ML20236W619

Discusses 871125 Mgt Meeting in Atlanta,Ga Re Issues of Equipment Qualification Derived from Recent Insp & Any Ramifications of Issues on Continued Operation of Unit 1 & Corrective Actions Taken Before Restart of Unit 2

ML20236W619
Person / Time
Site:	Farley
Issue date:	12/02/1987
From:	Grace J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:	Mcdonald R ALABAMA POWER CO.
References
NUDOCS 8712080110
Download: ML20236W619 (3)

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DEC 2 jgg7 Docket No. 50-348 License No. NPF-2 Alabama Power Company ATTN: Mr. R. P. Mcdonald Senior Vice President P. O. Box 2641 Birmingham, AL 35291-0400 Gentlemen:

SUBJECT:

CONFIRMATION OF ACTION - DOCKET N0. 50-348 This refers to the Management Meeting held in the Region II Office, Atlanta, Georgia on November 25, 1987.

This meeting was held to discuss the issues of equipment qualification (EQ) that derived from the recent inspection and any ramifications of these issues on continued operation of Unit 1 and corrective actions taken before restart of Unit 2.

The licensee stated at the outset of the meeting that, except for ji stifi-cations for continued operation (JCOs) on grease and lubricants, all EQ discrepancies identified on Unit 2 affecting operability will be fixed prior to Unit 2 startup.

Since the meeting, the Region issued a letter (November 30,1987) permitting Unit 2 startup with one additional outstanding EQ issue regarding Chico /Raychem seals, which is to be resolved by December 2, 1987.

The licensee's position in the meeting regarding Unit 1 focused principally on terminal blocks installed inside containment in various instrument loops.

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The licensee's previous position had been that these terminal blocks were qualified, but the staff disagreed.

In the meeting, the licensee then took the position that the terminal blocks were qualifiable, and also presented a JC0 to justify continued operation based on a combination of EQ data and a semi-quantitative assessment of containment temperatures under realistically bounding accident conditions.

The licensee also stated that if safety systems initiated early in the accident sequences of concern were allowed to operate, design conditions would not be exceeded.

However, the licensee also stated that, using current emergency operating procedures, operator action response to erroneous signals could result in inappropriate actions.

Such erroneous signals could occur, if the containment temperature were to exceed that for which the terminal blocks are qualified. After review of the data presented by the licensee, the staff acknowledged that there is disparity in EQ test data for like and different terminal blocks and differences in interpretation of the EQ test data to be applied to Farley.

The staff also acknowledged that while the licensee's operability argument had some merit, it was largely based on qualitative assumptions and contained some elements of nonconservatism.

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. Alabama Power Company 2

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.In: view of the. staff's' position, Alabama' Power Company (APC) made the following-

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commitments during the meeting, as clarified by telephone calls between C.:W. Hehl;of the Region 11 staff and W. G.'Hairston of APC on November 30:

Once. Unit' 2 ' is. stabilized.at. power, but no later than December 9,1987,

1..' ' initiate an orderly shutdown of Unit 1.

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In the interim, APC will increase the awareness of shift supervisors and Shift. Technical Advisors.to the possibility of inaccurate data from instruments located inside containment in the event of-a large loss of.

1 coolant.or steam line break accident.. APC will also thoroughly train Shift Technical Advisors.of the need to monitor diverse parameters in the event of a large loss of coolant or steam line break accident to assure

.that inappropriate actions. are not taken by. operators based on potential inaccurate instrument readings.

Further, one of the two STAS on shift' will maintain presence in the Control Room.-

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Effect_ repairs on environmental qualification deficiencies associated

~1 with Instrument Terminal Boards and Head Vent prior to restart of Unit'1.

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Walkdown Unit 1 containment during the. spring 1988 refueling' outage in a timely manner to. identify deficiencies 'between as-found and as-designed

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splices and other types of EQ deficiencies found during the recent Unit 2 walkdowns. ' This walkdown will include all V-splices and a representative, sample of other systems' and components with field wiring connections to determine if, other ' deficiencies exist.

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Deficiencies identified shall be repaired on Unit I at least to the same

~l extent that repairs had-been made to Unit 2 EQ deficiencies.

Such repairs i

shall: be made prior to plant startup following the spring 1988 outage.

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Evaluate operability issues. on Unit 1 on 'any unrepaired deficiencies prior to startup.

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Plant startup of Unit 1 from the 1988 refueling outage shall not occur without prior concurrence by NRC.

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.It.is the staff's judgment that the Farley terminal blocks might possibly pass a qualification test and that the temperatures at the terminal blocks during a large loss of coolant or steam line break accident might not exceed the temperatures for which the blocks could be qualified.

Also, there is a small i

likelihood of such accidents, and the licensee's compensating actions should enhance proper operator action should instrument inaccuracy occur during such i

a design basis event.

Therefore, we believe that APCS commitments present a j

reasonable and timely resolution of the issues of environmental qualification of equipment for Unit 1 and will provide reasonable assurance of continued safe operation of the Farley Nuclear Plant Unit 1 for the interim period.

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W-4..x-g DEC.0 2:19871

'. Alabama. Power = Company 3

This confirmation of Action '(CAL)' letter - supercedes.our: CAL' of. October 6,

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1987.

If yourl understanding of these matters differs from' the a' bove, ~please advise us

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promptly.

Sincerely,.

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J. Nelson Grace

. Regional Administrator CAL 50-348-87-02

.cc:

W. O. Whitt, Executive

-l Vice President i

J. D. Woodard, General Manager -

Nuclear Plant-

-W. G. Hairston, III,-Vice

' President ~ Nuclear Support.

J.--W.- R.Gowan, Manager - Safety Audit'and Engineering Review J. K. Osterholtz,. Supervisor - Safety Audit and Engineering Review-bec: NRC Resident Inspector

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E. Reeves, Project l Manager, NRR J. Lieberman, 0GC i

DRS Tech. Assistant' j

Document Control Desk State of Alabama 1

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