ML20135E026

Special Rept:On 970116,Cable Vault CO2 & Diesel Fire Pump Day Tank Room CO2 Sys Place in Abort.Caused by Installation of New Low Pressure CO2 Sys for Switchgear Rooms.Established Compensatory Measures & Required Manual Initiation for Sys

ML20135E026
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	02/27/1997
From:	Maret G VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
BVY-97-29, NUDOCS 9703060209
Download: ML20135E026 (2)

Text

" VERMONT YANKEE NU. CLEAR POWER CORPORATION P.O. Box 157. Governor Hunt Road Vernon, Vermont 05354-0157 N -

' (802) 257-7711 x% -

February 27, 1997 BVY 97-29 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Center Washington, D.C. 20555

Reference:

(a) License No. DPR-28 (Docket No. 50-271)

Subject:

Vermont Yankee Special Report, Fire Protection System Out of Service Greater than 14 Days A worker safety evaluation for the installation of a new low pressure CO2 syste n for the Switchgear Rooms was expanded to include CO2 discharges from the Cable Vault and the Diesel Fire Pump Day Tank Room. This evaluation determined that personnel in adjoining plant areas could be endangered when these systems discharge.

As a result of the above evaluation, the Cable Vault CO2 system was placed in ABORT on 1/15/97. The Diesel Fire Pump Day Tank Room CO2 system was placed in ABORT on 1/16/97. Appropriate compensatory measures were established and this condition was discussed with the NRC resident inspector. Both systems remain available but would require manual initiation.

Vermont Yanke: Technical Specification 3.13.D.2 requires that, "From and after the date that the CO2 system in the Cable Vault or a switchgear room is inoperable, within one hour a fire watch shall be established to inspect the location at least once every hour, provided that the fire detection system is operable in accordance with 3.13.A. Restore the CO2 system to operable status within 14 days or submit a report within the next 30 days to the Commission as specified... outlining the cause of the inoperability and the plans for restoring the CO2 system to operable status."

Vermont Yankee Technical Specification 3.13.D.3 requires that, "From and after the date that the CO2 system in the diesel fire pump day tank room is inoperable, within one hour a fire watch shall be established to inspect the location at least once every hour. Restore the system to operable status within 14 days or submit a report within the next 30 days to the Commission as specified... outlining the cause of the inoperability and the plans for restoring the CO2 system to operable status."

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l U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission l February 27,1997 VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER COR PORATION i

, Page.2 The systems were deliberately placed in ABORT based on the preliminary results of a CO2 hazard analysis. The systems will remain in ABORT and compensatory actions required by Technical Specifications will remain in place until the analysis is complete and corrective l actions are taken to ensure worker safety. The analysis and corrective actions are being pursued l on an expedited basis and are expected to be complete by the end of March. The resident  !

inspector will be kept apprised of progress on a regular basis. Following completion of the corrective actions, the systems will be restored to operable status.

We trust you will find this submittal satisfactory. However, should you desire additional information, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,  !

VE MONTY KEENUCLEAR POWERCORPORATION A

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k lant Ma er c: USNRC Region 1 Administrator USNRC Resident Inspector - VYNPS USNRC Project Manager - VYNPS l

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