ML20141G497
| ML20141G497 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hatch  |
| Issue date: | 05/20/1997 |
| From: | Jabbour K NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | Sumner H SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING CO. |
| References | |
| TAC-M97123, TAC-M97124, NUDOCS 9705220383 | |
| Download: ML20141G497 (4) | |
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UNITED STATES g
j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20665 4001
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May 20, 1997 Mr. H. L. Sumner, Jr.
Vice President Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P. O. Box 1295 Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON EMERGENCY OPERATING PROCEDURES -
EDWIN I. 'IATCH MJCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 (TAC NOS. M97123 AND M97124)
Dear Mr. Sumner:
The NRC staff has identified a deviation between the Hatch emergency operating procedures (EOP) and the Boiling Water Reactor Owners Group (BWROG) emergency procedure guidelines (EPG). The deviation relates to your implementation of the guidance in EPG, Revision 4, Section RC/P and Contingency 1.
Specifically, the staff is referring to the procedural steps used by your operators during a simulator exercise on July 17, 1996.
The exercise related to a small reactor to drywell loss-of-coolant accident with a total loss of high pressure makeup and condensate booster pumps with all control rods going full-in on scram. The break was of sufficient size to cause reactor pressure vessel (RPV) pressure to slowly decrease and RPV water level to decrease at a rate that would reach top of active fuel (TAF) before low pressure systems would inject. The observed response of the Hatch operators, in accordance with their E0P, was to allow the RPV water level to decrease to TAF and then to emergency depressurize (ED).
Hatch's "RPV Control (NON-ATWS)" procedure contained the following statement regarding initiation of RPV depressurization:
" Wait until reduction in RPV pressure is required."
During the requalification exam scenarios, the operators alternately initiated and terminated drywell sprays in accordance with their procedure to control drywell pressure. During the scenarios, the operators did not establish a reactor cooldown with the bypass valves (BPVs) to the condenser, nor was a
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rapid depressurization with BPVs commenced even when ED was anticipated.
The instructor expected such actions to be taken to transfer RPV energy to the condenser ratier than the drywell, and to begin depressurization of the reactor coolant system for low pressure emergency core cooling system, which 3
appeared iminent. This is the instructor's understanding of the proper W
i course of action as endorsed by the BWROG. Two crews responded in the same manner.
To support the actions taken by your operators, we request that you provide the analyses supporting your implementation of the guidance in EPG, Revision 4, Section RC/P and Contingency 1.
These analyses should either be plant-specific or generic and the specific acceptance criteria applied to them should be discussed.
Please discuss the relative impact on the core damage NRC RLE CENIB COPY 9705220383 970520 PDR ADOCK 05000321 P
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l H. L. Sumner, Jr. May 20, 1997 frequency from using the guidance contained in Section RC/P (and gradually depressurizing the RPV until the last possible moment) versus immediately entering Contingency 1 via RC/L (holding the RPV at pressure until such time as a rapid depressurization is necessary).
Please provide the requested information within 30 days from the date of this letter.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-1496.
Sincerely, ORI.GINAL SIGNED BY:
Kahtan N. Jabbour, Senior Project Manager Project Directorate 11-2 Division of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 4
Docket Nos. 50-321 and 50-366 cc: See next page Distribution:
Docket File HBerkow OGC PUBLIC LBerry ACRS PD II-2 Rdg.
KJabbour JJohnson, RII SVarga LPhillips PSkinner, RII
- See previous concurrence To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box:
"C" - Copy without attachment / enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure "N" = No copy 0FFICE PM:PDil-2 le LA:PDile?)
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NAME KJABB00R:cn
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DATE
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/97 J0CUMENT NAME: G:\\ HATCH \\TIA.RAI 0FflCIAL RECORD COPY f
H. L. Sumner, Jr. 4 frequency from using the guidanca contained in Section RC/P (and gradually depressurizing the RPV until the last possible moment) versus immediately entering Contingency 1 via RC/L (holding the RPV at pressure until such time as a rapid depressurization is necessary).
Please provide the requested information within 30 days from the date of this letter.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (301) 415-1496.
Sincerely, N-Ah t
Kahtan N. Jabbour, Senior Project Manager Project Directorate 11-2 Division of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-321 and 50-366 cc: See next page d
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Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant
. Units 1 and 2 cc:
Mr. Ernest L. Blake, Jr.
Mr. Thomas P. Mozingn Shaw, Pittman, Potts and Trowbridge Pr ram Manager 2300 N Street, NW.
Nuc ear Operations Washington, DC 20037 Oglethorpe Power Corporation 2100 East Exchange Place Mr. D. M. Crowa P. O. Box 1349 Manager, Licensing Tucker, Georgia 30085-1349 Southern Nuclear Operating i
Company, Inc.
Charles A. Patrizia, Esquire P. O. Box 1295 Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295 10th Floor 1299 Pennsylvania Avenue Resident Inspector Washington, DC 20004-9500 t
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11030 Hatch Parkway North Chairman Baxley, Georgia 31513 Appling County Commissioners County Courthouse Regional Administrator, Region II Baxley, Georgia 31513
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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atlanta Federal Center Mr. W. G. Harriston, III 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Suite 23T85 President and Chief Executive Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Officer Southern Nuclear Operating Mr. Charles H. Badger Company, Inc.
Office of Planning and Budget P. O. Box 1295 Room 610 Birmingham, Alabama 35201-1295 270 Washington Street, SW.
Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Mr. J. D. Woodard Executive Vice President l
Harold Rehels, Director Southern Nuclear Operating Department of Natural Resources Company, Inc.
1 205 Butler Street, SE., Suite 1252 P. O. Box 1295 Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Bimingham, Alabama 35201-1295 Steven M. Jackson Mr. P. W. Wells i
Senior Engineer - Power Supply General Manager, Edwin 1. Hatch Municipal Electric Authority Nuclear Plant j
l of Georgia Southern Nuclear Operating 1470 Riveredge Parkway, NW Company, Inc.
Atlanta, Georgia 30328-4684 11030 Hatch Parkway North Baxley, Georgia 31513 l
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