ML20196D388

Advises That Util Should Address Generic Ltr 88-17 Re Loss of DHR During Nonpower Operation.Ltr Issued Due to Potentially Serious Consequences of Inadequacy of Industry Response to Generic Ltr 87-12

ML20196D388
Person / Time
Site:	Waterford
Issue date:	12/02/1988
From:	Murley T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Cain C LOUISIANA POWER & LIGHT CO.
References
GL-87-12, GL-88-17, NUDOCS 8812090077
Download: ML20196D388 (4)

Text

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'Decket No. 50-382 Mr."J. M. Cain a President and Chief Executive DEC *iE Officer Louisiana Power & Light Company 317 Baronne Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70160

SUBJECT:

LOSS OF DECAY HEAT REMOVAL We have just issued Generic Letter 88-17 which addresses loss of decay heat removal (DHR) during nonpower operation.

This letter was issued because of the potential serious consequence of loss of shutdown cooling concurrent with significant core decay heat. Further, it is our belief that the industry as a whole has not aggressively responded to resolve the concern following its identification in our earlier Generic Letter 87-12. In particular, the industry's response to the Generic Letter 87-12 was deficient in'the areas of (1) prevention of accident initiation, (2) mitigation of accidents before they potentially progress to core damage, and (3) control of radioactive material if a core damage accident should occur. Generic Letter 88-17 prescribes expeditious actions which should immediately ease the concern; and parallel, but longer term, programmed enhancements which effectively address the root cause of the problems and permit greater flexibility in operation.

The loss of level indication and initiation of pump cavitation on two occasions at Waterford 3 on May 12, 1988 continues to be of concern to us. Your correc-tive actions following the 1986 event at Waterford and the implementation of your responses to Generic Letter 87-12 have not been sufficiently effective to prevent the May 12th occurrences. We expect that your response to Generic Letter 88-17 be prompt and your proposed actions to be expeditiously implemented.

We also expect your response to be comprehensive and of sufficient detail to permit an independent evaluation of your proposed actions for resolving this issue in an acceptable manner.

We consider this issue to be of high priority and request that you assure that your organization addresses it accordingly.

Sincerelv' original signed by nc asI.Earloy Thomas E. Murley, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: See next page

)ISTRLBUTION

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• ' Docket No. 50-382 Mr.' J. M. Cain pg *.O t President and Chief Executive Officer Louisiana Power & Light Company 317 Baronne Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70160

SUBJECT:

LOSS OF DECAY HEAT REMOVAL We have just issued Generic Letter 88-17 which addresses loss of decay heat removal (DHR) during nonpower operation.

This letter was issued because of the potential serious consequence of loss of shutdown cooling concurrent with significant core decay heat. Further, it is our belief that the industry as a whole has not aggressively responded to resolve the concern following its identification in our earlier Generic Letter 87-12. In particular, the industry's response to the Generic Letter 87-12 was deficient in the areas of (1) prevention of accident initiation, (2) mitigation of accidents before they potentially progress to core damage, and (3) control of radioactive material if a core damage accident should c. cur. Generic Letter 88-17 prescribes expeditious actions which should immediately ease the concern; and parallel, but longer term, programmed enhancements which effectively address the root cause of the problems and permit greater flexibility in operation.

The loss of level indication and initiation of pump cavitation on two occasions at Waterford 3 on May 12, 1988 continues to be of concern to us. Your correc-tive actions following the 1986 event at Waterford and the implementation of your responses to Generic Letter 87-12 have not been sufficiently effective to prevent the May 12th occurrences. We expect that your response to Generic Letter 88-17 be prompt and your proposed actions to be expeditiously implemented.

We also expect your response to be comprehensive and of sufficient detail to permit an independent evaluation of your proposed actions for resolving this issue in an acceptable manner.

We consider this issue to be of high priority and request that you assure that your organization addresses it accordingly.

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[ NUCLEAR REGULATCRY COMMISSION 5 WASHINGTON. D. C. 20665 k..... DEC_11983 Docket No. 50-382 Mr. J. M. Cain President and Chief Executive Officer Louisiana Power & Light Company 317 Baronne Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70160

SUBJECT:

LOSS OF DECAY HEAT REMOVAL We have just issued Generic Letter 88-17 which addresses loss of decay heat removal (OHR) during nonpower operation.

This letter was issued because of the potential serious consequence of loss of shutdown cooling concurrent with significant core decay heat. Further, it is our belief that the industry as a whole has not aggressively responded to resolve the concern following its identification in our earlier Generic Letter 87-12. In particular, the industry's response to the Generic Letter 87-12 was deficient in the areas of (1) prevention of accident initiation, (2) mitigation of accidents before they potentially pro 2ress to core damage, and (3) control of radioactive material if a core damage accident should occur. Generic Letter 88-17 prescribes expeditious actions which should immediately ease the concern; and parallel, but longer term, programmed enhancements which effectively address the root cause of the problems and permit greater flexibility in operation.

The loss of level indication and initiation of pump cavitation on two occasions at Waterford 3 on May 12, 1988 continues to be of concern to us. Your correc- '

tive actions following the 1986 event at Waterford and the implementation of your responses to Generic Letter 87-12 have not been sufficiently effective to prevent the May 12th occurrences. We expect that your response to Generic Letter 88-17 be prompt and your proposed actions to be expeditiously implemented.

We also expect your response to be comprehensive and c7 sufficient detail to permit an independant evaluation of your proposed actions for resolving this issue in an acceptable manner.

We consider this issue to be of high priority and request that yet assure that j your organization addresses it accordingly.

Sincerely, W( L Thomas E. Murley, Director <X Office of Nuclear Re:ictor Rer,ulation !

cc: See next page r

8

! Er. J. M. Cain Waterford 3 President and Chief Executive Officer cc:

W. Malcolm Stevenson, Esq. Regional Administrator. Region IV Monroe & Leman U.S. Nuclear Regulatori Connission.

1432 Whitney Building Office of Executive Director for New Orleans, Louisiana 70103 Operations 611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 Mr. E. Blake Arlington, Texas 76011 Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge 2300 N Street, NW Mr. William H. Spell, Administrator Washington, D.C. 20037 Nuclear Energy Division Office of Environmental Affairs Resident Inspector /Waterford NPS Post Office Box 14690 Post Office Box 822 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70898 Killona, Louisiana 70066 Mr. Ralph T. Lally President Police Jury t'anager of Quality Assurance St. Charles Parish itiddle South Services, Inc. Hahnville, Louisiana 70057 Post Office Box 61000 New Orleans, Louisiana 70161

• Chairman William A. Cross Louisiana Public Service Corraission Bethesda Licensing Office One Arerican Place, Suite 1630 3 Metro Center Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70825-1697 Suite 610 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 Mr. P. F. Bur *ki, Acting fluclear Safety er.d Regulatory Affairs Manager .

l Louisiana Power & Light Corpeny 317 Barorne Street Ntw Orleans, Louisiana 70112

!!r. J. G. Dewease Senior Vice President - Nuclear Operations Louisiana Power & Light Company 317 Baronne Street Mail Unit 17 New Orleans, Louisiana 70112 i

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