ML20202D926

Partially Deleted Ltr Forwarding Allegation Evaluation Repts RII-1997-A-0053 & RII-1997-A-0054 Re Excessive Overtime Worked for Reactor Operators at Plant & Improper Securing of LPCI Pump

ML20202D926
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	06/06/1997
From:	Landis K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:	AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML20202D873	List: ML20202D870 ML20202D926 ML20202D959 ML20202D990 ML20202E039 ML20202E061 ML20202E076
References
FOIA-97-484 50-335-97-03, 50-335-97-04, 50-335-97-3, 50-335-97-4, 50-389-97-03, 50-389-97-04, 50-389-97-3, 50-389-97-4, NUDOCS 9802180032
Download: ML20202D926 (11)

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SUBJECT:

7 4N ALLEGATION REPORT NUMBERS RII-1997-A-0053 MD RII-1997 A 0054 15 o This refers to our letter dated March 12, 1997 in which we advised you that we were continuing our review of the concerns y,ou expressed regarding excessive overtime for reactor operators (RII-1997-A-0053) and alleged improper securing of a low Pressure Safety Injection (LPSI) pump during the unit 1 outage of 1996-(RII-1997-A-0054) at the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant.

Our actions regarding this matter have been completed and our findings are documented in the enclosures to this letter.

Based on the information provided, we were able to substantiate the allegation regarding operator overtime and enforcement action was taken.

The allegation regarding improper securing of the LPCI pump was partially substantiated in that, events occurred as you described, however we conclude that no violation of NRC requirements occurred.

This concludes the staff's activities regarding this matter.

If you have any questions, you may contact me at 1-800-577-8510 or (404) 562-4530 or by mail at P.0 Box 845 Atlanta, GA 30301.

Sincerely, f-Y,erry D. Landis. Chief

~j ReactorProjectsBranch3 e

Division of Reactor Projects Certified Mail No. P 058 054 074 RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

Enclosures:

1. Allegation Evaluation Reports

2. Report Nos. 50 335,389/97-03

3. Report Nos. 50-335,389/97-04

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ALLEGAT!ON EVALVATION REPORT ALLEGATION NUMBER RII 97 A 0053 CONCERNS OVER EXCESSIVE OVERTIME WORXED FOR REACTOR OPERATORS.

ST. LUCIE NUCLEAR PLANT DOCKETS 50 335 AND 50 389 ALLEGATION:

Operators are working excessive overtime hours on a tegular basis due to man)ower limitations. While Technical Specifications (TS) limits for number-of 1ours worked are not being exceeded, the low number of available operators

-is forcing the licensee to regularly use overtime to cover operators on leave.

The ALLEGER stated that a certain Reactor Operator (RO) received an exemption from the.24/48. requirement on March 6.1997, to support the Unit 1 startup.

The ALLEGER provided records of operator (licensed and non licensed) overtime -

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usage from January 1 to February 14, 1997.

Some R0s had as much as 120 hours0.00139 days <br />0.0333 hours <br />1.984127e-4 weeks <br />4.566e-5 months <br /> of overtime in the period.

DISCUSSION:

The-results of NRC inspections of the R0 overtime issues at St. -Lucie are documented in the Resident Inspector's inspection resorts 50 335.50-389/97-03 and 97 04. Copies of these reports are enclosed wit 1 this document. NRC has been aware of and concerned about the shortage of R0s and resulting heavy overtime use for some time.

Paragraph 06.1-of report 97-03 documents the data accumulated by the RIs. and concludes the issue was Unresolved Sending further NRC review.

Paragraph 08.5 of report 97-04 further documents tie RIs findings and conclusions on RI overtime at St. Lucie. Report 97-04 includes the NRC's,

Notice of Viola +1on issued May 30.1997 -for the routine heavy use'of" overtime in violation of the Technical Specifications. Even before the violation was issued. the NRC told )lant management that this problem required prompt corrective action.

F)&L management described several actions they are taking to assign more licensed operators to control board duties at least by the end of the Unit 2 outage.

CONCLUSION:

The allegation was substantiated as the ALLEGER described. The licensee is currently in the process of taking various corrective actions. NRC will continue to monitor the use of overtime during future inspections. NRC will await.the formal response to the Notice of Violation and evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed actions.

This allegation-is closed.

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ALLEGATION EVALUATION REPORT ALLEGATION NUMBER RII 97 A 0054 CONCERNS OVER ALLEGED IMPROPER SECURING OF A LPSI PUMP DURING THE UNIT 1 OUTAGE IN 1996.

ST. LUCIE NUCLEAR PLANT DOCKETS 50 335 AND 50 389 ALLEGATION:

The ALLEGER stated that, during the Unit 1 outage in 1996, the Operations Manager dirLcted operators to align the suction of the only operable Low Pressure Safety Injection (LPSI) pump (the one being used for shutdown cooling (SDC) for meeting the Technical Specifications (TS) Limiting Condition of 0)eration (LCO) for shutdown cooling in Mode 6) to the Refueling Water Tank (1WT) to increase the. rate at which the reactor cavity was being filled.

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stated pur)ose was to reduce the time it took to fill the cavity. According to the ALLEGER, three SR0s refused to perform the evolution. The ALLEGER stated that the basis for refusing was that securing the only operating LPSI pump would constitute a v11untary entrance into the Actica Statement (AS) associated with TS 3.9.8.1 (suspend all activities that would increase decay heat load or decrease boron concentration, close all penetrations to the environment within four hours).

The ALLEGER provided copies of operator logs which indicated that, at 00:45, the A ECCS header (required for SDC) was partially drained and that, et 04:44, the B LPSI pump was realigned and the applicable AS was entered.

Additionally. the ALLEGER provided an excerat from OP 1-1600024. " Filling and Draining the Refueling Canal and Cavity." w11ch included step 8.2.2.B.

The step required that operators ensure, before sectning the LPSI pump ' selected for cavity filling, that the ott.v train of SDC is maintaining >3000 gpm (TS requirement).

DISCUSSION:

The results of NRC inspections of the 1996 instance of securing-the LP51 pump, while operating in th'e shutdown cooling mode at St. Lucie are documented in the Resident Inspector's inspection reports 50-335.50-389/97-03 in paragraph 08.3. Copies of these reports are enclosed with this document. NRC reviewed the circumstances of this event and concluded that no violation occurred.

The Technical Specifications provide an action statement for the situation of no shutdown cooling loop in operation, and it appears that those requirements were met while the pump was shut down. The plant operating procedure in place

- at the time provided for the evolution, and it appears that the procedures were properly followed. NRC concludes that the evolution was performed in an acceptable manner.

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CONCLUSION:

The allegation was partially substantiated in that, events occurred as the ALLEGER described. After reviewing the circumstances of this matter. NRC concluded that no violation of regulacory requirements occurred.

Staff action is complete on this matter and this allegation is closed.

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l Allegation Summary Ril 94-A-0119 Allegation No.1) The number of guards is too low.

Working with skeleton crews, downsizing has made site unsafe. Use of trainees is j

necessary because of lack of officers, Discussion:

The inspectors reviewed shift strength records, Security incident Reports, Safeguards Event Logs, and Speakout inv Interviews with the Site Security Manager

]q and see newspper articles in thiT Allegation fil were con ucted.

No evidence was found that the security force is less than what is required in the Physical Security Plan (PSP).

In 1993 and 1994 there were three occasions when security posts were not compensated for, but the three events were caused by lack of vehicles, personnel safety and failure to follow procedures rather than by lack of offices.

In early 1994 the licensee began usiag the hand-geometry system to control protected area access; this resulted in the lay-off of 12 officers. As a result of attrition many of these 12 have been rehired and are considered part-time (trainees) employees. During this inspection all officers were armed and fully trained for their duties.

==

Conclusion:==

The allegation was unsubstantiated; there was no violation.

The licensee complies with its PSP.

D El Allegation No. 2) Lieutenan, ha nking problem, covered up by

.Q P the security con rac or, is now in rehabilitation.

N4 Discussion:

The Security Site M M volunteered to the Inspector that Lt.

was instr.ucted to refer to the

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Employees Assistance 7 i J

, 1992, for abuse of alcohol. Acccrding to is one of his best g

v supervisors and is curren essfully undergoing p

continued rehabilitation.

knew that the security contractor had instructed to refer to EAP.

2

==

Conclusion:==

The allegation was unsubstantiated, in that, although tne v

individual was referred to the EAP because of alcohol, it was not covered up by the contractor.

This issue was referred to the licensee for resolution.

Allegation No. 3) Office frequently smells of alcohol. The doctor re administer a ical exam believi m

7q to be drunk, was involved somehow in his event.

a n. na cd v"5 a:ed 2

2, h A:mn.m the Rt: dom clinformation cas N tct,cem > N N ATTACHMENT 2 Y

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2 Discussion:

There is a Lieutenant on the licensee's security force.

The Site Security Manager knew of no

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lieutenant who has an ongoing alcohol problem. Various current and former officers who have had alcohol rehabilitation were identified to the inspector.

was not identified as an individual who has expenenced an alcohol or drug problem.

==

Conclusion:==

The allegation could not substantiated based on the limited review.

The issue was referred to the licensee for resolution.

Allegation 4)

Officers are posted in hazardous areas as compensatory 6-measures due to the adverse weathers (ofricer hit by lighting in switchyard) and officers are posted in extremely 97 hot areas (officer passed out in fuel building c P

containment hatch).

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Discussion:

In August, 1993, Officer experienced a near lighting hit while posted in the vicinity of the switchyard.

He was treated at the onsite M cility and returned to work.

In May, 1994, Office ad to be treated for heat stress complicated by other medic 1 conditions. lie was

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treated onsite and sent home.

In September, 1993, an 8

unknown officer was treated for heat distress while offsite at the firearms range. This information came from discussions with the Industrial Safety Representative and from the Medical facility Staff.

According to Speakout files (93-112.nd 94-001) other issues have been raised such as officers needing safety glasses, electric fans for ventilation, life jackets and chairs on post.

Safeguards Events Logs reveal that in 1993.and 1994 there were 12 events of officers being posted due to system failures.

In two events the measures were suspended due to fears for personnel safety. This is allowable under NRC regulations.

==

Conclusion:==

The allegation was substantiated in that an officer experienced a near lighting hit and an officer has been treated for heat stress. There were no violation of NRC requirements. The PSP allows compensatory measures to be suspended based on personnel safety considerations.

Allegation No. 5) Rain gear precludes easy access to weapons Discussion:

Throughout this inspection, numerous officers were observed on duty wearing rain gecr.

In most cases the raincoat was a short jacket, either yellow or black. A few longer coats were observed being worn.

The licensee and its security

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3 contractor were in the process of issuing short jackets and rainpants to each officer. Access to weapons _did not appear-to be denied by the rain gear.

==

Conclusion:==

The allegation was unsub:tantiated; there was no violation.

Allegation No. 6)-Biometrics are-unreliable.

Similar hands will allow an unauthorized entry into the protected area.--

Discussion:

The inspectors reviewed procedures, testing records, i

Safeguard Event Logs, Security Incident Reports, and, l

inteviewed the Supervisors of the Electronics Security System Section, and a technician and his supervisor who were responsible _for installation / testing of the biometrics system.

L During the first week cf December,1993, the licensee's-technicians completed the pre-installation testing in the 1 8 C shop. Numerous attempts were made to use a valid card with an erroneous hand, on each occasion of a " false acceptance" the biometric system was corrected.- Following there pre-Operational tests, the employees used the system for entry, but their badges were-retained onsite. On December 15,.1993, the biometrics system was declared fully' operational and badges were released to the employses to--

take off site.

Various'" false acceptances" were experienced during the pre-acceptance, pre-operational and phase-in periods. There-have been no unauthorized entries to the protected area as a result of an unreliable biometrics reader.

On March'14,.1994, an authorized licensee em)loyee attempted to enter the protected area through the Norti Access Building using the biometrics system. Because the employee kept his-coded keycard in the-reader (which is not supposed tobedone)thereaderwouldnotaccepthishandgeometry and, thus, would not open the turnstile. A security officer-in attendance went to clear the reader by placing his hand over the reader. The biometric system accepted the hand of the officer in conjunction with the-employee's keycard and a

" false acceptance" occurred. =The turnstile unlocked but the employees, in the accompaniment of the officer, never entered. The two individuals resorted the failure and had their hands re-entered into the )iometrics system. This has not recurred.

==

Conclusion:==

The allegation was substantiated in that on March 14 there was a " false acceptance" however..there was no violation.

The licensee complies.with its PSP.

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3.

4 Allegation No. 7) Unreliable card readers result in the poor conduct of accountability of personnel onsite.

Discussion:

Speakout Concern No.94-005 investigated this issue and concluded that with the installation of biometric system, accountability of personnel on and off site is now greatly more accurate.

The inspectors reviewed Shift Supervisors Logs, Security Incident Reports, Safeguards Events Logs, and, interviewed the Supervisor of the Security System Electronics Section.

In addition, the inspectors toured the non-radiation controlled areas on numerous occasions and did not experience card reader unreliability.

==

Conclusion:==

The allegation was unsubstantiated.

There was no violation.

The licensee complies with its PSP.

Allegation No. 8) An inattentive officer allowed an authorized individual to walk through the metal detector carrying a package.

Discussion:

On, April 7 and August 15, 1994, there were two events involving inattentive security officers monitoring search equipment.

In both cases the officers were terminated.

These events were logged in the Safeguards Event Logs. The items "not searched" were notebooks that were carried through the metal detector.

The items did not alarm in the metal detectors.

==

Conclusion:==

The allegation was substantiated; however there was no violation. The notebook was searched as it passed through the metal detectors prior to entry.

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EXEMPT FROM DISCLO5URE

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10 CFR 2.790 INF0P.MATION h~

Ril-94-A-0119 - PHYSICAL SECURITY FITNESS FOR DUTY CONCERN"

'A5g Region 11 received information regarding fitness for duty issues at the St.

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.Lucie Nuclear Plant.

1.

Lieutenant has a drinking problem and in the Spririj of 1994 h

was " hidden out" i.e., showed up drunk 1 he ed up 7 {

V he assumed his duties, o

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SBl P.M. an assistant P.M. sen eutenant

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o Rehab.

con attest.

2.

Office frequently smells of alcohol.

Doctor refused to adminis

,q examination this past summer believing him to be y

drunk.

was involved.

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SURE UNDER 10 CFR NFORMATION

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