ML20212B181

PNS-I-86-024:on 861218,discovered Power Available Indicator for One of Six safety-related Auxiliary Feedwater Valves Dark.Caused by Security Guard Tampering W/Breaker Device.Guard Suspended Pending Completion of Investigation

ML20212B181
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley
Issue date:	12/22/1986
From:	Keimig R, Galen Smith NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
References
PNS-I-86-024, PNS-I-86-24, NUDOCS 8612290191
Download: ML20212B181 (2)

Text

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DCS: 50-334/861218 Date: December 22, 1986 w '

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNS-86-24 This preliminary notification contains information of nuclear power plant physical security and/or public interest significance and has been confirmed by the licensee.

Facility: Duquesne Light Compa.1y Licensee Emergcncy Classification:

Beaver Valley, Unit 1 Notification of Unusual Event

,N Shippingport, Pennsylvania Alert (DN50-334)

Site Area Emergency General Emergency X Not Applicable

Subject:

EQUIPMENT TAMPERING 4 At..about 11:10 p.m. on December 18, 1986, during a shift changeover control room panel walkdown, an operator noticed that the " power available" indicator for one of six safety ralated auxiliary feedwater valves was dark. An immediate investigation disclosed that the breaker for the valve motor operator was in the tripped position, but the valve was open, as rIquired. The breaker was reset and the motor operator was re-energized at 11:20 p.m. At

, about the same time, the'11censee's tampering review procedure was initiated by the shift

crew. No other indications of equipment tampering were detected.

'A subsequent investigation, which included a review of the security access control records and the plant process computer printout (which indicated that the breaker tripped at 9:45 p.m. that ' night, ,1.c. , December 18), identified five plant personnel who had been in the area at that time.

During interviews of those personnel by the licensee, which were initiated late on December 19, a member of the contract security force (a guard) stated that he may have bumped the breaker panel with his body just before leaving the area. The licensee did not consider that explanation to be plausible, since physical protective devices had been installed on this and other safety related breakers to preclude just such an occurrence. The guard was

, subsequently interviewed by a consultant hired by the security force centractor. The guard admitted to handling the protective device, out of curiosity. During his efforts to restore the protective device to its normal position, he tripped the breaker. He then left the area without notifying anyone of what had occurred. The guard has been suspended by the security contractor pending completion of the investigation.

The licenste notified the NRC via ENS at 1:48 p.m. on December 19. Region I and the IAT were notified at about 2:10 p.m. Region I subsequently contacted the licensee to learn how they were proceeding with investigating the event and what had been done to confirm the status of safety'related systems and equipment. Region I agreed with the licensee's actions. While the timeliness of reporting to the NRC was in accordance with regulatory requirements, a delay in notification to the NRC occurred as a result of a misunderstanding between operations and security about responsibility for reporting.

I Region I notified the responsible FBI field office and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of tha event on December 22 when the information contained in this PN was verified through the licensee. The Resident Inspectors will review the licensee's further actions regarding this matter.

l This PN is current as of 11:00 a.m. on December 22, 1986.

CONTACT: G. SMITH R. Keimig 488-1263 488-1255 g [

8612290191 861222 PDR I&E '2 PNS-86-024 PDR

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