ML20247R591

Documents NRC Response to Util Request for Waiver of Compliance for Surveillance Requirement 4.4.11.a Re Reactor Vessel Head Vent Sys.Waiver Granted on 890731 to Return Power to Vent Head Sys for Both Units

ML20247R591
Person / Time
Site:	Sequoyah
Issue date:	08/02/1989
From:	Crutchfield D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Kingsley O TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
References
TAC-74105, TAC-74106, NUDOCS 8908080061
Download: ML20247R591 (3)

Text

-

,c=ucoq'o, p

UNITED STATES

1. a -

2' % *w NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION a

f4

_E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

'% h August 2, 1989 Docket Nos. 50-327 and 50-328 Mr. Oliver D. Kingsley, Jr.

Senior Vice President Nuclear Power Tennessee Valley Authority 6N 38A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402-2801

SUBJECT:

WAIVER OF COMPLIANCE FOR SURVEILLANCE REQUIREMENT 4.4.11.a (TAC 74105/74106) - SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2 This letter is to document our response to your request for a waiver of com-pliance for Units 1 and 2 from surveillance requirement (SR) 4.4.11.a in the Sequoyah Technical Specifications (TS).

This SR applies to the reactor vessel head vent system. This request and the basis for the request were discussed in your letter of July 28, 1989 and in the phone conference call of July 31, 1989.

We grarsted the waiver of compliance to rewrn power to the four soler.oid-oper-ated isolation valves in the head vent system for each unit at 4:0G p.m. on July 31, 1989.

On July 28, 1989, the two manual isolation valves upstream of the head vent system for each unit were discovered to have been verified open before the restart of each unit from the last refueling outage but not locked open as required by the TS.

The valves cannot now be locked because the units are at 100% power and the valves are inaccessible when the reactor is at power because of their proximity to the reactor vessel head and the high radiation levels in that area. With the head vent systems considered inoperable, the TS require that power be removed from the solenoid-operated valve actuators in the head 1

vent systems and, if the manual isolation valves cannot be locked, the units be shut down by August 27, 1989, thirty drys later.

To comply with the TS, the power was removed from the valve actuators on July 28, 1989.

You requested the waiver of compliance to restore power to the head vent system solenoid-operated valve actuators until you submit an exigent TS change to prevent the plant shutdown on August 27, 1989 and the NRC staff acts on the TS change.

You stated that it was prudent to restore power to the four solenoid-operated isolation valves because the configuration control process at Sequoyah provides assurance that the manual isolation valves are, in fact, open and the

)

head vent system would then be fully operational in the event of an accident.

J l

I 4

ga mg P

i

Mr. ' Oliver D. Kingsley,'.

On July 31, 1989, in a phone conference, your staff explained that flow verifi-cation tests of the head vent system conducted during startup for each unit provides further assurance that the manual isolation valves should be open.

Because of the relatively short time between when the flow tests were run and when the valves became inaccessible during the sts.rtup of the units, it is unlikely that the valves could have been accidently closed. However, in order to provide final verification that the manual isolation valves are open, your staff agreed to perform a second set of flow verification tests on the head 1

vent systems when each unit next enters Mode 5 or cold shutdown.. These flow tests shall be conducted in Mode 5 to prevent overstressing the solenoid-oper-ated valve actuators in the head vent system, which might occur. if the tests were to be conducted at full system pressure.

Based on our review of your request, we conclude that there is a basis for the.

staff to consider amending the TS for Sequoyah to prevent the shutdown of both units because the manual isolation valves of both units are not locked open.

It is, therefore, prudent to return power to the solenoid operated valves in the head vent systems for both units because there is assurance that the manual isolation valves are open and it is not likely that they would have closed since the flow verification tests were performed even though they were not l

locked open. Therefore, at 4:00 p.m. on July 31, 1989, we granted you the waiver of compliance to return power to the head vent systems for both units until the staff can act on the proposed TS change but for no later than August 27, 1989. We also required that the proposed TS change be submitted by l

close of business on August 2,1989.

The reporting and/or record keeping requirements contained in this letter affect fewer than ten respondents; therefore, OMB clearance is not required under P.L.96-511.

Sincerely.

Original signed by Dennis M. Crutchfield, Associate Director for Special Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: See next page l

Distribution l

Docket File MSimms NRC PDR JDonohew Local PDR OGC 1

SQN Reading JZwolinski ADSP Reading EJordan TMurley/JSniezek ACRS(10)

DCrutchfield GPA/FA BDLiaw GPA/CA SBlack ARM /LFMB RPierson CRossi LWatson KJenison 0FC :NRR:TVA/LA :NRR V

hRR:

TVA:A

TVA: AD/P

IV

/

A w..:

...p

...:..d......'..:g

BDLdd

DC utchfield

..... :..k.... 's NAME :MSimms:a

JD ew

EM os

RPiers

.......:............:.........l....:

gg....

. J DATE :8/ /89

8/E/89

8/ E.,I89

8/ 2-/89

8/

89 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

~

Mr. Oliver D. Kingsley, Jr. l cc:

General Counsel Mr. Kenneth M. Jenison Tennessee Valley Authority Senior Resident Inspector 400 West Summit Hill Drive Sequoyah Nuclear Plant ET 11B 33H U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 2600 Igou Ferry Road Mr. F. L. Moreadith Vice President, Nuclear Engineering Mr. Michael H. Nobley, Director Tennessee Valley Authority Division of Radiological Health 400 West Summit Hill Drive T.E.R.R. A. Building, 6th Floor WT 12A 12A 150 9th Avenue North Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 Nashville, Tennessee 37219-5404 Dr. Mark O. Medford Dr. Henry Myers, Science Advisor Vice President and Nuclear Committee on Interior Technical Director and Insular Affairs Tennessee Valley Authority U.S. House of Representatives 6N 38A Lookout P4ce Washington, D.C.

20515 Chattanooga, Teni;,see 37402-2801 Tennessee Valley Authority Manager, Nuclear Licensing Rockville Office and Regulatory Affairs 11921 Rockville Pike Tennessee Valley Authority Suite 402 SN 1578 Lookout Place Rockville, Maryland 20852 Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402-2801 Mr. John L. LaPoint Site Director Sequoyah Nuclear Plant i

Tennessee Valley Authority l

P. O. Box 2000 Soddy Daisy, Tennessee 37379 l

Mr. M. Burzynski l

Acting Site Licensing Manager Sequoyah Nuclear Plant P. O. Box 2000 Soddy Daisy, Tennessee 37379 l

County Judge Hamilton County Courthouse Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 l

Regional Administrator, Region II U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 101 Marietta Street, N.W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30323 l