ML20206L846
| ML20206L846 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Summer  |
| Issue date: | 11/18/1988 |
| From: | Bradham O SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTRIC & GAS CO. |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION & RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (ARM) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8811300271 | |
| Download: ML20206L846 (2) | |
Text
_.
10CFR2.201 gthgerge sectne a o-. c me.ny g e on,.m g
ging;c SC N065 Nuclear Operations SCEAG e.c November 18, 1988 t
Document Control Desk U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington, DC 20555
Subject:
Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station Occket No. 50/395 Operating License No. NPF-12 Response to Notice of Violation NRC Inspection Report 88-19 Gentlemen:
a On November 1,1988, the Nuclear Regulatory Comission (Region !!) issued a
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Notice of Violation for an alleged violation of HRC requirements at the South 4
Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G) Virgil C. Sumer Nuclear Station (VCSNS). SCE&G is in agreement with the facts as set forth in this Notice.
Attachment I to this letter provides a copy of Licensee Event Report (LER) i 88-010 which was previously submitted on October 6, 1988 in regards to this event. This LCR addressas the reason for the violation and corrective actions taken to prevent recur >ence.
In addition to the actions addressed in this LER, VCSNS has added the Fire Protection Engineer (FPE) as a reviewer to enhance the quality of Fire Protection Procedures. Although the FPE will not be required to review and coment on every procedure. Engineering Services will be provided the opportunity to evaluate each change or revision. All l
actions are complete with the exception of training upgrades which are
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expected to be complete by September of 1989.
l The Notice of Violation also noted that this violation was similar to a violation contained in Inspection Report 87-24 dated October 15, 1987.
The primary root cause of the violations is considered to be personnel error.
l However, a major differt:nce in the events involved knowledge level of the personnel regarding the Integrated Fire System (IFS) computer and its response to unusual events. The personnel involved in the first event are l
believed to have had adequate knowledge and training on the system and its i
4 programatic recuirements to have prevented the October 15, 1987 violation.
Whereas, the failure of "all" Fire Protection Officers, during the most i
recent event, to recognize the inoperable status of the IFS subsystem for a i
period of approximately six and one-half days indicates that the individuals' understanding of the system was inadequate.
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8011300271 001118
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Document Control Desk November 18, 1988 Page 2 d
SCE&G established the position of the Fire Protection Officer on March 28, 1988 in response to the event addressed in the former violation. These Officers have been effective in their coordination of daily activities and in the prompt identification and correction of deficiencies.
The newly hired personnel received training on system operations and programmatic requirements prior to assumption of their duties; however, their knowledge was not reinforced through a requalification training program or procedurally to recognize the abnormal IFS indications. Corrective actions taken in response to the most recent violation are designed to enhance the capabilities of the Fire Protection Officers to perform their duties and prevent similar violations in the future.
If you should have any questions, please advise.
Very truly yours, Ao DJ
- 0. S. Bradham i
CJM/OSB: led Attachment
- 0. A. Nauman/J. G. Connelly, Jr./0. W. Dixon, Jr./T. C. Nichols, Jr.
E. C. Roberts W. A. Williams, Jr.
General Managers 4
M. L. Ernst J. J. Hayes, Jr.
C. A. Price /R. M. Campbell, Jr.
R. B. Clary
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X. E. Nodland J. C. Snelson G. O. Percival R. L. Prevatte J. B. Knotts, Jr.
NPCF l
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UCENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER)
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i At approximately 2034 hours0.0235 days <br />0.565 hours <br />0.00336 weeks <br />7.73937e-4 months <br /> on Augast 30, 1988, lightning struck the meteorological tener at 'the Virgil C. Sumer Nuclear Station.
't is believed that the lightning induced a logic snif t in one of the remote signal processing units for the Integrated Fire System (!FS) co'r. outer.
The enange in logic caused the equipment to go into an aff-line status and consequently was incapable of processing alerms or advisories from detectors located in eighteen (18) areas of the Intermediate 8]Ilding.
Due to inacequate training and procedural guidance. the Fire P*otection Officers (FPO) who reviewed an alarm sumsary frem the computer f ailed to understand the significance of a computer generated symbol. The off-line status was identified at 0730 hours0.00845 days <br />0.203 hours <br />0.00121 weeks <br />2.77765e-4 months <br /> and compensatory action as required by Technical Specifications, had been comoleted by 0830 hours0.00961 days <br />0.231 hours <br />0.00137 weeks <br />3.15815e-4 months <br /> on September 6, 1988.
The IFS logic error was corrected and systes operation restored by 1505 hours0.0174 days <br />0.418 hours <br />0.00249 weeks <br />5.726525e-4 months <br /> on September 6,1988.
The following corrective actions are to be taken as a result of this trysnt:
1.
This event has been reviewed with each FP0 to insure that they are knowledgeable of IFS computer symools and actions to be taken, i
2.
l Security response guide 11res have been modified to require that the FP0 be contacted directly for all future power supply alarms.
3.
Syste:s Operating Procedure (SOP) 509 "Fire Suppression System." deficiencies will be corrected in the next revision expected to be issued by Novemoer 15, 1
1988.
4 The Nuclear Technical Education and Training deoartment will develop ano l $.$-jf M @ 1 99 fy implement a training prograa for tne Fire Protection Staff by Sectemoer 1989.
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Attachrent 1 to Document Control Desk November 16, 1988 Page 2 of 5
%scF. m,a y 3 tvCttaa a gevta,0a y a,0Meft0840ss LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER) TEXT CONTINUATION
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Westingneuse - Pressurized Water Reacter E0VI48ENT IDENTIFICATICN:
Fire Service System - E!!S-KP
!OENTIFICATION OF EVENT:
At accroximately 0730 hcurs en Septemoer 6, 1988, curing a review of a ecmouter Sumary printout, the Fire Protection Sucervisor determinec that a ecmcuter remote signal crecessing unit (Loco Remote 6) as cut of service. Further review determined that the loco remote had been off line and incapable of precessing signals fr0m fire detection sensors located in eighteen (18) areas of the Intermediate Butiding since approximately 2034 hcurs en August 30, 1988. The failure to detect and establish fire watches within one (1) hour cf the initiating event is a violation of the requirements of Technical Specifications 3.3.3.7, "Fire Detection Instrumentation," and 3.7.10. "Fire Rated Assemolies.'
EVENT OATE:
August 30, M98
- EPCOT DATE: Octccer 6. DS8 This report.as initiated by Off-Normal Occurrence Number 88-054.
,P.8JYl0VSSIMILAREVENT1:
LER 87 018 dated August 27, 1987 CON 0!TIONS pa!0R TO EVENJ:
Mode 1 - Reacter Power 100%
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LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER) TEXT CONTINUATION
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DESCRIPTICN OF EVENT:
At approximately 2034 hcurs en August 33. 1988 lightning struck the metecrologica 4
tower (reference Specist Report dated Septemmer 15. 1988 Dr. J. N. Grace) at the Virgil C. Sumer Nuclear Station. from Mr. O. S. Bracham to induced a voltage transient which caused a logic shift in the remote signalThe lig 1
Orocessing unit (Leoo Remote 6) for the Integrated Fire System (IFS) Ccmcuter electronics.
The cnange in logic caused Leco Remote 6 to go into an off-line condition.
All equierent fun.tiens continued to indicate that no failures had occurred, however, the system was incacaole of processing alarms or adviscries fece detectors !ccated in eignteen (13) areas of the Intereeciate Building.
At the time of the event, an alarm was received in the Central Alarm Station (CAS) and as part of the annunciator response the CAS coerator notified the Centrol #com.
Ocerations cersonnel subsequently requested the Fire Protection Officer (FPO) en duty at that time to check the status of the IFS. At 2037 hours0.0236 days <br />0.566 hours <br />0.00337 weeks <br />7.750785e-4 months <br />, the FP0 requested a log sumary frem the ccmcuter and noted curing his review that there were to alarms.
An "0" in the lef t hand margin of the printcut was noted for varicus fire i
FP0 or t e Shif t Supervisor consulted during the review. detection zon h
turnover that a possible lightning strike had occurred at 2030 hours0.0235 days <br />0.564 hours <br />0.00336 weeks <br />7.72415e-4 months <br /> and that allThe loop remotes were opersole.
No abnormalit'es were observed on the log sumary.
Subsecuent FF0 turnovers and system reviens failed to recognize the off-line status of the equipment until the Fire Protection Sucervisor cerformed a revien of the Icg sumary at accroximately 0730 hours0.00845 days <br />0.203 hours <br />0.00121 weeks <br />2.77765e-4 months <br /> on Se:temoer 6,1988.
The Sacerviser 1 nectately recognized the significance of tne off-lire symool and initiated fire
.atches as recuired by Tecnnical Scecifications for the affected aress of tre Intermediate fuilding. Fire watches were established for the areas by 0830 heurs.
Subsecuent revie.4s deter-ined that the e7uictent had been incacaole of perfermin its design function sinc 4 accroximately 2034 hours0.0235 days <br />0.565 hours <br />0.00336 weeks <br />7.73937e-4 months <br /> on August 30, 1988.
Security Maintenance inscection of the 1cco remote initially revealed co pecblem.
The off-line condition of the loco remote was confirmed when the individ placed in alarm failed to actuate the computer.
produced a System Adviscry, however, returning the system from bypass to norm cleared the advisory but f ailed to restore the system to an on-line status.
Maintenance cersonnel had to deerergize and reenergize the equipment to restere the system logic so that it was on-lire.
hours en Septt cer 6. 1988.
The system was returned to servie' 9t !!05 to Document Control Desk N6vember 16, 1988 Page 4 of 5
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CaUSE OF EVENT:
The event aas due to
- er$0nnel error as a result of inadecuate training and Orocedural guidance fer the Fire Protection Officers price to and following the assumptien of their duties en March 28. 1988. Eacn of the officers reviewed a similar crintcut cricr ::
days and failed to rec:gnize the cceputer provided system status.eacn shift turno The significance Of the cceDuter indicat10n was addressed during the initial cn-the-job training however, there was no reinforcement procedurally or througn a requalification training progran for the the (5) FP0's.
'NaLYSIS CF Ei!NT:
The as found status of the equi: ment indicates that a voltage transient caused the change in Icgic Out f ailed to cause the rormal C;mputer essage indicating an "eff-line status.
The normal c:mouter response tn an off-line ccndition would have been the transmittal of a printer m.essage which would have stated:
LR 06 0FF L:NE This mestsge was r.ot trans"titted and when the FP0's revieaed the log sumary, en the night cf August 20, 1998, and crict to each shift turrever, they thought the
'O' symool in the left hand margin for various monit: rec ;oints was an error being generated by either the c:m. cuter er crinter.
revieaed by the FF0's is as follcas:
An exa cle cf the information 01 CCAX MONITOR 5 LR NLP8ER 0
1 L:CP OK 0
2 LOOP CK The "0" to the left of the 1cco ruebers indicates that the system is off-line
.hereas the cceputer is 5:
by the presence of the "O(.*111 indicating that electr0nically it is still functional The consequences due to this 4 vent were minimal.
patrol the areas monitored by this 1000 remote every two (2) hours. Security personn All Security
- ersonnel are qualified fire Watch's and trained observers for abnormal situations.
South Carolina Electric L Gas Ccreany feels confident that aith the nousekeeping standards maintained at the Virgil C. Sumer Nuclear Statien and the alertness of Security perscnnel, there.as minimal chance of fire crepagatien which could have damaged vital equipment :P structures.
3 Attachaent 1 to Document Control Desk 00ven.ber 16, 1988 Page 5 of 5 se s.,. soda s 3 tvCL t a s a4Gvt Af 0e ? CCwS5404 LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER) TEXT CONTINUATION
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,. o c,-.. m CORPECitVE 'CTION:
4anagement Pad previously initiated an irdependent review of the Fire Protection organization to determine wnat 1:ng term actions were needed to prevent further violations in this functional area.
no Septemcer 7, 1988, and are currently under revies.The censultart's reccmmendations.
revies nill be designed to imor0ve this functional area's performance.Acticns taken follow In addition SCELG has recently c moleted a feasibility study for the replacement of the IFS ccm: uter and is currently evaluating optiens to improve the numan interface and monit:rirg capabilities, a Management Revies Board (MPB) eeting, enaired by the Vice President, Nuclear Operatiens, aas convened on September 15, 1988, to review this specific event. As a result of this meeting, the celcw listed corrective actions were determined to be apprc:riate t address this event and prevent its recurrence.
1.
The Fire Protection Superviscr has individually reviewed this event nith each FP0 to insure that they are knowledgeable of computer symeols and actions to be taken.
2.
Security (CAS) response guidelines have been modified to require that the FPO be c0ntacted directly for all future p;ner supply alarms.
3.
System C:erating Precedure (SCP) 509, "Fire Suppression System,' nas revitaed for ace:uate guidance in diagnosir; IFS proble9s. The precedure as found to Only accress alarm resconse ard ;Pevides a table of system advis:ry essages.
No instructions are proviced c:ncerning verificatien of system f;ncticn once On lire and no legend is pr0vided (Or the cryptic reports generated.
Defiercies.n this procecure will be corrected in the next revision expected to be issued by Nove cer 15, 1988.
4 The Nuclear Technical Educatien ard Training department has been requested to develco and implement a craf t training program for the Fire Protection organization. This progra9 is expected to be completely establisned by Septem er 1989 and wiil includ* initial and recualification training for all persennel within this organization. Seccial attention is to be placed en the Integrated Fire System c:mputer and procedural guidance for the Fire Protecti:n Program.
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