ML20136F891

Further Response to FOIA Request for All Records to Date Re loss-of-load Test Incident Discussed in NRC to Util.App C Documents Available in PDR

ML20136F891
Person / Time
Site:	Palo Verde
Issue date:	11/08/1985
From:	Felton J NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION (ADM)
To:	Garde B GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT
References
FOIA-85-696 NUDOCS 8511220212
Download: ML20136F891 (2)

Text

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/ k UNITED STATES

.E I NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3 p WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

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NOV 08 E Ms. Billie P. Garde Director, Citizens Clinic Government Accountability Project 1555 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 202 IN RESPONSE REFER Washington, DC 20036 TO F01A-85-696

Dear Ms. Garde:

This is in further response to your letter dated October 10, 1985, in which you requested, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (F0IA), all records to date related to the loss-of-Load Test incident at the Palo Verde Plant discussed in NRC's October 2,1985, letter to the utility.

Copies of the documents listed on the enclosed Appendix C are being placed in the NRC PDR. The records will be filed in PDR folder F01A-85-696 under your name.

The NRC has not completed its search for documents subject to your request.

We will respond as soon as that action is completed.

Si rely,

'. M. Felton, Director Division of Rules and Records Office of Administration

Enclosure:

As stated B511220212 851108 PDR FOIA GARDE-85-696 PDR L

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Re: F01A-85-695 APPENDIX C r

- 1. 09/12/85 Report of event, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.72 provisions. (1 page)

2. 09/13/85 Daily Report by the Resident Inspector. (1 page)

3. - 09/23/85 Daily Highlight by. Project Manager. (1 page)

4. 09/23/85 Handouts for briefing by Operating Reactors Staff on the '

event. (7 pages)

5. 10/04/85 Preliminary Nc.ification of Event by licensee (PN0-V-85-68).

(7 pages) o I

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%., ...../ .SEP 2 31985 MEMORANDUM FOR: H. Deni.on, NRR .

, D. Eisenhut, NRR (

' J. Lyons, TOSB, NRR H. Thompson, DL F. Miraglia, DL (

T. Novak, DL W. Russell, Acting Director, DHFS '

\( p J. Knight, Acting Director, DE R. Bernero, DSI T. Spets, DST B. Snyder, TMIPO, NRR d.4901ahan,M)RAB e G. Lainas. DL '

D. Crutchfield, DL  !

THRU: George W. Knighton, Chief Licensing Branch No. 3 Division of Licensing FROM: E. A. Licitra Project Manager Licensing Branch No. 3

, - Division of Licensing

SUBJECT:

DAILY HIGHLIGHT

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.rWalo V rde Unih~

N Palo Verde Unit 1 1ad n unscheduled shutdown on September 12, 1985. During the staff's review, it was determined that the pressurizer auxiliary spray system was not safety grade as understood by the staff when the operating license was issued. The licensee agreed not to restart from a shutdown on September 16, 1985 until the design criteria for the auxiliary spray system was resolved to the satis-faction of the NRC staff. Region V issued a Confirmatory Action Letter on September 20, 1985 stating this comitment.

On September 20; 1985 the licensee met with the staff to provide more inform-ation including an indepth description of the sequence of events, design characteristics of the auxiliary spray system and proposed short term compensatory measures for continued operation. -

On the basis of the commitments made, Region V issued a Confirmatory Action Letter

, dated September 20, 1985, releasing the licensee from its commitment not to return Unit I to power. NRR concurred in this action. The plant went critical Saturday, September 21, 1985 and is currently at 30% power level.

E. Licitra, Project Manager

' Licensing Branch No. 3  !

Division of Licensing i ccm . , , ,

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l PALO VERDE UNIT 1 - REACTOR TRIP, SAFETY _ INJECTION, LOSS OF PRESSURIZER AUXILIARY SPRAY SYSTEM

/~ SEPTEMBER 12, 1985 (E. A. LICITRA, NRR)

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PROBLEM - DURING LOSS OF LOAD TEST PLANT EXPERIENCED TUR TRIP, REACTOR TRIP, SAFETY INJECTION, CONTAINMENT ISOLATION AND LOSS OF PRESSURIZER AUXILIARY SPRAY SYSTEM SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE - THE PRESSURIZER AUXILIARY SPPAY SYSTE WAS NOT AVAILABLE, IF REDUIRED, FOR RAPID C00LDOWN AND DEPRESSURIZATION OF REACTOR COOLANT SYSTEM (PLANT DOES NOT HAVE PORVS)

DISCUSSION PLANT AT 55% POWER FOR LOSS OF LOAD TEST WITH .

GENERATOR SUPPLYING ONSITE LOADS, INCLUDING RCP'S ON LOSS OF LOAD, GENERATOR FAILED TO PROVIDE POWER TO ONSITE LOADS; RCP TRIPPED ON UNDERVOLTAGE REACTOR TRIPPED ON PROJECTED LOW DNBR

! AUTOMATIC TRANSFER TO OFFS.iTE POWER FOR NON-ESSENTIAL l LOADS DID NOT OCCUR AUXILIARY FEEDWATER SYSTEM WAS MANUALLY ACTUATED LOW RCS PRESSURE CAUSED SI INITIATION PLANT STABILIZED IN HOT STANDBY; RCPS RESTORED IN ABOUT ONE HOUP TEST WAS RE-RUN WITHOUT INCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 16, l 1985, WITH A MODIFIED TEST PROCEDURE l

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, NRC FOLLOWUP ACTION (1) CONFERENCE CALL WITH LICENSEE ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1985 (2) EVALUATING SINGLE FAILURE VULNERABILITY OF AUXILIARY SPRAY SYSTEM FOR PRESSURIZER PROBLEMS BEING EVALUATED A. DOES PRESSURIZER AUXILIARY SPRAY SYSTEM MEET SINGLE FAILURE CRITERION?

B. IN RESTARTING THE PLANT, DID THEY VIOLATE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS?.

C~ C. WHY DID TURBINE TRIP ON LOSS OF LOAD AT 55% POWER?

(SUPPOSED TO STAY ON TO HANDLE HOUSE LOADS)

D. WHY WAS TEST INITIALLY RUN BEFORE CHECKING WHETHER AUTOMATIC TRANSFER TO OFFSITE POWER FOR THE NONESSENTIAL LOADS COULD TAKE PLACE? (AUTO TRANSFER DID NOT OCCUR)

E. REPORTING OF INCIDENT WAS INCOMPLETE AND INACCUPATE I

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OPERATING REACTOR EVENTS BRIEFING (85-17)

SEPTEMBER 23, 1985 PALO VERDE UNIT 1 REA.CTOR TRIP, SAFETY INJECTION, LOSSOFPRESSORIZERAUXILIARY

~:.. SPRAY. SYSTEM t .

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PALO VERDE UNIT 1 - REACTOR TRIP, SAFETY INJE LOSS OF12,PRESSURIZER AUXILIARY SPRAY

- 1985 (E. A. LICITRA, NRR)

SEPTEMBER

• PROBLEM - DURING LOSS OF LOAD TEST, PLANT ISOLATION

_ TRIP, REACTOR TRIP, SAFETY INJECTION, CONTAINME AND GAS BINDING OF ALL CHARGING PUMPS.

SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE, IF REQUIRED,

- THE RAPID PRESSUR DOES FOR DEPRESSURIZATION NOT HAVE PORVS).

OF REACTOR AS LICENSING BASIS.

' GENERAL CONCERNS _

TURBINE CONTROLS DESIGN FAULTY (RUNB

- PLANNING FOR TEST INADEQUATE (TRANSF 4Ed

- INSTRUMENTATION PROBLEM (VCT LEVEL).

- ELECTRICAL DESIGN FLAW (SHEDDING MCC

- E0PS WEAK.

- REPORTING INCOMPLETE. , ,

~ - POST-TRIP REVIEW WEAK.

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS 16, 1985 (CONFIRMATORY

- PLANT SHUTDOWN ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1985).

ACTION LETTER ON SEPTEMBER

- SHORT TERM COMPENSATORY MEASURES CONTINUED OPERATION:

- DAILY CHECK OF VCT LEVEL INSTRUMEN

- REVISE PROCEDURES FOR MANUAL ALI RWT TO CHARGING PUMPS UPON LOSS POWER.

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- INSTITUTE PROCEDURAL CAUTIONS O CHARGING PUMPS.

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RE-EXAMINE POST-TRIP REVIEW PROCESS. FOR REMAINING TEST PROGRAM, EXAMINE PROCESS FOR VENDOR REVIEWS .

REVIEW SHIFT COMPLEMENT FOR PEMAINING TEST-PROGRAM.

, RELEASED FOR RESTART SEPTEMBER 20, 1985 (NRR/R-V LETTER).

LONGER TERM ACTIONS BY LICENSEE INCLUDE REVIEW OF AUXILIARY SPRAY SYSTEM TO DETERMINE:

WHETHER SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE SAFETY GRADE.

WHAT CHANGES ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE IT SAFETY GRADE.

STAFF PREPARING 50.54(r) LETTER CONCERNING RELIABILITY OF AUXILIARY SPRAY SYSTEM b"

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OPERATING REACTORS EVENTS BRIEFING (N0. 85-20)

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OCTOBER 21, 1985 i

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fPALO' VERDE' UNIT 1 ~ ~ -

.. TEAM FINDINGS'ON~RECENT~ EVENTS E

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PALO VERDE 1 TEAM FINDINGS ON RECENT EVENTS OCTOBER 21, 1985 (E. A, LICITRA, NRR)

EVENTS:

9/12/85 -

LOSS OF AUXILIARY SPRAY SYSTEM (N0 PORVs) 10/3/85 -

TOTAL LOSS OF 0FFSITE POWER (FROM-50% POWER)-

MULTIPLEXER ~

10/7/85 -

TOTAL LOSS OF 0FFSITE POWER (WITH REACTOR DOWN)-

MULTIPLEXER TEAM VISIT

- NRR, IE, AND AE0D PERSONNEL VISITED SITE 10/9-11/85 FOCUS ON PRE-AND POST-TRIP EVALUATIONS AND SYSTEMS DESIGN APS PROVIDED SUPPORT TO TEAM NEEDS TEAM EXIT MEETING DESIGN OF AUXILIARY SPRAY SYSTEM BEING HANDLED SEPARATELY MULTIPLEXER DESIGN CHANGE REQUIRED OF APS SEVERAL AREAS IDENTIFIED FOR IMPROVEMENT PRE-TEST EVALUATION DID NOT ALERT OPERATOR TO POTENTIAL SEQUENCE WHICH OCCURRED ON 9/12 EVENT POST-TRIP REVIEW 0F 9/12 EVENT DID NOT EVALUATE THE ,

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RESULTING NATURAL CIRCULATION C00LDOWN DOCUMENTED REVIEW 0F 10/3 EVENT DID NOT ESTABLISH APS HAD A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COURSE OF EVENTS 12 - DURING 10/3 EVENT, OPERATORS DID NOT RESTART RCS PUMPS PROPERLY AND CAUSED A DIESEL TRIP BY' SHEDDING LOADS

. T00 RAPIDLY TROUBLE SHOOTING OF MULTIPLEXER PROBLEM ON'10/7 WAS BEING PERFORMED SIMULTANE0USLY WITH MAINTENANCE WORK ON ONE OF THE BREAKERS 10/7 EVENT MAY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY LINING UP THE PLANT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM S0 THAT MULTIPLEXER WOULD NOT AGAIN CAUSE TOTAL LOSS OF 0FFSITE POWER TEAM RECOMMENTDATIONS TO APS PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY AND DELIBERATELY DURING POWER TEST PROGRAM FOCUS MANAGEMENT ATTENTION ON OVERVIEW 8 SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS

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,1 v f ,. Jh1 - .. e.. .. e Date 10/04/85 FRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURESCE--f50-V-60-68 l This preliminary notification constitutes EARI.T notice of events of FOSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information presented La as initially received without verification or evaluation and is beetcally all that is known by E*61on Y staff on this date. I t Project Escegency Classification -

FACILITY: Aria-- 9 1e II Notification of Unusual Event -

Fa1 Unit ! '

Docket M . .. ??? Alert Site Area Emergency General Energency Not Applicable SU1 JECT: LOSS OF OFFSITE 70WER AT FAID YERDE UNIT 1 On October 3.1985, the licensee declared an Unusust Event at 4:45 pm (MST) as a result of a reactor trip following a losa of normal electric power. At the time of the event, the plant was operating at 501 full power. All systems appeared to have functioned properly in response to the power loss including the two amargency diesel generators which started and ,

anpplied power to the essential busses. Plant cooldown by natural circulation was normal following the loss of the four reactor coolant pumps. Power was restored to the distribution system at 5:03 pm.

Initial attearpts to restart the reactor ecolant pus:ps were unsuccessful at about 5:50 pm. Three reactor coolant pumps were restarted by 8:26 pu by resetting the pump circuit breaker lockout relays. This reestablished forced circulation flow. The Unusual Event was terminated at 8:3$ pin af ter plant conditions had stabilised. The cause of the loss of electric power which inttiated the event is under investigation by the licensee.

The resident inspector was casite at the tir.e of the event. l This information is current as of 7:00 as (HST). October 4.1985.

ColfrACT: L. Miller. Jr. E. Zimastr.an ,

FTs 463-3669 (602) 386-5260 , ,

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.DisT2.I3UTION Willate Air Rights F. ails E Sr. HNBB _ _ Fbillips E/W ADM DEB IE NMSS ,

Choissan Fallidino EDO NR1 20T Trans only Cousa. Zach FA 01A RES Comm. Bernthal HFA AEOD Comm. Roberts E:,D Cc-o. Asseletine Regions:

INPO NSAC SECY ACES Licensee:

(Reactor Licenstes) REGION V: TOSX 211 ,

CA PDA Resident Inspee m (Revised 3/14/83) l Michelle Johnson 7 SG:II G3 40 0T

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.. . . '. l Reportcble'Evcnt number 02054 .

31ity : PALO VERDE A k' 'Date Nstified : '09/1E/05'

1 T i s.ne Not i f i ed : 09:35 ,

-R3gion : 5 Date of Event : 09/2E/95 l

'V ;ndor- : C-E.C-E.C-E Time.of Event : 06:5E'0: l i Ophrations Off.icer.; ., ,Cheuncey.iGould.;. r Classi f icat iones :.IO CrF .50.7E NRC Notified By 'HALPIN , Cateoor y 3 : LCD Action.Etatomeni~

i R d Release : No Category 2 :

!.Cau W s'.RADrMONITOR .Categor y 3 :

• . romponent : > Cateaory 4 :

EVENT DESCRIPTIOil : .

RTR AT 55% POWER AND SLOW 1.Y DECREASING POWER BECAUSE OF 1.CO TO SE IN HOT E/B WITHIN 6HR5 DUE TO TWO OljT OF THREE RCS LEAKAGE DETECTION SYSTEMG EEING INDF 1 'WiiEN'.TS. REDUIRES 3THREE >TO iBE -OPEEi ADI.Ei .THE.',TWDMINDP ? SYSTEMS (PARTICULATE .AND

! BASEOUS ) ?COME'OFFc A 'R AD MONITORING

• UNIT WHICH'.WAS EEIf1G'TAKEN DUT FOT Fri.

WHEN THEY PUT THE S/S UNIT IN SERVICE IT STOPPED WORKING AFTER A FEW V.I! JUTES

.-AND THEY COULD.NOT..GET IT BACK. THEY.A1.50 TRIED TO PUT..THE FIRST. UNIT.BACK IN

} "SERVJCE?.AND .IT.WAS4INOP... ,THIS IN. TUDN..RESULTED..IN . THE , TWO LEAKAGC DETECTIDN GYSTEVG~ EEING'INDP. NOTIFIED 'RDO. CREWG.

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LICENSEE EXPECTS bHIT 2 TD BE SHUT DOWN IN EXCES3 OF ONE WEEK. THE LICENSEE IS CONSIDERING UTILIZINO EXCITER BRUSH A ASSEMBLIE3 FROM UNIT 3 TO REPAIR UNIT 2 IUNIT 3 10 h g SCHEDULED TD SHUT DOWN FOR A REFUELING OUTAOE NEXT WEEKl. y ^

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- PAGE 2 - U. A 4 '

MORNING REPORT - REGION V .

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DATEe SEPTEMBER 13. 1985 T FACILITY' NOTIFICATION ITEM OR EVENT REOIONAL' ACTION A ,

' ARIZONA PUBLIC TELEPHONE CALL FROM AN UNUSUAL EVENT WAS DECLARED AT 10823 PM THURSDAY. FOLLOWUP PER MC 2515

,4 SERVICE COMPAN) HQ DUTY OFFICER SEPTEMBER 12. 1985. FOLLOWING AN UNPLANNED REACTOR TRIP. A e

• AT 10s 10 PM AN UNPLAppED MAIN TURBINE TRIP OCCURRED WHEN PVNOS #1

< DN 50-528 A PLANNED LOAD REJECTION WAS INITIATED DURING THE CONDUCT

~ ' , OF POWER ASCENSION TESTING AT UNIT 1. WITH THE REACTOR M ,

AT 55% FULL POWER, A CONDITION OF THE PLANNED TEST, THE .

MAIN OENERATOR WAS SUPPLYING APPRONIMATELY 70 MW OF HOUSE LOADS TO THE REACTOR COOLANT PUPPS IRCPS) AND NON VITAL M LOADS ON THE 13.8 KV ELECTRICAL BUSSES. AFTER THE #

TURBINE TRIPPED. THE LOADS ON T E MAIN OENERATOR DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFER TO THE STARTUP TRANSFORMER AND ^

SEQUENTIALLY DEENEROIZED UNTIL THE RCPS TRIPPED ON LOH VOLTAGE. TE REACTOR TRIPPED WHEN THE CORE PROTECTION CALCULATOR SENSED THAT THE RCPS HAD TRIPPED. FOLLOWING d'i THE REACTOR TRIP. THE PLANT OPERATORS MANUALLY REENER0! ZED THE 13.8 KV NONESSENTIAL BUSSES. WHEN THE BUSSES REENEROIZED DRAIN VALVES ON THE MAIN STEAM HEADER AND M ON THE MAIN TURBINE STOP VALVES. HAD AUTOMATICALLY STARTED TO OPEN WHEN THE MAIN TURBINE TRIPPED AND THEN STOPPED WHEN POWER WAS LOST. AND CONTINUED TO COMPLETE THE OPENINO. THE '

e e INCREASED COOL DOWN OF THE REACTOR COOLANT SYSTEM IRCS) CAUSED THE PRESSURIZER PRESSURE AND LEVEL TO DECREASE TO THE SAFETY INJECTION SETPOINT. THE SAFETY INJECTION ALSO INITIATED U A CONTAINMENT BUILDING ISOLATION. THE STATION ENEROENCY PLAN REQUIRES THAT WITH A REACTOR TRIP, SAFETY INJECTION AND CONTAIpe1ENT ISOLATION. AN UNUSUAL EVENT BE DECLARED. ,

OPERATORS' SHUT DOWN THE DRAIN VALVES AT 11:24 PM AND COMMENCED RESTORING THE PLANT TO NORMAL STATUS. AFTEg PRESSURIZER PRESSURE AND LEVEL WERE RESTORED AND THE : ,,

h" RCPS STARTED. THE UNUSUAL EVENT WAS TERMINATED AT 1803 AM SEPTEMBER 13. 1985 THE LICENSEE IS MAINTAINING THE PLANT IN MODE 3 WHILE DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE TURBINE  ;

TRIP. AND MAKING MODIFICATIONS TO THE MAIN STEA'1 HEADER AND MAIN TURBINE STOP VALVE CONTROL CIRCUITRY TO PREVENT THE i'

, VALVES FROM OPENING AUTOMATICALLY AFTER A TURBINE TRIP. V ALL ENGINEERED SAFETY FEATURES PERFORMED AS REQUIRED.

THE RESIDENT INSPECTOR WAS ON SITE DURING THE RECOVERY ,

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FROM THE EVENT. THE NEWS MEDIA WAS, NOTIFIED OF THIS EVENT. u 8

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. ,e G HEADQUARTERS DAILY REPORT I

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September 13. 1995

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