ML20211L042

Discusses 860117 Telcon W/Alleger Re Concerns Involving Feedwater Pump/Turbine Failure & Inability of Util & Bechtel to Troubleshoot to Find Root Causes of Equipment Failures

ML20211L042
Person / Time
Site:	Fermi
Issue date:	01/17/1986
From:	Weil C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Norelius C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
Shared Package
ML20211K949	List: ML20211K946 ML20211L018 ML20211L030 ML20211L042 ML20211L079 ML20211L118 ML20211L140 ML20211L199 ML20211L230 ML20211L237 ML20211L252 ML20211L278
References
FOIA-86-244, FOIA-86-245, FOIA-86-A-144, FOIA-86-A-145 NUDOCS 8612150284
Download: ML20211L042 (2)

Text

o UNITED STATES  ! -

[po cas 'o g NUCLEAR RECULATORY COMMisslON ,

{

j So ' '

S REcioN m 5 j 7ss noosevsti momo l

• a cirN rLLvn,ILL Nois scist January 17, 1986 MEMORANDUM FOR: Charles E. Norelius, Director, Division of Reactor Projects FROM: Charles H. Weil, Investigation and Compliance Specialist MBJECT: ALLEGATION RE: FERMI FEEDWATER PUMP / TURBINE FAILURE (50-341) (AMS NO. RIII-86-A-0005)

Reference:

Memo dated January 14, 1986, same subject.

On January 17, 1986, the alleger telephoned Region III after receiving Region III's January 14, 1986, letter acknowledging his concerns. The alleger stated essentially as follows:

.He wanted to be personally interviewed by the NRC inspector assigned to resolve his concerns. He thought that his background, as a millwright and a holder of several patents for pump turbines, would greatly assist the inspector in resolving the issues. His opinion was that the Detroit Edison Company (DECO) and Bechtel could not resolve any of the problems at the Fermi Plant because they never searched for the root cause of a problem.

Rather, they only changed failed parts to get going again. He stated that DECO and Bechtel "cannot trouble shoot. They only treat symptoms and only replace parts without finding the real cause." According to the alleger, DECO, Bechtel, and the NRC are too interested in determining if a procedure was properly followed, rather than determining how work was done. The alleger stated, "they only talk paper, never physical."

Regarding the reactor feedwater pump failure, the alleger stated, "I never heard of a turbine that size failing." The alleger stated that a local newspaper had reported that loose bolts on the turbine bearing housing had been responsible for the failure. The alleger contended that this was wrong, and stated "if the NRC believed that, then the NRC is in the dark as much as Edison." The alleger stated that the problems stemed from no load testing. During the testing a vibration in the turbine was detected and DECO decided not to tear down the pump turbine. DECO also decided that if they did "a slow wann up the problem might stop."

The alleger also stated that an underground newspaper was being published in the Fenni area, and that the underground newspaper would "tell the locals the problems (at Fermi) not being being told by the (regular) newspapers."

The alleger reiterated his desire to be personally interviewed by the inspector assigned to resolve the concerns.

8612150284 861209 PDR FOIA #

PUNTE86-A-144 PDR

/

g (,1) 6.f 19'l

Charles E. Norelius January 17, 1986 The essence of his concerns appear to be not only the reactor feedwater up failure, but also DEC0's and Bechtel's inabilities to search for and ccrrect the root causes of equipment failures.

your staff in resolving the allegations. The above infonnation is furnished for Charles H. Weil Invritigation and Compliance Specialist cc: RIII:RA0 01:RIII E. G. Greenman J. J. Harrison R. J. Strasma R. M. Lickus G. F. Wright