RA-20-0042, SR-2020-001 for Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, Meteorological Instrumentation Non-Functional for Greater than 7 Days

SR-2020-001 for Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, Meteorological Instrumentation Non-Functional for Greater than 7 Days

ML20036C598
Person / Time
Site:	Catawba
Issue date:	02/05/2020
From:	Simril T Duke Energy Carolinas
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
RA-20-0042 SR-2020-001
Download: ML20036C598 (4)

Text

({., DUKE Tom Simril

~ ENERGY Vice President Catawba Nuclear Station Duke Energy CN01VP I 4800 Concord Road York , SC 29745 o: 803.701 .3340 f : 803.701 .3221 Tom .Simril@duke-energy.com RA-20-0042 February 5, 2020 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attention: Document Control Desk Washington , D.C. 20555-0001

Subject:

Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (Duke Energy)

Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 Docket Numbers: 50-413 and 50-414 Special Report 2020-01 for the Meteorological Instrumentation Non-Functional for Greater than 7 Days In accordance with Required Action A.2 of the Catawba Nuclear Station Selected Licensee Commitment (SLC) 16.7-3, " Meteorological Instrumentation," enclosed is Special Report 2020-01 concerning a Dew Point Meteorological Instrumentation channel which was non-functional for a period of greater than 7 days. SLC 16.7-3 states that if one or more required meteorological monitoring channels are non-functional for greater than 7 days, then prepare and submit a Special Report to the Commission outlining the cause of the malfunction and the plans for restoring the channel(s) to FUNCTIONAL status within 17 days.

This occurrence is considered to be of no significance with respect to the health and safety of the public. There are no new regulatory commitments contained in this letter.

Questions on this special report should be directed to Sherry Andrews, Regulatory Affairs, Catawba Nuclear Station, at 803-701 -3424.

Sincerely, Tom Simril Vice President, Catawba Nuclear Station

Enclosure:

Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, Special Report 2020-01 www.duke-energy.com

Document Control Desk Page 2 February 5, 2020 xc:

Laura Dudes Regional Administrator U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Region II Marquis One Tower 245 Peachtree Center Ave., NE Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303-1257 Joseph D. Austin Senior Resident Inspector (Catawba)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Catawba Nuclear Station Michael Mahoney (addressee only)

NRC Project Manager (Catawba)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North, Mail Stop O-8B1A 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738 Lynne Garner, Manager S.C. DEHEC Radioactive & Infectious Waste Management garnerld@dhec.sc.gov Anuradha Nair-Gimmi, Director S.C. DEHEC Nuclear Response nairgia@dhec.sc.gov

Enclosure Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 Special Report 2020-01 BACKGROUND Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, have a metrological monitoring system designed to supply weather data for nuclear power plant operation. Meteorology is evaluated for use in structural design, in sizing the ultimate heat sink, in assessing the effects of heat dissipation facilities on the atmosphere and in consideration of environmental safeguards for gaseous releases.

A meteorological tower is operational onsite. It is located approximately 1300 feet southwest of the CNS Unit 1 Vent. The tower is instrumented with wind speed, direction and temperature sensors at approximately 10m and 60m heights above ground level. The dew point temperature sensor is located at the 10m level. The rain gauge is near the base of the 60m tall meteorological tower.

Selected Licensee Commitment (SLC) 16.7-3 "Meteorological Instrumentation" requires certain meteorological monitoring instrumentation channels shall be FUNCTIONAL at all times. The FUNCTIONALITY of the meteorological instrumentation ensures that sufficient meteorological data is available for estimating potential radiation doses to the public as a result of routine or accidental release of radioactive materials to the atmosphere. This capability is required to evaluate the need for initiating protective measures to protect the health and safety of the public and is consistent with the recommendations of Regulatory Guide 1.23, Onsite Meteorological Programs, February 1972, for wind speed, wind direction, and air temperature at two elevations. Since Catawba uses cooling towers, instrumentation has been provided for measuring the dew point (humidity).

SLC Testing Requirement (TR) 16.7-3-2 requires an instrument calibration to be performed every 6 months. The Dew Point Meteorological Tower instrument requires calibration to be performed every 6 months.

Catawba SLC 16.7-3 Required Action A.1 requires that if one or more meteorological monitoring channel(s) is nonfunctional, to restore the channel(s) to FUNCTIONAL status within 7 days. If Required Action A.1 cannot be met, Required Action A.2 states to prepare and submit a Special Report to the Commission outlining the cause of the malfunction and the plans for restoring the channel(s) to FUNCTIONAL status within 17 days.

DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE The Dew Point Meteorological Instrumentation was declared non-functional on January 19, 2020, for performance of the semi-annual surveillance testing requirement for instrument calibration. During the calibration of the dew point channel sensor, the expected indication was not obtained. Therefore, one required meteorological monitoring channel is non-functional and has not been repaired at this time.

All other required meteorological monitoring channels completed the surveillance testing requirement satisfactorily.

Enclosure Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 Special Report 2020-01 CAUSE OF THE NON-FUNCTIONALITY The cause of non-functionality of the dew point meteorological instrumentation is not known at this time.

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS Work Request 20164309 is addressing the repair of the dew point meteorological instrumentation. Options are being pursed expeditiously with the vendor regarding the replacement and/or repair of the electronics and/or sensor(s) of the instrumentation.