ML20210V528
| ML20210V528 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 10/08/1986 |
| From: | Olson D GENERAL PUBLIC UTILITIES CORP. |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20210V518 | List: |
| References | |
| LRP, NUDOCS 8610100722 | |
| Download: ML20210V528 (7) | |
Text
_
0 WlNL.qD,g V
DOCKETED UNITED STATES OF AMERICA USNRC NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 16 OCT -9 P2:17 BEFORE THE PRESIDING BOARD 0FFICE OF SEthiAW 00ChETtHG & blFliCL.
BRMiCH
)
In the Matter of
)
)
INQUIRY INTO THREE MILE' ISLAND
)
Docket No. LRp UNIT 2 LEAK RATE DATA
)
FALSIFICATION
)
)
PREPARED STATEMENT OF DENNIS I. OLSON My name is Dennis I. Olson.
I live in Ijamsville, Maryland.
I do not hold a reactor operator's license.
prior to joining Metropolitan Edison Company, I was in the Navy for eight years.
I started with Metropolitan Edison in 1971 as an auxiliary operator at Three Mile Island (TMI) Unit 1.
I was an auxiliary operator for approximately five years.
I was among the group of control room operators who went to Unit 2 approximately in 1976.
I obtained my license in June 1978.
From January of 1979, I was assigned to "D"
shift with control room operators Lynn Wright and Mark Coleman.
Adam Miller was my shift foreman; Gregory Hitz, Sr.,
the shift supervisor.
I resigned from Metropolitan Edison at the end of May 1981.
I then went to Louisiana power and Light Company's Waterford III, where I was a control room supervisor with a mot ##Bu8$a T
i 4
l v
senior reactor operator's license.
I resigned from'Waterford.
i III in June 1985.
I, of course, was responsible for performing leak rate tests.
I recall that we had to perform a successful leak rate surveillance at least once every 72 hours8.333333e-4 days <br />0.02 hours <br />1.190476e-4 weeks <br />2.7396e-5 months <br />, and if we were able to, we tried to do one every shift.
I am not sure how I interpreted the requirements of the technical specification governing the test.
I recall that I knew I was to look for leaks and demonstrate that the leakage was within specified limits.
Apparently, I did not follow the literal interpretation of the technical specification, because I do not i
recall entering the action statement.
If I obtained a leak rate test with results greater than one gpm in unidentified leakage, I ran another test.
There were times when I ran more than one, and it is possible, although I do not recall specifics, that I would run more than two tests on a shift.
Because we had three operators, generally one was responsible for surveillance performances, one controlled the log book, and one performed switching and tagging.
As things worked out these jobs could be changed during the shift; for example, anyone could walk over to the computer and start a leak rate test.
If I were in charge of.he leak rate surveillance for the day, I tried to keep my shift mates informed that I had initiated a test.
I believe that at the end of the hour needed for the test, I would ask if anyone had e
4 added water.
I would then enter any additions in the computer.
If I had responsibility for the log, I would enter the satisfactory performance of the surveillance.
I did not log the start time of satisfactory tests; I did not log the start or stop time of unacceptable tests.
Although I have been shown that my logging practices did not conform with an administrative procedure, I never tried to conceal the number of tests that I ran.
I discarded leak rates with unidentified leakage higher than 1 gpm until the time period when an NRC inspector, Donald Haverkamp, discovered a leak rate test with higher than 1 gpm unidentified leakage.
From that time onward, I recall being instructed o attach any " bad" leak rate tests obtained to subsequent " good" tests.
I do not recall discarding any tests after I received this instruction.
On several occasions, I have been shown a Licensee Event Report that I have been told was generated because of Mr.
Haverkamp's discovery of a leak rate test outside of the technical specification requirements.
Although I do not recall how I saw this document during 197v, I am sure that the circumstances surrounding its issuance were discussed.
I have been shown that I initialed a routing sheet attached to this document.
Although I recall thinking that searching for one gallon of leakage in a system with many thousands of gallons of water was similar to searching for a needle in a haystack, I do not,
y.
---,____________-.,-m_
y.-..y, _. _...
t y
remember that I engaged in further evaluation of the accuracy.
of the test.
I do not recall debating the realiability of the test with my fellow operators or my supervisors.
I also do not recall feeling any particular pressure concerning the difficulty of obtaining leak rate tests; for example, no one ever ordered me to immediately get a good leak rate.
I regarded the performance of the test as a routine part of my job.
I remember that I did file negative leak rate tests, for a time; however, I received an instruction at some point that
- negative tests were no longer acceptable.
I do not know anymore who told me this or why it was told to me.
I recall that I added hydrogen based upon the direction of -
the Unit's chemistry department.
I do not remember whether I would have added hydrogen during a leak rate test.
I do not think I knew that its entry changed the makeup tank level, and I do not recall discussing the effect of hydrogen on leak rate tests with any other operators.
I do recall that there was a problem with the makeup tank level transmitters.
I knew that there were times when the level transmitters did not agree.
I would not have used an erratic transmitter on a leak rate test, other than by unintentional mistake.
If I added water during a leak rate test, I would log its entry.
The fact that a leak rate test was being conducted was not an impediment to a water addition.
I recall that I would 1 I
m
t i
inform the individual performing the test of my addition of water.
I realize that my shift's leak rate tests filed in February and March of 1979 show that water was added on a routine basis during the tests.
I can no longer recall why water was added, or explain its addition based on available plant records.
I do not recall knowing on my own or through discussions with the other operators that a water addition could produce a " bonus" in the makeup tank level reading.
I do know I never falsified leak rate test results by this or by any other method.
s 1
k b*.... - _ _..
't a
a.w.en 000 METED UNITED STATES OF AMERICA USNRC NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BEFORE THE PRESIDING BOARD 16 OCT -9 P2 :17 -
4 0FF!CE CF SEtetIAny 90CKETING A SE*VICE BRANCH
)
In the Matter of
)
)
INQUIRY INTO THREE MILE ISLAND
)
Docket No. LRP i
UNIT 2 LEAK RATE DATA
)
FALSIFICATION
)
)
3 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 4
~
I hereby certify that I have served copies of " Prepared Statements of John M. Kidwell and Dennis I. Olson" by hand delivery on October 8, 1986 or, as indicated by one asterisk, by deposit in the United States mail, first class, postage I
prepaid to the following persons this 8th day of October 1986 or as indicated by two asterisks by hand delivery on October 9, 1986 to the following persons:
Administrative Judge James L. Kelley, Chairman Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555 1-Administrative Judge Glenn O. Bright Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555 l
Administrative Judge James H. Carpenter Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel
{
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1
Washington, D.C.
20555 l
- J
'n Mary E. Wagner, Esq.
Office of the Executive Legal Director U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
- Docketing and Service Branch (3)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
- Ernest L. Blake, Jr., Esq.
Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge 1800 M Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20036
- James B. Burns, Esq.
4 I
Isham, Lincoln & Beale Three First National Plaza Suite 5200 Chicago, IL 60602
- Michael W. Maupin, Esq.
Hunton & Williams P.O. Box 1535 Richmond, VA 23212
- Ms. Marjorie M. Aamodt 200 North Church Street Parkesburg, PA 19365
- Ms. Marjorie M. Aamodt P.O.
Box 652 Lake Placid, NY 12946
- Edwin H. Stier, Esq.
11 East Cliff Street Somerville, NJ 08876 MMM
~
a u
Harry H.
Voigt l
l l
l
,