ML20062C837
| ML20062C837 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wolf Creek  |
| Issue date: | 10/25/1990 |
| From: | Withers B WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORP. |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM) |
| References | |
| WM-90-0181, WM-90-181, NUDOCS 9011020176 | |
| Download: ML20062C837 (3) | |
Text
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WQLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORPORATION seri D. mmers E'@A m October 25, 1990 WM 90-0181 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Consission i
ATTN:
Document Control Desk Mail Station P1-137 Washington, D. C.
20555
Reference:
Letter dated September 25, 1990 from S. J. Collins, NRC, to B. D. Withers, WCNOC
Subject:
Docket NO. 50-482:
Response to Exercise Weaknesses
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482/9029-01 and 482/9029-03 Gentlemen:
This letter provides Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation's (WCNOC) response to Exercise Weaknesses 482/9029-01 and 482/9029-03.
Exercise weakneen 48?/00?9-M involved inadequ:tc escrgency ctsff cu;;ncatation in the control room.
Exercise weakness 482/9029-03 involved the failure to ensure notification messages sent out to offsite authorities' contained accurate information.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact me or Mr. H. K. Chernoff of my staff.
Very truly yours, t
/---
J Bart D. Withers President and Chief Executive Officer BDW/aem Attachment cci W. B. Jones (NRC), w/a R. D. Martin (NRC), w/a D. V. Pickett (NRC), w/a M. E. Skow (NRC), w/a D. B. Spitzberg (NRC), w/a k y.MSM"/MM ' k h1020176901025 l
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',vV P.O. Box 411/ Burhngton, KS 66639 / Phone: (316) 3644831 An Egeuil Opportunty E%er MFMCNrT
N Attachment to WM 90-0181 Page 1 of 2 Exercise Weakness (482/9029-01):
Inadeounte Emernency Staff Aunmentation in the Control Room Resoonse:
During drills and exercises, actions taken by personnel are often limited by controllers due to availability of personnel and the obligation to not affect normal-plant operation and staffing.
In past drills, additional personnel have not been made available to support simulator control room staffing augmentation.
In addition control room personnel are trained to utilize available personnel as appropriate.
Based on these experiences, the simulator control room staff has handled drill scenarios with the resources available. Also, the Shift Supervisor was aware that the majority of the relief crew was participating in exercise activities in the plant.
Therefore, based on the circumstances, the Shift Supervisor did not request staff augmentation.
The actions taken by the Shift Supervisor during the exercise were not in violation of minimum control room staffing requirements.
During actual plant incidents, which required additional personnel,
shift supervisors have consistently augmented their normal shift compliment with off duty control room personnel and non-licensed shift personnel.
Therefore, it has been determined that the weakness is a result of circumstances related to exercise limitations.
Player briefings will be conducted prior to the 1991 Exercise.
During these briefings personne1'will be instructed to initiate all actions they would normally take by interacting with the controller.
Controllers will be instructed to limit these actions only when it affects actual plant operations, adversely affects the scenario, or raises a safety concern.-
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e Attachment to WM 90-0181 Page 2 of 2 Exercise Weaknens (482/9029-03):
Failure to Ensure that Information S2ptained in Notification Hessanes Issued by the EOF was Accurate Responset The identified weakness occurred when misleading release information was transmitted to the State and County due to the failure to annotate notification forms to indicate verification of release termination was in process.
After a release has occurred and immediate notification has taken place, the State and County are kept informed of the plant status through follow-up notification messages forms.
These forms are transmitted at approximately one half hour intervals.
In the exercise, the atmospheric relief valve was isolated at 1052.
This information was conveyed to the Duty Emergency Manager (DEM) at 1056.
The DEH did not declare the release terminated due to a lack of verification.
The DEM wanted to ensure no other release path existed.
The first follow-up notification message was sent to the State and County at 1105 shortly after the DEM was notified of the valve closure.
It reflected release in progress information because verification had not yet taken place.
At 1107 the DEM held an EOF staff meeting in which the State and County were verbally l
notified that the valve was closed and the-termination of release was pending field verification.
Soon after 1107, a field team was directed to take confirming measurements.
The second follow-up notification was issued at 1131. At this time positive verification of release termination from the field team had not been received, therefore termination was not stated.
The DEH was aware of the valve isolation.
- However, when each follow-up notification message was issued, confirmation measurements reflecting the l
termination of the release were not available and, the DEM wanted to ensure I
there was no indication of another release path.
In the past,. follow-up notification forms normally have not been annotated.
Therefore, the DEM did not consider adding notation to indicate confirmation of release termination was in process.
A Required Reading memo has been sent to personnel responsible for completing and approving notification forms.
This memo reinforces the need to assure the information on the forms is' accurate and current.
It also addresses that clarification of the information can be made on the form. It further states that if incorrect information is
~1dentified after notifications are made a new form is to be issued with the correct information.
This required reading will be completed by November 30, 1990.-
The annual retraining for these positions will incorporate the information provided by the required reading and emphasize the necessity to assure information on the forms is current and accurate.
Annual retraining for these positions will be completed by May 31, 1991.
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