ML20197D202
| 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: |
| References | |
| 50-354-97-09, 50-354-97-9, NUDOCS 9712290002 | |
| Download: ML20197D202 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000354/1997009
Text
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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.
(
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
DR
ADOCK 05
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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
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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copy
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OFFICE
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DATE
12/08/97l
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