ML20217B971
| ML20217B971 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Beaver Valley |
| Issue date: | 03/17/1998 |
| From: | Hehl C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Cross J DUQUESNE LIGHT CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20217B975 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-334-97-11, 50-412-97-11, EA-98-138, EA-98-160, NUDOCS 9803260234 | |
| Download: ML20217B971 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000334/1997011
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March 17,1998
98-160
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Mr. J. E. Cross
President
Generation Group
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Duquesne Light Company (DLC)
Post Office Box 4
Shippingport, Pennsylvania 15077
SUBJECT:
NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 50-334/97-11,50-412/97-11
NOTICE OF VIOLATION (EXERCISE OF ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION)
' Dear Mr. Cross:
The NRC conducted an inspection of the Beaver Valley Power Station (BVPS) facilities from
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December 28,1997, to February 7,1998. The enclosed report presents the results of that
inspection.
During the 6-week period covered by this inspection, your conduct of activities at the
Beaver Valley Power Station facilities was generally characterized by safe operations. Your
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staff demonstrated a strong questioning attitude in identifying and resolving technical
specification surveillance deficiencies, feedwater flow anomalies, and control room
emergency ventilation system design deficiencies. On January 31,1998, operators safely
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shut down Unit 1 upon determining that several technical specification (TS) required
- surveillance tests had not been adequately completed. -The management decision to
maintain the unit shut down pending resolution of additional testing issues was
- appropriate.
The security program was inspected during this period. The inspection consisted of
selective reviews of procedures and records, observations of security program activities,
and interviews with security personnel. No safety concerns or violations were identified.
The inspectors determined that you are implementing a security program that effectively
protects against acts of radiological sabotage.
The NRC is concerned, however, about two violations. First, NRC inspectors and your
staff independently identified that Unit 1 operators failed to log applicable TS limiting
conditions of operation for'inoperrble reactor trip channels during the January 21,1998
reactor'startup. This violation is of concern because it indicates a continued problem
regarding the accuracy of operations logs and the thoroughness of shift turnovers during
- periods of increased control room activity. Second, NRC inspectors identified that
. maintenance activities associated with station battery cells were poor with deficiencies
noted in the work instructions and supplemental work instructions were not properly
- contrelled.
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Mr. J. E. Cross
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These violations are cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation, and the circumstances
surrounding the violations are described in detail in the enclosed report. Please note that
you are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions specified in the
enclosed Notice when preparing your response. The NRC will use your response, in part,
to determine whether further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with
regulatory requirements.
The NRC also reviewed an additional licensee identified issue that is a violation of NRC
requirements. Contrary to 10 CFR 50 Appendices A and B, the Unit 2 control room
emergency ventilation system design was inadequate in that the system function was
vulnerable to failure from a single active component failure. The identification of the subtle
design deficiency demonstrated an excellent questioning attitude. Corrective actions were
comprehensive in addressing the deficiency.
The issue is a violation of NRC requirements, which could be considered for escalated
enforcement and be subject to a civil penalty. However, after consultation with the
Director, Office of Enforcement and the Regional Administrator, I have been authorized to
not issue a Notice of Violation and not propose a civil penalty in accordance with the
provisions provided in Section Vll.B.3 of the NRC's Enforcement Policy. This decision for
the control room emergency ventilation system issue was made after consideration that:
(1) the violation was identified by your staff's good questioning attitudes during voluntary
initiatives; (2) corrective actions, both taken and planned, were comprehensive and timely;
(3) the conditions were subtle in nature and not likely to be disclosed through routine
surveillance or quality assurance activities; and (4) the violation is not reasonably linked to
current performance. The exercise of discretion acknowledges your good effort to identify
and correct subtle violations, that would not be identified by routine efforts, before the
degraded safety systems are called upon.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter
and its enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).
Sincerely,
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Charles W. Hehl, Director
,
Division of Reactor Projects
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' Docket Nos. : 50-334,50-412
License Nos.: OPR-66, NPF-73
. Enclosures:
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1. ' Notice of Violation
2. Inspection Report 50-334/97-11,50-412/97-11-
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Mr. J. E. Cross
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cc w/encis:
S. Jain, Senior Vice President, Nuclear Services Group
D. Brandt, Vice President, Nuclear Operations Group and Plant Manager
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R. LeGrand, Vice President, Operations Support Group
' B. Kline, Manager, Nuclear Engineering Department
B. Tuite, General Manager, Nuclear Operations Unit
M. Pergar, Acting Manager, Quality Services Unit -
J. Arias, Director, Safety & Licensing Department
J. Macdonald, Manager, System and Performance Engineering Department
M. Clancy, Mayor, Shippingport, PA-
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- State of Ohio
State of West Virginia
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Mr. J. E. Cross
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Distribution w/encis:
Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)
PUBLIC
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
NRC Resident inspector
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J. Lieberman, OE
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D. Holody, ORA
H. Miller, ORA
N. Perry, DRP
D. Haverkamp, DRP
A. Linde, DRP
Distribution w/encls (VIA E-MAIL):
J. Stolz, NRR
B. McCabe, OEDO
R. Correia, NRR
F. Talbot, NRR
DOCDESK
Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
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DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 7\\BV9711.lNS
To receive a copy of this document, Indicate in the bom
"C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure
- E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure
"N" = No
copy
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DATE
03/13/98)
03//3 /98
03/fb /98
03/ /7 /98 '
03/
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0FFICIAL RECORD COPY