ML20134Q119

Forwards Insp Repts 50-327/96-13 & 50-328/96-13 on 960919- 1102.Violations Noted Being Considered for Escalated Enforcement Action.Predecisional Enforcement Conference to Discuss Violations Scheduled for 961211

ML20134Q119
Person / Time
Site:	Sequoyah
Issue date:	11/25/1996
From:	Merschoff E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:	Kingsley O TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
Shared Package
ML20134Q121	List: ML20134Q119 ML20134Q172
References
EA-96-414, NUDOCS 9612020146
Download: ML20134Q119 (4)

See also: IR 05000327/1996013

Text

_.____._.____.m._..

.__..___...m.___

f .+

..

. -

.

November 25, 1996

r

EA 96 414.

.

Tennessee' Valley Authority

A1TN: Mr. Oliver D..Kingsley, Jr.

President, TVA Nuclear and

Chief Nuclear Officer

'

6A Lookout P1 ace

1101 Market Street

Chattanooga, TN 37402 2801

-SUBJECT:

NRC SPECIAL INSPECTION REPORT NOS. 50 327/96 13, 50 328/96 13

4

Dear Mr.- Kingsley:

This refers to the special inspection conducted on' September 19 through

November 2,.1996, at the Sequoyah facility. The purpose of the inspection was

l

-to follow up on the equipment problems experienced during the Unit 2 reactor -

'

.

trip on October 11 and maintenance and corrective actions associated with an

R

j

inoperable Unit 2 reactor trip breaker on September 19. The enclosed report

i

i

presents the results of this inspection. .The exit meeting for this inspection

(

was conducted on November 5. 1996. with Sequoyah senior management.

l

. Based on the results of this. inspection, seven apparent violations were

identified and are being considered.for escalated enforcement action in

-

accordance with the " General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC

.

i

. Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), NUREG 1600. The failure to take

4

adecuate corrective actions for previously identified problems with a main-

feecwater isolation valve, flexible conduit, and seal leakoff ASCO solenoid

i

valves, is contrary to 10 CFR 50, Appendix B. Criterion XVI, Corrective

L

Action, and are considered to be apparent violations.

The failure to-

L

identify the extent of condition associated with a fire system deluge

actuation, is contrary to your corrective action program and is also

'

-considered to be an apparent violation.

In addition, inadequate maintenance

,

. and response to abnormal indications on a reactor trip breaker resulted in an

.

apparent violation for failure to maintain the minimum number of P 4 channels

operable. An apparent violation for maintenance procedural errors and

'

inadequate procedures, and an apparent violation for_ failure to make an

operability /reportablilty determination were also identified. Accordingly, no

-

Notice of Violation is presently being issued for these inspection findings.

In addition, please be advised that the number and characterization of

i

apparent violations described in the enclosed inspection report may change as

)

a result of further NRC review.

j

A predecisional enforcement conference to discuss these apparent violations

\\g

.

has been-scheduled for December 11, 1996. The decision to hold a

'

>

predecisional enforcement conference does not mean that the NRC has determined

that a violation has occurred or that enforcement action will be taken. . This

1

i

conference is being held to obtain information to enable the NRC to make an

enforcement. decision, such as a common understanding of the facts, root

9612020146.961125

i'

PDR

ADOCK 05000327

.0_

PDR

s

,

^

ff0/

_ _

_

._

_

r

1

4

.

'

.<

.

..

TVA

2

causes, missed opportunities to identify the apparent violations sooner,

corrective actions, significance of the issues and the need for lasting and

effective corrective action.

In particular, we expect you to address the

cause for the failures in the corrective action program, the causes for the

<

failures in the repetitive trending programs, and the corrective actions

planned or implemented to improve these programs.

In addition, this is an

opportunity for you to point out any errors in our inspection report and for

you to provide any infornation concerning your perspectives on 1) the severity

of the violations 2) the application of the factors that the NRC considers

when it determines the amount of a civil penalty that may be assessed in

accordance with Section VI.B.2 of the Enforcement Policy, and 3) any other

application of the Enforcement Policy to this case, including the exercise of

discretion in accordance with Section VII.

This conference will be open to public observation in accordance with the

i

Commission's continuing trial program as discussed in the enclosed excerpt

from the Enforcement Policy (Enclosure 2). Although not required, we

encourage you to provide your comments on how you believe holding this

conference open to public observation affected your presentation and your

communications with the NRC.

You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our

deliberations on this matter. No response regarding these apparent violations

is required at this time.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice." a copy of

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

Sincerely,

(Original signed by E.

W. Merschoff)

Ellis W. Merschoff, Director

Division of Reactor Projects

Docket Nos. 50-327, 50 328

I;icease llos. DPR-77, DPR-79

EncJosuras:

1. NRC Inspection Report

2. Enforcement Policy Excerpt

cc w/encls:

(See page 3)

i

,

-

'

.

d

.

. .

TVA

3

cc w/encls:

Mr. 0..J. Zeringue, Senior Vice President Mr. J. T. Herron, Plant Manager

Nuclear Operations

Sequoyah Nuclear Plant

Tennessee Valley Authority

Tennessee Valley Authority

6A Lookout Place

P. 0. Box 2000

1101 Market Street

Soddy Daisy, TN 37379

Chattanooga, TN 37402 2801

Mr. Michael H. Mobley., Dir.

Dr. Mark 0. Medford, Vice President

Div., of Radiological Health

Engineering and Technical Services

3rd Floor. L and C Annex

6A Lookout Place

401 Church Street

1101 Market Street

Nashville, TN 37243-1532

Chattanooga, TN 37402 2801

County Executive

Mr. R. J. Adney, Site Vice President

Hamilton County Courthouse

Sequoyah Nuclear Plant

Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801

Tennessee Valley Authority

P. O. Box 2000

Distribution w/encls:

(See page 4)

Soddy Daisy. TN 37379

General Counsel

Tennessee Valley Authority

ET 10H

400 West Summit Hill Drive

Knoxville, TN 37902

Mr. R. R. Baron, General Manager

Nuclear Assurance & Licensing

4J Blue Ridge

1101 Market Street

Chattanooga, TN 37402 2801

Mr. P. Salas, Manager

Licensing and Industry Affairs

Tennessee Valley Authority

4J Blue Ridge

1101 Market Street

Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801

Mr. R. H. Shell, Manager

Licensing and Industry Affairs

Sequoyah Nuclear Plant

Tennessee Valley Authority

P. O. Box 2000

Soddy-Daisy TN 37379

.

f

E.

.

.

. .

..TVA.

4

- Distribution w/encls:

J. Lieberman. - DE-

- E. W. Merschoff.L RII-

~

B. Uryc. RII

M.:S. Lesser. RII

S. E. Sparks. RII.

F. J..Hebdon.-NRR'

R. W.- Hernan. NRR'

H. L. Whitener. RII

C. F. Smith. RII

D. H. Thompson. RII

J. H. Moorman, RII-

E. D. Testa. RII.

PUBLIC.

NRC Resident Inspector

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Counission

2600 Igou Ferry

Soddy-Daisy. TN 37379

NRC Resident Inspector

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

1260 Nuclear Plant Road

Spring City. TN 37381

nr r ter

nop/ cit

rep / pts

hop / pts _

neptort _

noeipet

e e rs ioj t

SIGNATllRE

Cb

hANF

c'sarks:vyn

Mtesser

Mshannon

DStarkey

PKellogg

sryc

,

DATE

11 /

/%

11lbl/96

11 / M / 96

11/70/%

11 / lI / 96

it.( N / 96

COPY?

'ES

NO

VES

NO -

YES

NO

VES

fJ

(M

NO

4ES)

NO

OfFICIN. RECORD COPV

DOCUMENT NAML' 6:\\BR6.5Qs5EQ9613A.5E!

.

1

1

i

I

'

J

8

-

-

..

, - .