ML20248L629
| ML20248L629 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Arkansas Nuclear  |
| Issue date: | 03/18/1998 |
| From: | Merschoff E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Hutchinson C ENTERGY OPERATIONS, INC. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20248L631 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-313-97-21, 50-368-97-21, EA-97-574, NUDOCS 9803230317 | |
| Download: ML20248L629 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000313/1997021
Text
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UNITE D STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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REGION IV
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611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 400
ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76011-8064
March 18, 1998
EA 97-574
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C. Randy Hutchinson, Vice President
Operations
Arkansas Nuclear One
Entergy Operations, Inc.
1448 S.R. 333
Russellville, Arkansas 72801-0967
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SUBJECT:
NOTICE OF VIOLATION (NRC INSPECTION REPORT 50-313/97-21;
50-368/97-21)
Dear Mr. Hutchinson:
This is in reference to the predecisional enforcement conference conducted with you and other
Entergy Operations, Inc., representatives on February 20,1998, in the NRC's Arlington, Texas,
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office. The conference was conducted to discuss three apparent violations of NRC
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requirements identified at the Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1, plant. The apparent violations
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were discussed in NRC Inspection Report 50-313/97-21; 50-368/97-21, issued February 6,
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1998, and were associated with events beginning December 4,1996, when the pressure and
vacuum relief valve on the borated water storage tank was removed for maintenance and
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testing.
The three apparent violations were: (1) failure to adequately evaluate the safety concerns
related to the borated water storage tank vacuum relief valve flange temporary coverings under
10 CFR 50.59; (2) failure to initiate the proper design control measures in accordance with
10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B, Criterion Ill, " Design Control"; and (3) failure to follow the vacuum
relief valve test procedure in accordance with 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B, Criterion V,
" Instructions, Procedures, and Drawings."
Based on information provided during the conference, the NRC has determined that violations of
NRC requirements occurred, although the characterizations of these violations were changed
from the apparent violations presented in NRC Inspection Report 50-313/97-21; 50-368/97-21.
The first violation cited in the attached Notice of Violation (Notice) involves a failure to follow the
temporary alteration procedure. The inspection report identified this issue as an apparent
violation of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B, Criterion Ill, " Design Control," but the NRC has
concluded that this issue is more appropriately considered as a violation of 10 CFR Part 50,
Appendix B, Criterion V, " Instructions, Procedures, and Drawings." During the conference,
Entergy Operations, Inc., showed that its failure to follow the temporary alteration procedure
directly caused the failure to perform safety evaluations required by 10 CFR 50.59. Accordingly,
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no violation of 10 CFR 50.59 is being cited, since it is subsumed in the above violation.
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,
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Entergy Operations, Inc.
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E-Mail report to T. Frye (TJF)
E-Mail report to T. Hiltz (TGH)
E-Mail report to NRR Event Tracking System (IPAS)
E-Mail report to Document Control Desk (DOCDESK)
hoc to DCD (IE01)7
bec distrib. by RIV:
Regional Administrator
Resident inspector
DRS Director
DRS Deputy Director
DRP Director
MIS System
Branch Chief (DRP/C)
RIV File
Project Engineer (DRP/C)
DRS-PSB
Branch Chief (DRPTTSS)
G. F. Sanborn, EO
W. L. Brown, RC
J. Lieberman, OE, MS: 7-H5
OE:EA File, MS: 7-H5
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DOCUMENT NAME: R:\\_ANO\\AN7211t.mfr
To receive copy of document. Indicate in box:"C" = Copy without iinclospres,"E" = Copy with enclosures "N" = No copy
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- Previously concurred
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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Entergy Operations, Inc.
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The second violation cited in the Notice involves a separate violation of 10 CFR Part 50,
Appendix B, Criterion V, for the failure to have an adequate pressure and vacuum relief valve
test procedure for testing the pressure and vacuum relief valve during power operations.
During the conference, Entergy Operations, Inc., noted that its process for converting outage
activities to nonoutage was not adequate. As a result, the procedure, as written, did not provide
adequate guidance to assure that pressure and vacuum relief valve testing was conducted only
during a plant shutdown.
After consideration of the information provided during the predecisional enforcement conference,
the NRC has determined that the actual safety significance of these events was low. This
determination was based primarily on testing performed by Entergy Operations, Inc. This testing
demonstrated that under conditions accompanying a design basis accident, the plastic bag
surrounding the open pressure and vacuum relief valve flange would hr.ve failed within seconds,
thereby, preventing damage to the tank. Accordingly, the two violations referenced above have
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been categorized in'accordance with the " General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC
Enforcement Actions"(Enforcement Policy), NUREG-1600 at Severity LevelIV.
Despite designating these issues as Severity Level IV violations, the NRC remains concemed
that a considerable lapse in performance occurred in association with these events. It is
expected that actions will be taken to fully develop the causes for the failures that occurred and
that corrective actions commensurate with these findings will be implemented.
You are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions specified in the
enclosed Notice when preparing your response. The NRC will use your response, in part, to
determine whether further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with regulatory
requirements.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, its
enclosure, and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Sincerely,
VEs
choff
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Regional Administrator
Docket Nos.: 50-313; 50-368
Enclosure: Notice of Violation
. cc:
Executive Vice President
& Chief Operating Officer
Entergy Operations, Inc.
P.O. Box 31995
Jackson, Mississippi 39286-1995
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Entergy Operations, Inc.
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Vice President
Operations Support
Eniergy Operations, Inc.
P.O. Box 31995
Jackson, Mississippi 39286
Manager, Washington Nuclear Operations
ABB Combustion Engineering Nuclear
Power
12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 330
Rockville, Maryland 20852
County Judge of Pope County
Pope County Courthouse
Russellville, Arkansas 72801
Winston & Strawn
1400 L Street, N.W.
- Washington, D.C. 20005-3502
David D. Snellings, Jr., Director
Division of Radiation Control and
Emergency Management
4815 West Markham Street, Mail Slot 30
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205-3867
Manager
Rockville Nuclear Licensing
Framatome Technologies
1700 Rockville Pike, Suite 525
Rockville, Maryland 20852
.