ML20154G298
| ML20154G298 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Millstone  |
| Issue date: | 10/01/1998 |
| From: | Durr J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Bowling M, Loftus P NORTHEAST NUCLEAR ENERGY CO. |
| References | |
| 50-245-98-208, 50-336-98-208, 50-423-98-208, NUDOCS 9810130116 | |
| Download: ML20154G298 (2) | |
See also: IR 05000245/1998208
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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KING oF PRusslA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406-1415
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October 1,
1998
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Mr. M. L. Bowling, Recovery Officer - Technical Services
C/o Ms. P. A. Loftus, Director - Regulatory
Affairs for Millstone Station
NORTHEAST NUCLEAR ENERGY COMPANY
PO Box 128
Waterford, CT 06385
SUBJECT:
COMBINED INSPECTION 50-245,336,423/08 208- REPLY
Dear Mr. Bowling:
,
This letter refers to your September 14,1998 correspondence, in response to our August
12,1998 letter.
Thank you foi informing us of the corrective and preventive actions documented in your
letter concerning a violation cited at Millstone Unit 3. These actions will be examined
during a future inspection of your licensed program.
Your cooperation with us is appreciated.
Sincerely,
.
Jacque P. Durr, Chief
Inspections Branch
Millstone inspection Directorate
Docket Nos. 50-245;50 336;50-423
cc:
B. Kenyon, President and Chief Executive Officer - Nuclear Group
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M. H. Brothers, Vice President - Operations
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' . McElwain, Recovery Officer - Millstone Unit 2
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J. Streeter, Recovery Officer - Nuclear Oversight
P. D. Hinnenkamp, Director - Unit 3
J. A. Price, Director - Unit 2
D. Amerine, Vice President - Human Services
E. Harkness, Director, Unit 1 Operations
J. Althouse, Manager - Nuclear Training Assessment Group
F. C. Rothen, Vice President, Work Services
J. Cantrell, Director - Nuclear Training (CT)
S. J. Sherman, Audits and Evaluation
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9810130116 981001
ADOCK 05000245
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Mr. M. L. Bowling
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cc w/ cv of Licensee Resoonse Ltr:
L. M. Cuoco, Esquire
J. R. Egan, Esquire
V. Juliano, Waterford Library
J. Buckingham, Department of Public Utility Control
S. B. Comley, We The People
State of Connecticut SLO Designee
D. Katz, Citizens Awareness Network (CAN)
R. Bassilakis, CAN
J. M. Block, Attorney, CAN
S. P. Luxton, Citizens Regulatory Commission (CRC)
Representative T. Concannon
E. Woollacott, Co-Chairman, NEAC
Distribution w/cv of Licensee Resoonse Ltr:
Region i Docket Room (with copy of concurrences)
Nuclear Safety Inforrnation Center (NSIC)
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ecretana
stone nspection
NRC Resident inspector
H. Miller, Regional Administrator, R1
B. Jones, PIMB/ DISP
W. Lanning, Director, Millstone Inspection Directorate, R1
D. Screnci, PAO
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Northeast
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Northeast Nuclear Energy Company
P.o. Box 128
Waterford, Ur 06385 0128
(860) 447 1791
Fax (860) 444 4277
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'ne Northeast Utihties System
SEP l 41998
Docket No. 50-423
B17424
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Attention: Document Control Desk
Washington, DC 20555
Millstone Nuclear Power Station Unit No. 3
Response to Notice of Violation
Nuclear Reaulatory Commission inspection Report 50-423/98-208
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By letter dated August 12, 1998, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
transmitted the results of the above referenced inspection. The letter included a Notice
of Violation (NOV) citing one instance where Northeast Nuclear Energy Company
(NNECo) activities were not in compliance with NRC regulations.
NNECo's response to the citation is provided as Attachment 1 of this submittal.
Attachment 2 provides a summary of NNECo's commitments made in response to the
citation. Should you have any questions regarding the information contained herein,
please contact Mr. David A. Smith at (860) 437-5840.
Very truly yours,
NORTHEAST NUCLEAR ENERGY COMPANY
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Marti- L. Bowling, Jr. d
Recovery Officer - Technical Services
(RM22-5 REY.12-9">
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cc: H. J. Miller, Ragion i Administrator
' J. W. Andersen, NRC Project Manager, Milistone Unit No. 3
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A. C. Cerne, Senior Resident inspector, Millstone Unit No. 3
E. V. Imbro, Director, Millstone ICAVP inspections
J. P. Durr, Chief, Office of the Regional Administrator
. W. D. Lanning, Director, Millstone Inspections
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Docket No. 50-423
B17424
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Attachment 1
Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 3
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Response to Notice of Violation
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Nuclear Reoulatory Commission inspection Report 50-423/98-208
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B17424\\ Attachment 1\\Page 2
Response to Notice of Violation
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Inspection Report 50-423/98-208
Nuclear Reaulatory Commission Citation (50-423/98-208-04)
Restatement of the Violation
Technical Specification 6.8.1.a. requires, in part, that written procedures shall be
implemented covering the activities referenced in Appendix A of Regulatory Guide 1.33,
February 1978, item 2.a., General Plant Operating Procedures, " Cold Shutdown to Hot
Standby." Step 4.2.34.g.2 of OP 3201," Plant Heatup," states, IF any RCS hot or cold
leg WR temperature increases to greater than 195*F, DIRECT test personnel to close
and lock the applicable RHR outboard drain valve (3RHS*V26).
Contrary to the above, on June 2,1998, the licensea failed to direct test personnel to
close and lock RHR outboard drain valve,3RHS*V26, when RCS WR temperature
increased to greater than 195*F. Valve 3RHS*V26 was subsequently closed when
reactor coolant system wide range temperature approached 197*F during performance
of SP 3601F.4, "RCS Pressure isolation Valve Test."
NNECo's Response
NNECo agrees with the violation.
Reason for the Violation
The cause of the condition is attributed to human error resulting in required actions not
being carried out as directed by the cited Operating Procedure (OP).
While the
decision to delay the closure of the affected valve was made on the basis that the intent
of the procedural requirement would continue to'be satisfied, the operating crew failed
to process the required temporary change to the procedure to support their decision.
Corrective Action _s Taken and Results Achieved
The lessons learned from this event were addressed by the Operations Manager in a
staff briefing memorandum dated June 13,1998. (AR 98010857-01)
At the time this violation occurred, NNECo had in place ongoing activities directed at
improving human performance in the control room. These actions were undertaken as
a result of performance deficiencies identified during the initial plant heat-up conducted
in preparation for unit restart from the extended outage.
The cause of these
deficiencies was attributed to skill deficits which had developed during the extended
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B17424\\ Attachment 1\\Page 3
outage. As a consequence, NNECo reevaluated the approach to unit restart and
instituted additional measures to ensure an event free startup.
1
These measures included; 1) augmentation of the regular shift compliment with
additional operations department management personnel to reinforce performance
standards by facilitating the planning and execution of startup evolutions,2) providing
additional startup training to the Operations staff in advance of scheduled startup
evolutions and remedial training to address lessons learned from the specific events
noted during initial plant heatup, and 3) the assignment of additional management
oversight to the control room on an around-the-clock basis throughout the unit restart
and power ascension process. The result of these actions was a safe and event free
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unit startup and power ascension program.
NNECo's Nuclear Oversight organization
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subsequently concluded in its report related to the Millstone Unit 3 startup and power
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ascension, that line performance had improved significantly since the Mode 4 transition
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and that reduction in round-the-clock oversight coverage of contrel room activities was
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justified.
Corrective Actions to Prevent Future Violations
The Millstone Unit 3 Operations Department currently monitors human performance
and procedure compliance related deficiencies through the Performance Annunciator
Panej Reporting System.
Within this system, key activities are monitored and
appropriate performance ' criteria are established to define corrective action thresholds.
The annunciator panels are reviewed by management to ensure that adverse
performance trends are appropriately addressed through the corrective action program
Date When Full Compliance Will Be Achieved
Full compliance has been achieved with respect to the condition described in this
citation.
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Docket No. 50423
B17424
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Attachment 2
Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 3
Summary of Commitments
Nuclear Reaulatory Commission Inspection Report 50-423/98-208
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September 1998
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B17424\\ Attachment 2\\Page 2
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List of Regulatory Commitments
The following table identifies those actions committed to by NNECo in this document.
Please notify the Manager Regulatory Compliance at the Millstone Nuclear Power
Station of any questions regarding this document or any associated regulatory
commitments.
Commitment
Commitment
Committed Date or
No.
Outage
None
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