ML20216C988
| ML20216C988 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Peach Bottom  |
| Issue date: | 05/07/1998 |
| From: | Hehl C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Danni Smith PECO ENERGY CO., (FORMERLY PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20216C997 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-278-98-05, 50-278-98-5, EA-98-221, NUDOCS 9805190472 | |
| Download: ML20216C988 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000278/1998005
Text
.
9
May 7, 1998
EA 98-221
Mr. D. M. Smith, President
PECO Nuclear
Nuclear Group Headquarters
Correspondence Control Desk
l
P.O. Box 195
Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087-0195
SUBJECT:
NRC SPECIAL INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-278/98-05
Dear Mr. Smith:
On April 24,1998, the NRC completed a specialinspection at the Peach Bottom Atomic
Power Station. Th. purpose of this inspection was to review the events related to the
!
identification of fore lgn materialin the 3A core spray pump on March 24,1998. We also
l
reviewed the planned and completed corrective actions for this event.
Based on our review of this event we have three primary areas of concera: 1) that the FME
controls for the emergency core cooling system (ECCS) suction strainer modification during
refueling outage 3R11,in October 1997, failed to prevent foreign material from entering
the 3A core spray subsystem, thereby rendering it inoperable for a period of approximately
two months; 2) that during the refueling o"tage 3R11 the Peach Bottom Quality Assurance
organization identified a number of deficiencies in the area of foreign material controls for
the strainer modification and the corrective actions for these deficiencies were narrowly
focused and failed to recognize the overallinadequacies in FME controls and; 3) that the
Peach Bottom engineering organization had an opportunity to identify the degraded
performance of the 3A core spray pump earlier, following surveillanco tes' ng in December
l
1997.
!
i
'
Based on the results of this inspection, two apparent violations were identified and are
being considered for escalated enforcement action in accordance with the " General
Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcoment Actions" (Enforcement Policy),
1
NUREG-1600. These violations resulted from: 1) the failure to prescribe and accomplish
the ECCS strainer replacement mcdification with documented instructions and procedures
l
appropriate to the circumstances to prevent the introduction of foreign material into the
l
core spray system, and 2) the failure to maintain the 3A core spray pump operable as
!
required by Technical Specification 3.5.1, " Emergency Core Cooling Systems (ECCS) and
Reactor Core isolation Cooling System." No Notice of Violation is presently being issued
for these apparent violations. In addition, please be advised that the number and
,
characterization of the apparent violations described in the enclosed inspection report may
change as a result of further NRC review.
\\
9805190472 980507
}
ADOCK 05000278
G
pon
' '/. Il U l u
0FFICIAL RECORD COPY
IE:01
l
..
.
D. M. Smith
2
As stated at the inspection exit meeting on April 27,1998, a predecisional enforcement
conference will be held on May 21,1998, to discuss the apparent violation
The decision
to hold a predecisional enforcemen: conference does not mean that the NRC has
determined that a violation has occurred or that enforcement action will be taken. This
conference is being held to obtain information to enable the NRC to make an enforcement
l
decision, such as a common understanding of the facts, root causes, missed opportunities
!
to identify the apparent violations sooner, corrective actions, significance of the issues and
'the need for lasting and effective corrective action. Also, this is an opportunity for you to
l
provide any information concerning the corrective actions activities in response to these
events.
In addition, this is an opportunity for you to provide any information concerning your
perspectives on: 1) the severity of the violations,2) the application of the factors that the
NRC considers when it determines the amount of a civil penalty that may be assessed in
accordance with Section VI.B.2 of the Enforcement Policy, and 3) any other application of
the Enforcement Policy to this case, including the exercise of discretion in accordance with
Section Vll.
You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations on this
matter. No response regarding the apparent violations is required at this time,
in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter
and its enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Sincerely,
Original Signed by:
Charles W. Hehl, Director
Division of Reactor Projects
Docket / License No. 50-278/DPR-56
I
Enclosure: NRC Inspection Report No. 50-278/98-05
I
i
!
!
l
l
l
.
Mr. D. M. Smith
3
cc w/ encl:
G. Edwards, Chairman, Nuclear Review Board and Director, Licensing
J. Doering, Vice President, Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station
G. Rainey, Senior Vice President, Nuclear Operations
J. B. Cotton, Vice President, Nuclear Station Support
T. Niessen, Director, Nuclear Quality Assurance
A. F. Kirby, lil, External Operations - Delmarva Power & Light Co.
M. Warner, Plant Manager, Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station
G. J. Lengyel, Manager, Experience Assessment
J. W. Durham, Sr., Senior Vice President and General Counsel
T. M. Messick, Manager, Joint Generation, Atlantic Electric
W. T. Henrick, Manager, External Affairs, Public Service Electric & Gas
R. McLean, Power Plant Siting, Nuclear Evaluations
J. Vannoy, Acting Secretary of Harford County Council
R. Ochs, Maryland Safe Energy Coalition
J. H. Walter, Chief Engineer, Public Service Commission of Maryland
Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Hiebert, Peach Bottom Alliance
Mr. & Mrs. Kip Adams
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
State of Moryland
TMI- Alert (TMIA)
i
-
.
,
9
Mr. D. M. Smith
4
i
Distribution w/ encl:
Region 1 Docket Room (with concurrences)
H. Miller, RA
W. Axelson, DRA
C. Anderson, DRP
J. Lieberman, OE
D. Holody, ORA
D. Florek, DRP
R. Junod, DRP
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
NRC Resident inspector
PUBLIC
Distribution w/ encl: (Via E-Mail)
8. McCabe, OEDO
.
Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
'
R. Correia, NRR
F. Talbot, NRR
DOCDESK
'
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 4\\PB\\PB9805 G
Ta receive a copy of this document. Indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure
"E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure
"N" = No
copy
A
l 0FFICE
RI('DRF/\\
l
Rl/DRP
l
Rl/0EN / l
RI/DRP._,
l
l
NAME
Fhvtkd@o
Anderson
c&
Holody X
Hehl /MF
DATE
05(1)5/98'
05/ 5' /98
05/
/98 \\
05/ 1 /98
05/
/98
0FFICIAL RECORD COPY
4