ML20155H250
| ML20155H250 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vogtle  |
| Issue date: | 10/21/1998 |
| From: | Plisco L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | Beasley J SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING CO. |
| References | |
| 50-424-98-05, 50-424-98-5, 50-425-98-05, 50-425-98-5, NUDOCS 9811100036 | |
| Download: ML20155H250 (10) | |
See also: IR 05000424/1998005
Text
.. - -.
l
.
&
October 21, 1998
-
1
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
ATTN: Mr. J. B. Beasley
Vice President
j
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant
P.O. Box 1295'
- Birmingham, AL 35201
Dear Mr. Beasley:
SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-424, and 50-425/98-05
Thank you for your response of August 18,1998, to our Notice of Violation issued on July 23,
1998, concerning activities conducted at your facility. We have examined your response and
found that it meets the requirements of 10 CFR 2.201.
1
In your response, you admitted that Example 1 of violation 50-42S/98-05-01 occurred as stated
but denied that a violation of Technical Specifications occurred as stated in Example 2 of the
'
violation.
,
After careful consideration of the basis for your denial of Example 2, we have concluded, for the
'
reasons presented in the enclosure to this letter, that the violation occurred as stated in the
Notice'of Violation. Therefore, in accordance with 10 CFR 2.201(a), you are required to submit
to this office within 30 days of the date of this letter a written statement describing steps which
have been taken to correct Example 2 of Violation 50-425/98-05-01 and the results achieved,
corrective steps which will be taken to avoid further violations, and the date when full
compliance will be achieved.
We will examine the implementation of your actions to correct Violation 50-425/98-05-01 during
future inspections.
We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
(Original signed by
g
Loren R. Plisco)
\\ \\
Loren R. Plisco, Director,
Division of Reactor Projects
Docket Nos. 50-424,50-425
Enclosure:
Evaluations and Conclusions
cc w/ encl: (See Page 2)
C C 2 C:,4
F
9811100036 99102144y,
DR
ADOCK 050
'
fld l
w
.
.
.. - .
-
.
..
,
2
cc w/ encl:
J. D. Woodard
Executive Vice President .
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P. O. Box 1295
Birmingham, AL 35201-1295
J. T. Gasser
General Manager, Plant Vogtie
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P. O. Box 1600 -
Waynesboro, GA 30830
'J. A. Bailey
_
i
Manager Licensing
.
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P. O. Box 1295
Birmingham, AL 35201-1295
Director, Consumers' Utility Counsel Division
Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs
- 2 M. L. King, Jr. Drive
l
Plaza Level East: Suite 356
Atlanta, GA 30334-4600
Office of Planning and Budget
Room 615B
270 Washington Street, SW
' Atlanta, GA 30334
Office of the County Commissioner
1
Burke County Commission
Waynesboro, GA 30830
Director, Department of Natural Resources
205 Butler Street, SE, Suite 1252
'
Atlanta, GA 30334
,
,
Manager, Radioactive Materials Program
Depaitment of Natural Resources
4244 International Parkway
Suite 114 -
Atlanta, GA 30354
!
' cc w/enci cont'd: (See Page 3)
l:
!.
,
,
,-
.
..
, .
--.
.
_
.. .
..__.._ _.
_ _ . .
- . _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ ._
. _ .. .. . _ . . _ .
,
!>
l
'
,
. . .
i
'
SNC-
3
L
cc w/ encl: Continued
i
Attomey General'
l
. Law Department
1
L
~ 132 Judicial Building
I
l.
Atlanta, GA 30334
Program' Manager
Fossil & Nuclear Operations
"
,
~
. Oglethorpe Power Corporation
!'
2100 E. Exchange Place
Tucker, GA 30085-1349
Charles A. Patrizia, Esq.:
' Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker-
- 10th Floor
l
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue
'; Washington, D. C. 20004-9500
Senior Engineer- Power Supply.
. Municipal Electric duthority
- of Georgia-
,
'
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW -
1
Atlanta, GA: 30328-4684
Distribution w/ encl:
'
L. Plisco, Rll
. P. Skinner, Ril
D. Jaffe, NRR
PUBLIC ;
NRC Senior Resident Inspector
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
8805 River Road '
.Waynesboro, GA 30830
.
<
I
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE
i-
l.
w.~s
RII:prir
Rll:DRP
Ril:DRP
Ril:EICS
Ril: ORA
NRR:HQ
I.
ensreATURE
NAME-
r i A J. ^
JZeiler*
PHskinner
ATBoland
CFEvans*
DJeffe'
j.
DATE
IW /98
IW /98
IW /98
1W /98
1W AS
1W /98
1W /98
wr y r
YE5
NO
YE5
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YE5
NO
YES
NO
OPPsCIAL RECORD COPY -
DOCUMENT NAME: G:WOGTLEWOG9806. DEN
.
, ,
e
-,.
w6-r
,,
,v,
--
,,
,
r
,
,
- . - .
.
..
_ __.
_
_ _ _ _ ._ _ _
. _ _ .
_ . - -
_ _ - _-
___.
__
.
,
,.
3
cc w/ encl: Continued
Attorney General
Law Department
132 Judicial Building
Atlanta, GA 30334
Program Manager
. Fossil & Nuclear Operations
Oglethorpe Power Corporation
'
2100 E. Exchange Place
- Tucker, GA 30085-1349
4
' Charles A. Patrizia, Esq.
,
' Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
10th Floor
l1299 Pennsylvania Avenue-
Washington, D. C. 20004-9500
Senior Engineer - Power Supply
l
Municipal Electric Authority
!
of Georgia
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW .
Atlanta, GA 30328-4684
Distribution w/ encl:
L. Plisco, Rll
P. Skinner, Rll-
'
D. Jaffe, NRR
PUBLIC
NRC Senior Resident inspector
l.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
8805 River Road
Waynesboro, GA 30830
h
C
f(ob
h
\\
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE
r
,d
_l
4
vrr:Gui
Ril:DRP
Ril:DRP
Ril:DM /h
4pl gP
Ril: ORA
NRR:HQ
i
SlGNATURE
l[
)
(yp
NAME
BHolbrook:dka*
JZeller*
PHSkinner
' ATBoland
CFEvans*
DJeffe*
'
DATE
IW, M
IW M
p(3 M
1W M
1W
M.
1W /98
IW M
,
!
COPY?
YES
NO
YES
NO
/YES / NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
No
YES
NO
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
DOCOMENT NAME: G WoGTLEWOG9805. DEN
t
I
-i
v
.
.
.
.
.
I
-SNC
3
cc w/ enc 1:
Continued
Program Manager
<
Fossil & Nuclear Operations
Oglethor)e Power Corporation
2100 E.
Exchange Place
Tucker. GA 30085-1349
Charles A. Patrizia. Esq.
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
10th Floor
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue-
Washington, D. C.
20004-9500
Senior Engineer - Power Supply
Municipal Electric Authority
j
of Georgia
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW
Atlanta, GA 30328-4684
Distribution w/ encl:
L. Plisco, RII
P. Skinner. RII
D. Jaffe, NRR
PUBLIC
'NRC Senior Resident Inspector
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
8805 River Road
Waynesboro, GA 30830
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE
f
,
W l' '
.,
0FFICE
RII:DRP
Rll:DRP
Ril:DRP
Rll:EICS
Ril:0RA
M110
5111NA11ME
IlfWE
BNolbrock adus'
JZeller*
PHSkinner
ATBoland
CFEvent"
DJeffe"
DATE
10/
/95
10/
/95
10/
/95
10/
/95
10/
/95
10/] /95
10/
/95
wru r
YE5
ND
YE5
11 0
YES
11 0
YES
IID
YES
N0
/ES)
NO
YES
NO
OFFICl41. RECORD CEFY
DOCLBENT IIAIE G:\\V0GTLE\\V0G9805. DEN
V
l
oCT-06-1998 11:09
USMC WGkE ^
^
~
1 706 554 9548
P.02
,
i.
,
3
cc w/ enc 1: Continued
Program Manager
Fossil & Nuclear Operations
Oglethorpe Power Corporation
2100 E. Exchange Place
Tucker CA 30085-1349
Charles A. Patrizia. Esq.
Paul. Hastings. Janofsky & Walker
10th Floor
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington D. C.
20004-9500
,
Senior Engineer - Power Supply
Municipal Electric Authority
of Georgia
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW
Atlanta GA 30328-4684
Distribution w/ enc 1:
L. Plisco. RII
P. Skinner. RIl
D. Jaffe. NRR
PUBLIC
NRC Senior Resident Inspector
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission
8805 River Road
Waynesboro. GA 30830
.
.
urriet
xxIsaur
it31i3RP
Ril2In
MtM
RII:BW
R
_
JM
M
Cimb
_ .
'
'
""
[
._
= =_W. ;;2mm pp
-- J. W
bm
PWttreer
v
snes
W la /TB
W (p /TW
N
/T5
14
/W
W
/TW
W OkMB
l
Tur
/is
pus) us
/TE33
C3
E
M5
30
M
m
TIE ( ugi
Ms
em
-u
0Ff1 CIA 1. MC W 6 C
sOnsENT asfEs Ez\\mCTL5\\WMWW.sts
-
!-
TOTAL P.02
,
- .
.
-
~
-
.-
_. -
.
.
3
cc w/ enc 1: Continued
Program Manager
Fossil & Nuclear Operations
!.
Oglethorpe Power Corporation
-2100 E. Exchange Place
' Tucker, GA 30085-1349
Charles A. Patrizia. Esq.
Paul. Hastings, Janofskys& Walker
10th Floor
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D. C.
20004-9500
'
Senior Engineer - Power Supply
- Municipal Electric Authority
of Georgia
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW
Atlanta, GA 30328-4684
Distribution w/ encl:
L. Plisco, RII
.
P. Skinner, RII
D. Jaffe, NRR
PUBLIC
NRC Senior Resident Inspector
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
-
8805 River Road
Waynesboro, GA 30830
0FFICE
Ell:DRP
Ell:DRP
Ril:EICS
NRR:NQ
Ril:DRP
5IEMATURE
~
%-
INNE
BLNolbro *:d a
JZeiler
ATBotand
DJaffe
PHSkiriner
DATE
10/ kp /95
10/
/95
10/
/95
10/
/95
10/
/95
10/
/95
10/
/95
uri r
(YE5)
10 0
YES
No
YES
NO
TES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
10 0
DOCLSENT NAfE: G:\\v0GTLE\\v0G9805. DEN
- - - .
-
.
.
-- -.
.-- - - - - - . - -
l-
-
l
,
l
.
l
EVALUATIONS AND CONCLUSION
1
.
i
On July 23,1998, a Notice of Violation (Notice) was issued for a violation identified dunng a
t
L
routine NRC inspection. Southern Nuclear Operating Company responded to the Notice on
'
-August 18,1998. Example 1 was admitted and Example 2 was denied for Violation 50-425/98-
'05-01. The NRC's evaluation and conclusions regarding the licensee's arguments are as
follows:
l
l.
Restatement of Violation 50-425/98-05-01
Unit 2 Technical Specification (TS) Limiting Condition Of Operation'(LCO) 3.0.4 states that
.when a limiting condition of operstion is not met, entry into a mode or other specified condition -
in the Applicability shall not be made except when the associated actions to be entered permit
I
continued operation In that mode or other specified condition in the applicability for an unlimited
- _
period of time. Exceptions to LCO 3.0.4 are stated in the individual Specifications.
!-
l
Contrary to the above:
1.
On April 19,1998, Unit 2 entered Mode 2 (from Mode 3) without meeting the LCO of TS
)
3.3.2," Engineering Safety Feature Actuation System (ESFAS) instrumentation." Table
i
3.3.2-1, Item 5, which requires two trains of the Turbine Trip function to be operable
i
_ prior to entering Mode 2. Action Condition H was applicable and has a limited
completion time of six hours. TS 3.3.2 does not contain an LCO 3.0.4 exception
statement.
2.
On June 10,1998, Unit 2 entered Mode 4 (from, Mode 3) without meeting the LCO for
TS 3.4.12, " Cold Overpressure Protection Systems," which required two reactor coolant
j
system relief valves to be operable. The licensee entered Mode 4 while in Action
Condition D of TS 3.4.12 for one pressurizer power operated relief valve (PORV) being
'
inoperable. This Specification has a limited time of 7 days and does not contain an LCO 3.0.4 exception statement.
Summarv of Licensee's Response to Examole 2
1.
The licensee contends that the previous Technical Specification version contained an
l
LCO 3.0.4 exception.
.
2.
The licensee also contends that the TS Bases addresses the situation with the following
,
statement. "In addition, the provisions of LCO 3.0.4 shall not prevent changes in
MODES or other specified conditions in the Applicability that result from a normal
shutdown."
,
I
3.
The licensee's denial referenced a January 1988, letter from Thomas E. Murley, former
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, to Joe F. Colvin, Executive Vice
l
President and Chief Operating Officer NUMARC, entitled "NRC Staff Response to
i-
NUMARC Technical Specification Working Group Key Implementation issues for
i-
Restructured Technical Specifications," in which the NRC staff wrote the following about
the improved Technical Specifications Bases:
.
!
'
-
,
Enclosure
l
.-.
_ _ .
_.
_._
.
__
_
.-
i
i
2
"TS Bases will provide information to facilitate proper interpretation and application of
TS requirements. Bases are also used for determining the purpose of existing
requirements when changes to the TS are considered. In short, Bases provide the
technical underpinning for TS requirements. Any change to this technical underpinning
that would influence the way the requirement might be interpreted or applied should be
subject to prior staff approval because it would, in effect, be a TS change. However,
changes that do not erode this technical underpinning should not require staff approval."
The licensee referenced that letter and stated that "SNC views the Bases statement that
LCO 3.0.4 shall not prevent a normal shutdown as a clarification that facilitated proper
interpretation and application of TS requirements."
NRC Evaluation of Licensee's Response
1.
The licensee is committed to the current version of Technical Specifications which does
not include an exemption to LCO 3.0.4 not the former version.
'
2.
NUREG-1431, Rev.1, dated April 7,1995, revised LCO 3.0.4 to read "When an LCO is
not met, eatry into a MODE or other specified condition in the Applicability shall not be
made except when the associated ACTIONS to be entered permit continued operation
in the MODE or other specified condition in the Applicability for an unlimited period of
time. This Specification shall not prevent changes in MODES or other specified
conditions in the Applicability that are required to comply with ACTIONS or that are cart
of a shutdown of the unit." (Emphasis added)
.
This revision was made so that changes in MODES or other specified conditions in the
Applicability that are a part of a shutdown of the unit shall not be prevented. The
revision also identified that before the revised version of the LCO could be implemented
on a plant specific basis, the licensee must review the existing technical specifications to
determine where specific restrictions on MODE changes or Required Actions should be
included in individual LCOs to justify this change.
TS 3.4.12 does not contain a statement of exception to TS 3.0.4. In addition, the
statement in the TS Bases would allow the Bases to override the TS requirement which
is not acceptable. The revision to NUREG-1431 discussed above had not yet been
incorporated into the Vogtle TS.
3. -
The statement quoted from the January 1988 NRC letter was taken out of context. The
paragraph addresses the influence of Bases on TS application. The paragraph includes
l
a caution that Bases changes should not result in an erosion of the TS intent.
. Therefore, the licensee's denial incorrectly implies that the paragraph supported carte
blanc use of the bases for interpretations of the TS rather than caution associated with
revising the Bases.
_.
,
.
.
3
-
The licensee's interpretation of the statement that LCO 3.0.4 shall not prevent a normal
shutdown, to support that they could enter a lower mode does not address the issue that
-
It is in the lower modes where Cold Overpressure Protection Systems (COPS) are
.
significant to safety. TS Bases 3.4.12 states, in part, that the COPS controls Reactor
~ -
Coolant System pressure at low temperatures so the integrity of the reactor coolant
1
pressure boundary is not compromised by violating the pressure and temperature limits -
- of 10 CFR 50, Appendix G. In this case, the unit entered a mode of operation that
allowed lower temperature operation.
'
The NRC position is that the licensee applied the bases statement of " normal shutdown"
in the wrong circumstances.
1
The NRC staff has carefully reviewed the licensee's response and does not concur with the
conclusions.
j
"
NRC Conclusion
4
For the reasons stated above, the NRC staff concludes that the violation occurred as stated.
l
.
.
.
i
-
j
i
.
'
,
l
l