ML20138D520

Forwards Insp Repts 50-454/97-02 & 50-455/97-02 on 970201-0313 & NOV

ML20138D520
Person / Time
Site:	Byron
Issue date:	04/23/1997
From:	Caldwell J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Graesser K COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO.
Shared Package
ML20138D524	List: ML20138D520 ML20138D560 ML20138D565
References
EA-97-178, NUDOCS 9705010145
Download: ML20138D520 (4)

See also: IR 05000454/1997002

Text

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April 23, 1997

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EA 97-178

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Mr. K. Graesser i

Site Vice President

Byron Station

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Commonwealth Edison Company '

4450 N. German Church Road

Byron, IL 61010

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SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION REPORT 50-454/97002(DRP): 50-455/97002(DRP)  !

NOTICE OF VIOLATION

Dear Mr. Graesser:

On March 13,1997, the NRC completed an inspection at your Byron Unit 1 & 2 reactor

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facilities. The enclosed report presents the inspection results.

During the inspection period, the inspectors observed excellent operator performance  ;

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i during the Unit 1 shutdown and startup. Senior licensed operators demonstrated strong

command and control during all reactivity changes. However, based on a radwaste tank

overpressurization event, we are concerned about conflicting operating standards that I

appear to exist between non-licensed radwaste operators and licensed operators.

Your evaluation of the 1 A residual heat removal (RH) pump seal failure that occurred on

February 15,1997, identified that improperly installed thrust bearings rendered both the

1 A RH and 1B containment spray (CS) pumps inoperable since the 1985/1986 timeframe.

Your engineering performance in the failed seal investigation and cause determination was

considered timely and comprehensive. j

Performance of observed maintenance activities during the period were mixed. Routine

, surveillance and maintenance activities were well performed; however, observed activities

that were not routine were poorly executed. Significant rework was performed on the l

Unit 1 RH and CS pumps due to foreign materialintrusion and inadequate pump

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reassembly, and a Unit 2 pressurizer power operated relief valve (PORV) momentarily lifted

due to an inadequate troubleshooting procedure. Based on the performance demonstrated

during this inspection period, we are concerned with your ability to conduct maintenance

without rework.

As a result of the above issues, five violations are cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation,

and the circumstances surrounding the violations are described in detail in the enclosed

report. Please note that you are required to respond to this letter and should follow the

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9705010145 970423

PDR ADOCK 05000454 i

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• K. Graesser

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instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response. The NRC will

use your response, in part, to determine whether further enforcement action is necessary

to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter

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and its enclosure (s) will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).

Sincerely,  !

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/s/ J. A. Grobe for  !

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James L. Caldwell, Director

Division of Reactor Projects

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j Docket Nos. 50-454; 50-455

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License Nos. NPF-37: NPF-66

Enclosures:

1. Notice of Violation

2. Inspection Report 50-454/455-97002(DRP)

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PLEASE SEE ATTACHED CONCURRENCES

DOCUMENT NAME: R:\lNSPRPTS\ POWERS \BYRO\BYR97002.DRP

v. h.. .eem m.ma mm.h.c.cnwem.m r c.nwee.c - im

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OFFICE Alli Rill Rill & Rlli [o Rlli

NAME Tongue /co Orth /Kozak Lanksbury C ill

Sect. 01.4 & Clayton[C

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DATE 04/ /97 04/ /97 04/13/97 04/u/97 0'4/p/97

OFFICIAL. RECORD COPY

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• K. Graesser -2-

As a result, five violations are cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation, and the

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circumstances surrounding the violations are described in detail in the enclosed report.  !

Please note that you are required to respond to this letter and should follow the l

instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response. The NRC will

use your response, in part, to determine whether further enforcement action is necessary

to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

J

.

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

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and its enclosure (s) will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).

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Sincerely,

James L. Caldwell, Director

Division of Reactor Projects

Docket Nos. 50-454; 50-455

License Nos. NPF-37; NPF-66

Enclosures:

1. Notice of Violation  ;

2. Inspection Report 50-454/455-97002(DRP) l

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PLEASE SEE ATTACHED CONCURRENCES

DOCUMENT NAME: R:\l N S PR PT S\ POW E R S\BYR O\BYR 97002. D R P

T. . ,,.e e m . me m m. m.. c - c. ,, wen.w .n n u i r - c.,, m -

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OFFICE Rlli '

q. Rill f) Rlli Rlli Rill

NAME Tongue /co Orth /Kozak Clayton Lanksbury Caldwell

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Sect. 01.4 &

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l DATE 04/4/97 04&l/97 04/ /97 04/ /97 04/ /97

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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a K. Graesser -3-

cc w/ encl: T. J. Maiman, Senior Vice President

Nuclear Operations Division

D. A. Sager, Vice President,

Generation Support

H. W. Keiser, Chief Nuclear

Operating Officer

K. Kofron, Station Manager

D. Brindle, Regulatory Assurance

Supervisor

1. Johnson, Acting Nuclear

Regulatory Services Manager

Richard Hubbard

Nathan Schloss, Economist

Office of the Attorney General

State Liaison Officer, Wisconsin

State Liaison Officer

Chairman, lilinois Commerce Commission

Document Control Desk-Licensing

Distribution:

Docket File w/enci

OC/LFDCB w/ encl DRP w/enct

SRI Byron, Braidwood, Zion w/ encl PUBLIC IE-01 w/enct

Project Manager, NRR w/enci CAA1 w/enci(E-mail)

A. B. Beach, w/ encl RAC1 (E-Mail) w/enci

Rlli Enf. Coordinator, w/enci Deputy RA, w/enci

Rlli PRR w/enci DRS (2) w/ encl

TSS w/enci J. Lieberman, OE w/ encl

J. Goldberg, OGC w/enct R. Zimmerman, NRR w/enci