ML20217A435

PNO-78-198:on 780315,notified Riv That Concrete Test Cylinders Representing Concrete Placed in Reactor Bldg Base Mat Failed to Achieve Specified Strengths.Meeting W/Licensee Senior Mgt Planned for 781205,to Discuss IE Position

ML20217A435
Person / Time
Site:	Wolf Creek
Issue date:	12/01/1978
From:	Reinmuth G, Shewmaker R, Thornburg H NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
To:
References
PNO-78-198, NUDOCS 9804220261
Download: ML20217A435 (1)

Text

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Dece'mber, 1, 1978 v PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-78-198 p.

This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of' event of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information p_ resented is as initially received without verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.

Facility: Wolf Creek, Unit No.1 (SNUPPS)

Kansas Gas & Electric Co.

DN STN 50-482 l

Subject:

P0TENTIAL CONSTRUCTION DEFICIENCY - UNDER STRENGTH CONCRETE IN REACTOR BUILDING BASE MAT l -

'On Mart.h 15, 1978, Kansas Gas and Electric Company noti Hed RIV i (Arlington, TX) that concrete test cylinders representing concrete l placed in the reactor building base mat had failed to achieve the i

specified strengths. The base mat is a single, monolithic M ";ement of approximately sixty-five hundred cubic yards, placed during t.he period December 12-13, 1977. When tested at the end~of the specified 90 day curing period, approxi mately 50% of sixty-six sets of concrete test '

! cylinders exhibited strengths averaging about 10% below the specified i design strength of 5000 pounds per square inch. The licensee identified this matter as potentially reportable in accordance with 10 CFR 50.55(e).

By letter dated May 25, 1978, the licensee stated that this matter was mi not considered to be reportable under 10 CFR 50.55(e), but did agree to ~

f submit a report. The final report was received on October 26, 1978, in  ;

, which the licensee reported that the inplace concrete satisfied code '

and specification requirements.

A review of the licensee's test data, equipment, actions and records by

• i a team of inspectors and a consultant led to the conclusion that the I concrete probably does not meet the specified strength requirements. '

The licensee's conclusion that the low strength results were caused by the test procedure or equipment problems could not be supported by the inspection team. Data analyzed by the team indicate that the test results may have been valid.

A meeting with licensee senior management is planned for December 5, 1978, to discuss the basis for the IE posit'.an.

,No press release is planned at this time; however, public interest has been indicated previously by the Mid-America Coalition for Energy Al ternatives. -

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Contact:

REShewaaker, IE x27551 GWReinmuth, IE x27551 HDThornburg, IE x28484 o S Distrib'. tion: . Transmitted H St b ; 3 d '

3 Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Bradford S. J. Chilk, SECY R Commissioner Kennedy Commissioner Ahearne C. C. Kammerer, CA Commissioner Gilinsk (For Distribution) 5 $ Transmitted: MNBD; $6 P. Bldg.ht'N J. G. Da,y.is,14(M6 M7 L. V. Gossick, E'.)0 H. R. Denton, NRR Region J M, ..

( M S. H. Hanauer, EDO R. C. DeYoung, NRR

=r i R. J. Mattson, NRR

@@@J.J.Fouchar,t,PA N. M. Heller, "uA V. Stello, NRR (MAIL) o o.n- R . G . "j a , CS P R. S. Boyd, NRR J. J. Cummings, OIA H. K. 5k p ar, ELi' SS Bldg ~'.M:ll4_ R. Minogue, Sp C. V. Smii.h. HMSS C//

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