ML20197D202

Forwards Insp Rept 50-354/97-09 on 971005-1115.Apparent Violation of TS Procedure Requirements Being Considered for Escalated Ea.Engineering Work & Security Controls Were of Generally Good Quality

ML20197D202
Person / Time
Site:	Hope Creek
Issue date:	12/10/1997
From:	Hehl C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Eliason L Public Service Enterprise Group
Shared Package
ML20197D206	List: IR 05000354/1997009 ML20197D202
References
50-354-97-09, 50-354-97-9, NUDOCS 9712290002
Download: ML20197D202 (4)

See also: IR 05000354/1997009

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December 10,1997

EA 97 563

Mr. Lon R. Eliason

Chief Nuclear Officer and President

Nuclear Business Unit

Public Service Electric and Gas Company

Post Office Box 236

hcococks Bridge, NJ 08038

SO3 JECT:

NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 50 354/97-09

Dear Mr. Eliason:

09 November 15,1997, the NRC completed an inspection at your Hope Creek reactor

f acility. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection, which included

focused regionalinspector reviews of the site security program and your follow up efforts

for the through wall weld crack on the NSB core spray nozzle.

Throughout this six week inspection period, we observed inconsistent overall performance

during the conduct of both operations and maintenance department activities. Engineering

work and plant security controls were of generally good quality. Your root cause

evaluation and concurrent repair efforts for the failed core spray nozzle weld were very

thorough, and reflected a high quality response to this significant defect in the reactor

pressure vessel boundary. However, based our independent review, it was clear that your

inservice inspection program did not adequately prevent this adverse condition from

occurring in that the initial wold defect should have been identified and corrected during

the last refueling outage, before a through wallleak developed.

Based on the results of this inspection, an apparent violation of technical specification

procedure requirements for reactivity control was identified and is being considered for

escalated enforcement action in accordance with the " General Statement of Policy and

Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), NUREG 1600. Specifically,

when plant operators withdrew several control rods with elevated hydraulic system drive

water pressures while performing a core shutdown margin demonstration they f ailed to

restore drive water pressure to normalimmediately af ter control rod motion began, which

was contrary to established abnormal operating procedures. Further, after NRC inspectors

identified this concern to the operating crew and control room observers, no action was

taken to address this issue until the inspectors notified senior plant management.

Accordingly, no Notice of Violation is presently being issued for these inspection findings.

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In addition, please be advised that the number and characterization of apparent violations

described in the enclosed inspection report may change as a result of further NRC review.

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97t2290002 971210

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Mr. Leon R. Eliason

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An open predecisional enforcement conference to discuss this apparent violation will be

scheduled. The decision to hold a predecisional enforcement conference does not mean

that the NRC has determined that a violation has occurred or that enforcement action will

be taken. This conference is being held to obtain information to enable the NRC to make

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an enforcement decision, such as a common understanding of the facts, root causes,

missed opportunities to identify the apparent violation sooner, corrective actions,

significance of the issues and the need for lasting and effective corrective action, in

addition, this is an opportunity for you to point out any errors in our inspection report and

for you to provide any information concerning your perspectives on 1) the soverity of the

violation (s),2) the application of the f actors that the NRC considers when it determines the

amount of a civil penalty that may be assessed in accordance with Section VI.B.2 of the

Enforcemont Policy, and 3) any other application of the Enforcement Policy to this case,

including the exercise of discretion in accordance with Section Vll.

You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations on this

matter. No response regarding the apparent violation is required at this time.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter

and its enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).

Sincerely,

Original Slgned By:

Charles W. Hehl, Director

Division of Reactor Projects

Docket No.: 50 354

License No: NPF 57

Enclosure:

Inspection Report 50-354/97-09

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Mr. Leon R. Eliason

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cc w/ encl:

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L. Storr, Senior Vice President Nuclear Operstions

E. Simpson, Senior Vice President Nuclear Engineering

E. Salowitz, Director - Nuclear Business Support

A. F. Kirby, Ill, External Operations Nuclear, Delmarva Power & Light Co.

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J. A. Isabella, Manager, Joint Generation

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Atlantic Electric

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M. Serilla, General Manager Hope Creek Operations .

J. McMahon, Director - Quality Assurance / Nuclear Training / Emergency Preparedness

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D. Powell, Director Licensing / Regulation & Fuels

R. Kankus, Joint Owner Aff airs

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A. C. Tapert, Program Administrator

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Jeffrey J, Keenan, Esquire

Consumer Advocate, Office of Consumer Advocate

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William Conklin, Public Safety Corisultant, Lower Alloways Creek Township

State of New' Jersey

State of Delaware

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Mr. Leon R. Eliason

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Distributiori w/ encl:

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Re9 on i Deckot Room (with concurrences)

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Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)

NRC Resident inspector

PUBLIC

H. Miller, RA/W. Axelson, DRA

J. Linville, DRP

S. Barber, DRP

L. Harrison, DRP

C. O'Daniell, DRP

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D. Serenci, PAO (1)

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Distribution w/ encl: (Via E-Mail)

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K. Kennedy, OEDO

J. Stolz, PDI 2, NRR

B. Mozaf ari, Project Manager, NRR

inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)

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R. Correia, NRR

F. Talbot, NRR

DOCDESK

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 3\\lR9709.HC

T3 recohm a copy of this document. Ind6cate in the boa. *C's Copy without attachment / enclosure T a Copy with attachment / enclosure

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DATE

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