ML20154B997
| ML20154B997 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Sequoyah  |
| Issue date: | 05/09/1988 |
| From: | Ebneter S NRC OFFICE OF SPECIAL PROJECTS |
| To: | White S TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY |
| References | |
| EA-88-133, NUDOCS 8805170395 | |
| Download: ML20154B997 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000327/1987030
Text
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
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MAY
9 1988
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Docket Nos. 50-327, 50-328
License Nos. DPR-77, OPR-79
Tennessee Valley Authority
ATTN: Mr. S. A. White
Manager of Nuclear Power
6N 38A Lookout Place
1101 Market Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801
Gentlemen:
SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION REPORT NOS. 50-327, 328/87-30 and 50-327, 328/87-60
This refers to the Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) inspections conducted
by Mr. K. Jenison at the Sequoyah facility on May 6 - June 12,1987, and
September 6 - October 5, 1987. The inspections included a review of the
circumstances surrounding a modification made in 1984 in which the Unit 1
and Unit 2 motor driven auxiliary feed water (AFW) pumps' pressure control
valves were replaced with cavitating venturis. The reports documenting these
inspections were sent to you by letters dated July 20, 1987, and November 25,
1987. As a result of these inspections, significant failures to comply with
NRC regulatory requirements were identified, and accordingly, NRC concerns
regarding the inspection findings were discussed in an enforcement conference
held on October 22, 1987.
The letter sumarizing this conference was sent to
you on November 30, 1987.
The violations discussed during the enforcement conference involved a failure
to meet the requirements of 10 CFR 50.59 such that a required license amendment
was not sought in support of a plant modification involving a change in the
Technical Specifications and an unreviewed safety question. The events or
circumstances that resulted in these violations involved the 1984 cavitating
venturi installation associated with all four motor driven AFW pumps. This
modification resulted in increased system flow resistance which required a
change to the pumps' test acceptance value specified in Technical Specifica-
tions. Additionally, related post modification testing indicated that with the
increased flow resistance, AFW pump 2A-A could no longer provide the flow rate
defined in the associated Technical Specification basis as a margin of safety;
and therefore constituted an unreviewed safety question.
,
Normally, the NRC would issue a Notice of Violation for the violations described
i
above.
However, as documented in Inspection Report No. 327,328/85-46, the NRC
staff was aware of the instc11ation of the cavitating venturis and monitored
their installation in 1984 and 1985. Furthennore, these violations predated the
1985 shutdown of Sequoyah and the extensive subsequent programatic improvements
to the design change process that have been instituted by TVA to ensure that such
reviews are appropriately perfonned.
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Consequently, after consultation with the Deputy Executive Director for Regional
Operations, I am exercising discretion in accordance with Section V.G of the
Enforcement Policy, 10 CFR Part 2, Appendix C (1988) regarding licensees forced
into extended shutdowns and will not issue a Notice of Violation or a civil
penalty in this case.
In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," Part 2,
Title 10 Code of Federal Regulation, a copy of this letter and any response
will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
,
This letter is not subject to the clearance procedures of the Office of
Management and Budget as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980,
PL 96-511.
Sincerely,
lGL
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ewart D. Ebneter, Director
V ffice of Special Projects
cc:
H. L. Abercrombie, Site Director
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant
J. W. Kirkebo, Director,
Nuclear Engineering
R. L. Gridley, Director
Nuclear Safety and Licensing
M. R. Harding, Site Licensing
Manager
TVA Representative, Rockville
Office
._ _ _ _ _
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Mr.-S. A. White
Tennessee Valley Authority
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant
,
CC'
General Counsel
Regional Administrator, Region II
Tennessee Valley Authority
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
400 West Sunmit Hill Drive
101 Marietta Street
N.W.
E11 B33
Atlanta, Georgia 30323
Kroxville, Tennessee 37902
Mr. Richard King
Resident Inspector /Sequoyah NP
c/o U.S. GAO
c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
1111 North Shore Drive
2600 Igou Ferry Road
Suite 225, Box 194
Soddy Daisy, Tennessee 37379
Knoxville, Tennessee 37919
Tennessee Department of Health
Dr. Henry Myers, Science Advisor
and Environment
Committee on Interior
ATTN: Director, Bureau of Environment
and Insular Affairs
T.E.R.R.A. Building, 1st Floor
U.S. House of Representatives
150 9th Avenue North
Washington, D.C.
20515
Nashville, Tennessee 37219-5404
Mr. D. L. Williams
Mr. Michael H. Mobley, Director
Tennessee Valley Authority
Division of Radiological Health
400 West Summit Hill Drive
T.E.R.R.A. Butiding, 6th Floor
W10 885
150 9th Avenue North
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902
Nashville, Tennessee 37219-5404
County Judge
Hamilton County Courthouse
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
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Tennessee Valley Authority
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R. Hermann, OSP
B. Liaw, OSP-
K. Barr, OSP/TVA
W. Little, OSP/TVA
G. Jenkins, OSP/RII
F. McCoy, OSP/RII'
R. Carroll, OSP/RII
J. Brady, OSP/RII
J. Lieberman, OE
J. Rutberg, OGC
NRC Resident Inspector
DRS Technical Assistant
Document Control Desk
State of Tennessee
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