ML20151J960

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Insp Repts 50-454/97-09 & 50-455/97-09 on 970527-0605.Five Apparent Violations Noted & Being Considered for Escalated Ea.Major Areas Inspected:Circumstances Involving Failure to Vent CVCS in Accordance W/Ts
ML20151J960
Person / Time
Site: Byron  Constellation icon.png
Issue date: 07/25/1997
From:
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:
Shared Package
ML20151J946 List:
References
50-454-97-09, 50-454-97-9, 50-455-97-09, 50-455-97-9, NUDOCS 9708050295
Download: ML20151J960 (14)


See also: IR 05000454/1997009

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                         U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                                            REGION lli

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            Docket Nos:         50-454, 50-455
            License Nos:        NPF-37, NPF-66
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            Report No:          50-454/97009(DRP); 455/97009(DRP)
            Licensee:           Commonwealth Edison Company
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            Facility:           Byron Generating Station, Units 1 & 2
            Location:           4450 N. German Church Road
                                Byron, IL 61010

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            Dates:              May 27 through June 5,1997

! Inspectors: S. Burgess, Byron Senior Resident inspector

                                A. Vegel, Zion Senior Resident inspector
                                P. Lougheed, Region ill Inspector

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            Approved by:        Roger D. Lanksbury, Chief,
                                Reactor Projects, Branch 3
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!. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

                                          Byron Generating Station, Units 1 & 2
                                 NRC Inspection Report 50-454/97009, 50-455/97009
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            This inspection focused on the circumstances involving the failure to vent the chemical                 -
            and volume control (CV) system in accordance with the technical specifications (TS). Also
            inspected was Byron's performance of surveillances in general and the operability

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            assessment process when surveillances identify problems / concerns.
            Ooerations
            e
                   The inspectors identified s missing support bracket on the 18 Si pump lube oil
                   cooler which the licensee later datermined rendered the 18 Si pump inoperable due

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                   to not meeting proper seismic requirements. The inspectors considered the
                   licensee's operability assessment and wrrective actions prompt and appropriate                   1
                   (Section O2.1).                                                                                  '
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            Maintenance /Surveillotsg
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                   After the licensae identified in February 1996 th' at the CV pump ca' sings and
                   discharge piping high points were not e ' - ' as requir<3d by TS 4.5.2.b.1, they
                    f ailed to recognize the need is be in sti        npliance with the TS. The inspectors
                   determined that the operability assessn          ic formed by Byron engineering failed
                   to rccognize that TS requirements were .'._ "eing met and a TS change was
                   needed. After identification by the NRC of th - issue, the licensee appropriately
                   t'egan preparations and commenced reducing p twer prior to receiving relief from
                   'he TS shutdown requirements. The failure to vt nt the CV system in accordance
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                    with the TS it an apparent violation (Section M1.1).
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                   The insNetors concluded that the licensee had not vented one discharge piping
                   high point for train 1B of the RH system. This is an apparent violation. Uoon
                   identification, the licenses took appropriate corrective actions. The inspec tors
                   considered RH heat exchanger and the suction piping high points venting o good                    ;
                   practice (Section M1.2).                                                                          '
            *
                   The licensee identified that TS requireo slave relay testing for 10 phase "A"                     !
                   containment isolation valves had not been r,erformed as required by the TS since
                   mid 1991. The inspectors considered the Ccensee's efforts in identifying additional
                   missed TS surveillance requirements as bcup proactive. The inspectors'
                   independent review determined that two sep; rate onsite reviews failed to identify
                   that TS requirements were not met with the : irveillance procedure revision alone.
                   Two examples of an appareri violation were identified (Section M1.3).
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                   The inspectors concluded that past auxiliary feedwater (AF) pump surveillance
                   testing was adequstely documented and that problems encountered during the tests
                   appeared to hav9 been identified and dispositioned in accordance with corrective
                   action procedures (Section M1.4).

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                     The inspectors identified that the surveillance procedures used to vent the Si pumps
                     were inadequate in that they provided no direction to the operator as to proper
                     valve line-up to ensure proper pump venting. This is considered an apparent
                     violation. Numerous opportunities existed to identify this inadequate procedure in                                             ;
                     that operators routinely had to perform extra unapproved steps in order to vent the
                     Si system (Section M3.1).                                                                                                      ;
                   *
                     The inspectors observed a number of documentation weaknesses in problem
                     identification forms and operability assessments as evidenced in the limited written
                     information that supported operability assessment conclusions. However, in all'
                     cases, folicwup questioning by the inspectors found that the responsible individuals                                         y
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                     had additional information to support the conclusion (Section M7.1).                                                           '
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                                         REPORT DETAILS
                                            1. Operations
   02    Operational Status of Facilities and Equipment
   02.1 Missino Suncort on 1B Safety Iniection (SI) Pumo Lube Oil Cooler
    a.   Insoection Scooe (71707)
         The inspectors walked down accessible portions of the Si, auxiliary feedwater (AF),
         and chemical and volume control (CV) systems for high point vents, evidence of
         water hammer, and system material condition.
    b.   Observations and Findinas
         On May 27,1997, the inspectors identified a missing support bracket on the 18 SI
         pump lube oil cooler. Operations requested an operability assessment, which
         determined that the 1B SI pump should be declared inoperable because the 1B Si
         pump lube oil cooler did not meet the seismic design requirements due to the
         missing support bracket under the cooler end bell. Operations entered the
         appropriate limiting condition for operation (LCO) action requirement and a work
         request was written to install the missing support bracket. The licensee initiated
         efforts to determine the cause of the missing support bracket through past
         maintenance work performance, but had not completed the review prior to the
         inspection end date. This item will be followed with the review of the Licensee
         Event Report (LER), which will document this issue.                                       ,
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    c.   Conclusions
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         The inspectors ider;tified a missing support bracket on the 1B SI pump lube oil
         cooler, which the licensee later determined rendered the 1B Si pump inoperable due
         to not meeting proper seismic requirements. The inspectors considered the
         licensee's operability assessment and corrective actions prompt and appropriate.
                                          II. Maintenance
   M1    Conduct of Maintenance /Surveillances
   M 1.1 Surveillance Observations (61726)
    a.   insoection Scoce

l The inspectors reviewed technical specification (TS) surveillance requirements to ! vent the emergency core cooling systems (ECCS) pump casings and discharge

         piping high points outside of containment. The inspectors also reviewed the

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      applicable surveillance procedures and discussed the issue with the licensee and the
      NRC office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation,                                              l
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   b. Observations and Findinas
      TS Surveillance Not Met For CV System Ventina
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      On May 22,1997, during a review of TS surveillance requirements to vent the            I
      ECCS pump casings and discharge piping high points outside of containment, the
      inspectors identified that TS surveillance 4.5.2.b.1 had not been performed as
      required. Specifically, the Unit 1 and Unit 2 CV (an ECCS subsystem) pump

l casings and the CV high points had never been vented during Modes 1,2, and 3; a i l

      time period that exceeded the TS requirement of venting at least once per 31 days.

! When questioned, the licensee informed the inspectors that on February 16,1996, l the Byron staff documented (through the problem identification form (PlF) process) l

      that a Braidwood system engineer identified that the CV pump casings and high

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      point vents were not vented as required by TS 4.5.2.b.1, partially due to the fact
      that the CV pump casing design did not have vents. Byron operability assessment
      96-007, dated February 16,1996, stated that there was no technical concern with
      the lack of casing vents on the CV pumps or the lack of venting on the CV system
      every 31 days due to the intent of the TS being met. The operability assessment
      determined that the intent of TS 4.5.2.b.1 was to ensure that air entrapment did
      not occur in systems or lines that were stagnant or idle, Byron engineering credited

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      the dynamic venting action of the operating CV pump as meeting the TS

I requirement to ensure that the ECCS piping was full of water. For piping not l directly in the flowpath, the licensee determined that gas accumulation was not

      credible due to the high pressure (approximately 2400 psi) inside the piping. The

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      licensee considered the idle CV pump to be self venting due to CV system design

l and piping configuration. ! j The NRC determined that operating the CV pump constituted flushing the line l '

      versus venting the line and also noted that the CV high point vent valve, outside of
      containment (1/2S1045), was not subject to system flow and could be an area
      susceptible to air / gas accumulation. Although Comed considered all CV pumps to
      be operable, the licensee was not in strict compliance with the TS requirements to
      vent the CV penp casing and discharge piping high points.
      On May 22,1997, the licensee declared both trains of the CV system inoperable
      following several conference calls held by Region 111 and NRR with the licensee.
      TS 3.0.3 was entered for both units due to both trains of ECCS being inoperable
      and TS 4.0.3 was entered due to the missed surveillances. Entering
      TS 4.0.3 allowed the action requirements of TS 3.0.3 to be delayed for up to
      24 hours to complete the surveillance testing. Failure to vent the CV system in
      accordance with the TS once per 31 days since initial plant operation was
      considered an example of an apparent violation of TS 4.5.2.b.1
      (eel 50-454/455-97009-01a(DRP)).

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          Because the CV pump casing design could not accommodate venting and because
          the licensee considered the CV system piping venting inappropriate due to the
          constant high pressure in the system, Comed requested a Notice of Enforcement

l Discretion (NOED) from the NRC on May 23,1997. A TS amendment request that

          modified the wording of TS 4.5.2.b.1 was also submitted. In support of the
          requests, on May 22-23, 1997, the licensee performed compensatory actions of
          ultrasonically testing (UT) the vulnerable high point areas in the CV system piping

l and verified that the piping was filled with water.

          On May 23,1997, the licensee began preparations to shut down both units if the
          NOED was not approved within the 24-hour time clock initiated by TS 4.0.3. The
         inspectors observed the shift begin to reduce power on Unit 1 until the NRC staff
         approved the NOED on May 24,1997.~ After notification of NOED approval, the
         unit was returned to full power. At the writing of this report, the NRC staff (NRR)
          was reviewing the license TS amendment request.
    c.    Conclusions
         After the licensee identified in February 1996 that the CV pump casings and
         discharge piping high points were not vented as required by TS 4.5.2.b.1, they
         failed to recognize the need to be in strict compliance with the TS. The inspectors
         determined that tiv Jerability assessment performed by Byron engineering failed
         to recognize that TS requirements were not being met and a TS change was
         needed. The licensee appropriately began preparations and commenced reducing
         power prior to receiving relief from the TS shutdown requirements.
   M1.2 Missed Hiah Point Vent on the Residual Heat Removal (RH) System (61726)
    a.   Insoection Scone
         The inspectors compared surveillance procedures 1/2 BOS 5.2.b-1 to the piping and
         instrumentation diagrams (P&lD) for both units on the Si and RH systems. Specific
         P&lD sheets reviewed were:
         *    M61    Safety injection Unit 1
         * M62 Residual Heat Removal Unit 1
         *
             M136 Safety injection Unit 2
         *
             M137 Residual Heat Removal Unit 2
    b.   Observations and Findinas

' l The inspectors confirmed that the valves listed in the surveillance procedures for

         the Si and RH systems were identified on the P&lDs as high-point vents. The

l inspectors noted that, for both the Si and RH systems, the licensee included l suction side high point vents as well as the required discharge piping high points, i

         The licensee also vented the RH heat exchangers. The inclusion of the suction high
         points and the RH lieat exchangers in the surveillance were considered good
         practices.
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           The inspectors identified that high point vent valve,1RH027, was not included in
            the surveillance. This valve was located in the discharge piping from the 18 RH         !
           heat exchanger and was outside of containment. The inspectors did not identify           :
           similar high point vents for the 1 A RH heat exchanger or for either of the Unit 2       !
           heat exchangers. The inspectors discussed with the licensee the failure to include       i
           valve 1RH027 within the surveillance. The licensee promptly agreed that 1RH027
           was a high point valve, revised the surveillance procedures, and performed the           {
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           venting. The licensee also reviewed the isometrics for the other RH train on Unit 1
           and both trains on Unit 2 and confirmed that high points did not exist in those lines
           between the RH heat exchangers and the containment.
           TS Surveillance 4.5.2.b(1) required the licensee to vent the ECCS pump casings
           and discharge piping high points outside of containment every 31 days. This       '
           surveillance requirement was met through completion of surveillance procedures
            1/2 BOS-5.2.b-1 every month. The failure to include RH discharge piping high point
           vent 1RH027 in the surveillance procedures resulted in the high point not being          ,
           vented as required by the TS. This is an example of an apparent violation of
           TS 4.5.2.b(1) (eel 50-454/455-97009-01b).                                                l
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      c.   Conclusions                                                                           ~
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           The inspectors concluded that the licensee had not vented one discharge piping           '
           high point for train 18 of the RH system and is an apparent violation. Upon
           identification, the licensee took appropriate corrective actions. The inspectors         !
           considered RH heat exchanger and the suction piping high points venting a good
           practice.
     M1.3 TS Surveillance Reauirements Not Met for Slave Relav Testina (61726)
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      a.   Insoection Scopa

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           The licensee identified that TS required slave relay testing for 10 phase "A"
           containment isolation valves had not been performed. The inspectors reviewed the
           licensee's corrective actions to properly test the slave relays.
      b.   Observations and Findinas
           Based on the issues raised by the NRC on the CV system, Byron reviewed TS
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           operating surveillances and identified 6 (3 per unit) additional surveillances where
           TS requirements were not met. Specifically, quarterly slave relay testing of the
           automatic actuation logic and relays for 10 phase "A" containment isolation valves,

' had not been performed since mid-1991. This testing was required by TS 4.3.2.1,

           Table 4.3-2, Functional Unit 3.a.2.
           The inspectors reviewed a September 25,1990, Westinghouse letter which
           informed Byron that performing quarterly slave relay containment isolation tests on
           the CV charging line valves,1/2CV8105 and 1/2CV8106, and CV letdown line
           valves,1/2CV8152 and 1/2CV8160, could result in unanalyzed thermal transients
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    on the CV piping and nozzles and a high fatigue usage factor. To minimize further
    thermal cycling, Westinghouse recommended that the "GO" testing in which the
    valves were actually stroked be changed to "NO GO" testing in which the valves
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    were not actually stroked but a visual verification and/or electrical continuity test of '
    the slave relay contact actuation was performed.                                         ;
    in response to the concern, Byron reviewed applicable surveillance procedures and        l
    determined that the CV charging line valves were already tested with the "NO GO"
    methodology. To address the CV letdown valves, Byron revised procedures 1/2
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    BOS 3.2.1-840, "ESFAS instrumentation Slave Relay Surveillance (Train A
    Containment isolation Phase A - K605)," and 1/2 BOS 3.2.1-850, "ESFAS
    Instrumentation Slave Relay Surveillance (Train B Containment isolation Phase A -
    K605)," on June 13,1991. The revision jumpered across the CV letdown line
    valves contacts. The revisions successfully prevented valve actuation when
    performing the TS quarterly surveillance; however, a visual verification and/or
   electrical continuity test of the slave relay contact actuation was never performed
   as recommended by the vendor and required by TS. Failure to perform the
   continuity test for the slave relay contacts that actuate letdown isolation valves
    1CV8152,1CV8160,2CV8152, and 2CV8160, on a quarterly basis since June 13,
    1991,is considered to be an example of an apparent violation of TS 4.3.2.1
    (eel 50-454/455-97009-02a(DRP)).
   Although not specifically identified by the Westinghouse letter, Byron determined
   that the CV letdown orifice isolation valve (1/2CV8149A/B/C) slave relay testing
   should also be changed to a "NO GO" test for the same thermal transient concerns.
   Although the 6 (3/ unit) letdown orifice isolation valves were not containment
   isolation valves, the valves received a phase "A" containment isolation signal.
   To address the CV letdown orifice isolation valves, the licensee revised procedures
    1/2 BOS 3.2.1-853, "ESFAS Instrumentation Slave Relay Surveillance (Train A(B)
   Containment isolation Phase A - K612)," on April 29,1991. The revision pulled
   fuses on the letdown orifice isolation valves. The revisions successfully prevented
   valve actuation when performing the TS required quarterly surveillance; however, a
   visual verification and/or electrical continuity test of the slave relay contact
   actuation was also never performed. Failure to perform the continuity test for the
   slave relay contacts that actuate letdown orifice isolation valves 1CV8149A/B/C
   and 2CV8149A/B/C on a quarterly basis since April 29,1991, is considered an
   example of an apparent violation of TS 4.3.2.1 (eel 50-454/455-97009-02b(DRP)).
   The inspectors reviewed On-Site Review (OSR) 90-257, dated August 18,1990,
   which approved revision of the surveillance procedures. In 1992, the licensee
   submitted a modification for the installation of test circuits that would provide a
   permanent method of visually verifying the slave relay contact actuation testing the
   relays at power. In parallel to the potential modification, Byron's regulatory

! assurance department was working with the Westinghouse Owner's Group to l investigate the possibility of a change to TS 3/4.3.2, which would reduce the

   frequency of testing from quarterly to once every 18 months. This TS change

l would enable "GO" testing of the valves during refuel outages when the thermal

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                              transient concerns were minimized. The potential modification was put on hold                     i

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                              until approval or rejection of the proposed TS change. Neither the modification or                i
                              the TS change had been approved.                                                                  '

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                              The inspectors also reviewed OSR 93-057, dated July 18,1993, which                                ;
                              documented Byron's position for accepting the testing method used for the CV                      i
                              letdown isolation valves. The OSR referenced Byron UFSAR Section 7.1.2.6,
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                              which presented justification for altemate testing methods for ESFAS equipment                    '
                              which could not be tested at power. The UFSAR stated,in part, that alternate
                              testing methods were appropriate when there was no practicable means of testing
                              the equipment without adversely affecting the safety or operability of the plant and              *
                              when adequate testing could be routinely performed while the reactor was shut                     !
                              down. The inspectors were informed that the OSR considered the associated                       -
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                              thermal transients adverse to the safety of the plant and therefore, "GO" testing of              I
                              the CV letdown isolation valves should not be conducted at power. The OSR
                              documented that although the jumper preventod a positive means for verifying                      '
                              valve actuation, the surveillance still proved that the relay had energized in that
                              other equipment had been actuated by other relay contacts. The OSR also cited                     ,

, ' that the valves were "GO" tested every 18 months (every refuel outage) to satisfy '

                              other TS surveillance requirements.                                                               s

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                              The inspectors noted that the proposed modification would have provided a                         i
                              practical means of testing the valves at power without any adverse affect on the
                              plant. Modification installation would have also satisfied the TS surveillance
                              requirement.
                  c.          Conclusions

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                              The inspector's considered the licensee's efforts in identifying the missed TS
                              surveillance requirements to be proactive. The inspectors independent review
                              determined that OSR 90-257 and 93-057 failed to identify that TS requirements
                              were not met with the surveillance procedure revision elone.
                 M1.4 Auxiliary Feedwater Pumo Surveillance Testino (61726)
                  a.          Insoection Scope
                              The inspectors conducted a review of past monthly, quarterly, and outage
                              surveillance tests of the Unit 1 and 2 motor driven and diesel driven AF pumps,                    i
                              The inspectors interviewed licensee staff including operations and engineering

l personnel. The following procedures were also reviewed: ! *

                                     1/2 BOS 7.1.2.1.B-2, " Diesel Driven Auxiliary Feedwater Pump Quarterly

! Surveillance"

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                                     1/2 BOS 7.1.2.1.a 4, " Diesel Driven Auxiliary Feedwater Pump Monthly

j Surveillance" i *

                                     1/2 BVS 7.1.2.1.b.2-1, " Auxiliary Feedwater Pump Emergency Actuation Signal
Verification Test"
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              b.    Observations and Findinog

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                    The inspectors reviewed completed TS required surveillance procedures pertaining
                    to the AF pumps from October 1995 through the present. The inspectors noted
                    that the surveillances properly documented required data and initiated corrective

l actions such as PlFs and operability assessments when problems were noted. l

                    During the surveillance review, the inspectors noted that prior to the start of the

l testing, procedure 1/2 BVS 7.1.2.1.b.2-1 required the manual start of the pre- l lubrication pump 3 for the AF pumps. The inspectors were concerned that manually

                    starting the pre-lubJcation pumps preconditioned the AF pumps prior to
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                    performance of the surveillances. As documented in PIF B1997-01907, the

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                    licensee subsequently dvermined that based on pre-operational testing, which
                    included successful AF pump starts without pre-lubrication, and system design
                    documentation, the practice of pre-lubrication did not represent a concern for pump         '
                    operability. The licensee concluded that the safety benefit of pre-lubrication prior to
                    surveillance testing outweighed the benefit of testing the pumps in the as-found
                    condition when considering the possibility of accelerated wear and premature
                    failure. The inspectors discussed this issue with NRR who agreed with the

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                    licensee's conclusion.
              c.    Conclusionan
                   The inspectors concluded that past AF pump surveillance testing was adequately

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                   documented and that problems encountered during the tests appeared to have been
                   identified and dispositioned in accordance with corrective action procedures.
             M3    Maintenance / Surveillance Procedures and Documentation
             M3.1 Inadeauate Surveillance Procedure (61726)
              a.   Inspection Scope
                   The inspectors reviewed surveillance procedures 1BOS 5.2.b-1, "ECCS Venting and
                   Valve Alignment Monthly Surveillance," Revision 5, and 2BOS 5.2.b-1, "ECCS
                   Venting and Valve Alignment Monthly Surveillance," Revision 4, for monthly
                   verification of proper ECCS venting of piping outside containment in Modes 1,2,

i and 3 per TS 4.5.2.b(1). The inspectors also discussed PIFs B1997-01746, i B1997-01792, and B1997-01805, which documented difficulties in venting the 2A l and 1B safety injection (SI) pumps.

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           b.    Observations and Findinas
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                 St Pumo Casina Ventina
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              . Oh May 15,1997, the licensee performed surveillance procedure 2BOS 5.2.b-1, for
                 monthly venting of the 2A Si pump. Step F.1 stated to vent the Si pumps and
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                 piping until a steady stream of water was evident. Step F.1.b required the operator
                 to open SI pump casing vent isolation valve 2Sl040 and vent the pump. The
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                 operator reported that only one drop per second came out of the drain piping when
                he opened valve 2Sl040 and the filtered vent (VF) drain valve,2VF019. PlF
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                 B1997-01746 was written and documented that the piping would be checked for                  '
                 potential blockage due to dried boron build-up. The PlF also stated that other Si
                 pump vents have been found in the past to be blocked by dried boron. Operations
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                determined that the 2A Si pump remained operable since the pump was adequately                '
                vented by running it periodically to fill the Si accumulators. The surveillance was
                also determined to be satisfactorily performed since some water and no air came
                out of the drain line.
                On May 20,1997, the licensee performed surveillance procedure 1BOS 5.2.b-1, for                .
                venting the 1B SI pump. During the surveillance, the operator reported that no flow           l
                came from the vent line and wrote PlF B1997-01792 to document this concern.                  ]
                The system engineer along with operations, reviewed the concern on May 21,                   l
                 1997, and reported that a steady stream of water was evident when the
                surveillance steps were re-performed. The inspectors questioned how the VF line
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                became unplugged with no maintenance performed. The system engineer stated
                that because of known problems with the blocked VF system lines, operators relied            I
                on other valves in the VF system to perform the Si pump casing venting. SI pump              '
                venting was usually accomplished by opening VF drain valve lines that opened to a
                floor drain. Although these valves were not mentioned in the surveillance
                procedure, most operators knew how to perform the surveillance in this manner. In
                this case, the operator who attempted to vent the 18 SI pump on March 20
                apparently was not aware that valve 1VF017 had to be opened to vent the 1B SI
                pump casing.
                The inspectors reviewed procedures 1/2 BOS 5.2.b-1 and determined that the
                procedure was inadequate to ensure that TS 4.5.2.b(1) requirements were met, in
                both procedures the operator was directed to open 1/2Sl040 valve to vent the Si
                pump casings. Although a sightglass was located downstream of the opened valve
                to verify flow through the piping, no mention of the sightglass appeared in the
                procedure. The inspectors noted that all of the Si pump sightglasses were dirty and
                questioned whether any flow could be seen by an operator. Also, the sightglass for
                the 18 Si pump was located approximately 15 feet above the pump where flow
                could only be verified with the use of a ladder. The inspectors also noted a total of
                5 action requests (ARs) on both trains of the SI pumps. Two ARs on the 1 A Si
                pump documented that pump casing vent isolation valve 1S1040A, leaked by and
                the sightglass needed to be cleaned. Two ARs on the 1B Si pump documented

'

                pump casing vent isolation valve 1Sl040B, leaked by and the vent line was plugged
                with dried boron. One AR on the 2A SI pump documenteo a.4 t.'u pump casing
                                                        11
          __           .                .              ..- - - -.-..               _.   . . - - . - - - .
                                                                             -
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  -
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                                                                                                          t
 _,
              vent drain line was also plugged. Since operators routinely had to perform
              additional steps not included in the procedure in order to vent the SI system,
              numerous opportunities existed for the inadequate procedure to be identified.
                                                                                                          i
             The inspectors considered procedures 1/2 BOS 5.2.b-1 inadequate to ensure that                l

l

             the SI pump casings were vented. Specifically, the procedure provided no specific
                                                                                                          l
             direction to the operator as to what valves were to be open to vent the Si pumps.             '

l l

              Because Byron had documented problems with blockage of the filtered vent
             system, venting the SI pumps had been performed with steps other than those
             called out in the procedure. Failure to ensure that procedures 1/2 BOS 5.2.b-1
             contain procedural steps for ensuring that the SI pump casings were vented is
             considered to be an apparent violation (eel 50-454/455-97009-03(DRP)).
                                                                                                           l
     <: .    Conclusions
             The inspectors identified that the surveillance procedures used to vent the Si pumps

j

             were inadequate in that they provided no direction to the operator as to proper

! ' valve line up to ensure proper pump venting. This is considered an apparent

             violation. Numerous opportunities existed to identify this inadequate procedure in
             that operators routinely had to perform extra unapproved steps in order to vent the

j Si system. I M7 Quality Assurance in Ma'ntenance/ Surveillance Activities !

                                                                                                          i

l M7.1 Review of Problem Identification Forms and Operability Assessments (37551)

                                                                                                          !
             The inspectors reviewed a listing of all PlFs and operability assessments dealing            l

,

             with surveillance issues over the last 2 years. The inspectors reviewed PIFs and
             operability assessments determinations where problems occurred during a
             surveillance or those affecting the Si, RH, and AF systems. The inspectors
             observed a number of documentation weaknesses in that limited written

l ' information was available to support operability assessment conclusions. However, i

             in all cases, the responsible individuals had additional information to support the
             conclusions. The inspectors concluded that the licensee reached the correct

l operability decision in each PlF and operability assessment reviewed. The

             inspectors had no further concems.
                                          V. Maneaement Meetinos

l X1 Exit Meating Summary

             The inspectors presented the inspection results to members of licensee
             management at the conclusion of the inspection on June 5,1997.
             The inspectors asked the licensee whether any materials examined during the

l inspection should be considered proprietary. No proprietary information was

             identified,

i 4 12

             .                                              _ _ _ _ . _ ..
    .
  .

! .

                               PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED

,

      Licensee

t

      K. Kofron, Byron Station Plant Manager
      8. Adams, Site Engineer
      D. Brindle, Regulatory Assurance Supervisor
      R. Freidel, Primary Group Leader

i T. Gierich, Operations Manager l J. Horn, System Engineer

      P. Johnson, Engineering Superintendent
      B. Kouba, Business Manager
      K. Passmore, Station Support & Engineering Supervisor
      P. Reister, Assistant Engineering Supervisor
      T. Schuster, Site Quality Verification Director
      M. Snow, Work Control Superintendent
      W. Walter, U-2 Operating Engineer
      D. Wozniak, Engineering Manager
-
                                   lNSPECTION PROCEDURES USED
      IP 37551: Onsite Engineering
      IP 61726: Surveillance Observations
      IP 71707: Plant Operations

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                                                                           i

l '. ! . 1

                                                    13
 e
 ,
                           ITEMS OPENED, CLOSED. AND DISCUSSED
   Opened
   eel 50-454/455-97009-01a           eel    Failure to vent the CV pump casings and the CV
                                             discharge piping per TS 4.5.2.b.1.
   eel 50-454/455-97009-01 b          eel    Failure to vent CV discharge piping high point
                                             vent 1RH027 per TS 4.5.2.b.1.
   eel 50-454/455 97009-02a           eel    Failure to perform continuity test for the slave
                                             relay contacts for the CV letdown isolation
                                             valves per TS 4.3.2.1.
   eel 50-454/455-97009-02b           eel    Failure to perform continuity test for the slave
                                             relay contacts for the CV letdown orifice
                                             isolation valves per TS 4.3.2.1.
   eel 50-454/455-97009-03            eel    Inadequate surveillance procedere for venting SI
                                             pumps.
                                   LIST OF ACRONYMS USED
   AF       Auxiliary Feedwater
   AR       Action Request
   BOS      Byron Operating Surveillance
   BVS      Byron System Engineering Surveillance
   CV       Chemical and Volume Control
   ECCS     Emergency Core Cooling System
   LCO      Limiting Condition for Operation
   LER      Licensee Event Report
   NOED     Notice of Enforcement Discretion
   NOV      Notice of Violation
   OSR      On-Site Review
   P&lD     Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams
   PDR      Public Document Room
   PlF      Problem identification Form
   RH       Residual Heat Removal
   SI       Safety injection
   TS       Technical Specification
   UT       Ultrasonic Testing
   VF       Filtered Vent

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