ML20059H042

Forwards Insp Rept 50-498/93-54 & 50-499/93-54 on 931213-17 & Notice of Violation

ML20059H042
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	01/20/1994
From:	Beach A NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:	Cottle W HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO.
Shared Package
ML20059H046	List: IR 05000498/1993054 ML20059H042 ML20059H054
References
NUDOCS 9401260204
Download: ML20059H042 (6)

See also: IR 05000498/1993054

Text

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pm Rf c v UNITED STATES

• ff k NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[m, 1 / .} REGION IV

h 8 611 RY AN PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE 400

1 s AR LING T ON, T E X AS 760118064

.....

JM 2 01994

Dockets: 50-498

50-499

Licenses: NPF-76

NPF-80

Houston Lighting & Power Company

ATTN: William T. Cottle, Group

Vice President, Nuclear

P.O. Box 289

Wadsworth, Texas 77483

SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION REPORT 50-498/93-54; 50-499/93-54 (NOTICE OF

VIOLATION)

This refers to the inspection conducted by Mr. T. O. McKernon of this office,

and others listed in the report, on December 13 through 17, 1993. The

inspection included a review of activities authorized for your South Texas

Project Electric Generating Station, Units 1 and 2, facility. At the

conclusion of the inspection, the findings were discussed with you and those

members of your staff identified in the enclosed report.

Areas examined during the inspection are identified in the report. Within

these areas, the inspection consisted of a review of the effectiveness of

implementing your station problem reporting process and corrective action

program. Significant improvements were noted in this area. Recent training

and emphasis on plant personnel self-identifying problems has been reflected

in a culture change currently taking place. There appeared to be an increased

scrutiny of plant problems and more concerted efforts to solve problems in a

timely manner. Based on the results of this inspection, it was determined

that pending no adverse input from the operational readiness assessment team

inspection, sufficient improvements have been accomplished that Restart

Issue 2 identified in NRC Inspection Report 50-498/93-31; 50-499/93-31 can be

considered as resolved.

Based on the results of this inspection, certain licensed activities appeared

to be in violation of NRC requirements, as specified in the enclosed Notice of

Violation (Notice). The violation is of concern because it exemplifies

continued weaknesses related to your work control process.

The first example involved a failure to conduct a prejob briefing as required.

This resulted in a failure to address the need to keep two different quality

class temperature switches segregated and to address the added precautions

necessary for working on one of the switches without electrical isolation.

The second example involved technicians performing work on the wrong motor-

operated valve actuators. Although the enclosed Notice only addresses one

specific example of failure to follow plant procedures for this event, it is

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my understanding that numerous administrative barriers were bypassed during

this event. Based on this concern, your response to the violation should

include a discussion of the causes and your subsequent corrective actions for

the failure of each barrier to preclude the occurrence of this event. .

Additionally, initial corrective actions addressed only the interface problems  ;

between your organization and the contractor testing the motor-operated valve  ;

actuators. In your response, you should also address any generic corrective

actions considered necessary to correct problems with self-verification as  !

conducted by all South Texas Project employees and contractors.

The South Texas Project has a history of problems involving failure to verify

the correct unit, correct train, or correct component before conducting

testing or maintenance activities. On April 19, 1993, a Severity Level III

violation with a civil penalty of $25,000 was issued because of eight examples ,

of failure of station personnel to follow procedural requirements regarding

self-verification. I am concerned that your correctise actions in response to

this violation have not been effective and that future similar errors could

result in personnel injury, reduced equipment reliability, or equipment

damage. Because of this, your corrective actions should be carefully

considered and their effectiveness should be closely monitored. i

You are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions

specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response. In your ,

response, you should document the specific actions taken and any additional  ;

actions you plan to prevent recurrence. After reviewing your response to this

Notice, including your proposed corrective actions and the results of future

inspections, the NRC will determine whether further NRC enforcement action is

necessary to ensure compliance with NRC regulatory requirements. '

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

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

The responses directed by this letter and the enclosed Notice are not subject .

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to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as required

by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Pub. L. No. 96.511. -

Should you have any questions concerning this inspection, we will be pleased

to discuss them with you. .

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Sincerely,

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/A. Bill Beach, Director '

Division of Reactor Projects

Enclosures: (see next page)

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Enclosures: _

1. Appendix A - Notice of Violation ,

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2. Appendix B - NRC Inspection Report

50-498/93-54; 50-499/93-54

cc w/ enclosures: _,

Houston Lighting & Power Company l

ATTN: James J. Sheppard, General Manager  ;

Nuclear Licensing

P.O. Box 289

Wadsworth, Texas 77483 -

City of Austin t

Electric Utility Department '

ATTH: J. C. Lanier/M. B. Lee ,

721 Barton Springs Road

Austin, Texas 78704 .

City Public Service Board

ATTN: K. J. Fiedler/M. T. Hardt ,

P.O. Box 1771

San Antonio,. Texas 78296 ,

Newman & Holtzinger, P. C.

- ATTN: Jack R. Newman, Esq.

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- 1615 L Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20036

Central Power and Light Company '

ATTN: G. E. Vaughn/T. M. Puckett

P.O. Box 2121

' Corpus Christi, Texas 78403

INP0

Records Center

700 Galleria Parkway

Atlanta, Georgia 30339-5957

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Mr. Joseph M. Hendrie

50 Bellport Lane

Bellport, New York-'11713

Bureau of Radiation Control ,

State of Texas

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1100 West 49th Street

Austin, Texas 78756

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Houston Lighting & Power Company -4- JAN 2 01994

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Judge, Matagorda County

Matagorda County Courthouse .

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1700 Seventh Street

Bay City, Texas 77414. ,

Licensing Representative ,

Houston Lighting & Power Company -

Suite 610

Three Metro Center .l

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Houston Lighting & Power Company

ATIN: Rufus S. Scott, Associate

General Counsel

P.O. Box 61867 l

Houston, Texas 77208 .!

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Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge

ATTN: Joseph R. Egan, Esq.

2300 N Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20037 ,

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