ML17264B129

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LER 97-006-00:on 971103,NIS Audible Count Rate Function Was Inoperable.Caused by Misinterpretation of Event Sequence Due to Not Verifying Boron Concentration.B Verification Occurred Every 12 H Per ITS LCO Action 3.9.2.C.3.W/971203 Ltr
ML17264B129
Person / Time
Site: Ginna Constellation icon.png
Issue date: 12/03/1997
From: MECREDY R C, ST MARTIN J T
ROCHESTER GAS & ELECTRIC CORP.
To: VISSING G S
NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned), NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
LER-97-006, LER-97-6, NUDOCS 9712100274
Download: ML17264B129 (13)


Text

CATEGORY1REGUZATOZNFORNATZON DZSTR1BUT1ON ISTEN(RZDS)

SUBJECT:

LER97-006;-00:on!'971103,NIS audiblecountratefunctionwasinoperable.

Causedbymisinterpretation ofeventsecpxence duetonotverify3ng boronconcentration.B verification

.occurred every12h-perITSLCOacti.on3.9.2.C.3.W/971203 ltr.0DISTRIBUTION:CODE:

IE22T'OPIESRECEIVED:LTR"J ENCLl"SIZE:TITLE:'50.73/50.9 Li.censee EventReport(LER),IncidentRpt',etc.4~'\I1NOTES:License Expdateinaccordance wi.th10CFR2,2.109(9/19/72).

05000244GACCESSION NBR:9712100274

.DOC'.DATE:"97/12'/03 NOTARIZED:

NODOCKET4FACZZ:50-244 Robert2ZnaetGinnaNuclearPlant,Unit1,Rochester G05000244AUTH.NAMEUTHORAFFILIATION ST.MARTIN,J.T.

Rochester Gas&ElectricCorp.MECREDY,R.C.

Rochester GasEcElectricCorp.RECIP.NAME RECIPIENT AFFILIATION VISSING,G.S'.,"-;RECIPIENT IDCODE/NAME PD1-1PDINTERNAL:

AEOECENTENRRDEELBNRR/DRCH/HHFB NRR/DRCH/HOLB NRR/DRPM/PECB NRR/DSSA/SRXB RGN1FILE01EXTERNAL:

LSTLOBBYWARDNOACPOORE,W.NRCPDRCOPIESLTTRENCL112211111111111111111111RECIPIENT ID'.CODE/NAME VISSING,G.

AEOD/SPD/RRAB NRR/DE/ECGB NRR/DE/EMEB NRR/DRCH/HICB NRR/DRCH/HQMB NRR/DSSA/SPLB RES/DET/EIB LITCOBRYCE,JHNOACQUEENER,DS NUDOCSFULLTXTCOPIESLTTRENCL,11111111111111'11111111RD0UNOTETOALL"RIDS"RECIPIENTS:

PLEASEHELPUSTOREDUCEWASTE.TOHAVEYOURNAMEORORGANIZATION REMOVEDFROMDISTRZBUTION LISTSORREDUCETHENUMBEROFCOPIESRECEIVEDBYYOUORYOURORGANIZATION, CONTACTTHEDOCUMENTCONTROLDESK(DCD)ONEXTENSION 415-2083FULLTEXTCONVERSION REQUIREDTOTALNUMBEROFCOPIESREQUIRED:

LTTR24ENCL24 ANDROCHESTER GASANDElECTRICCORPORATTON

~89EASTAVENUE, ROCHESTER, MY.l4649-D001 AREACODE7I6546-270DROBERTC.MECREDYVicePresident Nuctearoperations December3,1997SubjectU.S.NuclearRegulatory Commission DocumentControlDeskAttn:GuyS.VissingProjectDirectorate I-1Washington, D.C.20555)LER97-006,Verification ofBoronConcentration NotPerformed DuetoMisinterpretation ofEventSequence, ResultedinCondition Prohibited byTechnical Specifications R.E.GinnaNuclearPowerPlantDocketNo.50-244

DearMr.Vissing:

Inaccordance with10CFR50.73,LicenseeEventReportSystem,item(a)(2)(i)(B),whichrequiresareportof,"Anyoperation orcondition prohibited bytheplant'sTechnical Specifications",

theattachedLicenseeEventReportLER97-006isherebysubmitted.

Thiseventhasinnowayaffectedthepublic'shealthandsafety.Verytrulyyours,RobertC.Mecredyxc:Mr.GuyS.Vissing(MailStop14B2)PWRProjectDirectorate I-1Washington, D.C.20555U.S.NuclearRegulatory Commission RegionI475Allendale RoadKingofPrussia,PA19406GinnaSeniorResidentInspector

"(-aI0lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllfllll 9'712i00274

'st7i20SPDRADOCK050002448PDR

NRCFORM366(4-95)U.S.NRREGULATORY COMNIISSIO LXCENSEEEVENTREPORT,(LER) n(Seereverseforrequirednumber'fdigits/characters foreachblock)APEDBYOMBNO.3150%104EXPIRES04/30/98ESTIMATED BURDENPERRESPONSEToCOMPLYWITHTHISMANDATORY INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUEST:50.0HRS.REPORTEDLESSONSLEARNEDAREINCORPORATED INTOTHELICENSING PROCESSANDFEDBACKToINDUSTRY.

FORWARDCOMMENTSREGARDING BURDENESTIMATEToTHEINFORMATION ANDRECORDSMANAGEMENT BRANCHIT.6F33),U.S.NUCLEARREGULATORY COMMISSION, WASHINGTON, DC20555-0001, ANDToTHEPAPERWORK REDUCTION PROJECTFACIUTYNAMEIllTrrLEfa)R.E.GinnaNuclearPowerPlantDOCKETirVMSERf2)05000244PADEI3I1OF6Verification ofBof'onConcentration NotPerformed DuetoMisinterpretation ofEventSequence, ResultedinCondition Prohibited byTechnical Specifications EVENTDATE(5)LERNUMBER(6)REPORTDATE(7)OTHERFACILITIES INVOLVED(8)MONlHDAYYEARYEARSEQENTIALREVISOMONUMBERNUMBER~IDAYI:YEAR.FACILITYNAMEDOCKETNUMBER039797-006-001'2.03FACIUTYNAME97DOCKETNUMBEROPERATING MODE(9)THISREPORTISSUBMITTED PUBSUANTTOTHEREQUIREMENTS OF10CFRE:(Checkoneor50.73(a)(2)(i)20.2203(a)

(2)(v)20.2201(b)

Illore)(11)50.73(a)(2)(viii)POWERLEVEL(10)00020.2203(a)

(1)20.2203(a)

(2)(i)20.2203(a)

(2)(ii)20.2203(a)

(2)(iii)20.2203(a)(2)(lv)

.20.2203(a)

(3)(i)20.2203(a)

(3)(ii)20.2203(a)(4) 50.36(c)(1) 50.36(c)(2)50.73(a)(2)(ii) 50.73(a)(2)

(iii)50.73(a)(2)(iv)50.73(a)(2)(v) 50.73(a)(2)(vii)50.73(a)(2)(x) 73.71OTHERSpecifyinAbstractbeloworInNRCForm366ANAMELICENSEECONTACTFORTHISLER(12)TELEPHONE kUMBERBncrudeAreaCode)JohnT.St.Martin-Technical Assistant (716)771-3641COMPLETEONELINEFOREACHCOMPONENT FAILUREDESCRIBED INTHISREPORT(13)CAUSESYSTEMCOMPONENT MANUFACTURER REPORTABLE TONPRDSCAUSESYSTEMCOMPONENT MANUFACTURER REPORTABLE ToNPRDSSUPPLEMENTAL REPORTEXPECTED(14)YES(Ifyes,completeEXPECTEDSUBMISSION DATE).XNOEXPECTEDSUBMISSION DATE(15)MONTHDAYYEARABSTRACT(Limitto1400spaces,I.e.,approximately 15single-spaced typewritten lines)(16)OnNovember3,1997,atapproximately 1708EST,theplantwasinMode6,andrefueling activities hadbeencompleted twodaysearlier.Thereactorcoolantsystembeingmaintained atatemperature of75degreesF,andthereactorcavityfilledtogreaterthan23feet.Itwasdiscovered thatthenuclearinstrumentation systemaudiblecountratefunctionwasinoperable.

Immediate actionwastoensurefuturecompliance totheGinnaTechnical Specifications forlossofthisfunction.

Thisincludedverifying thatthemostrecentboronconcentration waswithinspecified limitsandformallytrackingthetimeforfutureverification ofboronconcentration.

Duetoamisinterpretation oftheeventsequence, thev'erification ofboronconcentration maynothavebeenperformed withinthetimeperiodspecified byGinnaTechnical Specifications RequiredActionsforthemostlimitingeventsequence.

Corrective actiontopreventrecurrence isoutlinedinSectionV.B.NRCFORM366(4-95)

I NRCFORM366A(4-95)LICENSEEEVENTREPORT(LER)TEXTCONTINUATION

.NUCLEARREGULATORY COMMISSION FACILITYNAME(1)R.E.GinnaNuclearPowerPlantDOCKET05000244LERNUMBER(6)YEARSEQUENTIAL REVISIONNUMBERNUMBER97-006-00PAGE(3)2OF6TEXT(Ifmorespaceisrequired, useadditional copiesofNRCForm366A/(17)PRE-EVENT PLANTCONDITIONS:

<~~.~'C~il~lil~OnNovember3,1997,theplantwasinMode6withthereactorcoolantsystem(RCS)beingmaintained atatemperature ofapproximately.75 degreesF,andthereactor,cavityfilledtogreaterthan23feet.Theplantwasshutdownfor'refueling, andrefueling activities (corealterations) hadalreadybeencompleted twodaysearlier,Atapproximately 0753EST,thenuclearinstrumentation system(NIS)Comparator andRatedrawerwasremovedfromserviceforcalibration perprocedure CPI-COMP/RATE-N46/37 (Calibration ofComparator andRateDrawerN46/37).Atthistime,theaudiblecountratefunctionwasoperable.

DESCRIPTION OFEVENT:DATESANDAPPROXIMATE TIMESOFMAJOROCCURRENCES:

November3,1997,0025EST:RCSboronconcentration verifiedat2463PPM.November3,1997,0753EST:NISComparator andRatedrawerisremovedfromservice.November3,1997,1300EST:RCSboronconcentration verifiedat2453PPM.November3,1997:Eventdate.November3,1997,1708EST:Discovery dateandtime.November4,1997,0100EST:RCSboronconcentration verifiedat2470PPM.November4,1997:NISaudiblecountrateisrestoredtooperablestatus.B.EVENT:Atthebeginning oftheafternoon shiftonNovember3,theoperability oftheNISaudiblecountratefunctionwasquestioned, sincethenormalaudiblebeepingdidnotseemtobeoccurring.

Atthistime,itwasassumedthattheaudiblecountratefunctionhadbeenmadeinoperable atthetimeprocedure CPI-COMP/RATE-N46/37 wasinitiated.

Forconvenience, thistimewasdocumented asthetimeadministrative trackinghadbeeninitiated fortheComparator andRateDrawer,atapproximately 0753ESTonNovember3.Therefore, usingthiseventsequenceandtheassumedtimeofinoperability, theinitialadministrative tracking(whichdidnotaddressthelossofaudiblecountratefunction) wassupplemented byadministrative procedure A-52.4(ControlofLimitingConditions forOperating Equipment) atapproximately 1708EST.TheA-52.4trackingwasinitiated effective at0753ESTasa"lateentry".NRCFORM366A(4-95) t NRCFORM36BA(4-95)LICENSEEEVENTREPORT(LER)TEXTCONTINUATION

.NUCLEAR'REGULATORY COMMISSION FACILITYNAME(1)R.E.GinnaNuclearPowerPlantDOCKET05000244LERNUMBER(6)YEARSEQUENTIAL REVISIONNUMBERNUMBER97-006-00PAGE(3)3OF6TEXTilfmorespeceisrequired, useedditionel copiesofNRCForm368AJ(17)Basedontheeventsequencethatinoperability occurredat0753EST,theControlRoomoperators concluded thattheplantcontinued tobeincompliance with'Ginna ImprovedTechnical Specifications (ITS)LimitingCondition forOperation (LCO)REQUIREDACTIONS3.9.2.C.1 and3.9.2.C.2, since,therehadbeennocorealterations orpositivereactivity additions duringthis.time.However,REQUIREDACTION-3.9.2.C.3, for'RCSboronconcentration verifiedtobewithinthelimitsspecified intheCoreOperating LimitsReport(COLR),hadonlybeenaccomplished atapproximately 0025ESTand1300ESTonNovember3.~i.XlThus,atapproximately 1708ESTonNovember3,itwasdiscovered thattheNISaudiblecountratewasinoperable.

'Duetotheassumedeventsequence, itwasconcluded thatinoperability occurredat0753EST,andtheControlRoomoperators immediately enteredITSLCO3.9.2at,1708EST.TheRCSboronconcentration hadbeenverifiedatapproximately 1300EST.Sincetheoperators concluded thatRCSboronconcentration hadnotbeenverifiedwithin4hoursoftheassumedtimeofinoperability, the1300ESTboronconcentration wasusedtoinitiatethe12hourtimerequirement ofITSLCOREQUIREDACTION,3.9.2.C.3.

Subsequent RCSboronconcentration verification wouldberequiredevery12hours.ThenextRCSboronconcentration verification wasperformed atapproximately 0100EST,onNovember4,andtheNISaudiblecountratefunctionwasrestoredtooperablestatuslaterthatmorning.Uponfurtherreview,activities performed perprocedure CPI-COMP/RATE-N46/37 didnotrendertheNISaudiblecountrateinoperable.

Therefore, theeventsequenceconcluding thatinoperability occurredat0753ESTisincorrect.

TheprecisetimethattheNISaudiblecountratefunctionbecameinoperable onNovember3isnotknown,butthemostlimitingeventsequenceisifitoccurredafter1300EST,orbetween0753and0900EST.Ineitherofthesescenarios, ITSLCOREQUIREDACTION3.9.2.C.3 wasnotperformed within4hoursoftheevent.C.INOPERABLE STRUCTURES, COMPONENTS, ORSYSTEMSTHATCONTRIBUTED TOTHEEVENT:NoneD.OTHERSYSTEMSORSECONDARY FUNCTIONS AFFECTED:

NoneE.METHODOFDISCOVERY:

Thiseventwasindicated duringroutineoperations reviewofplantstatusduringashiftturnovermeeting,andwasformallydiscovered shortlyaftershiftturnover.

However,theactualeventsequence, including thefactthattheprecisetimeofinoperability isnotknown,wasnotdiscovered untilseveraldayslater.NRCFORM366A(4-95)

NRCFORM366A(4-95)LICENSEEEVENTREPORT(LER)TEXTCONTINUATION

.NUCLEARREGULATORY COMMISSION FACILITYNAME(1)DOCKETLERNUMBER(6)PAGE(3)R.E.GinnaNuclearPowerPlant.05000244YEARSEQUENTIAL REVISIONNUMBERNUMBER4OF697-006-00TEXTIifmorespeceisrequired, useeddirional copiesofNRCForm366AJ(17)F.OPERATORACTION:VTheControlRoombperators'identified thattherewasnoadministrative trackingoftheaudiblecount.ratefunction, andsubmitted administrative procedure A-52.4forformaltrackingofthe~audible'count.rate function.

Basedontheirassumedeventsequence, ITSLCOREQUIREDACTION~3.9.2.C.3 hadnotbeenperformed within4hoursofinoperability, butasubsequent (1300EST)boronconcentration verification wasusedtoinitiatethe12hourtimerequirement.

FutureRCSboronconcentration verification wouldbeperformed every12hours,perthisREQUIREDACTION.TheControlRoomoperators notifiedhighersupervision.

a~">,'}1<AControlRoomoperatormanuallyrestoredtheNISaudiblecountratefunctionduringthemidnightshiftonNovember4,1997.G.SAFETYSYSTEMRESPONSES:

NoneIII.CAUSE'OFEVENT:A.IMMEDIATE CAUSE;Theimmediate causeofthecondition prohibited byTechnical Specifications wasnotverifying RCSboronconcentration within4hoursafterdiscovering thattheaudiblecountratefunctionwasinoperable, usingthemostlimitingeventsequenceforlossofthisfunction.

B.INTERMEDIATE CAUSE:Theintermediate causeofnotverifying boronconcentration wasamisinterpretation oftheeventsequence.

ROOTCAUSE:Themisinterpretation oftheeventsequenceledtoadecisionthatwasincorrect.

NotethattheprecisetimethattheNISaudiblecountratefunctionbecameinoperable isnotknown.Thismisinterpretation wasmadepossiblebecausethereisnopositiveindication ofwhentheaudiblecountratefunctionbecameinoperable.

Procedures weredeficient inthattheapplicability ofITSLCO3,9.2atalltimeswhileinMode6wasnotaddressed inplantoperating procedures.

Procedures werealsodeficient inthatactionsneededtoverifytheoperability oftheNISaudiblecountratewerenotspecified incalibration andtestprocedures.

NACFOAM366A(4-95)

NRCFORM366A(4-95)LXCENSEEEVENTREPORT(LER)TEXTCONTINUATION

.NUCLEARREGULATORY COMMISSION FACILITYNAME(1)R.E.GinnaNuclearPowerPlantDOCKET05000244LERNUMBER(6)YEARSEQUENTIAL REVISIONNUMBERNUMBER97-006-00PAGE(3)5OF6TEXTllfmorespaceisrequired, useadditional copiesofNRCForm366A/(17)IV.ANALYSISOFEVENTThiseventis"reportable inaccordance with10CFR50.73,LicenseeEventReportSystem,item(a)(2)(i)(B),,which.

requiresareportof,"Anyoperation orcondition prohibited bytheplant'sTechnical

'pecifications":

WiththeNISaudiblecountrateinoperable, notverifying RCSboronconcentration within4hoursafterdiscovery.

isnotpermitted byITSLCOREQUIREDACTION3.9.2.C.3.

Anassessment'was performed considering boththesafetyconsequences andimplications ofthiseventwiththefollowing resultsandconclusions:

II'1"~Ili+~I'herewerenooperational orsafetyconsequences orimplications.

attributed tothedelayedverification ofboronconcengration because:\~Nocorealterations andnopositivereactivity additions occurredduringthistimeperiod.~RCSboronconcentration verification wasbeingperformed every12hours.PreviousRCSboronsampleshadconfirmed consistent boronconcentrations thatwerewellwithinthelimitspecified intheCOLR.Basedontheabove,itcanbeconcluded thatthepublic'shealthandsafetywasassuredatalltimes.CORRECTIVE ACTION:A.ACTIONTAKENTORETURNAFFECTEDSYSTEMSTOPRE-EVENT NORMALSTATUS:~ThemostrecentRCSboronconcentration wasverifiedtobewithinthelimitspecified inthe,COLR.~Subsequent boronverification occurredevery12hours,asperITSLCORequiredAction3.9.2.C.3.

~Afterinvestigation ofthecauseforlossofthisfunction, theaudiblecountratefunctionwasrestoredtooperablestatus.B.ACTIONTAKENORPLANNEDTOPREVENTRECURRENCE:

~Therequirement tohaveaudiblecountrateoperableatalltimeswhileinMode6appearstobeconservative.

TheHighFluxatShutdownalarmmayprovideadequateassurance ofnoadversechangesincorereactivity whileinMode6(andnocorealterations orpositivereactivity additions areoccurring).

NuclearSafetyandLicensing willberequested toevaluateaLicenseAmendment tochangethisrequirement inITS.NRCFORM366A(4-95)

NRCFORM366A(4.95)LXCENSEEEVENTREPORT(LER)TEXTCONTINUATION

.NUCLEARREGULATORY COMMISSION FACILITYNAME(1)DOCKETLERNUMBER(6)PAGE(3)R.E.GinnaNuclearPowerPlant05000244YEARSEQUENTIAL REVISIONNUMBERNUMBER6OF6TEXTiifmorespaceisrequired, useadditional copiesofNRCForm366Aj(17)Vl~Appropriate calibration andtestprocedures willbereviewed, andchangedasnecessary, toensureaudiblecountrateoperability aftercompletion ofcalibrations ortests.Operating procedures willbereviewed, andchangedasnecessary, toensureaudiblecountrateoperability isverifi6dwhen..inMode6.',d(~~ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

~~IIA.FAILEDCOMPONENTS:

NoneB.PREVIOUSLERsONSIMILAREVENTS:AsimilarLEReventhistorical searchwasconducted withthefollowing results:Nodocumentation ofsimilarLEReventswiththesamerootcauseatGinnaStationcouldbeidentified.

C.SPECIALCOMMENTS:

NoneNRCFORM366A(4-95) 0I