ML20151Y216
| ML20151Y216 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Point Beach  |
| Issue date: | 09/11/1998 |
| From: | Grobe J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Reddemann M WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20151Y221 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-266-98-13, 50-301-98-13, NUDOCS 9809180158 | |
| Download: ML20151Y216 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000266/1998013
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September 11, 1998
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Mr. M. Roddemann '
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" Site Vice President
Point Beach Nuclear Plant
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6610 Nuclear Road
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Two Rivers, WI 54241
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SUBJECT:
NRC INSPECTION REPORT _ NO. 50-266/98013(DRS); 50-301/98013(DRS)
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Dear Mr. Reddemann:
On July 16,1998, the NRC completed a medium and low-voltage power circuit breaker
inspection at your Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant. The enclosed report represents the
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results of that inspection.
The ' team inspection involved examination of maintenance and engineering related activities.
Areas examined during the inspection are identified in the report. Within these areas, the
inspection consisted of selective examination of vendor manuals, industry correspondence,
calculations, test records, and procedures, and interviews with maintenance, engineering, and
quality assurance staff.
The team identified a number of significant' weaknesses in yourolectrical circuit breaker
maintenance program that contributed to the poor material condition of installed low and
medium voltage breakers. These included the routine omission of significant portions of
specified electrical breaker maintenance requirements such as breaker inspection, cleaning,
lubrication and adjustments; the use of unapproved breaker cleaners / lubricants; and the lack of
a program for recording and trending breaker failures. The team was particularly concemed
with the material condition of your safety related type DH breakers that have been in service
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since 1970.
The team identified three violations of NRC requirements as specified in the enclosed Notice of
Violation (Notice). The first violation involved the failure to establish adequate design control
measures to ensure that adequate control voltage was available for the close and trip coils of all
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safety-related electrical breakers in the plant. Until this issue was raised by the NRC team,
calculations were not initiated to determine the lowest control voltages that would be available
to the close and trip coils under the worst case accident conditions.
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9809180158 980911
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ADOCK 05000266
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M. Redd:mann
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Further, these coils were not tested to verify operation at the lower voltages. This is of
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particular concern since the voltage levels that you have determined to be actual worst case
voltages are in some instances less than the manufacturer's rated voltage for the breaker close
coils. The second violation involved the failure to establish adequate measures to ensure that
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only approved and authorized cleaning compounds and lubricants were used to clean and
lubricate electrical breaker components. Consequently, unapproved cleaning compounds and
lubricants were used to clean and lubricate the breakers. Use of unapproved cleaning
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compounds and lubricants contributes to hardened grease on the breaker components, which
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can adversely effect the ability of the breakers to perform. The third violation involved the
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failure to accomplish activities affecting quality during performance of routine maintenance in
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that significant portions of the safety related breaker preventive maintenance procedure
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requirements were inappropriately marked N/A (not applicable) and were not performed.
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Your staff had recognized the need for improved breaker maintenance and had initiated
corrective actions such as testing the breakers at a lower voltage and consultation with the
breaker vendors for advise regarding the use of lubricants. We have noted that after you tested
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a series of breakers, you determined that the breakers were operable but degraded.
The NRC has concluded that information regarding the reason for the violations, the corrective
actions taken and planned to correct the violations and prevent recurrence is already
adequately documented in the enclosed Inspection Report No. 50-266/301-98013(DRS).
Therefore, you are not required to respond to this letter (and the attached Notice) unless the
description therein does not accurately reflect your corrective actions or your posithn. In that
case, or if you choose to provide additional information, you should follow the instructions
specified in the enclosed Notice.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, and its
enclosures, and your response (if you choose to provide additional information) will be placed in
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the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).
We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this inspection.
Sincerely,
Original /s/ S. A/. Reynolds for
,lohn A. Grobe, Director
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Division of Reactor Safety
Docket Nos.: 50-266; 50-301
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Enclosures:
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2. Inspection Report No. 50-266/98013(DRS);
50-301/98013(DRS)
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See Attached Distribution
DOCUMENT NAME: G:DRS\\ pol 98013.DRS SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE
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To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the bou! "C's Copy without attachment / enclosure "E's Copy uth attachment / enclosure
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OFFICE
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NAME
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Gardner
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Kunowski &
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DATE
09/ /98
09/ /98
09/ /98
09/h /98~
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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M. Reddemann
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Further, these coils were not tested to verify operation at the lower voltages. This is of
particular concem since the voltage levels that you have now determined to be actual worst
case voltages are in some instances less than the manufacturer's rated voltage for the breaker
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close coils. The second violation involved failure to establish adequate measures to ensure
that only approved and authorized cleaning compounds and lubricants were used to clean and
lubricate electrical breaker components. Consequently, unapproved cleaning compounds and
lubricants were used to clean and lubricate the breakers. Use of unapproved cleaning
compound and lubricants contributes to hardened grease on the breaker components. The
third violation involved failure to accomplish activities affecting quality during performance of
routine maintenance, in that significant portions of the safety related breaker preventive
maintenance procedure requirements were inappropriately marked N/A (not applicable) and
were not performed.
We understand that your staff had recognized the need for improved breaker maintenance and
had initiated corrective actions such as testing the breakers at a lower voltage and sending the -
lubricants for laboratory analysis.
The NRC has concluded that information regarding the reason for the violation, the corrective
actions taken and planned to correct the violation and prevent recurrence is already adequately
addressed on the docket in the enclosed inspection Report No. 50-266/301-98013(DRS).
Therefore, you are not required to respond to this letter unless the description therein does not
accurately reflect your corrective actions or your position. In that case, or if you choose to
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provide additional information, you should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed
Notice.
in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, and its
enclosures, and your response (if you choose to provide additional information) will be placed in
the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).
We will gladly discuss any questions you have conceming this inspection.
Sincerely,
John A. Grobe, Director
Division of Reactor Safety
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Docket Nos.: 50-266;50-301
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Enclosures:
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2. Inspection Report No. 50-266/98013(DRS);
50-301/98013(DRS)
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See Attached Distribution
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DOCUMENT NAME: G:DRS\\ pol 98013.DRS
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OFFICE
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NAME
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Grobe W
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DATE-
09/l/98
09// /98' /c0
09/l/98 -
09/ /98
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M. Reddemann
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cc w/encls:
R. Grigg, President and Chief
Operating Officer, WEPCO
M. Sellman, Chief Nuclear Officer
R. Mende, Plant Manager
J. O'Neill, Jr., Shaw, Pittman,
Potts & Trowbridge
K. Duveneck, Town Chairman
Town of Two Creeks
B. Burks, P.E., Director
Bureau of Field Operations
'J. Mettner, Chairman, Wisconsin
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Public Service Commission
S. Jenkins, Electric Division
Wisconsin Public Service Commission
State Liaison Officer
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Distribution:
CAC (E-Mail)
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Project Mgr., NRR w/encis
J. Caldwell, Rill w/encls
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C. Pederson, Rlli w/encls
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B. Clayton, Rlli w/encls
SRI Point Beach w/encls
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DRP w/encls
TSS w/encls
DRS (2) w/encls
Rlli PRR w/encls
PUBLIC IE-01 W/encis
' Docket Fils w/ehcis'
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GREENS
LEO (E-Mail)
DOCDESK (E-Mail)
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