ML20138H759
| ML20138H759 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Beaver Valley |
| Issue date: | 01/02/1997 |
| From: | Cooper R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Cross J DUQUESNE LIGHT CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20138H762 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-96-540, NUDOCS 9701060224 | |
| Download: ML20138H759 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000334/1996009
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January 2, 1997
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EA 96-540
Mr. J. E. Cross
President
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Generation Group
Duquesne Light Company (DLC)
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Post Office Box 4
Shippingport, Pennsylvania 15077
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SUBJECT:
NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 50-334/96-09, 50-412/96-09
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Dear Mr. Cross:
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The NRC conducted an inspection of the Beaver Valley Power Station (BVPS) facilities from
November 17 to December 21,1996. The enclosed report presents the results of that
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inspection.
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During the 5-week period covered by this inspection, your conduct of activities at the
Beaver Valley Power Station facilities was generally characterized by sound operational
decision making as you completed your Unit 2 refueling outage and retumed the unit to
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power operation. Operators maintained a good questioning attitude as indicated by
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identification of a small reactor vessel head vent system (HVS) leak on Unit 2 during
startup preparations and identification of poor painting practices which had the potential to
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adversely impact emergency diesel generator availability. The NRC staff strongly
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questioned HVS integrity during several discussions held with your staff on December 3,
1996. Your subsequent decision to shut down Unit 2 to perform additional leak testing on
the HVS was prudent. The thorough investigation of a HVS valve position anomaly
observed during leak testing was essential to your identification and correction of a
condition which otherwise may have remained undetected and rendered the HVS
unavailable during the upcoming operating cycle. Additionally, your station-wide stop work
order on further leak seal repairs and recent management emphasis regarding vendor
oversight were appropriate and warranted.
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Based on the results of this inspection, one apparent violation was identified and is being
considered for escalated enforcement action in accordance with the " General Statement of
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Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), NUREG-1600.
Work activity controls related to a temporary leak injection repair on the Unit 2 reactor
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vessel head vent system were inadequate. Significant weaknesses in the work instruction
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procedures, quality control involvement, sealant material selection, and vendor oversight
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were identified. These poor practices regarding leak injection repairs were safety
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significant in that they had the potential to render the HVS inoperable for the upcoming
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operational cycle. Had the NRC not strongly questioned the integrity of the HVS, this
condition may have remained undetected with the plant operating at power. No Notice of
Violation is presently being issued for these inspection findings. In addition, please be
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9701060224 470102
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ADOCK 05000334
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Mr. J. E. Cross
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advised that the number and characterization of apparent violations described in the
enclosed inspection report may change as a result of further NRC review.
A predecisional enforcement conference to discuss this apparent violation has been
scheduled for January 16,1997. The decision to hold a predecisional enforcement
conference does not mean that the NRC has determined that a violation has occurred or
that enforcement action will be taken. This conference is being held to obtain information
to enable the NRC to make an enforcement decision, such as a common understanding of
the facts, root causes, missed opportunities to identify the apparent violation sooner,
corrective actions, significance of the issues and the need for lasting and effective
corrective action, in addition, this is an opportunity for you to point out any errors in our
inspection report and for you to provide any information concerning your perspectives on
1) the severity of the violation (s), 2) the application of 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) any other application of the Enforcement
Policy to this case, including the exercise of discretion in accordance with Section Vll.
You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations on this
matter. No response regarding the apparent violation is required at this time,
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 By:
Richard W. Cooper,11, Director
Division of Reactor Projects
Docket Nos. : 50-334, 50-412
Enclosure:
Inspection Report 50-334/96-09,50-412/96-09
cc w/ encl:
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S. Jain, Vice President, Nuclear Services
T. Noonan, Vice President, Nuclear Operations
L. Freeland, Manager, Nuclear Engineering Department
B. Tuite, General Manager, Nuclear Operations Unit
K. Ostrowski, Manager, Quality Services Unit
R. Brosi, Manager, Nuclear Safety Department
M. Clancy, Mayor
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
State of Ohio
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Mr. J. E. Cross
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Distribution w/ encl *
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Region .I Docket Room (with concurrences)
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Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)-
D. Screnci, PAO (2)
NRC Resident inspector
P. Eselgroth, DRP
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D. Haverkamp, DRP
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C. O'Daniell, DRP'
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. Distribution w/enci (VIA E-MAIL):
J. Stolz, NRR
D. Brinkman, NRR
W. Dean, OEDO
Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
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R. Correia, NRR
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R. Frahm, Jr., NRR
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. DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 7\\lR96-09.BV
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To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without
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attachment / enclosure
"E" = Copy with attachment /enclosurp
"N" = No copy
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OFFICE
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NAME
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DATE
12/31/96
12/31/96
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- See previous concurrence page
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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Mr. J. E. Cross
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Distribution w/ encl:
Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)
PUBLIC
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Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
D. Screnci, PAO (2)
NRC Resident inspector
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P. Eselgroth, DRP
D. Haverkamp, DRP
C. O'Daniell, DRP
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Distribution w/enct (VIA E-MAIL):
. J. Stolz,- NRR
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D. Brinkman, NRR
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W. Dean, OEDO
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inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
R. Correia, NRR
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R. Frahm, Jr., NRR
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DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 7\\lR96-09.BV
To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box:
"C' = Copy without
attachment / enclosure
"E" = Copy with attachment / encl ure
"N" = No copy
OFFICE
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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