ML20199A723
| ML20199A723 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 01/22/1998 |
| From: | Reid D VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP. |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM) |
| References | |
| 50-271-97-11, BVY-98-05, BVY-98-5, NUDOCS 9801280068 | |
| Download: ML20199A723 (3) | |
Text
_._
VERMONT YANKEE e
(m)
NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION
- 185 Old Forry Road, Brattleboro, VT 05301 7002 (802) 257 5271 January 22,1998 BVY 98 05 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Dest Washington,D.C 20555
References:
(a)
Letter, USNRC to TYNPC, NRC Inspection Report 50 271/97 11 and Notice of Violation, NVY 97 185, dated December 23,199
(b)
VY LEP 97 023,"A Component Failure in the Main Generator Protection Circuitry Results in a Reactor Se,wn", BVY 97 178, dated December 23,1997
Subject:
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station License No. DPR 28 (Docket No. 50 271)
Response to a Notice of Violation - NRC Inspection Report 50-271/9711 This letter is written in response to reference (a), which documents that certain of our activities were not conducted in full compliance with NRC requirements. This violation, classified as Severity Level IV, was identified during an NRC inspection conducted f om October 31 to December 6,1997. Our response to the violation is provided below.
)
SIMement of Violaliga(50 271/9711-0l)
/
Technical Specification 6.3, " Plant Operating Procedures, " states that detailed written procedures, involving both nuclear and non-nuclear safety, shall be prepared, apprmsd. and adhered to covering the areas ofpreventive andcorrective maintenance operations which couldhave an effect on the safety ofthe reactor.
Contrary to the abm'e, plant auxiliary operators were implementing an unapprm ed (by l'ermont Yankee) l'ermont Electric Power Company (l'ELCO) switching order on Nm' ember 23,1997 to open the 343 Kl' Scoble Line No. 379 3 disconnecta when at 6:48 AM an automatic reactor scram resultedfrom the manipulation ofthe disconnects while the line was energizedper the switching sequence.
RESPONSJi Egason for the Violation Vermont Yankee does not contest this violation. The sequence of events that led to an automatic reactor scram started with the cited violation. The failure of a non safety related turbine protection device actually caused the scram when it failed to properly reset after the electrical transient induced by the manipulation of the electrical disconnects in the switchyard.
C O.'.b 4
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9001280068 990122 PDR ADOCK 05000271 0
VnRMONT YANKnn NUCLn AR Pownn CORPORATION Docket No. 50 271 DVY98 05 '
Paget The contributing causes to the event in the switchyard are as follows:
1.
The responsibility of the Control Room Shift Supenisor to oversee switchyard activities was not well defined. Excessive reliance was placal on the technical expertise of the Vermont Electric Company (VELCO) to provide an appropriate switching sequence without any explicit VY resiew and approval. These process deficiencies resulted in a missed opportunity to review the switching sequence and question the appropriateness of uncoupling the motor operated disconnect drive motor.
2.
There was a lack of knowledge and understanding on the part of the plant operations stafT about some of the potential risks involved in the t.:oupling or coupling of motor operated disconnects.
Correctivejicps That llave BeenTal en And The Results Achieved i
1.
The operations staff placed the plant in a normal shutdown configuration.
2 An inspection of the affected motor operated disconnect was performed to determine if the are had caused any equipment damage. The inspection revealed no equipment damage.
3.
The Operations Manager made a presentation of the particulars of the event to all crews.
4.
Agreements wert cached with VELCO for the Vermont Yankee control room to obtain advance copies of VELCO tagouts for nonnal maintenance and routine operations for review and concurrence.
5.
An operating standard on switchyard operations has been implemented It defines Vermont Yankee management's expectations for the level of reviews, oversight, and authority the Vermont Yankee Shift Supervisor is expected to exhibit over switchyard activities. It also provides the expectations for pre job briefs and communications requirements for switchyard activities.
Csgsstive Steps That Will Be Taken To Avoid FurthtLYiolatism in addition to implementing an operating standard for the switchyard and reaching agreement on advanced notice for switching with VELCO, the following actions will be taken:
1.
Vermont Yankee will incorporate the Switchyard Operations Standard into the 345 and i15 KV operating procedures. Expected completion date is March 15,1998.
2.
Vermont Yankee will conduct Auxiliary Operator refresher training on the motor operated disconnect motor uncoupling and locking evolution. The training will l
VERMONT YANKDE NUCLEAR PownR CORPORATION Docket No. 50 271 BVY 98 05'#
Page4 include a discussion on the potential impact of operating disconnects when one side of the disconnect is energized. Vermont Yankee will also ensure that Auxiliary Operator initial training inc.
.his issue. Expected completion date is July 1998.
3.
Vermont Yankee has conducted discussions with VELCO about the practice of uncoupling the motors from motor operated disconnects and locking the operating mechanisms. E'.:e the objective is to achieve personnel safety, reliance on the strict controlimposed by the Vermont Yankee danger tagging system may be a logical alternative to physically uncoupling and locking the mechanisms. An evaluation will be performed to identify options which may make uncoupling unnecessary. Expected completion date is September 1998.
l Date When Full Compliance Will Be Achieved Full compliance will be achieved on March 15,1998 when the 345 and 115 KV operating procedures are revised to incorporate the Switchyard Operations Standard.
We trust that the enclosed infonnation is responsive to your concerns, however, should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact us.
Sincerely,
\\T.RMoNT YANK 12 NUCII.AR POWER CoRPoRATloN Donald A. Reid Senior Vice President, Operations cc:
USNRC Region i Administrator USNRC Resident inspector VYNPS USNRC Project Manager VYNPS Vermont Department of Public Service J