ML20204B320
| ML20204B320 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | San Onofre  |
| Issue date: | 03/16/1999 |
| From: | Merschoff E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Ray H SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20204B328 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-361-98-18, 50-362-98-18, EA-98-563, NUDOCS 9903220073 | |
| Download: ML20204B320 (6) | |
See also: IR 05000361/1998018
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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REGloN IV
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611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 400
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76011-8064
March 16, 1999
EA 98-563
Harold B. Ray, Executive Vice President
Southern California Edison Co.
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
P.O. Box 128
San Clemente, California 92674-0128
SUBJECT:
(NRC Special Inspection Report No. 50-361/98-18; 50-362/98-18)
Dear Mr. Ray:
This refers to the special inspection completed on December 18,1998, at the San Onofre
Nuclear Generating Station. The purpose of tha inspection was to determine the circumstancs
surrounding the inoperability of the Train B emergency chilled water system during two,
extended periods in August and September 1998. Southern California Edison Co. (SCE)
identified one occurrence on September 25,1998, and the other on October 21,1998. The
results of the inspection were issued in a report dated January 15,1999. In the letter
transmitting the report, the NRC informed SCE that escalated enforcement action was being
considered for an apparent violation of plant Technical Specifications. SCE responded to the
apparent violation in two letters dated February 11 and February 16,1999.
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Based on the information developed during the inspection and after consideration of the
information that SCE provided in its responses, the NRC has determined that a violation of
NRC requirements occurred. The violation is cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice)
and the circumstances surrounding it are described in detail in the subject inspection report.
The issue involves SCE's identification that the Train B emergency chilled water system had
been inoperable in excess of the action times required by the technical specification on two
separate occasions. The train was inoperable for 22 days due to maintenance, an inconectly
set electrical demand switch, and noncondensable gases in the refrigerant on the first occasion.
The train was inoperable for 26 days due to maintenance and a miswired low chilled water
temperature cutout switch on the second occasion.
Despite SCE's probabilistic risk assessment that the issue represented a "small" increase in
core damage risk, the issue is significant because on both occasions, one train of a safety-
related system was rendered inoperable for a period of time far in excess of the Technical
Specification action time while both units were operating in Mode 1. The emergency chilled
water system provides cooling water to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems,
which in turn removes heat frot the safety-related equipment rooms and provides cooling for
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habitability concerns, during emergency conditions. Therefore, this violation has been
categorized in accordance with the " General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC
Enforcement Actions"(Enforcement Policy), NUREG-1600 at Severity LevelIll.
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in accordance with the Enforcement Policy, a base civil penalty in the amount of $55,000 is
considered for a Severity Level lli violation. Because' SONGS has been the subject of
9903220073 990316
ADOCK 05000361
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Southern California Edison Co.
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escalated enforcement action within D.9 last 2 years,' the NRC considered whether credit was
warranted for identification and Corrective Action in accordance with the civil penalty
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assessment process in Section VI.B.2 of the Enforcement Policy. The NRC concluded that
identification credit was warranted. SCE identified the first inoperable period while reviewing
plant records, and identified the second inoperable period when the chiller failed to start during
a surveillance test. The NRC also concluded that credit was warranted for corrective actions.
As discussed in the subject inspection report, your corrective actions included revising your
maintenance procedures concerning the electrical. demand setting, adding a postmaintenance
test requirement following dynamic calibration, and changing how you handle lifted leads to
electrical components.
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Therefore, to encourage prompt identification and comprehensive correction of violations, I
have been authorized, after consultation with the Director, Office of Enforcement, not to
propose a civil penalty in this case. However, significant violations in the future could result in a
civil penalty.
The NRC has concluded that information regarding the reason for the violation, the corrective
actions taken and planned to correct the violation and prevent recurrence, and the date when
full compliance was achieved, is already adequately addressed on the docket in Inspection
Report Nos. 50-361/98-18; 50-362/98-18, in Licensee Event Reports98-020 and 98-021, and in
your correspondence dated February 11 and 16,1999. Therefore, SCE is not required to
respond to this letter unless the description therein does not accurate'y reflect your corrective
actions or your position. In that case, or if you choose to provide additional information, you
should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed Notice.
SCE provided several " corrections / clarifications" to NRC's inspection report in its February 16
letter, but noted that there were no materialissues in dispute. The NRC will address SCE's
comments in separate correspondence,
in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, its
enclosure, and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Sincerely,
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Ellis W. Mers
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Regional Administrator
Docket Nos.: 50-361
50-362
License Nos.: NPF-10
NPF-15
' A Severity Level 111 violation was issued on February 18.1998. (EA 97-585)
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Southern California Edison Co.
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Enclosure: Notice of Violation
cc w/ Enclosure:
Chairman, Board of Supervisors
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County of San Diego
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1600 Pacific Highway, Room 335
San Diego, California 92101
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Alan R. Watts, Esq.
Woodruff, Spradlin & Smart
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701 S. Parker St. Suite 7000
Orange, California 92868-4720
Sherwin Harris, Resource Project Manager
Public Utilities Department
City of Riverside
3900 Main Street
Riverside, California 92522
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' R. W. Krieger, Vice President
Southern California Edison Company
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
P.O. Box 128
San Clemente, California 92674 0128
Stephen A. Woods, Senior Health Physicist
Division of Drinking Water and
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Environmental Management
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Nuclear Emergency Responso Program
California Department of Health Services
P.O. Box 942732, M/S 396
Sacramento, California 94334-7320
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Mr. Michael R. Olson
Sr. Energy Administrator
San Diego Gas & Electric Company
P. O. Box 1831
San Diego, California 92112-4150
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Mr. Steve Hsu
Radiological Health Branch
State Department of Health Services
P.O. Box 942732
Sacramento, California 94234
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Southern California Edison Co.
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Mayor
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100 Avenida Presidio
San Clemente, California 92672
Mr. Truman Burns \\Mr. Robert Kinosian
Califomia Public Utilities Commission
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505 Van Ness, Rm. 4102
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San Francisco, California 94102
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