ML20246B570
| ML20246B570 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | San Onofre  |
| Issue date: | 06/22/1989 |
| From: | Faulkenberry B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | Papay L SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20246B574 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8907100012 | |
| Download: ML20246B570 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000361/1989019
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. JilN 2 2 1989.
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Docket Nos. 50-361 and 50-362
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Southern California Edison Company
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. P.- 0. Box 800
2244 Walnut Grove Avenue
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- Rosemead, California 92770
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' Attention:- Dr. L. T. Papay,
LSenior Vice President
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'Gentiemen:-
This refers to the enforcement conference held with Mr. K. P. Baskin,
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Mr. C. B. McCarthy Jr., and other members of the SCE staff. at the Region V.
office on June 2,1989. 'The subjects discussed' are summarized in the:
enclosed report.A copy of the conference agenda is also' enclosed.
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- The. purpose of the' enforcement conference was to' discuss the circumstances.
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2 associated with SCE's failure to take appropriate actions after the discovery
of low: Freon levels for the San.0nofre Units 2 and 3 emergency chillers, and
- the consequent inoperability of the chillers. . Also discussed was your
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. staff'.s. failure to incorporate appropriate design characteristics for the
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chillers'into applicable station procedures.
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- During,the conference, we noted that the emergency. chiller issue. is an addi-
tional. example of the need for improved engineering work which prompted SCE
in'1988 to reassess and. reorganize its ' engineering division.
It.was also
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' acknowledged that ycur evaluation.of engineering program deficiencies,and the
associated corrective actions being implemented have.been extensively dis-
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cussed in' previous correspondence and.during. previous'NRC management meetings,
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Thejmportance of prompt corrective actions for identified ' engineering pro-
p m deficiencies was addressed during the conference, the discussion also
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focused on two associated issues which have not previously been.specifically-
addressed. ~As discussed further in the enclosed report, we emphasized the
following principal areas of NRC concern:
1.
Missed Opportunities to Correct the Emergency Chiller Problems
The primary symptoms of the emergency chiller problem were indications
of low Freon level in the chiller units and instances of failure of the
units to properly operate., The inspectors determined that there were
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. numerous opportunities over 'a number of years for licensee management
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and quality oversight activities to have identified and corrected the
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problems.
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During the conference, the NRC emphasized that the indicators of a sig-
nificant problem were not particularly subtle c,r difficult to recognize.
For example, there were repeated instances during which zero Freon level
in the chiller units were observed and documented by plant operators.
8907100012 890622
ADOCK 05000361
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SCE's failure to properly respond to this problem indicated a need for
additional operator attention to equipment conditions, and for addi-
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tional involvement by licensee organizations responsible for overview of
plant operations. This problem also appears to highlight the need for
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continued, if not additional, emphasis on more effective interface
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between plant operating and engineering / technical support organizations.
2.
Lack of Proactive Actions to Identify and Correct Potential Similar
Problems with Other Plant Safety Equipment
As addressed in licensee event reports (LERs), SCE has implemented
numerous actions to correct problems associated with the emergency
chiller system. However, the LERs did not adequately address' generic
concerns with other safety system parameters which may not have been
properly defined and incorporated into operating and maintenance
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procedures.
It was noted during the conference that SCE appeared to be
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placing considerable reliance on long term corrective actions (e.g. the
design basis document improvement program) to address generic aspects of
the emergency chiller issue. As emphasized during the conference, how-
ever, we consider additional shorter term actions to also be warranted.
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Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Baskin acknowledged the NRC's comments, including those
summarized above, and stated that they would be prepared to address the NRC
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concerns at greater length at the June 27 management meeting.
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Based on the results of the NRC inspection, as documented in NRC Inspection
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Report Nos. 50-361/88-35 and 50-362/88-37, dated May 5, 1989, it appears that
certain of your activities were not conducted in full compliance with NRC
requirements, as set forth in the Notice of Violation, enclosed herewith as
Appendix A.
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Your response to this Notice is to be submitted in accordance with the
provisions of 10 CFR 2.201 as stated in Appendix A, Notice of Violation.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790(a), a copy of this letter, the enclosure, and
your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
The response directed by this letter and the accompanying Notice are not
subje:t to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, PL 96-511.
Should you have any questions concerning this inspection, we will be pleased
to discuss them with you.
Sincerely,
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OrfqnnM9dCpW/
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B. H. N.ulkenberry
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Deputy Regional Administrator
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Enclosures:
1.
Appendix A - Notice of Violation
2.
Meeting Report Nos. 50-361/89-19 and 50-362/89-19
3.
Meeting Agenda
cc w/ Enclosures:
K. P. Baskin, Vice President (Rosemead)
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C. B. McCarthy, Vice President (San Clemente)
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H. E. Morgan, Station Manager (San Clemente)
State of California
bcc w/ copy of onclosures:
Docket File
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Project Inspector
Resident Inspector
G. Cook
B. Faulkenberry
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J. Martin
A. Johnson
R. Nease, NRR
J. Lieberman, OE
bcc w/ enclosure 1 only:
M. Smith
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