ML20198S617
| ML20198S617 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Beaver Valley |
| Issue date: | 11/07/1997 |
| From: | Hehl C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Cross J DUQUESNE LIGHT CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20198S624 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-334-97-07, 50-334-97-7, 50-412-97-07, 50-412-97-7, NUDOCS 9711140075 | |
| Download: ML20198S617 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000334/1997007
Text
_
?
November 7, 1997
Mr. J. E. Cross
President
Generation Group
Duquesne Light Company (DLC)
Post Office Box 4
Shippingport, Pennsylvania 15077
SUBJECT:
NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 50-334/97-07,50-412/97-07
Dear Mr. Cross:
The NRC conducted an inspection of the Beaver Valley Power Station (BVPS) facilities from
August 31 to October 4,1997. The enclosed report presents the results of that
inspection.
During the 5-week period covered by this inspection period, your conduct of activities at
the Beaver Valley Power Station facilities was generally characterized as good
performance. Operators and maintenance technicians responded effectively when a Unit 2
pressurizer power operated relief valve opened due to an electrical fault, a Unit 2 high head
safety injection p"mp replacement was well coordinated; engineers performed a superior
evaluation of a pc.cntial incore thermocouple failure mechanism; and beneficial training
drills were cor. ducted for the emergency response organization.
A review of your station wide corrective action processes found them to be improved over
the past year and generally effective in identPying, evaluating, and correcting problems.
Notwithstanding, our inspectors noted several instances where your organization was not
proactive in evaluating or correcting degraded or unusual conditions. Examples of slow
response by your organization included elimination of unnecessary emergency diesel
generator automatic starts, operability assessment of the Unit 2 digital rod position
indication system, high head safety injection pump gas binding issues, and slow procedure
development for a degassifier subsystem flush,
y
Based on the results of this inspection, a violation of NRC requirements was identified.
,(
NRC inspectors identified that reductions in quality assurance program commitments had
'
been made without prior NRC approval. This violation is cited in the enclosed Notice of
Violation, and the circumstances surrounding the violation are described in detailin the
enclosed report. Please note that you are required to respond to this letter and should
follow the instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response. The
NRC will use your response, in part, to determine whether further enforcement action is
)f
necessary to ensure complience with regulatory requirements.
I
x30'
971114007S 971107
ADOCK 05000334
~~
I.
m
e
'
Mr. J. E. Cross
2
in addition, one apparent violation 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. NRC inspectors identified
that ::orrective actions to address repeated gas binding of your high head safety injection
pumps from 1993 to the present have not been effective. Additionally, the inspection
report following this one will contain an apparent violation pertaining to preconditioning of
these high head safety injection pumps prior to surveillance testing. This apparent
violation will be discussed with you at an in+erim exit meeting for this inspection. 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. A
predecisional enforcement conference to discuss these apparent violations wEl be
scheduled shortly.
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 informatlon to enable the NRC to make an enforcement
decision, such as a common understanding of the facts, root causes, missed opportunities
to identify th', 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 severity of the violation; 2) tne 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 Enforcement Policy; and 3) any other
application of toe Enforcement Policy to this case, including the exercise of discretion in
accordance with Section Vll.
You wiil be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations on this
rnatter. 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 t is letter
h
and its enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).
Sincerely,
.
Ld.
2:
Charles W. Hehl, Director
Division of Reactor Projects
Docket Nos. : 50-334, 50-412
Enclosures:
1.
2.
Inspection Report 50-334/97-07, 50-412/97-07
-
-
i
9
,
Mr. J. E. Cross
3
cc w/encts:
S. Jain, Vice President, Nuclear Services
R. LeGrand, Vice President, Nuclear Operations
B. Kline, Manager, Nuclear Engineering Department
B. Tuite, General Manager, Nuclear Operations Unit
K. Ostrowski, Manager, Quality Services Unit
J. Arias, Director, Safety & Licensin0 Department
M. Clancy, Mayor
Commonwe61th of Pennsylvania
State of Ohio
Distribution w/encts:
Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)
PUBLIC
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
NRC Resident inspector
H. Miller, ORA
W. Axelson, DRA
P. Eselgroth, DRP
D. Haverkamp, DRP
A. Keatley, DRP
Distributina w/encls (VIA E MAIL):
J. Stolz, NRR
W. Dean, OEDO
R. Correia, NRR
F. Talbot, NRR
DOCDESK
inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 7\\BVB7 ?.7. INS
To receive a copy of this document, indic. ate in the box: "C" = Copy without
attachment / enclosure
"E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure
N" = No copy
OFFICE , Rl/DRP
RWF}PJ
6
/
tj
NAME/mKpfj/j,fk
fs/ g s ki
Cdeedb F
C f/i/p
l[' q Cj7
l
DATE fM 10/28/97
f
OFRCIAL RECORD COPY '
'
_ _ - _ - _ _
_ - _ _ - _ - _ _ - _ _ -
_ - _ -
_
A