ML20248B985

Special Rept:On 890421,cable Vault Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Sys & on 890424,diesel Fire Pump Day Tank Room CO2 Sys Declared Inoperable.Fire Protection Sys Out of Svc for More than 14 by 890602.Fire Watches Established

ML20248B985
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	06/02/1989
From:	Pelletier J VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
References
VYV-89-113, NUDOCS 8906090225
Download: ML20248B985 (2)

Text

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VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER. CORPOR ATION P. O. BOX 157 GOVEltNOR IIUNT ROAD VERNON, VERMONT 05354 VYV 89-113 JLNE 2, 1989 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region I 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 References As License No. DPR-8 (Docket No. 50-271)

Dear Sire Subjects vermont Yankee Special Report, Fire Protection System Out of Service '

for Greater Than 14 Days Vermont Yankee Technical Specification 3.13.D.2 requires that "From and after the date that the CO2 system in the Cable Vault is inoperable, establish a con-tinuous fire watch within one hour with backup fire suppression equipment.

Restore the system to operable status within 14 days or submit a report within the next 30 days to the Commission outlining the cause of the inoperability and the plans for restoring the system to operable status."

The Cable Vault CO2 System was declared inoperable on April 21, 1989 when Vermont Yankee was notified by the tEC that they required a full discharae test of the the system to verify operability. A continuous fire watch was imme-diately established and will be maintaired until the system is declared and made operable. Vermont Yankee is evaluating the feasibility of a full discharge test of the CO2 system. This test will prove the operability of the system. Testing will be completed at the earliest time possible once our evaluation is completed.

At the time of installation, the code of record did not require a full discharge ,

test. The NRC interpretation of the NFPA code of record is that the only accep-  !

table means of verifying system operability is a full discharge test. In light of this interpretation Vermont Yankee was directed to declare the Cable Vault  !

CO2 system inoperable, j Since the system remained functional and a continuous fire watch remained in effect, there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public is not endangered.

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8906090225 890602 PDR ADOCK 05000271

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,,# Page 2 Vermont Yankee Technical Specification 3.13.D.3 requires that "From and after the date that the CO2 system in the diesel fire pump day tank room is inoperable, within one hour a fire watch shall be established to inspect the location at least once every hour. Restore the system to operable status within 14 days or submit a report within the next 30 days to the Commission outlining the cause of the inoperability and the plans for restoring the system to operable status."

The diesel fire pump day tank room CO2 System was declared inoperable on April 24, 1989 when Vermont Yankee was notified by the tRC that they required a full discharge test of the system to verify operability. A once per hour fire watch was immediately established and was maintained until a system discharge test was satisfactorily completed on May 9, 1989. The test results verified the operabi-lity of the CO2 system, and the system was declared operable later the same day.

The out of service condition was declared after determining that a complete discharge test had not been conducted for the system. At the time of installa-tion, the code of record did not require a full discharge test. The NRC interpretation of the NFPA code is that the only acceptable means of verifying system operability is a full discharge test. In light of this interpretation, Vermont Yankee declared the Cable Vault CO2 system inoperable.

As stated above, the code of record did not require a full discharoe test. The NRC interpretation of the NFPA code of record is that the only acceptable means of verifying system operability is a full discharge test. In light of this interpretation, Vermont Yankee was directed to declare the Cable Vault CO2 system inoperable.

Since the system remained functional, as demonstrated by the discharge test, and a once per hour fire watch remained in effect, there is a reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public was not endangered.

Additional information will be provided in our response to Inspection Reoort 50-271/89-04. We trust that you will find this submittal satisfactory, however should you desire additional information, feel free to contact us.

Very truly yours,

.-R PinQ ames P. Pelletier Plant Manager Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation i

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