ML20207E020

Forwards Insp Repts 50-334/98-11 & 50-412/98-11 on 981227- 990206 & Forwards Notice of Violations Re Uncontrolled Reduction of Main Condenser Vacuum

ML20207E020
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley
Issue date:	02/25/1999
From:	Neil Perry NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Cross J DUQUESNE LIGHT CO.
Shared Package
ML20207E024	List: IR 05000334/1998011 ML20207E020 ML20207E076
References
50-334-98-11, 50-412-98-11, NUDOCS 9903100130
Download: ML20207E020 (3)

See also: IR 05000334/1998011

Text

a . - .

i

February 25,1999

Mr. J. E. Cross

' President

Generation Group

Duquesne Light Company

Post Office Box 4

Shippingport, Pennsylvania 15077

SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION REPORT 50-334/98-11,50-412/98-11 AND NOTICE OF

VIOLATION

Dear Mr. Cross:

1

The NRC conducted an inspection of the Beaver Valley Power Station facilities from December

27,1998 to February 6,1999. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection.

During the 6-week period covered by this inspection period, your conduct of activities at the ,

Beaver Valley Power Station facilities was characterized by an appropriate concern for reactor

safety, but inconsistent performance. On January 23, operators alertly initiated a manual Unit 1

reactor trip, upon sensing an uncontrolled reduction of main condenser vacuum.- Poor

procedures and human performance weaknesses caused the uncontrolled reduction of vacuum

which challenged the plant and control room operators. Post trip reviews were comprehensive,

but implementation of corrective actions to preclude recurrence was initially incomplete.

Procedure quality continues to challenge your organization as demonstrated by the reactor trip

and a turbine trip during the subsequent unit restart. The Corrective Action Review Board

notably improved the quality of your overall corrective action program, yet the condition report

investigation rejection rate indicated a continued performance weakness. Maintenance activities I

were generally well performed and your maintenance rule program periodic assessment was a

strength. Notwithstanding, post maintenance testing deficiencies continued.

Based on the results of this inspection, the NRC has determined that a violation of NRC

requirements occurred. This violation is cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice) and

, the circumstances surrounding the violation are described in detail in the subject inspection

report. This NRC identified violation is of concern because it represents a station-wide

breakdown of your corrective action program in resolving a technical specification testing

concern. Although your quality services unit engineers identified a meteorological monitoring

l instrumentation calibration issue in November 1998, over two months later your organization

had not properly addressed operability concems, reportability, or actions to preclude recurrence.

You are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions specified in the

enclosed Notice when preparing your response. The NRC will use your response, in part, to

determine whether further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with

regulatory requirements.

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9903100130 990225 I

PDR ADOCK 05000334

! G PDR

c c.y

-. .. . . ._ _ ..._ _ _ . _ - _ ~ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ . - _ . _ . _ . _ _ _ _ . _ . _ .

.

L Mr. J. E. Cross .. 2

Beaver Valley Power Station

.

- In accordance with _10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its j

enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR). 1

l

Sincerely,

Original Signed By: I

Neil S. Perry,' Acting Chief i

Reactor Projects Branch No. 7

Division of Reactor Projects

Docket Nos. : 50-334, 50-412

License Nos.: DPR-66, NPF-73

Enclosures:

1. Notice of Violation

2. Inspection Report 50-334/98-11,'50-412/98-11

cc w/encis: . _

1

S. Jain, Senior Vice President, Nuclear Services Group

K. Ostrowski, Vice President, Nuclear Operations Group and Plant Manager

B. Tuite, General Manager, Nuclear Operations Unit

! W. Kline, Manager, Nuclear Engineering Department

M. Pearson, Manager, Quality Services Unit

M. Ackerman, Manager, Safety & Licensing Department

J. Macdonald; Manager, System and Performance Engineeling

' . J. A. Huitz, Manager, Projects and Support Services, FirstEnergy

M. Clancy, Mayor, Shippingport, PA

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

State of Ohio

State of West Virginia

I

-[

. _ . . . _ . . _ . . _ . . . _ . . _ _ . . _ _ _ _ .

... ,,

Mr. J. E. Cross 3

Beaver Valley Power Station

Distnbution w/encia:  :

Region l Docket Room (with concurrences)

. Nuclear Safety information Center (r4 SIC)

PUBLIC '

NRC Resident inspector 1

. H. Miller, RA/J. Wiggins, DRA.

P. Eselgroth, DRP

N. Perry, DRPJ

C. O'Daniell, DRP

4

Distribution w/encls (VIA E-MAIL):

J. Mitchell, OEDO _

)

, S. Bajwa, PDI-1, NRR l

D. Collins, PM, PDl-1, NRR l

V. Nerses, PDI-1, NRR .

R. Correia, NRR  ;

DOCDESK 1

Inspection' Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)

!

DOCUMENT NAMEf G:\ BRANCH 7\BV\lR98-11.WPD .

To receive e copy of this document, inecate in the box: "C" a Copy without attachmenVenclosure "E" = Copy with attachmenuenclosure "N" =

No copy -  !

OFFICE Rl/DRP lU Rl/DRP lJ/ l / l-

NAME= Kern /al A&pfg Perry $6YP

DATE 2lCT ghp>r 1 - :2 T- 9 't

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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