Text

Discusses Concerns Raised to NRC on 980913 Re Oyster Creek. Thoroughness of NRC Insps as Documented in NRC Integrated Insp Rept 50-219/98-03 Was of Concern
	ML20154J825
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	10/07/1998
From:	Eselgroth P; NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Mulligan M; AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
	50-219-98-03, 50-219-98-3, NUDOCS 9810160011
	Download: ML20154J825 (5)
	v • d • e

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October 7, 1998 ;

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1

! Mr. Michael J. Mulligan !

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5420 Maltdie Court

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Sugar Hill, GA 30518

1

! Subject: CONCERNS YOU RAISED TO THE NRC REGARDING OYSTER CREEK

INSPECTIONS

Dear Mr. Mulligan:

This letter refers to your concerns raised to Mr. V. Dricks on September 13,1998,in

which you expressed concerns related to Oyster Creek. You were concerned about the

'

thoroughness of NRC inspections as documented in NRC Integrated Inspection Report 50- '

-219/98-03. We have carefully reviewed your letter and are providing feedback for your

consideration. However, if you still have concerns regarding NRC inspection activities at

'

. the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, please feel free to contact the inspector

General at:

. Office of the Inspector General

'

D33 Two White Flint North l

11545 Rockville Pike l

Rockville, MD 20852-2738

The NRC continues to be concerned about plant transients, and plant and operator

responses at all nuclear facilities, including Oyster Creek. For the instances which

'

occurred recently at Oyster Creek, we performed follow-up inspections by three inspectors

(one a Region I specialist) over a two to three week period; this is typical for these types of

transients and plant events. The inspection report which you reviewed provides the :

summary results of the inspections which took place. Inspector assessments and

j. - documentation that support the conclusions are not described in minute detail in the report, !

due to attempts on our part to keep reports from being cumbersome and difficult to read.

.

Regarding your concerns with the fire protection program at Oyster Creek, problems have

been identified as you noted. However, these problems were offset by positive aspects of

the fire protection program, as noted in NRC Integrated Inspection Report 50-219/98-03,

and earlier reports. Therefore, we concluded that overall the fire protection program at

f

Oyster. Creek was good. /

1

Our inspectors have reviewed the controlling procedures for starts of the main feedwater

pumps, and observed that plant operators complied with the restart requirements, which

. are based on vendor recommendations. Additionally, we recently had another Region 1 4)

{ specialist inspector review the status of the electrical cables at the site, although the

inspection report has not been issued yet. Our inspectors have also verified that the

feedwater system is receiving the proper plant management attention, as required by the

NRC Maintenance Rule,

l

,

a -nc u . OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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9810160011 901007

.PDR

H ADOCK 05000219

4- PDR

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_. - - - . - - -- .. -. .-

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! Mr. M. Mulligan 2

l Regarding your concerns with the recirculation pump trips, although the pump trips do not

significantly challenge plant operators, and they are not safety related components, we

i have also verified that they are receiving proper management attention, as required by the

NRC Maintenance Rule.

J

Our resident inspectors and a Region I specialist reviewed the two emergency diesel

generator start failures you referred to. Please note that the failures were identified during

required surveillance testing, which is when failures like these should be identified. Also

note that at no time were both emergency diesel generators unavailable. Our inspectors

personally verified the troubleshooting, failed components, and corrective actions.

Emergency diesel generator start failures are rare, and none have occurred at Oyster Creek

since June. We have also verified that the emergency diesel generators are receiving

proper management attention, as required by the NRC Maintenance Rule. l

Enclosed with this letter is a brochure entitled " Reporting Safety Concerns to the NRC," '

which provides a description of the NRC process in these matters.

Thank you for notifying us of your concerns. Should you have any additional questions, or

if the NRC can be of further assistance in this matter, please call me at 610-337-5234.

Sincerely,

!

Original Signed By:

Peter W. Eselgroth, Chief

Projects Branch 7 ,

Division of Reactor Projects l

Docket No. 50-219

i

l

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0FFICIAL RECORD COPY

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Mr. M. Mulligan 3

Distribution:

Region l Docliet Room (w/ concurrences)

Nuclear Safety information Center (NSIC)

PUBLIC

P. Eselgroth, DRP

' N. Perry, DRP

C. O'Daniell,' DRP.

D. Vito, ORA

D. Screnci, ORA

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DATE 10/ & /98 l 10/ & /91 7 10/ g /98 10/ g /98 ;

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DATE 10/02/98 10/ /98 10/02/98 10/ /98

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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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October 7, 1998 ,

i

l Mr. Michael J. Mulligan

5420 Maltdie Court

Sugar Hill, GA 30518

l

L Subject: CONCERNS YOU RAISED TO THE NRC REGARDING OYSTER CREEK

i INSPECTIONS

l . Dear Mr. Mulligan:

'This letter refers to your concerns raised to Mr. V. Dricks on September 13,1998, in

L which you expressed concerns related to Oyster Creek. You were concerned about the

L thoroughness of NRC inspections as documented in NRC Integrated Inspection Report 50- '

,

i 219/98-03. We have carefully reviewed your letter and are providing feedback for your l

- consideration. However, if you still have concerns regarding NRC inspection activities at

the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, please feel free to contact the inspector

General at:

Office of the inspector General

!

D33 Two White Flint North

l

'

11545 Rockville Pike

Rockville, MD 20852-2738

The NRC continues to be concerned about plant transients, and plant and operator

responses at all nuclear facilities, including Oyster Creek. For the instances which

occurred recently at Oyster Creek, we performed follow-up inspections by three inspectors

(one a Region I specialist) over a two to three week period; this is typical for these types of

l transients and plant events. The inspection report which you reviewed provides the

l summary results of the inspections which took place. Inspector assessments and

' documentation that support the conclusions are not described in minuto detail in the report,

l . due to_ attempts on our part to keep reports from being cumbersome and difficult to read.

Regarding your concerns with the fire protection program at Oyster Creek, problems have

, been identified as you noted. However, these problems were offset by positive aspects of

L the fire protection program, as noted in NRC Integrated Inspection Report 50 219/98-03,

l and earlier reports. Therefore, we concluded that overall the fire protection program at

j . Oyster Creek was good.

Our inspectors have reviewed the controlling procedures for starts of the main feedwater

-pumps, and observed that plant operators _ complied with the restart requirements, which

are based on vendor recommendations. Additionally, we recently had another Region i

specialist inspector review the status of the electrical cables at the site, although the

inspection report has not been issued yet. Our inspectors have also verified that the

l- feedwater system is receiving the proper plant management attention, as required by the

l NRC Maintenance Rule.

. -

.. , - - . . . . -

, .

.. .. - . - - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

/ , , . i

Mr. M. Mulligan 2

Regarding your concerns with the recirculation pump trips, although the pump trips do not

significantly challenge plant operators, and they are not safety related components, we

have also verified that they are receiving proper management attention, as required by the

NRC Maintenance Rule.

. Our resident inspectors and a Region I specialist reviewed the two emergency diesel

generator start failures you referred to. Please note that the failures were identified during

required surveillance testing, which is when failures like these should be identified. Also

note that at no time were both emergency diesel generators unavailable. Our inspectors

personally verified the troubleshooting, failed components, and corrective actions.

Emergency diesel generator start failures are rare, and none have occurred at Oyster Creek

since June. We ' nave also verified that the emergency diesel generators are receiving

proper management attention, as required by the NRC Maintenance Rule.

Enclosed with this letter is a brochure entitled " Reporting Safety Concerns to the NRC," .

which provides a description of the NRC process in these matters.

Thank you for notifying us of your concerns. Should you have any additional questions, or

if the NRC can be of further assistance in this matter, please call me at 610-337-5234.

Sincerely,

.

Peter W. Es roth, Chief

Projects Branch 7

Division of Reactor Projects

Docket No. 50-219

!

_

ML20154J825

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