ML20140C679

Forwards Insp Rept 50-309/97-03 on 970316-0426 & Notice of Violation.Concerns Expressed Re Problem That Occurred During Period Involving Operator Error During Conduct of Test of LPSI Pump Instead of Containment Spray Pump

ML20140C679
Person / Time
Site:	Maine Yankee
Issue date:	06/05/1997
From:	Cowgill C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Sellman M Maine Yankee
Shared Package
ML20140C683	List: ML20140C679 ML20140C691 ML20140C699
References
50-309-97-03, 50-309-97-3, NUDOCS 9706100025
Download: ML20140C679 (3)

See also: IR 05000309/1997003

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June 5,1997

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Mr. Michael B. Sellman

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President

Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company

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329 Bath Road .

Brunswick, Maine 04011

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SUBJECT:

NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 50-309/97-03

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Dear Mr. Sellman:

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On April 26,1997, the NRC completed an inspection at your Maine Yankee reactor facility.

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The results of that inspection were discussed with Messrs. G. Leitch, R. Blackmore, and

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others of your staff at an exit meeting held on May 2,1997. The enclosed report presents

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.the results of that inspection.

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During this 6-week inspection, the NRC observed that the conduct of activities at the

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Maine Yankee facility was safety focused. Operators were generally focused on safety

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and properly operated the systems required to maintain the plant in safe shutdown.

However, we are concerned about a problem that occurred during the period involving an

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operator error during the conduct of a test. Specifically, the operator erroneously started a

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low pressure safety injection pump instead of a containment spray pump as required by the

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test procedure. While the error itself was of minor consequence, the performance of the

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licensed and senior licensed operators in response to the event was weak. Poor

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communications and weak command and control resulted in the failure to stop the test in

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violation of your administrative procedures. Further, additional human performance errors

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were identified during this inspection period involving testing of the residual heat removal

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system valves and, control of contamination at the plant. These examples, when

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combined with similar problems identified in the recent past, indicates the need for

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continued strong management attention.

The violation is cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation, and the circumstances

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surrounding the violation'is described in detail in the enclosed report. Please note that you

are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions specified in the

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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.

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9706100025 970605

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Michael B. Sellman

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in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter .

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and its enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

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Sincerely,

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ORIGINAL SIGNED BY:

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Curtis J. Cowgill, lll

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Projects Branch 5

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Division of Reactor Projects

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Docket No:

50-309

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License No: DRP-36

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Enclosures:

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Appendix A Notice of Violation

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NRC Inspection Report No. 50-309/97-03

cc w/encis:

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B. Blackmore, Acting Vice Prasident, Operations / Plant Manager

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M. Meisner, Vice President, Licensing and Regulatory Compliance

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R. Fraser, Acting Vice President, Engineering

J. M. Block, Attorney at Law

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P. L. Anderson, Project Manager (Yankee Atomic Electric Company)

L. Diehl, Manager of Public and Governmental Affairs

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J. A. Ritsher, Attorney (Ropes and Gray)

P. Dostie, State Nuclear Safety inspector

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P. Brann, Assistant Attorney General

U. Vanags, State Nuclear Safety Advisor

C. Brinkman, Combustion Engineering, Inc.

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W. D. Meinert, Nuclear Engineer

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First Selectmen of Wiscasset

Maine State Planning Officer - Nuclear Safety Advisor

State of Maine, SLO Designee

State Planning Officer - Executive Department

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Friends of the Coast

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Michael B. Sellman

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Distribution w/encis:

Region I Docket Room (with concurrences)

Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)

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PUBLIC

NRC Resident inspector

D. Screnci, PAO

W. Axelson, DRA

C. Cowgill, DRP

R. Summers, DRP

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D. Bearde, DRP

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Distribution w/encls (VIA E-MAIL):

W. Dean, OEDC

S. Varga, Director,1/11, DRPE, NRR

D. Dorman, LPM, NRR

M. Callahan, OCA

R. Correia, NRR

F. Talbot, NRR

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D. Screnci, PAO

N. Sheehan, PAO

Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)

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DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 5\\MY9703. INS

To receive a copy 9 this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without

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attachment /soclospre

"E" = Copy with atfachment/enclosuyp

"N" = No copy

OFFICE

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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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