ML20149J307
| ML20149J307 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/23/1997 |
| From: | Richards S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | Connolly J ABB COMBUSTION ENGINEERING NUCLEAR FUEL (FORMERLY |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20149J311 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-QA-99901281 99901281-97-01, 99901281-97-1, NUDOCS 9707280157 | |
| Download: ML20149J307 (3) | |
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p@ no w I & t UNITED S */TES
}* f Y.. . 't j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-40M
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July 23, 1997 Mr. John J. Connolly, Vice President Business Development ABB Service Incorporated 9050-A Red Branch Road Columbia,. Maryland 21045 l
SUBJECT:
.NRC INSPECTION REPORT N0. 99901281/97-01
Dear Mr. Connolly:
1 On May 14, 1997, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conducted an inspection at one of the ABB Service, Incorporated (ABB Service), repair and refurbishment facilities. The enclosed report presents the results of the
- inspection that was conducted at your Cleveland, Ohio facility, the discussion conducted with you during the exit meeting at the ABB Service Corporate. office in Columbia, Maryland, on June 5, 1997, and subsequent discussions between July 14 through July 22, 1997, regarding the enclosed Notice of Violation 1 (N0V).
~i _During this inspection, the NRC inspectors found certain activities to be in violation of NRC requirements. Specifically, ABB Service failed to adequately evaluate several examples of potential defects regarding miswiring errors 4
concerning X-Line circuit breaker solid state trip devices that had been shipped to the Perry Nuclear Power Plant (PNPP). The team found that ABB Service did not evaluate the errors or transmit the information to other ABB Service customers even though the concern was potentially generic.
- ' This violation is cited in the enc 1csed NOV, and the circumstances surrounding the violation are described in detail in the enclosed report. Please note that you are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions specified -in the enclosed NOV 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.
The NRC considers this violation significant because, as early as Jacary 1993, ABB Service was aware of potential premature tripping on new &nd i refurbished K-Line breakers as a result of miswiring errors and reversal of current sensor polarity into the solid state trip device of K-Line low voltage circuit breakers. However, ABB Service did not assure that, as a minimum, all
'of its circuit breaker refurbishment facilities were aware of the potential deficiency. ABB Service was also aware in January 1993, that single phase testing methods of licensees and ABB Service would not identify a reversed 2
polarity problem which could affect both s'afety and non-safety-related K-Line breakers. Similarly, ABB Service did not apprise their refurbishment facilities or licensees of the weakness in testing. If ABB Service had f
- apprised licensees of the testing weakness, a report to the NRC would likely l have been generated. l 99901281
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.. i Mr. John J. Connolly July 23, 1997 I
.Although ABB Service's failure to inform its customers of a potential defect in January 1993 was not a violation of NRC requirements, the staff believes that ABB Service did not act appropriately given the potential problems that ,
could have ensued at operating nuclear power plants. The staff is also !
concerned that the Jant.ary 1993 ABB Service evaluation report that delineated l f- this problem may not be the only ABB Service example where appropriate action
! was not taken. ,
1 f
In addition, the NRC inspectors found that the implementation of your quality
-assurance program failed to meet certain NRC requirements imposed on you by 4
your customers. Specifically, ABB Service inspections performed on K-Line breakers ~ failed to detect that the current transformers on two circuit
- breakers were assembled incorrectly. This nonconformance is cited in the enclosed Notice.of Nonconformance (NON), and the circumstances surrounding it are described in detail in the enclosed report. You are requested to respond to the nonconformances and should follow the instructions specified in the' ;
enclosed NON when preparing your response. '
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's Public Document Room (PDR).
- Sincerely, I j- . original signed by l .Stuart A. Richards, Chief Special Inspection Branch 1
- ' Division o'f Inspection.and Support Programs j- OfficeofjuelearReactorRegulation Docket 99901281/97-01'
Enclosures:
-1. Notic'e'of ' Viol ation
' 2. Notice of Nonconformance
. 3. Inspection' Report 99901281/97-01 cc: Mr.JosephM.Tue"' ^ #
General Manager .' _
ABB Service Inc.; .
~
- . Regional Service. Center 4 5311 Commerce Street-Cleveland, OHf44130 - -
c Distribution:.
PSIB R/F .'
4 Central Files / RIDS IE:09 Docket File 99901321
, PUBLIC
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'DKosloff JHopkins 2
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DOCUMENT NAM E: G:aPETRO\ABB1.JJP *Previously concurred To rsdive a copy of this s4cument, indicate in the box: "C' = Copy without enclosures *E" = Copy with enclosures "N* = No copy i 0FFICE 'PSIB:DISPOV E PSIB20 ESP l E DE:EELB l DE:EELB lE PSIB: DISP l W NAME Naidu/PetWino GCW4M nb ASGill VLBeaston SARichardschy
, IDATE 6/3/97*Ufft)97s 07'/ O /97 06/03/97* 06/03/97* 07/26/97 M 0FFICIAL RECOnu COPY
Mr. John J. Connolly Although ABB Service's failure to inform its customers of a potential defect i in January 1993 was not a violation of NRC requirements, the staff believes j that ABB Service did not act appropriately given the potential problems that could have ensued at operating nuclear power plants. The staff is also i concerned that the January 1993 ABB Service evaluation report that delineated this problem may not be the only ABB Service example where appropriate action was not taken.
l In addition, the NRC inspectors found that the implementation of your quality j assurtnce program failed to meet certain NRC requirements imposed on you by your customers. 1 Specifictlly, ABB Service inspections performed on K-Line I breakers failed to detect that the current transformers on two circuit breakers were assembled incorrectly. !
This nonconfor. dance is cited in the enclosed Notice of Nonconformance (NON), and the circumstances surrounding it are described in detail in the enclosed report. You are requested to respond i to the nonconformances and should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed NON when preparing your response.
l In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and it:: enclosures will be placed in the NRC's Public Document {
j Room (PDR).
l Sincerely, l M
Stuart A. Richards, Chief 4
Special Inspection Branch Division of Inspection and Support Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket 99901281/97-01 i
Enclosures:
- 1. Notice of Violation 1 2. Notice of Nonconformance
- 3. Inspection Report 99901281/97-01 l
\
i i
cc: Mr. Joseph M. Tate General Manager ABB Service Inc.
Regional Service Center 5311 Commerce Street Cleveland, OH 44130 1