ML20207E020
| 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: |
| References | |
| 50-334-98-11, 50-412-98-11, NUDOCS 9903100130 | |
| Download: ML20207E020 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000334/1998011
Text
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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:
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
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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
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
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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
instrumentation calibration issue in November 1998, over two months later your organization
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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
ADOCK 05000334
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Mr. J. E. Cross ..
2
Beaver Valley Power Station
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- In accordance with _10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its
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enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).
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Sincerely,
Original Signed By:
Neil S. Perry,' Acting Chief
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Reactor Projects Branch No. 7
Division of Reactor Projects
Docket Nos. : 50-334, 50-412
Enclosures:
2. Inspection Report 50-334/98-11,'50-412/98-11
cc w/encis:
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_
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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
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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
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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
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. H. Miller, RA/J. Wiggins, DRA.
P. Eselgroth, DRP
N. Perry, DRPJ
C. O'Daniell, DRP
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Distribution w/encls (VIA E-MAIL):
J. Mitchell, OEDO
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S. Bajwa, PDI-1, NRR
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V. Nerses, PDI-1, NRR
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R. Correia, NRR
DOCDESK
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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" =
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