ML20141K780
| ML20141K780 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 05/22/1997 |
| From: | Conte R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Boulette E BOSTON EDISON CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20141K783 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-293-97-02, 50-293-97-2, NUDOCS 9705300008 | |
| Download: ML20141K780 (5) | |
See also: IR 05000293/1997002
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May 22,1997
E. Thomas Boulette, PhD
Senior Vice President - Nuclear
Boston Edison Company
Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station
600 Rocky Hill Road
Plymouth, Massachusetts 02360-5599
SUBJECT:
NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 50-293/97-02 AND
Dear Mr. Boulette:
On April 28,1997, the NRC completed an inspection at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station
in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection.
During the eight weeks covered by this inspection period, the pace of activities at the
Pilgrim facility increased significantly due to refueling outage no.11 (RFO11) planned and
emergent issues including the failure of the main transformer event on March 7,1997 and
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also a significant storm on April 1,1997 which caused a loss of offsite power (LOOP)
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event. Your staff's overall response to these events was effective in stabilizing plant
conditions and exhibited a proper focus on nuclear safety. For example, operators
successfully re-established augmented fuel spent fuel pool cooling using an alternate
method during the LOOP event. Additionally, the emergency diesel generators were
started and loadad onto their respective emergency buses in advance of the LOOP and the
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EDGs ran reliably throughout the event.
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Strong oversight of the vendor fuel handlers during RFO11 contributed to a deliberate and
smooth reactor core reload. Also, the management decision to perform in-pool gas sipping
of all used fuel bundles to be reloaded in the core led to the identification of a second
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leaking fuel bundle which was subsequently reconstituted. In response to elevated drywell
dose rates, a chemical decontamination of the recirculation piping system was performed
but with limited results. The radiation protection (RP) and in-service inspection (ISI)
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programs were effectively implemented during RF011. Material plant condition issues with
the feed water system regulating valves and the initial control rod movements adversely
impacted operational activities during start-up. Operators completed turbine overspeed
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testing and power ascension activities in a competent manner.
Based on the results of this inspection, one violation of NRC requirements was identified
involving two examples of inadequate electrical design control which rendered safety
related equipment inoperable. Although these examples were self-disclosing through
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events, we remain concerned over continuing unnecessary challenges to safety related
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equipment and burden to the operational staff (NRC Inspection Report 50-293/97-01). For
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E. Thomas Boulette, PhD
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example, automatic shutdown of the 480/120 voltage regulating transformers tripped the
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running SSW and RBCCW pumps and caused isolations of the RWCU and RBIS systems
including the start of the SBGT system. These inadvertent equipment actuations occurred
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twice just prior to the LOOP event and resulted due, in part, to inadequate oversight of
vendor activities. Also, inadequate electrical design control for full flow test valve MO-
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1301-53 resulted in the overspeed and trip of the RCIC tuchine and an increase in safety
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system unavailability time.
You are required to respond to this letter and should fol'ow the instructions specified in the
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enclosed Notice when preparing your response. In your response, you should document
the specific actions taken and any additional actions you plan to prevent recurrence. Your
response may reference or include previous docketed correspondence if the
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correspondence adequately addresses the required response. After reviewing your
response to this Notice, including your proposed corrective actions and the results of
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future inspections, the NRC will determine whether further NRC enforcement action is
necessary to ensure compliance with NRC regulatory requirements.
Further, additional problems with the interface / oversight of vendor activities were
observed during RFO11 including rework of the ECCS suction strainer slip joint clearances
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and the physical damage to the main steam line plugs that occurred when lowering the
steam seperator into the vessel. Both examples involved an over-reliance on vendor
communications. Also, continuing problems were experienced with RWCU pump
mechanical seals. The adequacy of the interface with vendors was documented in NRC
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inspection Report No. 50-293/95-22. In your response to the above Notice of Violation,
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we request that you also specifically address actions planned to strengthen the oversight
of interface / oversight of vendor activities.
At the inspection exit meeting held on May 16,1997, Mr. Leon Olivier informed the
inspector of a commitment to provide an additional source of electrical power to the station
blackout (SBO) diesel generator auxiliaries. Specifically, a temporary electrical generator
will be in place by the end of September 1997 with a longer term resolution planned to be
in place by the end of March 1998. These enhancements are intended to increase the
reliability of the SBO diesel generator and reflected a focus on nuclear safety. Please
inform us if there are any misunderstandings in this regard.
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E. Thomas Boulette, PhD
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In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter
and its enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR). To the extent
possible, your response should not include and personal privacy, proprietary, or safeguards
information so that it can be placed in the PDR without redaction. The responses directed
by this letter and the enclosed Notice are not subject to the clearance procedures of the
Office of Management and Budget as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980,
Pub. L. No. 96.511.
Your continued cooperation with us is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Original Signed By:
Richard Conte, Chief
Projects Branch 8
Division of Reactor Projects
Enclosures:
2. NRC inspection Report 50-293/97-02
Docket No. 50-293
License No. DPR-35
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E. Thomas Boulette, PhD
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cc w/ encl:
L. Olivier, Vice President - Nuclear and Station Director
T. Sullivan, Plant Department Manager
N. Desmond, Regulatory Relations
D. Tarantino, Nuclear information Manager
R. Hallisey, Department of Public Health, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The Honorable Therese Murray
B. Abbanat, Department of Public Utilities
Chairman, Plymouth Board of Selectmen
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Chairman, Duxbury Board of Selectmen
Chairman, Nuclear Matters Committee
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Plymouth Civil Defense Director
P. Gromer, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy Resources
J. Shaer, Legislative Assistant
J. Fleming
A. Nogee, MASSPIRG
Regional Administrator, FEMA
Office of the Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality
Engineering
Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
T. Rapone, Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety
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Chairman, Citizens Urging Responsible Energy
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, SLO Designee
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E. Thomas Boulette, PhD
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Distribution w/ encl:
Region I Docket Room (with concurrences)
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Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
NRC Resident inspector
W. Axelson, ORA
D. Screnci, PAO
R. Conte, DRP
E. Connor, DRP
C. O'Daniell, DRP
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Distribution w/encI (VIA E-MAIL):
P. Milano, NRR
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A. Wang, NRR
W. Dean, OEDO
R. Correia, NRR
F. Talbot, NRR
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Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
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DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 8\\PIL9702.BEK
To receive e copy of this document, indicate in the box:
"C" - Copy without attachment / enclosure
- E" - Copy with attachment / enclosure
"N* = No copy
OFFICE
Rl/DRP
Rl/DRP
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NAME
R. Laura (/Q
R. Conte &
DATE
5/13/97/
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5/Jp97 ['"3
OFF CIAL RECORD COPY