ML20236S393

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Ack Receipt of Informing NRC of Steps Taken to Correct Violations Noted in Insp Rept 50-482/98-13.Reply Responsive to Concerns Raised in NOV Concerning Clearance Order Violation
ML20236S393
Person / Time
Site: Wolf Creek 
Issue date: 07/20/1998
From: Johnson W
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To: Maynard O
WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORP.
References
50-482-98-13, NUDOCS 9807240304
Download: ML20236S393 (5)


See also: IR 05000482/1998013

Text

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UNITED STATES

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

$

REGION IV

k'+,

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611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 400

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AR LINGTON, T E XAS 76011-8064

...++

JUL 201998

Otto L. Maynard, President and

Chief Executive Officer

Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation

P.O. Box 411

Burlington, Kansas 66839

SUBJECT:

NRC INSPECTION REPORT 50-482/98-13

Dear Mr. Maynard:

Thank you for your letter of July 7,1998, in response to our June 12,1998, letter and Notice of

Violation concerning two examples of failure to properly implement your clearance order

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procedure and one instance of failing to perform an unreviewed safety question determination

regarding a modification to the postaccident sampling system. We have reviewed your reply

and find it responsive to the concerns raised in our Notice of Violation with regard to the

clearance oraer viobtion. We will review the implementation of your corrective actions for this

violation during a future inspection to determine that full compliance has been achieved and will

be maintained.

l

With regard to the second violation, your response of July 7 did not indicate that an unreviewed

safety question determination had been performed. On July 16, a telephone conversation was

conducted between D. N. Graves of NRC and A. Harris of your staff, during which Mr. Harris

stated that an unreviewed safety question determination had not yet been performed due to

ongoing discussions with the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation regarding the modification to

the postacddent sampling system. Mr. Harris also stated that an unreviewed safety question

determination would be conducted with a completion date not later than August 28,1998. If

your understanding of this commitroent is different from that stated in this letter, please contact

us. We will continue to review your proposed corrective actions for this violation.

Sincerely,

%

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W. D.LJohnson, Chief

Project Branch B

Division of Reactor Projects

Docket No.:

50-482

License No.: NPF-42

F

9907240304 990720

PDR

ADOCK 05000482

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Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation

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cc:

Chief Operating Officer

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Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp.

P.O. Box 411

Burlington, Kansas 66839

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Jay Silberg, Esq.

Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge

2300 N Street, NW

. Washington, D.C. 20037

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Supervisor Licensing

Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating' Corp.

P.O. Box 411 '

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Burlington, Kansas 66839

Chief Engineer

Utilities Division

7

Kansas Corporation Commission

1500 SW Arrowhead Rd.

Topeka, Kansas 66604-4027

Office of the Governor

State of Kansas

Topeka, Kansas 66612

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Attorney General

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Judicial Center

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301 S.W.10th

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2nd Floor

. Topeka, Kansas 66612-1597

County Clerk

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Coffey County Courthouse

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Burlington, Kansas 66839-1798

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Vick L. Cooper, Chief

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Radiation Control Program

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Kansas Department of Health

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and Environment

Bureau of Air and Radiation

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Forbes Field Building 283

Topeka, Kansas 66620

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Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation

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Mr. Frank Moussa

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Division of Emergency Preparedness

2800 SW Topeka Blvd

Topeka, Kansas 66611-1287

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Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation

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Jlt 201998

bec to DCD (IE01)

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- bec distrib. by RIV: .

Regional Administrator-

Resident inspector

DRP Director

SRI (Callaway, RIV)

Branch Chief (DRP/B)

DRS-PSB

Project Engincar (DRP/B)

MIS System

Branch Chief (DRP/TSS)

RIV File .

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DOCUMENT NAME: R:\\_WC\\WC813AK.JFR

To recolve copy of -i-; J ./, indicate in box: "C" = Copy without enclosures "E" = Copy with enclosures "N" = No copy

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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation

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JUL 201998

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bec distrib. by RIV:

Regional Administrator

Resident inspector

DRP Director

SRI (Callaway, RIV)

Branch Chief (DRP/B)

DRS-PSB

Project Engineer (DRP/B)

MIS System -

Branch Chief (DRP/TSS)

RIV File

DOCUMENT NAME: R:\\_WC\\WC813AK.JFR

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To receive copy of doqipment, indicate in box:"C" = Copy without enclosures "E" = Copy with enclosures "N" = No copy

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W9L' CREE (

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'UCLEAR CPERATING CORPORATION

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Otto L. Maynard

Presioent and Chief Executwe Officer

JUL

7 1998

WM 9s-0069

U.

5.

Duclear Regulatcry Ccamission

ATTU:

Document Contrcl Desk

Mail Station F1-137

sashington,

D.

C.

20555

keference:

.stter u a te ct J;ne 12, 1999, fr:m W.

D.

7annson,

RC, 10 0 -. :!aynard, WCMOC

Subject:

Ocket

.3.13-487.:

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esponse to Motice of

irlations M-t A2 / 4813-01 and :4913-02 (EA *9-273)

Gentlemen:

This letter transmits 101: creek Muclear vperating Cw potat.on'n

t.WCMOC )

response to Motice or

1;1ati:nc '.0-492/9913-01 and 9313-4.i

i rlat : nn

') A 13-

01 identified two examcles of f ailure to follcw the clearar ce

cer p;ocedure.

The second violatica

EA 38-273/9813-02) is related to WCNOC's identifying

that we have been ;nable to pertorm certain post-accident sample system

analysis within the alletted time and as sucn mace a ce acto change to che

facility without a safety evaluation.

WCNOC's Jesponse to these c:.c.aticns is proviced in the attachment.

MCNOC nas

also proviced ccmments On certain issues dis ussed in the report.

If you have

any questions regarding this response, please contact te at ;316) 164-8831,

extension 4000, or Mr.

1chae. J.

Angus at extension 4077

Very truly you m

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Otto L. Maynard 'f

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GLM/r1r

Attachment

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cc:

W.

D.

Johnson (NRC), w/a

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  1. E;: W.;Merschoff 1NRC)/ W/a4

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J.

F. Ringwald (::RC I , w/a

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K. M.

Thomas (MRC), w/a

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P.O. Sex 411/ Burhngton. KS 66839 / Phone: (316) 364-8831

An Eaual Oppcuny Empoyer M F/HCNET

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Atta5nment to WM 99-0069

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Page _ of 9

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Resoonse to Violation 50-482/9813-01

Violation 50-402/9813-01:

"Tecnnical Specification

t.5.".

2

recuires, in part, tnat written procedure be

established, implemented, anc maintained covering :he applicable procedures

recommended in Appendix A cf Pegulatory Guide 1.33, Revision 2,

February 1976.

Pegulatory Guide 1.33, :evisicn 2,

February 1979, 2ection 1.C,

recommends, in

.

part, that procedures be estaclisnea for equipment control.

Procedure AP 21E, " Clearance Orders," Revision 7, Section 6.1.2.1.h,

prohibits

clearance crders from relying :. n other plant activities for establishing

system configurations.

Contrary to the above,

1.

On March

17,

19 M ,

electricians

removed creaker !JG001 AGF1

while

Clearance Order 99-0250-EF relied on Procedure MGE EOOP-11 to establish

isolation of the breaker from the bus, and

2.

On April

15,

1999,

ele ct rici ar.s

removed 3reaker NG001ACR2

while

Clearance Order M-:317-EJ relied en Procecure MGE ECOP-21 to establish

isolation of the creater fr00 the bus.

This is a Severity Level :V nolation (Supplement 1.

(50-482/9813-01)"

Description of Event:

On March .17,

1998, Wolf creek !:aclear Operating Corporation ( ActJOC) craft

personnel were replacing 480 volt molded case circuit breakr.r NG001AGF1.

While a craft person was terminating a wire, the

"3"

phoc: line side of the

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breaker became energized.

The screwdriver that tne craft person was holding

went to ground on the breaker cperating mechanism,

ausing an arc / flash.

The

craft person holding the screwdriver received a first degree burn to the tip

of his niddle finger of his right hand.

In response to the event, the clearance orcer used, 99-0250-EF, was reviewed,

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sleng with work package 101433, task 20, and proceaure MGE ECOP-11, "Mo]ded

Case Circuit Breaker ana Ground Fault Sensor Te s t i r.g . "

Clearance order 98-

g

025C-EF tagged the hand switch and breaker for Essential Service Water System

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valve, EF HV-0023 and taggea the valve in the closea position.

The clearance

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orcar boundary was believea to be adequate to change out the breater.

Work

package 101433, Task 20,

referenced procecure MGE EOOP-11 for the breaker

rencval and installation.

The wording in the proceaure gave no indication of

the close proximity of the bus bar.

Interviews ' determined that the Electrical Maintenance personnel involved in

this event were aware of the boundaries set by the clearance.

They realized

that the load side af creaker was isolated anc that the bus bars were

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energized.

They also knew their work instructions would be used to pull the

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bucket to its disconnected position, where it would be secured by placing the

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screw and pawls mechanism in place to facilitate changing out the breaker.

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This clearance order / work instruction interface was the standard work practice

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for 460 volt molded case circuit breaker change outs.

The vendor manual recommends that when work at a molded case circuit breaker

requires the cubicle bucket to be moved off the bus, then the breaker and

cubicle bucket should be verified in the " lockout position."

The " lockout

position" was not known by the clearance order personnel, and it was not

addressed in the work packages or procedure MGE EOCP-11 used during the March

17, 1998, work activities-.

The cubicle " lockout position" is when the hole in

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Atta'chment to . M 90069

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Page 2 et 9

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the lower right :orner of the cu c r.e t ceccres alignea with tne hole in the

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slide rail.

The cucket is required to be secured in this position with an

approvvi mechanical device.

Vendor Instruction Manual for ITE Gould 5600

Series MCC E-018-00190 descrites using the " lockout position" for maintenance

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activities, what the " lockout position"

is,

and how it should be used.

Because the existence of the " lockout position" was unknown, the clearance

orcer relied cn maintenance work instructions and procedure MGE E00P-11 to

provide safe working ccnditions.

After the Marcn 17,

1998, event, corrective actions were put in place to

ensure that the " lockout position" was included in the work instructions.

Additionally, the Clearance Order Summary Sheet was requirs< to be used to

inform the electricians of the mechanical device used to secure 480 volt

breakers in tne lcckout position.

The above actions were met during the April

15,

1998, event; however,

at that time the conclusions related to the

clearance order process were still under investigation, and the requirement

that the isolation boundary be controlled solely by the clearance was not met.

In both examples, the clearance orders did not comply with the requirement of

procedure AP 21E-001,

" Clearance

Orders,"

step

6.1.2.1.h

which states:

" Clearance orders shall not be prepared such that they sclely rely on other

plant activities

'. s u ch as Local Leak Rate Testing

( LLRT' s )

etc.)

for

establishing system configurations and/or conoitions."

Additionally, step

6.1.2.2

of AP 21E-001,

states that a summary sheet should be used to

" communicate technical information or safety concern."

Reason for the Violation:

The personnel perferming the clearance orders were not aware of the vendor

information regarding the " lockout position" and due to this lack of knowledge

did not have this information in the clearance order.

Contributing Factor:

Personnel relied on past experience with breaker change outs and, due to their

lack of knowledge regarding the " lockout pori. tion" and the wording in

maintenance procedure MGE E30?-ll, did not recognice the need for a Clearance

Order Summary Sheet.

Corrective Actions to Prevent Recurrence

A representative cross-section of electrical maintenance procedures were

reviewed.

The possibility of other weaknesses involving the clearance

order / breaker interference was researched and documented in Performance

Improvement Request

(PIR)

98-1152.

This procecure review revealed no

additional prcblems er concerns.

Therefore, this issue is considered to be

unique to 480 volt molded case circuit breakern.

The electrical maintenance procedures describe breaker maintenance activities

being accomplished by either removing the breaker from the cubicle to complete

the work or placing the treaker in the " lockout position" to work 480 volt

molded case circuit breakers.

As cf Maren 20,

1998, when work at a molded

case circuit breaker required the bucket to be moved off the bus, then the

breaker and cubicle must be verified in the " lockout position." Additionally,

a Clearance Order Summary Sheet is to be used to inform the electricians of

the mechanical device used to secure 480 volt breakers in the " lockout

position" during maintenance activities.

Electrical

maintenance

has

completed

training

on

the

proper

use

and

installation of the lockout device and the near miss.

This training was

conducted under T.I.N.

IE1331601001,

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Atta'enment to WM 99-G69

Fage 3 of 9

Procedure AP 21E-001 was revise 0 to require an applicable local centrol or "Do

flot Operate" tag to be attacnea to the mechanical device wnen molded case

circuit breaker maintenance is ceing performed ar.a the bucket is required to

be secured with an approved mecnsnical device.

Procedure AP 21E-001 was revised to require: 1) a qualified preparer prepare

the clearance order down to and including the " prepared by" block, 2) a

qualified preparer identify energy sources and determine isolation points, and

3) when positive boundaries are not practical, the clearance not be issued

without adding special conditions / precautions to the attached Clearance Order

Summary Sheet.

On May 22, 1998, a Clearance Crder Group meeting was held and the proposed

changes to precedure AP 21E-001 were discussed.

The meeting addressed the

tagging of the mechanical device, and the expected use of the Clearance Order

Summary Sheet when cceplete isolation by the clearance is not practical.

Date When Full Cornpliance Will Be Achieved:

Full compliance has ceen achieven.

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Attiennent tc WM H-00 0

Page 4 of ?

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Violation 50-482/9813-02:

'10CFR50. 5 9 (b) (1) requ;res, in part that tne licenree maintain records of

changes in the facility, pursuant to this section, to the extent that these

changes constitute changes in the facility as cescritcc in tne safety analysis

report.

These recorcs must incluce a written safety evaluation which provided

- the bases for the determination that the cnange did not involve an unreviewed

safety question.

'.ipdated Safety Analysis F ecert ^hapter 18.2.3, " Pest Accicent Sampling System

(II.B.3)," states, in cart, tnat the licensee shall have the capacility to

promptly cotain reactor trolant samples of dissolved gases

(e.g.,

H,) , and the

combined time allottec :cr sampling and analysis should ce 3 nours or less

from the time a decisicn :s mace to take a sample.

Contrary to the above, :n April 22, 1992, the licensee mace a change in the

f acili t'/ as described ir the Upcatec Safety Analysis Report without Commission

approval and without perterming a written safety evaluation which provided the

bases for the determination rnat the change did not involve an unreviewed

safety question.

Tpecificaley, r oll owing tne' failure of the reactor coolant

dissolved Hydrogen analysis instrument in the postaccident sampling system,

the licensee selected an :.Mernate means of onitoring by using the secondary

analysis motnod ci per:crming grac samples <nich could not ce performed within

tne 3-hour time limit prescrinea in tne Updated Safety Analysis Report.

This is a Severity Leve; :/ nolation (Supplement 1; ( 5 0-4 82 / H13-02 ) ,"

Description of Event:

The Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS) Updated Safety Analysis Report (USAR)

Section 13.2.3 states tnat

  • he NCGS design provides an in-line monitoring

system

(for post accident monitoring).

This system (the Fost-Accident

Sampling System, or EASS; incluces provisions for monitorina reactor coolant

system _(RCS) Hydrogen 1: accordance with !!UBEG-0737 Section Il.B. 3.

NUREG-0737 Section :1.E.3 speciries eleven criteria whien a post accident

sampling system must meet

.n

rcer tc perform its design functicn.

The second

vi these criteria states:

"The

icensee shall estacalsh an onsite radiological anc chemical analysis

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rapacility to provice, aithin the 3-nour time frame established above,

quantification ct tne :clicwing:

(a)

certain

racitnuclides

in

the

reactor

coolant

and containment

atmosphere tnat may be indicators of the degree of core damage

e.g., noble gsses; iodines and cesiums, and nonvolatile isotopes);

(b)

Hydrogen levels in tne containment atmosphere;

(c)

dissolvec gases

M.a.,

H2),

chloride (time allotted for analysis

subject to discussion celow), ana tcron concentration cf liquids.

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(d)

Alternatively, nave in-line monite::ng capabilities to perform all

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or part of the acove analyses."

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The WCGS design lacorporated an in-line Hydrogen analyzer for measuring

dissolved Hydrogen in tne reacter coolant, as described in USAR Section

18.2.3.2.

The in-line monitoring system is normally isolated; hcwever, it

could be manually initiated and operated after an accident.

The purpose of using ar in-line monitor is to minimite personnel exposure.

Provisions wcre also included for providing both diluted and undiluted grab

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ramples of the reacter :::.r : : nsistent utn NUREG-0737

The grac samples

are snielded to minimize tursonnel exposure wnile cotalning grab samples.

'he

PASS in-line .iquia ncnitor usea for Hycrcgen analysis of

  • he

reactor

clant is a non-safet; related in-line

cnitor.

The Hycrogen analyzer was

nesignea to be used during

ident conaitions cnly, not during normal plant
cerations.

Mcwever, <;CNOC :akes no creait ter the analyzer in cur satety

analysis and it is not i.clucea in tur emergency response procedures.

NCGS has

'ne am.ity to vent the react r vessel heaa to Containment during an accident.

The Containment atmospnere is monit::ed with safety-relatec Hydrcgen analyzers.

Thereicre, the inability to moniter Hydrcgen in the Reactor Coolant System

'RCS) is of low sa fety si gnificance.

Although the RCS Hydrogen ana.lyzer is not

functional, anotner meth a

1 *s to take a grab sample ana send it Offsite for

analysis.

A computer araws ine aamole, whicn la moved from the sampling room

to the snipper by a remote ^;ntrol cart.

This allows WCNOC to take a sample

ina ensure worker safety,

ut

Ices not meet NUREC-0737 requirements for

t imelir.es s .

This meth:a meet:

ne "lREG-G 7 3 7 requirements for carr.up sampling

apability for in-line ren :: rang qu ipmen t .

However, this rackup method has

teen relied upon tar an ~xcess;ve period of time.

Nplacina

the

Hydrcgen

e.a.yrer

was

researched

in

1991,

ano

a

plant

mocif::stion in ::atea at *nat ::me.

However,

'he hign c:st cf replacement,

c=oinea

with

tne

_cw

'nety

ngnificance

11

the

unction,

mace

the

~caif :ation a 1:w pricrity croject.

Recognizing that ine Hydrogen analyzer

as not functional,

3 JSAR mance was :nitiated in 1997

The USAR change

uscrihed tLe use cf tne c -14; carcie panel as an alternate to the FASS panel

r ctt aining Hyaragen samples and !
r analysis of these samples.

In 1996, WCNOC identified tnat there was a neeri te direct our atteution toward

literal ccmpliance and full ;naerstanding c: our regulatory commitments.

Since

that time, WCUCC employees have exhinited an increased sensitivity to the USAR

and to literal scmpliance.

^n

February

3,

1998, a system engineer reviewing

JSAR section 13.2.3 ident ::ea two 2:ncerns with tnis USAR change:

1) expected

dose received by tne individuals performing post-accident sampling could be in

oxcess

-f

NUREG-0737 limits, and 2: in the event af a icss of offsite power,

mergency power :s not supplieu tc a flow valve in the SJ-143 panel.

Reason for Violation:

'he ;eason the NUREG-0737

equ;rements regarcing the Hydrogen analy:er were not

et,

vas a minaset that cons cerea level ct importance and safety significance,

ut talled to tactcr in regulatcry requiremen r 1r aecisicn making.

This

rindset, coupled with

2

failure :: uncerstana literal compliance,

led to

imprcper pricritization of repair / upgrade work on the Hydrogen analyzer or to

consider the need to chance *ne regulatory ccmmitment.

Corrective Steps Taken and Results Achieved:

he issue of mindset ind c.;1ture has been addressed hy :ncreasea omphasis cn

upect atiens and literal compliance.

The identification of this issue is

indicnien that WCMOC personnel understands our regulatory requirements.

The incorrect USAR change request nas been supersecea, with references to the

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Hydrogen analyzer removea.

USAR Cnange Request 98-044 was approved by the

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Plant Zafety Beview Cctmittee on Marcn 6,

1999.

WCMOC

has

emtarked

upon

a

USAR

fidelity

review

and

initiated

Design

Basis / Licensing Bases projects wnicn are designed to increase tr e awareness of

perscnnel to this type ci issue.

In addition, to improve the quality of

Unreviewed Safety Cuestion Determinations (USQDs), the number of personnel

performing USQDs was reduced by half.

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Attabhment to WM 99-0069

Page 6 cf 9

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In letter WO 98-0047, dated May 11, 1998, f rom C.

C.

Narren, WC110C, to the

!;RC, WC!;OC proposed deletion of the commitment to provide in-line monitoring

and grab sample capability for dissolved gasses

(e.g.,

Hydrogen) in liquids

(specifically, reacter coolant).

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1

To ensure no similar situations exist, System Engineering performed a review of

I

work packages open greater than two years on non-safety related systems to

determine if any commitments were not being net.

!:0 items were identified.

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As indicated above, WCNCC is currently performing a USAR Fidelity Review (SEL

97-044).

The purpose ci

review is to establish a general conclusiot.

.m

regarding the accuracy and completeness of the USAR.

Date When Full Compliance Will Be Achieved:

The appropriate actions will be taken to either revise the USAR cr to pursue

plant modifications based on the NRC's response to WCNOC's proposed commitment

change.

A schecule to acnieve full cc:r.pliance will be generated once NRC input

is received on letter WO 99-0047

!

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i.t t a'cnme n t tc

"A

i-0 2 ?

Fage ~ cf 9

.

Additional Information

Quality Evaluation Audits

~he executive currary en

Fage I :f ::ispecticn Report 98-312 rtate:

"Two audit reports ::ntaimea

xecutive surrary ccnclusicns that generally

agreed with tne asseserent cascribec in tne audit report, but also contained

notable deficiencies.

Ihe repcrts aid cct clearly and consistently present all

audit activities and ::nclusicnr.

One executive surmary conclusion could not

te supported by the assessment and one report described two weaknesses without

describing adequate corrective actions."

WCNOC's Response:

NCNOC has received pos,tive comments in other Inspecticn Reports regarding our

audit activi ies, and

.e

are taking actions to ensure that the two reports

uiscussed above are isciatec c:2ses.

Quality Evaluation (OE) initiated PIR 98-

1508 to document this c:ncern %nd assess the depth of the issue.

To evaluate

the scope of the issue, previously qualified Lead Auaitors, who are no longer

cart of the OE group,

ave ceen askea tc assess cne or two CE reports for the

cllowing:

1) Do comments made .:.n the report have supporting cojective evidence?

2) Are statements in tne e::e c u t ive summary supported by the documentation

in the bocy of

.e report?

3) Are areas of concern aiscussed in repcrt acequately documented as to the

need for a PIR cr justification is provided explaining why no action is

required as a result of the review?

4) Are conclusions reached that can not be drawn trem the auditors work?

5) Dces information provide an adequate basis

for making management

judgments?

6) Is the information presented in a clear, consistent, anc logical manner

The PIR review of auait reports is scheauled to be ccmcleted cy August 30,

1998.

As an irrediate action, ;E management discussed the finaings in IR 98-

13 with auditors and reiteratea expectations for attenticn to detail and the

requirement that conclusions De supported and well documented in the body of

  • ne report.

E management will aetermine if further actions are needed based

n the resultc ct the r=71ew.

As an enhancement to *neir performance indicators, OE is in the process of

establishing an independent :cmmittee to review certain reports ( a udit.s ,

curveillances anc plant observations).

The committee will grace these reports

using criteria proviced by OE anc provice a score in the following areas:

Criticality

Use of Perfctmance Easec : etnodology

Writing Skills

OE intends to use this review and the performance indicator to provide feed-

back to the individuals and the OE group in order to improve the quality of

the reports.

Maintenance Management Oversight for Repair / Rework on Main Steam Isolation

valve ABHV11

The executive summary and Page 7 of Inspection Report 96-013 states:

,

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d

.

'

.t t a'chme nt to WM M-0 M9

Fage 6 Cf 9

.

" Maintenance department

ana ement and supervisory oversight for -he removal

and replacement cf the air ::1 pump on Main Steam Isolation Valve AS HV0011 was

not effective f:r work 7 a safety-relate

ccmponent that inv: <.eo

a short

auration Technical Scecifirsti:n a.:tien statement."

WCNOC Response:

Ocmpletion of a four nour 1;miting Ccndition cf Cperation (LCO) f:ur minutes

before it expires dces n:t meet tne expectations of WCMOC plant management,

ner la it an example of cur typical performance.

Our critique cf the jcb

revealed come specific aspects ahien contributed to the work delays.

Supervisory oversight was

.t

at tne expected levels er the level normally

exhibited by maintenance supervisors.

The supervisor was in the field at the

start of the clearance craer hanging evolution, but then left as he felt this

was

a straight-ferward

soluti:n.

Maintenance

expectations have been

reintorced with the indivinaai :.nvolved utilizing the Management Associated

Results Company (MARC) process.

"he supervisor did nat have 3 clear understanding of the LCO time limits for

this job and,

therefore,

nd ". t ccnvey tnis information to the craft

cerconnel.

Criticality cf

re-sensitive pbs is normally part at the pre-job

criefing activities.

't

51so expectec that supervisors monitcr schedule

a

acherence during *he work evoluticn.

This particular job is simple in nature

and normally coes not requ;re the rull fcur hours to complete.

Additionally,

tne craft perscnnel involvea were knowledgeable and capable in tne performance

of maintenance activities

.e

general, and a master mechanic was assigned to

the task to ensure success cf the activity.

Although inacequate overn gnt may have contributed to job performance, the

excessive cycling of tne ;ewly installed pump was an unforeseen event which

also ' contributed tc the increasec job duration.

The pump nad ceen tested

approximately 3 weeks prior to the performance of the replacement in order to

minimice the potential for :perational prcelems.

Had the pump performed as

required, the LCO time acu.a not nave been nearly as close as it was.

The engineering evaluation :f *he air lean in the newly installea air oil pump

eas

performed

ana

-he

surveillance

test

for

operability

successfully

mpleted.

Engineering ana Operations underctecc that the air ci. pump would

te removed immediately, recause of ccncerns regarding the pump's service life

with the air leak.

Due :: their knowleogo of the plannec corrective work,

engineering did not quantify or bounc the operability of the air oil pump in

the operability evaluation.

Based on the aonormal situation and increased

level of involvement

wit"

ne

cb,

it is expected that ccme delay in

ccmpletion time would occur.

C;ncerning the issue of the root cause analysis discussed on page 7 of the

inepection report, the acting Mechanical Maintenance Superintendent (normally

the assistant Superintencert) was not aware of the desire to do a root cause

2 determination on the pump.

However, the responsible supervisor and the normal

Mect.anical Maintenance Superintendent were aware of the cesire to perform the

analysis.

A quarantine of the pump was not specifically requested as the

i

superintendent did not expect anycne to be working on the pump or affect the

' a s- f ound' condition or the pump.

In summary, WCNOC acknowledges that management involvement in this evolution

did not meet our expectation.

However, even with additional involvement, the

issues encountered during :nis evolution would still have resulted in the LCO

time frame being challenged.

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Ata'en ent to WM 99-0069

,.

Fage 9 of 9

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Bill of Materials

The executive summary menticrs a work package planning vulnerability and, page

7 of Inspection Feport 99-013 states, in part:

.the inspectors noted that

"

tne bill of materials .ist Contained parts applicable to more than cn'e style of

moldec case breaker.

As a result, the maintenance program relied on the

electricians skill of tne ; raft to ensure that the proper materials were

selected...While this was an acceptacle method of providing for safety-related

parts, the inspector noted t .at

this increased the 7 vulnerability for human

error."

WCNOC Response

WCNOC agrees that this was an acceptable method of providing for safety-related

parts.

In this particular case, WCNOC chose to change the bill of material.

In general, we find cur current practice acceptable and do not plan en changing

our normal process.

The oill of material is used by trained personnel that are

qualified to perform their * asks.

WCNOC does not consider this task beyond

their level of ability.

Packing Leak on valve GKVO767

Page 5 cf Inspection Report 99-013 states:

"The inspectors noted that the status of packing leakage en valve GKV0767 had

increased from 6 drops per minutes when identified on February 16,

1998, in

Action Request 27487, to a steady stream on May 19, 1998

The notch cut in the

plexiglass spray guard over the packing area was acting as a weir to the flow

from the packing leakage, causing water to back up in the valve packing area.

The inspectors determined that the valve is scheduled for repaiz during the

week of August 17-23, 1998."

WCNOC Response

WCNOC does not consicer the above statement to be either a negative or a

positive comment, but a statenent of fact.

In accordance with WCNOCs programs

and procedures for scheduling work,

the packing leak was identified and

scheduled for the next available work window based on the significance to the

plant.

The Control Su11 ding HVAC ;GK) system is scheduled for work on a 26

aeek rolling scheoule.

Since the initial leak was identified, it has been

scheduled for repair during the GK system cutage in August 1998.

The increased leakage was evaluated for impact on the GK system.

Valve GKV0767

is the flow control valve for the water flowing through the condenser.

The

valve is located on the downstream side of the condenter, and the valve packing

is located an the downstream side of the valve's shutoff disc.

With this

configuration, the ability to control the flow through the condenser is not

impacted.

Since the valve is en the downstream side of the condenser, the flow

going tnrough the valve and packing leak passes through the condenser.

The

packing is located en the back side of the shutoff disc and the ability to shut

off flow through the condenser is not impacted.

Thus the valve's ability to

pass tull design flow and/or shut off the flow is not affected.

The

condenser's heat removal capability is not affected as a result cf the packing

leak.

Therefore, it was concluded that the leak had no impact to system

operability, and that no change in schedule was necessary.

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