ML20203B705

EN-98-065:informs Commission That Staff Intends to Exercise Enforcement Discretion Per Section VII.B.6 of Enforcement Policy & Not Propose Civil Penalty Nor Issue NOV to Licensee for Severity Level III Violation

ML20203B705
Person / Time
Site:	San Onofre
Issue date:	11/04/1998
From:	Lieberman J, David Nelson NRC OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT (OE)
To:
References
EA-98-226, EN-98-065, EN-98-65, NUDOCS 9902100382
Download: ML20203B705 (1)

Text

,g Nov:mber 4,1998 EN 98-065 OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT NOTIFICATION OF SIGNIFICANT ENFORCEMENT ACTION Licensete;

• Southem Califomia Edison Co. (EA 98-226)

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Docket No. 50-361; 50-362

Subject:

EXERCISE OF ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION This is to inform the Commission that staffintends to exercise enforcement discretion per Section Vll.B.6 of the Enforcement Policy and not propose a Civil Penalty nor issue a Notice of Violation to Southem Califomia Edison Co. for a Severity Level ill Violation. The violation was caused by the failure of a reversing linestarter (due to grit from initial construction on mechanical surfaces) in the electrical power circuit associated with the Train A motor-operated, containment emergency sump outlet valve which would have prevented the valve from opening. With this valve unable to open on a containment sump circulation actuation signal, and with the Train B recirculation system unavailable due to planned maintenance, San Onofre was operated for a period of approximately 27 hours3.125e-4 days <br />0.0075 hours <br />4.464286e-5 weeks <br />1.02735e-5 months <br /> in January 1998 with no post-accident recirculation capability available, contrary to the requirements of the plant's technical specifications.

Given the loss of function of this safety system, this violation would normally have been categorized at Severity Level 11 in accordance with the Enforcement Policy. However, the risk significance was lessened by the relatively short duration of the loss of safety function (approximately 27 hours3.125e-4 days <br />0.0075 hours <br />4.464286e-5 weeks <br />1.02735e-5 months <br />) and the recovery potential by plant personnel. In addition, this was the only known failure of a linestarter due to grit in approximately 16 years of operation, indicating that this failure was isolated. Based on these considerations, the staff concluded that this issue is more appropriately classified at Severity Level Ill. Further, because the failure was considered not preventable by reasonable quality assurance activities and other management controls the staff intends to exercise enforcement discretion as provided for in Section Vll.B.6 of the Enforcement Policy and not propose a civil penalty nor cite a violation.

It should be noted that the licensee has not been specifically informed of the enforcement discretion. The schedule of issuance and notification is:

Mailing of Exercise of Enforcement Discretion November 12,1998 Telephone Notification of Licensee November 12,1998 The State of California will be notified.

Contacts: D. Nelson, OE, (301) 415-3280 J. Lieberman, OE, (301) 415-2741 Distribution OWFN OWFN _ ___. TWFN Regional Offices Chairman Jackson EDO OC RI RIV Comm. Dicus DEDE AEOD Ril Comm. Diaz OE OP CTR Rlli Comm. McGamgan OGC NMSS Comm. Merrifield SECY OlG NRR Ol RES Mall OCA PA ACRS NUDOCS IP SP IRM PUBLIC 3

PRELIMINARY INFORMATION - NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE UNTIL \

VERIFICATION THAT LICENSEE HAS RECEIVED ACTION

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9902100382 981104 PDR I&E EN-90-065 PDR .

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