ML20209B970
| ML20209B970 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hatch  |
| Issue date: | 04/08/1987 |
| From: | Grace J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | James O'Reilly GEORGIA POWER CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20209B973 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-87-027, EA-87-27, TAC-64455, TAC-64456, NUDOCS 8704280556 | |
| Download: ML20209B970 (4) | |
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n_n y9Aa0 APRO 81987 Docket Nos. 50-321 and 50-366 License Nos. DPR-57 and NPF-5 EA 87-27 fseorgiaPowerCompany VATTN: Mr. James P. O'Reilly Senior Vice President-Nuclear Operations P. O. Box 4545 Atlanta, GA 30302 Gentlemen:
SUBJECT:
NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND PROPOSED IMPOSITION OF CIVIL PENALTY (NRC INSPECTION REPORTS NOS. 50-321/86-41 AND 50-366/86-41, 50-321/86-43 AND 50-366/86-43)
This refers to the Nuclear Regulatory Consission (NRC) inspections conducted at the Hatch Nuclear Plant on December 4-7, 1986, and December 20, 1986 -
January 23, 1987. The inspections included a review of the circumstances surrounding isolation of the air supply to the inflatable seals in the fuel transfer canal, the subsequent loss of fuel pool water on December 2-3, 1986,.
and the inoperability of one train of the standby gas treatment system due to the wetting of the charcoal filter bed. The reports documenting these inspec-tions were sent to you by letters dated January 8,1987, and March 11, 1987. On January 22, 1987, an Enforcement Conference was conducted with you and members of your staft to discuss the inspection findings related to the fuel pool leak and your corrective actions.
Violation I described in the enclosed Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposi-tion of Civil Penalty (Notice) involves failures to follow plant procedures which resulted in the loss of approximately 141,000 gallons of water from the spent fuel pools through the fuel transfer canal seals.
Violation I.A and I.B involve the events associated with the closing of the air supply valve to the fuel transfer canal seals for which personnel failed to properly document a defective air regulator and to properly identify by a tag a valve which was used to throttle the air supply when the air regulator was found to be defective.
Violation I.C and I.D involve errors made during the calibration of the transfer canal leak detection. level switch. Personnel failed to follow procedures in that they left valves in. incorrect positions after the calibration was performed and the calibration procedure was e,ed although it was inappropriate to do so because it did not have instructions for the instrument's removal from service.
To emphasize the importance of nanagement insistence on procedural adherence and ettentian to detail and the complete evaluation and resolution of plant deficiencies, I have been authorized, after consultation with the Director, CERTIFIED MAIL HTURN RECEIPT REQUESTED i
8704280556 870408 l
PDR ADOCK 05000321 G
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1 APR 0 81987 Georgia Power Company 2
Office of Inspection and Enforcement, to issue the enclosed Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty in the amount of Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000) for violation I described in the enclosed Notice.
In accordance with the " General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions,"
10 CFR Part 2, Appendix C (1986) (Enforcement Policy), violation I described in the enclosed Notice has been categorized as a Severity Level III violation.
The escalation and mitigation factors in the Enforcement Policy were considered, and no adjustment of the base civil penalty amount has been deemed appropriate.
While the corrective actions to reduce the radiclogical consequences of the event were excellent, violation I demonstrates a lack of management insistence on procedural adherence and attention to detail which could lead to other more serious incidents. The violations are indicative of inattention.to detail in several actions and inactions by plant personnel.
Several opportunities existed to prevent isolation of the air supply to the inflatable seals and to mitigate the resultant loss of fuel pool water. These opportunities existed but were not taken advantage of when your plant personnel failed to:
(a) write a Deviation Report or Maintenance Work Order when the defective air regulator was found, (b) notify appropriate plant personnel when the partially open valve was closed, (c) regularly monitor the pressure to the transfer canal seals, (d) aggressively pursue the cause of repetitive low-level alarms from the fuel pool skinuner surge tank, and (e) log the low-level alarms or communicate at shift change the fact that the alarms had been received.
Violation II involves the inoperability of one train of the standby gas treat-ment system when a fire protection valve leaked water and saturated a charcoal filter bed. Although the leaking valve was identified by your plant staff and the water supply isolated on November 24, 1985, it was not until March 11, 1986 that the charcoal filter bed of the 1A train was recognized to have been inoperable because of the previously leaking water. The NRC was then notified of the violation of technical specification requirements. Because this violatien involves a less significant violation of technical specification requirements, this violation has been categorized as a Severity Level IV violation.
Of particular concern in the events associated with violations I ard II is the failure of personnel to recognize the effects of component failures and personnel actions on related systems and overall plant components. These events demonstrate that plant personnel failed to properly evaluate and document deficient plant equipment and this resulted in systems becoming inoperable and not being recognized as being inoperable for an extended period of time.
Because these violations have similar root causes, you should assure that your corrective actions are implemented which will prevent further recurrence of these types cf violations.
You are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response.
In your response, you should document the specific actions taken and any additional actions you plan to prevent recurrence. After reviewing your response to this Notice, including your proposed corrective actions, the NRC will determine whether further NRC enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with NRC regulatory requirements.
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.,.-,_,_,.,,--,,..~,_-,,,nw, APR 0 81987 Georgia Power Company 3
We are continuing to pursue evaluation of a possible violation of NRC require-ments regarding the design of the transfer canal seals and the seal leak detection system. This is identified as an Unresolved Item (50-321, 366/86-41-02) pending review by the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," Part 2, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, a copy of this letter and its enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
The responses directed by this letter and its enclosure are not subject to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, PL 96-511.
Sincerely, Original signed by J. Helson Grace J. Nelson Grace Regional Administrator
Enclosure:
Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty cc w/ encl:
LV.T.Beckham,VicePresident,PlantHatch pk C. Nix, Site Operations General Manager C Fraser, Acting Site QA Supervisor M Gucwa, Manager, Nuclear Safety and Licensing l
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