ML18102A637

LER 96-029-00:on 961101,surveillance Test Did Not Meet TS Surveillance Requirements.Caused by Personnel Error. Verbatim Procedure Compliance Was Covered as Topic in Maint Intervention Plan.W/961129 Ltr

ML18102A637
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	11/29/1996
From:	GARCHOW D F, HASSLER D V Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
LER-96-029, LER-96-29, LR-N96390, NUDOCS 9612060078
Download: ML18102A637 (4)

Text

Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236 Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey 08038-0236 Nuclear Business Unit NOV 2S199fi LR-N96390 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Gentlemen:

LER 272/96-029-00 SALEM GENERATING STATION -UNIT 1 FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. DPR-70 DOCKET NO. 50-272 This Licensee Event Report entitled "SURVEILLANCE TEST DID NOT MEET TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION SURVEILLANCE REQUIREMENT" is being submitted pursuant to the requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations 10CFR50. 73 (a) (2) (i) (B). Attachment SORC Mtg.96-168 DVH c Distribution LER File 3.7 9612060078 PDR ADOCK s ()'jQOZ! 961129 05000272 PDR The power is in your hands. Sincerely, General Manager -Salem Operations 95-2168 REV. 6/94 NRC FORM 366 U.S. NUCL . REGULATORY COMMISSION AP ED BY OMB NO. 3150-0104 (4-95) EXPIRES 04/30/98 ESTIMATED BURDEN PER RESPONSE TO COMPLY WITH THIS MANDATORY INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUEST: 50.0 HRS. LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER) REPORTED LESSONS LEARNED ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE LICENSING PROCESS AND FED BACK TO INDUSTRY.

FORWARD COMMENTS REGARDING BURDEN ESTIMATE TO THE INFORMATION (See reverse for required number of AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT BRANCH (T-6 F33), U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION, WASHINGTON, DC 20555-0001, AND TO digits/characters for each block) THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION PROJECT (3150-0104), OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, WASHINGTON, DC 20503. FACILITY NAllE (1) DOCKET NUMBER (2) PAGE (3) SALEM GENERATING STATION UNIT 1 05000272 1 OF 3 TITLE (4) SURVEILLANCE TEST DID NOT MEET TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION SURVEILLANCE REQUIREMENT EVENT DATE (5) LER NUMBER (6) REPORT DATE (7) OTHER FACILITIES INVOLVED (8) I FACILITY NAME DOCKET NUMBER MONTH DAY YEAR YEAR SEQUENTIAL I REVISION MONTH DAY YEAR NUMBER NUMBER Salem Unit 2 0500311 11 01 96 96 029 00 11 96 FACILITY NAME DOCKET NUMBER --OPERATING N THIS REPORT IS SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF 10 CFR §: (Check one or more) (11) MODE (9) 20.2201(b) 20.2203(a)(2)(v) x 50. 73(a)(2)(i)

50. 73(a)(2)(viii)

• ---'t::K 000 20.2203(a)(1) 20.2203(a)(3)(i)

50. 73(a)(2)(ii)

50. 73(a)(2)(x)

II LEVEL (10) 20.2203(a)(2)(i) 20.2203(a)(3)(ii)

50. 73(a)(2)(iii) 73.71 -20.2203(a)(2)(ii) 20.2203(a)(4)

50. 73(a)(2)(iv)

OTHER 20.2203(a)(2)(iii) 50.36(c)(1)

50. 73(a)(2)(v)

Abstract below or in C Form 366A 20.2203(a)(2)(iv) 50.36(c)(2)

50. 73(a)(2)(vii)

LICENSEE CONTACT FOR THIS LER (12) NAME TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code) Dennis v. Hassler, LER Coordinator 609-339-1989 COMPLETE ONE LINE FOR EACH COMPONENT FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT (13) CAUSE SYSTEM COMPONENT MANUFACTURER REPORTABLE I CAUSE SYSTEM COMPONENT MANUFACTURER REPORTABLE TONPRDS TONPRDS SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT EXPECTED (14) EXPECTED MONTH DAY YEAR IYES XINO SUBMISSION (If yes, complete EXPECTED SUBMISSION DATE). DATE (15) ABSTRACT (Limit to 1400 spaces, i.e., approximately 15 single-spaced typewritten lines) (16) On November 1, 1996, investigation revealed that previous surveillances for the Hydrogen Re combiner 18 month resistance to ground test was not performed satisfactorily.

A Digital Volt Ohm Meter (DVOM) had been used to perform this surveillance.

The DVOM is not an acceptable instrument for this surveillance.

In May 1993, a new procedure was issued to address the TS surveillance for the Hydrogen Re combiner 18 month functional test including the resistance-to-ground test. This procedure required the use of a Megger instrument to measure the resistance to ground. This procedure was used in December 1994 for the Technical Specification surveillance at which time the DVOM was used in lieu of the Megger. Prior to May 1993, the procedure that was in place did not specify the type of instrument to use and the DVOM was normally used. The cause for the inadequate surveillance is personnel error. Corrective actions include training on procedure usage and a procedure revision.

This event is reportable in accordance with 10 CFR 73(a) (2) (i) ; any condition prohibited by the plant's Technical Specifications.

NRC FORM 366 (4-95)

NRC FOllM 366A (4-95) U.S. UCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER) TEXT CONTINUATION FACILITY NAME (1) DOCKET NUMBER (2) LER NUMBER (6) PAGE (3) SALEM GENERATING STATION UNIT 1 05000272 YEAR I SEQUENTIAL I REVISION NUMBER NUMBER 2 96 -029 -00 TEXT (If more space is required, use additional copies of NRC Form 366A) (17) PLANT AND SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION Westinghouse

-Pressurized Water Reactor Hydrogen Recombiner System {BB/RCB}*

• Energy Industry Identification System (EIIS) codes and component function identifier codes appear as (SS/CCC) CONDITIONS PRIOR TO OCCURRENCE OF At the time of identification, Salem Units 1 and 2 were shutdown and defueled.

DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE 3 On October 17, 1996 during the Technical Specification (TS) surveillance test to verify insulation resistance to ground, an apparent discrepancy with the procedure was identified.

Personnel performing the surveillance were using a Megger as specified on the procedure to measure the resistance to ground. An acceptable resistance value required by the Technicla Specification was not obtained.

The personnel stopped the surveillance and initiated a Action Request to resolve the issue. On November 1, 1996, investigation of previous work order history revealed that data entered for circuit continuity did not adequately demonstrate acceptable circuit continuity based on the ohmic values entered as the basis for acceptability.

In other instances, resistance to ground readings were unacceptably low, and technicians switched to a DVOM in order to derive results that were acceptable to the TS requirement.

Therefore, past TS surveillances for the resistance-to-ground tests were not performed properly.

In May 1993, a new procedure was issued to address the TS surveillance for the Hydrogen Recombiner 18 month functional test including the resistance to ground test. This procedure required the use of a Megger instrument to measure the resistance to ground. This procedure was used in December 1994 for the TS surveillance at which time a DVOM was used in lieu of the Megger. Prior to May 1993, the procedure that was in place did not specify the type of instrument to use and the DVOM was normally used. CAUSE OF OCCURRENCE The cause for the improper surveillance since 1993 is attributed to personnel error. Personnel did not perform the surveillance in accordance with procedure requirements.

Prior to 1993, the procedure did not specify the instrument and personnel did not question appropriateness of using a DVOM. NRC FORM 366A (4*95)

NRC FORM 366A (4-95) U. . UCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FACILITY NAME (1) LICENSEE EVENT REPORT (LER) TEXT CONTINUATION DOCKET NUMBER (2) LER NUMBER (6) SALEM GENERATING STATION UNIT 1 0 5 0 0 0 2 7 2 YEAR I SEQUENTIAL I REVISION NUMBER NUMBER 96 -02 9 -00 TEXT (If more space is required, use additional copies of NRC Form 366A) (17) PRIOR SIMILAR OCCURRENCES PAGE (3) 3 OF 3 In the past two years there 14 LERs that addressed personnel error as the caµse. The LERs were 95-002,95-006, 95-013,96-006, and 96-017 for Salem Unit 1 and 94-012, *95-001,95-003, 95-005,95-006, 96-001,96-004, and 96-005 for Salem Unit 2. SAFETY CONSEQUENCES AND IMPLICATIONS There were no safety consequences associated with this issue. The implications of incorrectly performing the phase to ground readings was the possibility of the recombiners to have been in an undetected degraded condition with less than acceptable phase to ground resistance.

However, the recombiners passed the 18 month functional tests and PSE&G concludes that the recombiners would have performed their design function if called upon. The health and safety of the public were not affected by this issue. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS 1. Verbatim procedure compliance was covered as a topic in the Maintenance Intervention Plan to reinforce management's expectations.

Additionally, management's expectations on procedure compliance has been disseminated to all personnel.

NRC FORM 366A (4-95)