ML20217P762

From kanterella
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Forwards Insp Repts 50-334/97-05 & 50-412/97-05 on 970608- 0719 & Notice of Violation.Operators on Unit 1 Failed to Prevent Inadvertent Actuation of Overpressure Protection Sys Due to Inattention to Slowly Rising Rc Sys Pressure
ML20217P762
Person / Time
Site: Beaver Valley
Issue date: 08/18/1997
From: Miller H
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To: Cross J
DUQUESNE LIGHT CO.
Shared Package
ML20217P765 List:
References
50-334-97-05, 50-334-97-5, 50-412-97-05, 50-412-97-5, EA-97-375, NUDOCS 9708280226
Download: ML20217P762 (4)


See also: IR 05000334/1997005

Text

, . . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

.. . .

y

&

August 18, 1997

EA No. 97 376

Mr. J. E. Cross

President

Generation Group

Duquesne Light Company (DLC)

Post Office Box 4

Shippingport, Pennsylvania 15077

SUBJECT: NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 50 334/97 05, 50 412/97 05,

<

NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND EXERCISE OF ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION

Dear Mr. Cross:

The NRC conducted an inspection of the Beaver Valley Power Station (BVPS) facilities from

June 8 to July 19,1997. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection.

During the 6 week period covered by this inspection period, your conduct of activities at

the Beaver Valley Power Station fac'lities was generally characterized by sound

conservative decisions with regard to plant operations. The decision to shutdown Unit 1

on June 27 and to extent the shutdown to perform additional repairs demonstrated a

conservative safety perspective. The Unit 2 shutdown on July 10 was effectively

managed by operators.

Notwithstanding the above, certain performance weaknesses were evident.- Operators on

Unit 1 failed to prevent the inadvertent actuation of the overpressure protection system

due to inattention to slowly rising reactor coolant system pressure. Also, inadequate work

Instructions and poor communications during maintenance troubleshooting e two separate

occasions resulted in an inadvertent actuation of an engineered safety feature and an

emergency shutdown of the emergency response facility diesel generator. These types of

occurences warrant continued management attention to reducing human errors.

Based on the results of this inspection, the NRC hae determined that a violation of NRC

requirements occurred. This violation is cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation, and the

circumstances surrounding the violation are described in detailin the enclosed report. The

violation indicates that troubleshooting activities need increased review and management

attention. Please note that you are required to respond to this letter and should follow the

instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when picparing 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 three issues involving past design deficiencies. The first issue

.

involved reactor protection system trip functions which failed to meet design requirements

specified in IEEE 2791971. The second issue involved non-seismic emergency diesel

generator fire suppression system actuation relays. The third issue involved containment

isolation check valves which did not meet their design basis requirements. The three s

7

-

_

]

.

e

o

,

J. E. Cross 2

issues were identified by your staff through voluntary initiatives. The NRC considers your

Initiatives to identify longstanding practices and design issues a strength. Corrective

actions taken and planned were comprehensive and should prevent recurrence. The design

deficiencies were subtle in nature and were not likely to be identified by routine

surveillance or quality assurance activities.

These three design issues are apparent violations of NRC requirements which could be

considered for escalated enforcement and subject to a civil penalty. However, after

consultation with the Director, Office of Enforcement, I have been authorized to not issue a

Notice of Violation and not propose a civil penalty in this case in accordance with the

provisions provided in Section Vll.B.3 of the NRC's Enforcement Policy. This decision was

made after consideration that: (1) the violations were 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 violations are 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,

.

/ '

Hubert J. Miller

Regional Administrator

Docket Nos. :- 50 334, 50 412

License Nos.: DPR 66, NPF 73

Enclosures:

1. Notice of Violation

2.- Inspection Report 50-334/07 05, 50 412/97-05

. = _. = _

_ = ==

_.

.

.

.

J. E. Cross 3 ,

cc w/encts:

S. Jam, Vice President, Nuclear Services

R. LeGrand, Vice President, Nuclear Operations

B. Kline, Manager, Nuclear Engineering Department

B. Tulte, General Manager, Nuclear Operations Unit

K. Ostrowski, Manager, Quality Services Unit

J. Arias, Director, Safety & Licensing Department

M. Clancy, Mayor

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

State of Ohio

. i

- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - - _ _ _ _ _

t

e

J. E. Cross 4

Distribution w/encis:

Region I Docket Room (with concurrences)

PUBLIC

Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)

NRC Resident inspector

H. Miller, ORA

D. Screnci, PAO (2)

W. Axelson, DRA

D. Holody, ORA

B. Fewell, ORA

J. Lieberman, OE

P. Eselgroth, DRP

D. Haverkamp, DRP

A. Keatley, DRP

Distribution w/encle (VIA E MAIL):

J. Stolz, NRR

D. Brinkman, NRR

W. Dean, OEDO

Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)

R. Correla, NRR

F. Talbot, NRR

DOCDESK

Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\ BRANCH 7\BV9705. INS

T :+ seestve a espy of ems sleeumont, hislleets in the bes: 'C' = Copy enthout ettechmentienclosure 'E' = Copy with sttachment' enclosure 'N' = No copy

0FFICE Rl/ORP, I Rl/0FTP/ 11 OE 78W , E Rl/0Pf I R[/RA, 1

NAME L K6WE E5MCAlIH LIEBERMANfr H' HL M/V b/fMLFff

i DATE f 08/f>/97 08/;3/97 08/16797 i ~08/ ~/97

08f0797 ,

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . - - . t