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{{Adams | |||
| number = ML20155H250 | |||
| issue date = 10/21/1998 | |||
| title = Ack Receipt of Informing NRC of Steps Taken to Correct Violations Noted in Insp Repts 50-424/98-05 & 50-425/98-05 Issued on 980723.Concluded for Reasons Stated That Example 2 Violation Occurred as Stated in NOV | |||
| author name = Plisco L | |||
| author affiliation = NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) | |||
| addressee name = Beasley J | |||
| addressee affiliation = SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING CO. | |||
| docket = 05000424, 05000425 | |||
| license number = | |||
| contact person = | |||
| document report number = 50-424-98-05, 50-424-98-5, 50-425-98-05, 50-425-98-5, NUDOCS 9811100036 | |||
| title reference date = 08-18-1998 | |||
| document type = CORRESPONDENCE-LETTERS, OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE | |||
| page count = 10 | |||
}} | |||
See also: [[see also::IR 05000424/1998005]] | |||
=Text= | |||
{{#Wiki_filter:.. - -. | |||
l | |||
. | |||
& | |||
October 21, 1998 | |||
- | |||
l | |||
1 | |||
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. | |||
ATTN: Mr. J. B. Beasley l | |||
Vice President j | |||
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant | |||
P.O. Box 1295' | |||
- Birmingham, AL 35201 | |||
! | |||
Dear Mr. Beasley: | |||
SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-424, and 50-425/98-05 | |||
Thank you for your response of August 18,1998, to our Notice of Violation issued on July 23, l | |||
1998, concerning activities conducted at your facility. We have examined your response and | |||
found that it meets the requirements of 10 CFR 2.201. | |||
1 | |||
In your response, you admitted that Example 1 of violation 50-42S/98-05-01 occurred as stated | |||
', | |||
but denied that a violation of Technical Specifications occurred as stated in Example 2 of the | |||
violation. , | |||
After careful consideration of the basis for your denial of Example 2, we have concluded, for the ' | |||
reasons presented in the enclosure to this letter, that the violation occurred as stated in the | |||
Notice'of Violation. Therefore, in accordance with 10 CFR 2.201(a), you are required to submit | |||
to this office within 30 days of the date of this letter a written statement describing steps which | |||
have been taken to correct Example 2 of Violation 50-425/98-05-01 and the results achieved, | |||
corrective steps which will be taken to avoid further violations, and the date when full * | |||
compliance will be achieved. | |||
We will examine the implementation of your actions to correct Violation 50-425/98-05-01 during | |||
future inspections. | |||
We appreciate your cooperation in this matter. | |||
Sincerely, | |||
(Original signed by g | |||
Loren R. Plisco) \ | |||
\ | |||
Loren R. Plisco, Director, | |||
Division of Reactor Projects | |||
Docket Nos. 50-424,50-425 | |||
License Nos. NPF-68, NPF-81 | |||
Enclosure: Evaluations and Conclusions | |||
cc w/ encl: (See Page 2) | |||
C C 2 C:,4 | |||
F | |||
9811100036 99102144 | |||
' | |||
DR ADOCK 050 y, | |||
w .. - . . | |||
fld l | |||
.. | |||
, | |||
SNC 2 | |||
cc w/ encl: | |||
J. D. Woodard | |||
Executive Vice President . | |||
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. | |||
P. O. Box 1295 | |||
Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 | |||
J. T. Gasser | |||
General Manager, Plant Vogtie | |||
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. | |||
* | |||
P. O. Box 1600 - | |||
Waynesboro, GA 30830 I | |||
1 | |||
'J. A. Bailey _ i | |||
Manager Licensing | |||
l | |||
. | |||
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. | |||
P. O. Box 1295 I | |||
Birmingham, AL 35201-1295 | |||
Director, Consumers' Utility Counsel Division | |||
Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs ; | |||
- 2 M. L. King, Jr. Drive l | |||
Plaza Level East: Suite 356 I | |||
Atlanta, GA 30334-4600 I | |||
Office of Planning and Budget | |||
Room 615B | |||
270 Washington Street, SW | |||
' Atlanta, GA 30334 | |||
Office of the County Commissioner 1 | |||
Burke County Commission | |||
Waynesboro, GA 30830 | |||
Director, Department of Natural Resources l | |||
205 Butler Street, SE, Suite 1252 ' | |||
Atlanta, GA 30334 , | |||
, | |||
Manager, Radioactive Materials Program | |||
Depaitment of Natural Resources | |||
4244 International Parkway | |||
Suite 114 - ! | |||
Atlanta, GA 30354 | |||
! ' cc w/enci cont'd: (See Page 3) | |||
l: | |||
!. | |||
l | |||
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. _ .. . ..__.._ _. _ _ . . - . _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ ._ . _ .. .. . _ . . _ . | |||
, | |||
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' | |||
SNC- 3 | |||
L cc w/ encl: Continued | |||
i Attomey General' | |||
l . Law Department 1 | |||
L ~ 132 Judicial Building I | |||
l. Atlanta, GA 30334 | |||
Program' Manager | |||
Fossil & Nuclear Operations " | |||
, | |||
~ | |||
. Oglethorpe Power Corporation | |||
!' 2100 E. Exchange Place | |||
Tucker, GA 30085-1349 | |||
Charles A. Patrizia, Esq.: | |||
l | |||
' Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker- i | |||
- 10th Floor l | |||
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue | |||
'; Washington, D. C. 20004-9500 | |||
Senior Engineer- Power Supply. | |||
. Municipal Electric duthority , | |||
- of Georgia- | |||
' | |||
l | |||
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW - 1 | |||
Atlanta, GA: 30328-4684 I | |||
' | |||
Distribution w/ encl: | |||
L. Plisco, Rll | |||
. P. Skinner, Ril | |||
D. Jaffe, NRR | |||
PUBLIC ; | |||
NRC Senior Resident Inspector | |||
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission | |||
8805 River Road ' | |||
.Waynesboro, GA 30830 | |||
. | |||
< | |||
I | |||
* SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE | |||
i- | |||
l. w.~s RII:prir Rll:DRP Ril:DRP Ril:EICS Ril: ORA NRR:HQ | |||
I. | |||
; | |||
ensreATURE | |||
NAME- r i A J. ^ JZeiler* PHskinner ATBoland CFEvans* DJeffe' | |||
j. DATE IW /98 IW /98 IW /98 1W /98 1W AS 1W /98 1W /98 | |||
wr y r YE5 NO YE5 NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YE5 NO YES NO | |||
OPPsCIAL RECORD COPY - DOCUMENT NAME: G:WOGTLEWOG9806. DEN | |||
. | |||
, , e -,. w6-r ,, ,v, -- ,, , r , , - . - . . | |||
.. _ __. _ _ _ _ _ ._ _ _ . _ _ . _ . - - _ _ - _- ___. __ . | |||
, | |||
,. | |||
SNC 3 | |||
cc w/ encl: Continued | |||
Attorney General | |||
Law Department | |||
132 Judicial Building | |||
Atlanta, GA 30334 | |||
Program Manager | |||
. Fossil & Nuclear Operations | |||
' | |||
Oglethorpe Power Corporation | |||
2100 E. Exchange Place l | |||
- Tucker, GA 30085-1349 4 | |||
, | |||
' Charles A. Patrizia, Esq. | |||
' Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker | |||
10th Floor | |||
l1299 Pennsylvania Avenue- | |||
Washington, D. C. 20004-9500 | |||
Senior Engineer - Power Supply | |||
l Municipal Electric Authority | |||
! | |||
of Georgia | |||
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW . | |||
Atlanta, GA 30328-4684 | |||
Distribution w/ encl: | |||
L. Plisco, Rll | |||
' | |||
P. Skinner, Rll- l | |||
D. Jaffe, NRR | |||
PUBLIC | |||
NRC Senior Resident inspector | |||
l. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission | |||
8805 River Road | |||
Waynesboro, GA 30830 | |||
C | |||
h | |||
h | |||
; | |||
r | |||
* SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE f(ob \ | |||
4 ,d _l | |||
vrr:Gui Ril:DRP Ril:DRP Ril:DM /h 4pli gP Ril: ORA NRR:HQ | |||
SlGNATURE l[ ) (yp | |||
' | |||
NAME BHolbrook:dka* JZeller* PHSkinner ATBoland CFEvans* DJeffe* | |||
' | |||
, | |||
DATE IW, M IW M p(3 M 1W M 1W M. 1W /98 IW M | |||
! | |||
COPY? YES NO YES NO /YES / NO YES NO YES NO YES No YES NO | |||
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY DOCOMENT NAME: G WoGTLEWOG9805. DEN | |||
t | |||
I | |||
-i v . . . | |||
. | |||
. | |||
I -SNC 3 | |||
cc w/ enc 1: Continued | |||
< | |||
Program Manager | |||
Fossil & Nuclear Operations | |||
Oglethor)e Power Corporation | |||
2100 E. Exchange Place | |||
Tucker. GA 30085-1349 | |||
Charles A. Patrizia. Esq. | |||
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker | |||
10th Floor | |||
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue- | |||
Washington, D. C. 20004-9500 | |||
l | |||
Senior Engineer - Power Supply l | |||
Municipal Electric Authority j | |||
of Georgia l | |||
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW l | |||
Atlanta, GA 30328-4684 | |||
Distribution w/ encl: | |||
L. Plisco, RII | |||
P. Skinner. RII ; | |||
D. Jaffe, NRR | |||
PUBLIC | |||
'NRC Senior Resident Inspector | |||
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission | |||
8805 River Road | |||
Waynesboro, GA 30830 | |||
* SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE , | |||
f | |||
0FFICE RII:DRP Rll:DRP Ril:DRP Rll:EICS | |||
., W l' ' | |||
Ril:0RA M110 | |||
5111NA11ME | |||
IlfWE BNolbrock adus' JZeller* PHSkinner ATBoland CFEvent" DJeffe" | |||
10/ /95 10/ /95 /95 /95 /95 | |||
DATE | |||
wru r YE5 ND YE5 | |||
10/ | |||
YES | |||
10/ | |||
IID | |||
10/ | |||
10/] /95 10/ /95 | |||
11 0 11 0 YES YES N0 /ES) NO YES NO | |||
OFFICl41. RECORD CEFY DOCLBENT IIAIE G:\V0GTLE\V0G9805. DEN V | |||
~ ^ | |||
oCT-06-1998 11:09 USMC WGkE ^ 1 706 554 9548 P.02 | |||
l , | |||
i. | |||
, | |||
SNC 3 | |||
cc w/ enc 1: Continued | |||
Program Manager | |||
Fossil & Nuclear Operations | |||
Oglethorpe Power Corporation | |||
2100 E. Exchange Place | |||
i | |||
Tucker CA 30085-1349 l | |||
l | |||
Charles A. Patrizia. Esq. | |||
Paul. Hastings. Janofsky & Walker | |||
10th Floor | |||
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue | |||
Washington D. C. 20004-9500 , | |||
Senior Engineer - Power Supply | |||
Municipal Electric Authority | |||
of Georgia | |||
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW | |||
Atlanta GA 30328-4684 | |||
Distribution w/ enc 1: | |||
L. Plisco. RII | |||
P. Skinner. RIl | |||
D. Jaffe. NRR | |||
PUBLIC | |||
NRC Senior Resident Inspector | |||
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission | |||
8805 River Road | |||
Waynesboro. GA 30830 | |||
. | |||
. | |||
urriet xxIsaur it31i3RP _ | |||
Ril2In MtM RII:BW R | |||
JM | |||
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0Ff1 CIA 1. MC W 6 C | |||
- | |||
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TOTAL P.02 | |||
, | |||
- . . - ~ - .- _. - | |||
. | |||
. | |||
SNC 3 | |||
cc w/ enc 1: Continued | |||
Program Manager | |||
!. Fossil & Nuclear Operations | |||
Oglethorpe Power Corporation | |||
-2100 E. Exchange Place | |||
' Tucker, GA 30085-1349 | |||
Charles A. Patrizia. Esq. | |||
Paul. Hastings, Janofskys& Walker i | |||
10th Floor | |||
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue | |||
Washington, D. C. 20004-9500 | |||
' | |||
Senior Engineer - Power Supply | |||
: Municipal Electric Authority | |||
of Georgia | |||
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW | |||
Atlanta, GA 30328-4684 | |||
Distribution w/ encl: | |||
L. Plisco, RII . | |||
P. Skinner, RII l | |||
D. Jaffe, NRR | |||
PUBLIC | |||
NRC Senior Resident Inspector ; | |||
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission - | |||
8805 River Road | |||
Waynesboro, GA 30830 | |||
0FFICE Ell:DRP Ell:DRP Ril:EICS NRR:NQ Ril:DRP | |||
~ | |||
5IEMATURE %- | |||
INNE BLNolbro *:d a JZeiler ATBotand DJaffe PHSkiriner | |||
DATE 10/ kp /95 10/ /95 10/ /95 10/ /95 10/ /95 10/ /95 10/ /95 | |||
uri r (YE5) 10 0 YES No YES NO TES NO YES NO YES NO YES 10 0 | |||
OFFICIAL REC (MD COPY DOCLSENT NAfE: G:\v0GTLE\v0G9805. DEN | |||
- - - . - . . -- -. .-- - - - - - . - - | |||
l | |||
l- | |||
- | |||
, | |||
. | |||
l | |||
I | |||
l EVALUATIONS AND CONCLUSION l | |||
1 | |||
. | |||
i | |||
t | |||
On July 23,1998, a Notice of Violation (Notice) was issued for a violation identified dunng a l | |||
L routine NRC inspection. Southern Nuclear Operating Company responded to the Notice on l | |||
' | |||
-August 18,1998. Example 1 was admitted and Example 2 was denied for Violation 50-425/98- l | |||
'05-01. The NRC's evaluation and conclusions regarding the licensee's arguments are as i | |||
follows: l | |||
l. Restatement of Violation 50-425/98-05-01 I | |||
Unit 2 Technical Specification (TS) Limiting Condition Of Operation'(LCO) 3.0.4 states that | |||
.when a limiting condition of operstion is not met, entry into a mode or other specified condition - | |||
: in the Applicability shall not be made except when the associated actions to be entered permit I | |||
continued operation In that mode or other specified condition in the applicability for an unlimited l | |||
;_ period of time. Exceptions to LCO 3.0.4 are stated in the individual Specifications. ; | |||
!- l | |||
Contrary to the above: | |||
1. On April 19,1998, Unit 2 entered Mode 2 (from Mode 3) without meeting the LCO of TS ) | |||
3.3.2," Engineering Safety Feature Actuation System (ESFAS) instrumentation." Table i | |||
3.3.2-1, Item 5, which requires two trains of the Turbine Trip function to be operable i | |||
_ prior to entering Mode 2. Action Condition H was applicable and has a limited | |||
completion time of six hours. TS 3.3.2 does not contain an LCO 3.0.4 exception | |||
statement. | |||
2. On June 10,1998, Unit 2 entered Mode 4 (from, Mode 3) without meeting the LCO for l | |||
TS 3.4.12, " Cold Overpressure Protection Systems," which required two reactor coolant j | |||
system relief valves to be operable. The licensee entered Mode 4 while in Action ; | |||
Condition D of TS 3.4.12 for one pressurizer power operated relief valve (PORV) being ' | |||
inoperable. This Specification has a limited time of 7 days and does not contain an LCO ! | |||
3.0.4 exception statement. l | |||
Summarv of Licensee's Response to Examole 2 I | |||
1. The licensee contends that the previous Technical Specification version contained an l | |||
LCO 3.0.4 exception. . | |||
l | |||
2. The licensee also contends that the TS Bases addresses the situation with the following , | |||
statement. "In addition, the provisions of LCO 3.0.4 shall not prevent changes in | |||
MODES or other specified conditions in the Applicability that result from a normal | |||
, | |||
shutdown." | |||
I | |||
3. The licensee's denial referenced a January 1988, letter from Thomas E. Murley, former | |||
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, to Joe F. Colvin, Executive Vice | |||
l President and Chief Operating Officer NUMARC, entitled "NRC Staff Response to | |||
i- NUMARC Technical Specification Working Group Key Implementation issues for ; | |||
i- Restructured Technical Specifications," in which the NRC staff wrote the following about | |||
the improved Technical Specifications Bases: | |||
. | |||
! | |||
' | |||
- | |||
, | |||
Enclosure | |||
l | |||
.-. _ _ . _. _._ _ ._ __ _ _ _ | |||
* | |||
.- | |||
* | |||
i | |||
i | |||
2 | |||
"TS Bases will provide information to facilitate proper interpretation and application of | |||
TS requirements. Bases are also used for determining the purpose of existing | |||
requirements when changes to the TS are considered. In short, Bases provide the | |||
technical underpinning for TS requirements. Any change to this technical underpinning | |||
that would influence the way the requirement might be interpreted or applied should be | |||
subject to prior staff approval because it would, in effect, be a TS change. However, | |||
changes that do not erode this technical underpinning should not require staff approval." | |||
The licensee referenced that letter and stated that "SNC views the Bases statement that | |||
LCO 3.0.4 shall not prevent a normal shutdown as a clarification that facilitated proper | |||
interpretation and application of TS requirements." | |||
NRC Evaluation of Licensee's Response | |||
1. The licensee is committed to the current version of Technical Specifications which does | |||
not include an exemption to LCO 3.0.4 not the former version. ' | |||
2. NUREG-1431, Rev.1, dated April 7,1995, revised LCO 3.0.4 to read "When an LCO is | |||
not met, eatry into a MODE or other specified condition in the Applicability shall not be | |||
made except when the associated ACTIONS to be entered permit continued operation | |||
in the MODE or other specified condition in the Applicability for an unlimited period of | |||
time. This Specification shall not prevent changes in MODES or other specified | |||
conditions in the Applicability that are required to comply with ACTIONS or that are cart | |||
of a shutdown of the unit." (Emphasis added) . | |||
This revision was made so that changes in MODES or other specified conditions in the | |||
Applicability that are a part of a shutdown of the unit shall not be prevented. The | |||
revision also identified that before the revised version of the LCO could be implemented | |||
on a plant specific basis, the licensee must review the existing technical specifications to | |||
determine where specific restrictions on MODE changes or Required Actions should be | |||
included in individual LCOs to justify this change. | |||
TS 3.4.12 does not contain a statement of exception to TS 3.0.4. In addition, the | |||
statement in the TS Bases would allow the Bases to override the TS requirement which | |||
is not acceptable. The revision to NUREG-1431 discussed above had not yet been | |||
incorporated into the Vogtle TS. | |||
3. - The statement quoted from the January 1988 NRC letter was taken out of context. The | |||
paragraph addresses the influence of Bases on TS application. The paragraph includes l | |||
a caution that Bases changes should not result in an erosion of the TS intent. | |||
. Therefore, the licensee's denial incorrectly implies that the paragraph supported carte | |||
blanc use of the bases for interpretations of the TS rather than caution associated with | |||
revising the Bases. | |||
_. | |||
, | |||
. | |||
. | |||
- | |||
3 | |||
The licensee's interpretation of the statement that LCO 3.0.4 shall not prevent a normal | |||
shutdown, to support that they could enter a lower mode does not address the issue that - | |||
. | |||
It is in the lower modes where Cold Overpressure Protection Systems (COPS) are ) | |||
; significant to safety. TS Bases 3.4.12 states, in part, that the COPS controls Reactor | |||
~- | |||
1 | |||
Coolant System pressure at low temperatures so the integrity of the reactor coolant | |||
pressure boundary is not compromised by violating the pressure and temperature limits - | |||
- of 10 CFR 50, Appendix G. In this case, the unit entered a mode of operation that | |||
allowed lower temperature operation. | |||
' | |||
The NRC position is that the licensee applied the bases statement of " normal shutdown" | |||
in the wrong circumstances. | |||
1 | |||
1 | |||
The NRC staff has carefully reviewed the licensee's response and does not concur with the ! | |||
conclusions. j | |||
" | |||
NRC Conclusion | |||
4 | |||
For the reasons stated above, the NRC staff concludes that the violation occurred as stated. | |||
l | |||
. | |||
. | |||
. i | |||
l | |||
- j | |||
i | |||
. | |||
! | |||
l | |||
' | |||
l | |||
, | |||
l | |||
l | |||
l | |||
l | |||
l | |||
l | |||
}} |
Latest revision as of 08:18, 21 December 2021
ML20155H250 | |
Person / Time | |
---|---|
Site: | Vogtle ![]() |
Issue date: | 10/21/1998 |
From: | Plisco L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
To: | Beasley J SOUTHERN NUCLEAR OPERATING CO. |
References | |
50-424-98-05, 50-424-98-5, 50-425-98-05, 50-425-98-5, NUDOCS 9811100036 | |
Download: ML20155H250 (10) | |
See also: IR 05000424/1998005
Text
.. - -.
l
.
&
October 21, 1998
-
l
1
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
ATTN: Mr. J. B. Beasley l
Vice President j
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant
P.O. Box 1295'
- Birmingham, AL 35201
!
Dear Mr. Beasley:
SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-424, and 50-425/98-05
Thank you for your response of August 18,1998, to our Notice of Violation issued on July 23, l
1998, concerning activities conducted at your facility. We have examined your response and
found that it meets the requirements of 10 CFR 2.201.
1
In your response, you admitted that Example 1 of violation 50-42S/98-05-01 occurred as stated
',
but denied that a violation of Technical Specifications occurred as stated in Example 2 of the
violation. ,
After careful consideration of the basis for your denial of Example 2, we have concluded, for the '
reasons presented in the enclosure to this letter, that the violation occurred as stated in the
Notice'of Violation. Therefore, in accordance with 10 CFR 2.201(a), you are required to submit
to this office within 30 days of the date of this letter a written statement describing steps which
have been taken to correct Example 2 of Violation 50-425/98-05-01 and the results achieved,
corrective steps which will be taken to avoid further violations, and the date when full *
compliance will be achieved.
We will examine the implementation of your actions to correct Violation 50-425/98-05-01 during
future inspections.
We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
(Original signed by g
Loren R. Plisco) \
\
Loren R. Plisco, Director,
Division of Reactor Projects
Docket Nos. 50-424,50-425
Enclosure: Evaluations and Conclusions
cc w/ encl: (See Page 2)
C C 2 C:,4
F
9811100036 99102144
'
DR ADOCK 050 y,
w .. - . .
fld l
..
,
SNC 2
cc w/ encl:
J. D. Woodard
Executive Vice President .
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P. O. Box 1295
Birmingham, AL 35201-1295
J. T. Gasser
General Manager, Plant Vogtie
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P. O. Box 1600 -
Waynesboro, GA 30830 I
1
'J. A. Bailey _ i
Manager Licensing
l
.
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
P. O. Box 1295 I
Birmingham, AL 35201-1295
Director, Consumers' Utility Counsel Division
Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs ;
- 2 M. L. King, Jr. Drive l
Plaza Level East: Suite 356 I
Atlanta, GA 30334-4600 I
Office of Planning and Budget
Room 615B
270 Washington Street, SW
' Atlanta, GA 30334
Office of the County Commissioner 1
Burke County Commission
Waynesboro, GA 30830
Director, Department of Natural Resources l
205 Butler Street, SE, Suite 1252 '
Atlanta, GA 30334 ,
,
Manager, Radioactive Materials Program
Depaitment of Natural Resources
4244 International Parkway
Suite 114 - !
Atlanta, GA 30354
! ' cc w/enci cont'd: (See Page 3)
l:
!.
l
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L cc w/ encl: Continued
i Attomey General'
l . Law Department 1
L ~ 132 Judicial Building I
l. Atlanta, GA 30334
Program' Manager
Fossil & Nuclear Operations "
,
~
. Oglethorpe Power Corporation
!' 2100 E. Exchange Place
Tucker, GA 30085-1349
Charles A. Patrizia, Esq.:
l
' Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker- i
- 10th Floor l
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue
'; Washington, D. C. 20004-9500
Senior Engineer- Power Supply.
. Municipal Electric duthority ,
- of Georgia-
'
l
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW - 1
Atlanta, GA: 30328-4684 I
'
Distribution w/ encl:
L. Plisco, Rll
. P. Skinner, Ril
D. Jaffe, NRR
PUBLIC ;
NRC Senior Resident Inspector
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
8805 River Road '
.Waynesboro, GA 30830
.
<
I
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE
i-
l. w.~s RII:prir Rll:DRP Ril:DRP Ril:EICS Ril: ORA NRR:HQ
I.
ensreATURE
NAME- r i A J. ^ JZeiler* PHskinner ATBoland CFEvans* DJeffe'
j. DATE IW /98 IW /98 IW /98 1W /98 1W AS 1W /98 1W /98
wr y r YE5 NO YE5 NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YE5 NO YES NO
OPPsCIAL RECORD COPY - DOCUMENT NAME: G:WOGTLEWOG9806. DEN
.
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.. _ __. _ _ _ _ _ ._ _ _ . _ _ . _ . - - _ _ - _- ___. __ .
,
,.
SNC 3
cc w/ encl: Continued
Attorney General
Law Department
132 Judicial Building
Atlanta, GA 30334
Program Manager
. Fossil & Nuclear Operations
'
Oglethorpe Power Corporation
2100 E. Exchange Place l
- Tucker, GA 30085-1349 4
,
' Charles A. Patrizia, Esq.
' Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
10th Floor
l1299 Pennsylvania Avenue-
Washington, D. C. 20004-9500
Senior Engineer - Power Supply
l Municipal Electric Authority
!
of Georgia
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW .
Atlanta, GA 30328-4684
Distribution w/ encl:
L. Plisco, Rll
'
P. Skinner, Rll- l
D. Jaffe, NRR
PUBLIC
NRC Senior Resident inspector
l. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
8805 River Road
Waynesboro, GA 30830
C
h
h
r
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE f(ob \
4 ,d _l
vrr:Gui Ril:DRP Ril:DRP Ril:DM /h 4pli gP Ril: ORA NRR:HQ
SlGNATURE l[ ) (yp
'
NAME BHolbrook:dka* JZeller* PHSkinner ATBoland CFEvans* DJeffe*
'
,
DATE IW, M IW M p(3 M 1W M 1W M. 1W /98 IW M
!
COPY? YES NO YES NO /YES / NO YES NO YES NO YES No YES NO
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY DOCOMENT NAME: G WoGTLEWOG9805. DEN
t
I
-i v . . .
.
.
I -SNC 3
cc w/ enc 1: Continued
<
Program Manager
Fossil & Nuclear Operations
Oglethor)e Power Corporation
2100 E. Exchange Place
Tucker. GA 30085-1349
Charles A. Patrizia. Esq.
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
10th Floor
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue-
Washington, D. C. 20004-9500
l
Senior Engineer - Power Supply l
Municipal Electric Authority j
of Georgia l
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW l
Atlanta, GA 30328-4684
Distribution w/ encl:
L. Plisco, RII
P. Skinner. RII ;
D. Jaffe, NRR
PUBLIC
'NRC Senior Resident Inspector
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
8805 River Road
Waynesboro, GA 30830
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE ,
f
0FFICE RII:DRP Rll:DRP Ril:DRP Rll:EICS
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Ril:0RA M110
5111NA11ME
IlfWE BNolbrock adus' JZeller* PHSkinner ATBoland CFEvent" DJeffe"
10/ /95 10/ /95 /95 /95 /95
DATE
wru r YE5 ND YE5
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10/
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11 0 11 0 YES YES N0 /ES) NO YES NO
OFFICl41. RECORD CEFY DOCLBENT IIAIE G:\V0GTLE\V0G9805. DEN V
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oCT-06-1998 11:09 USMC WGkE ^ 1 706 554 9548 P.02
l ,
i.
,
SNC 3
cc w/ enc 1: Continued
Program Manager
Fossil & Nuclear Operations
Oglethorpe Power Corporation
2100 E. Exchange Place
i
Tucker CA 30085-1349 l
l
Charles A. Patrizia. Esq.
Paul. Hastings. Janofsky & Walker
10th Floor
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington D. C. 20004-9500 ,
Senior Engineer - Power Supply
Municipal Electric Authority
of Georgia
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW
Atlanta GA 30328-4684
Distribution w/ enc 1:
L. Plisco. RII
P. Skinner. RIl
D. Jaffe. NRR
PUBLIC
NRC Senior Resident Inspector
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission
8805 River Road
Waynesboro. GA 30830
.
.
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TOTAL P.02
,
- . . - ~ - .- _. -
.
.
SNC 3
cc w/ enc 1: Continued
Program Manager
!. Fossil & Nuclear Operations
Oglethorpe Power Corporation
-2100 E. Exchange Place
' Tucker, GA 30085-1349
Charles A. Patrizia. Esq.
Paul. Hastings, Janofskys& Walker i
10th Floor
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D. C. 20004-9500
'
Senior Engineer - Power Supply
- Municipal Electric Authority
of Georgia
1470 Riveredge Parkway NW
Atlanta, GA 30328-4684
Distribution w/ encl:
L. Plisco, RII .
P. Skinner, RII l
D. Jaffe, NRR
PUBLIC
NRC Senior Resident Inspector ;
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission -
8805 River Road
Waynesboro, GA 30830
0FFICE Ell:DRP Ell:DRP Ril:EICS NRR:NQ Ril:DRP
~
5IEMATURE %-
INNE BLNolbro *:d a JZeiler ATBotand DJaffe PHSkiriner
DATE 10/ kp /95 10/ /95 10/ /95 10/ /95 10/ /95 10/ /95 10/ /95
uri r (YE5) 10 0 YES No YES NO TES NO YES NO YES NO YES 10 0
OFFICIAL REC (MD COPY DOCLSENT NAfE: G:\v0GTLE\v0G9805. DEN
- - - . - . . -- -. .-- - - - - - . - -
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I
l EVALUATIONS AND CONCLUSION l
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On July 23,1998, a Notice of Violation (Notice) was issued for a violation identified dunng a l
L routine NRC inspection. Southern Nuclear Operating Company responded to the Notice on l
'
-August 18,1998. Example 1 was admitted and Example 2 was denied for Violation 50-425/98- l
'05-01. The NRC's evaluation and conclusions regarding the licensee's arguments are as i
follows: l
l. Restatement of Violation 50-425/98-05-01 I
Unit 2 Technical Specification (TS) Limiting Condition Of Operation'(LCO) 3.0.4 states that
.when a limiting condition of operstion is not met, entry into a mode or other specified condition -
- in the Applicability shall not be made except when the associated actions to be entered permit I
continued operation In that mode or other specified condition in the applicability for an unlimited l
- _ period of time. Exceptions to LCO 3.0.4 are stated in the individual Specifications. ;
!- l
Contrary to the above:
1. On April 19,1998, Unit 2 entered Mode 2 (from Mode 3) without meeting the LCO of TS )
3.3.2," Engineering Safety Feature Actuation System (ESFAS) instrumentation." Table i
3.3.2-1, Item 5, which requires two trains of the Turbine Trip function to be operable i
_ prior to entering Mode 2. Action Condition H was applicable and has a limited
completion time of six hours. TS 3.3.2 does not contain an LCO 3.0.4 exception
statement.
2. On June 10,1998, Unit 2 entered Mode 4 (from, Mode 3) without meeting the LCO for l
TS 3.4.12, " Cold Overpressure Protection Systems," which required two reactor coolant j
system relief valves to be operable. The licensee entered Mode 4 while in Action ;
Condition D of TS 3.4.12 for one pressurizer power operated relief valve (PORV) being '
inoperable. This Specification has a limited time of 7 days and does not contain an LCO !
3.0.4 exception statement. l
Summarv of Licensee's Response to Examole 2 I
1. The licensee contends that the previous Technical Specification version contained an l
LCO 3.0.4 exception. .
l
2. The licensee also contends that the TS Bases addresses the situation with the following ,
statement. "In addition, the provisions of LCO 3.0.4 shall not prevent changes in
MODES or other specified conditions in the Applicability that result from a normal
,
shutdown."
I
3. The licensee's denial referenced a January 1988, letter from Thomas E. Murley, former
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, to Joe F. Colvin, Executive Vice
l President and Chief Operating Officer NUMARC, entitled "NRC Staff Response to
i- NUMARC Technical Specification Working Group Key Implementation issues for ;
i- Restructured Technical Specifications," in which the NRC staff wrote the following about
the improved Technical Specifications Bases:
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Enclosure
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2
"TS Bases will provide information to facilitate proper interpretation and application of
TS requirements. Bases are also used for determining the purpose of existing
requirements when changes to the TS are considered. In short, Bases provide the
technical underpinning for TS requirements. Any change to this technical underpinning
that would influence the way the requirement might be interpreted or applied should be
subject to prior staff approval because it would, in effect, be a TS change. However,
changes that do not erode this technical underpinning should not require staff approval."
The licensee referenced that letter and stated that "SNC views the Bases statement that
LCO 3.0.4 shall not prevent a normal shutdown as a clarification that facilitated proper
interpretation and application of TS requirements."
NRC Evaluation of Licensee's Response
1. The licensee is committed to the current version of Technical Specifications which does
not include an exemption to LCO 3.0.4 not the former version. '
2. NUREG-1431, Rev.1, dated April 7,1995, revised LCO 3.0.4 to read "When an LCO is
not met, eatry into a MODE or other specified condition in the Applicability shall not be
made except when the associated ACTIONS to be entered permit continued operation
in the MODE or other specified condition in the Applicability for an unlimited period of
time. This Specification shall not prevent changes in MODES or other specified
conditions in the Applicability that are required to comply with ACTIONS or that are cart
of a shutdown of the unit." (Emphasis added) .
This revision was made so that changes in MODES or other specified conditions in the
Applicability that are a part of a shutdown of the unit shall not be prevented. The
revision also identified that before the revised version of the LCO could be implemented
on a plant specific basis, the licensee must review the existing technical specifications to
determine where specific restrictions on MODE changes or Required Actions should be
included in individual LCOs to justify this change.
TS 3.4.12 does not contain a statement of exception to TS 3.0.4. In addition, the
statement in the TS Bases would allow the Bases to override the TS requirement which
is not acceptable. The revision to NUREG-1431 discussed above had not yet been
incorporated into the Vogtle TS.
3. - The statement quoted from the January 1988 NRC letter was taken out of context. The
paragraph addresses the influence of Bases on TS application. The paragraph includes l
a caution that Bases changes should not result in an erosion of the TS intent.
. Therefore, the licensee's denial incorrectly implies that the paragraph supported carte
blanc use of the bases for interpretations of the TS rather than caution associated with
revising the Bases.
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The licensee's interpretation of the statement that LCO 3.0.4 shall not prevent a normal
shutdown, to support that they could enter a lower mode does not address the issue that -
.
It is in the lower modes where Cold Overpressure Protection Systems (COPS) are )
- significant to safety. TS Bases 3.4.12 states, in part, that the COPS controls Reactor
~-
1
Coolant System pressure at low temperatures so the integrity of the reactor coolant
pressure boundary is not compromised by violating the pressure and temperature limits -
- of 10 CFR 50, Appendix G. In this case, the unit entered a mode of operation that
allowed lower temperature operation.
'
The NRC position is that the licensee applied the bases statement of " normal shutdown"
in the wrong circumstances.
1
1
The NRC staff has carefully reviewed the licensee's response and does not concur with the !
conclusions. j
"
NRC Conclusion
4
For the reasons stated above, the NRC staff concludes that the violation occurred as stated.
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