactivity Not Mitigated

ML20059K932
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	09/18/1990
From:	Collins S NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:	Hall D HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO.
Shared Package
ML20059K934	List: ML20059K932 ML20059K937 ML20059K943
References
NUDOCS 9009250264
Download: ML20059K932 (4)

See also: IR 05000498/1990028

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In Reply Refer To:  :

Deckets: 50-498/90-28 ,

50-499/90-28 ,

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~ Houston 1.ighting & Power Company )

. ATTN: Donald P. Hall, Group  :

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Vice President,' Nuclear

P.O. Box 1700

Houston, Texas 77251 i

. Gentlemen: )

This refers to the special inspection conducted by Messrs. J. I. Tapia and 'i

J..E. Whittemore of this office during the period July 30 through August 8,.

1990, of activities authorized by NRC Operating Licenses NPF-76 and NPF-80 for

the South Texas Project. Units 1 and 2, and to the discussion of our findings. ,

with Mr. W. H. Kinsey and other members of your staff at the conclusion of the >

inspection..

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The area examined during the inspection included onsite followup of two events. '

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The inspection consisted of selective examination of procedures and

representative records, interviews with personnel, and observations ly the i

inspectors. Theiinspection findings are documented in'the enclosed inspection

' report.- 1

Following an' enforcement conference on August 29, 1990, we concluded +. hat, during

a. this inspection, certain of your activities were in violation of NRC

requirements. Consequently, you are required to respond to these vio9ations.

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in writing, in.accordance with the provisions of Section 2.201 of the NRC's

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" Rules of Practice," Part 2. Title 13. Code of Federal Regulations. Your '

response should be based on the specifics contained in the Notice of Violation

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enclosed with~this: letter. ,

.ThkNRCstaffconsiders.thetwo'violationsaddressedintheenclosedreportas

, significant. 'One violation, described in paragraph 2 of the report, relates to i

a valve. lineup error that was not identified by required independent checks and

resulted in an inoperable train of the auxiliary feedwater system. This lineup

error resulted in an actual loss of auxiliary feedwater to a steam generator I

when required. The second_ violation, also described in paragraph 2., involved ,

the failure to ensure that a mixed bed demineralizer contained the proper boron j

content which resulted in.an inadvertant boron dilution event during full power i

operation. This second event is of particular concern because the potential

for an inadvertant reactivity addition was not mitigated through administrative

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contmis for placement'of the _demineralizer in service. Based on the

inspe: tion results and information provided in the enforcement conference, we '

. conc 1Lded that operator actions to control reactor power and reactor coolant

system temperatures were appropriate. , g

h0[30$bk 000$$98 PDC

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• RIV: SRI *DRS/0LS *C:DRP/D *D:DRS D:DRP

JITapia/Ir JEWhittemare JSWiebe JCCallan SJColl ns

9/ /90 - .9/ /90 9/ /90 9/ /90 9/l$/90

• previously concurred

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Houston Lighting & Power Company -2-

In your response to the first violation you should include a description of

actions taken to ensure that all personnel are conducting required independent

verifications in an appropriate manner. In your response to the second

violation you should include a description of action taken to ensure that all

planned or potential reactivity additions are adequately anticipated and

controlled.

The response requested by this letter is 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.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice " a copy of

this letter and its enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

Sincerely.

Original Signed 11y

A .2 h t- C A n .* b ed""

. Samuel J. Collins, Director

Division of Reactor Projects

Enclosures:

1. Appendix A.- Notice of Violation

2. Appendix B - NRC Inspection Report

50-498/90-28

50-499/90-28

cc:

Houston Lighting >&LPower Company

ATTN: M. A. McBurnett, Manager

Operations Support Licensing

P.O. Box 289

Wadsworth, Texas 77483

City of Austin Electric Utility

ATTN: J. C. Lanier, Director of

Generation

721 Barton Springs Road

Austin, Texas 78704

City Public Service Board

ATTN: R. J. Costello/M. T. Hardt

P.O. Box 1771

,

San Antonio, Texas 78296

Newman & Holtringer, P. C.

ATTN: Jack R. Newman, Esq.

1615 L Street, NW

-Washington, D.C. 20036

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Houston Lighting & Power Company -3-  ;

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Central Power and Light Company t

ATTN: R. P. Verret/D. E. Ward ,

P.O. Box 2121

Corpus Christi, Texas 78403-  !

INPO

Records Center

1100 Circle 75 Parkway ,

Atlanta, Georgia 30339-3064 '

1 Mr.: Joseph M. Hendrie

50 Bellport Lane- '

Bellport, New York 11713

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Bureau of Radiation Control  !

State of Texas  !

1101 West 49th Street

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Austin, Texas 78756 t

Judge, Matagorda County

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Matagorde County Courthouse '

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1700 Seventh Street

Bay City Texas 77414  !

Licensing ~ Representative ,

Houston Lighting & Power Company .;

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Suite'610.

'Three Metro Center i

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

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Houston Lighting & Power Company ,

ATTN: Rufus S. Scott, Associate '

General Counsel

P.O. Box 61867

-Houston, Texas 77208'

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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

ATTN: Resident Inspector

P.O. Box 910' '

Bay City. Texas 77414

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U.S.. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

, ATTN: Regional Administrator, Region IV

611. Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000

?ctlington, Texas 76011

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Houston Lighting & Power Company -4-

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, ' bec distrib. by RIV:.

• R. - D. Martin * Resident Inspector

~*DRP *SectionChief(DRP/D) ,

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l - *DRSS-FRPS Lisa Shea RM/ALF

> *P,lV File R. Bachmann - 0GC

• RSTS Operator * Project Engineer (DRP/D)

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