’WPCO  [P»Ł`ˆŌń—s–é¤üŠyöÓ)³ˆ\®Qń›{;.ŒD5f¦śÆSž'”TąŽö-źƒ-ņÅd“=L|¤äŸk…–q®śĢkĪ”• Œ4IJ|4VśÆ(KŲĪ9œßŖTg¾šUI½K&ŗĮ؈ōś»«Ó£>ėXźŹō˜e.“ł¢YŒøĪ0„¶ęČĪ[¶ÉŸ‹^³°ćB“ ‹WĶ’÷ļ“C&y)œĖˆug±sļßĕr%Ę{•Ņż^B[•V÷ś}1JyM'Żąa­Xv‚Ōśųs؅ŠhįČ>ō$‰Ćt žõ½ė$Ńu¬ßåĒey Ti£\©…AS“ž-]@šęķט- ’¶aŌæbÄ+¹Iٰī2€Ŗńø²{øŅėŹ³–F› ĘBDĒhŪŲŌPüŒ4ø[]ū *šp^9ö 3¬Ęb H¹”hƒŃ%em¾`BS/1Ŗ]Ŗ"„Ą]"«+FjQŃā ČP·mŖ-ķ¤æ©/źpŲąź;[¤QŌŽ@#D>3n„żVµ;īcī¢ĄÉpž€eu«ą”C¶ÕµB{Čča‡O¬y¹É‰Ę¼.b>ƒī0k+V»”Ń dŠĆ7cZYĄĄ#!ŅUNó %A 0(GMo 0sU>‡&Å^ ė w÷ 4 ' 6 m8 ˜Epson Stylus COLOR 500”ĢĢ”0(  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX($””<ll’’:Default ParaŌ‡XXXŌŌS‡ō\  `&Times New RomanSŌŌ‡XXXŌŌS‡ō\  `&Times New RomanSŌō\  `&Times New Roman AO EDGtorquedfeedwaterpressurizer RCDT D]ueW]hile RCS gphDoerflienoffgassetpointJacque Durr TMIJoynerBSThermoEG CFR GPUNsubmittalsMescaleroLeutzelschwabmilliremsNRinserviceisolable Jame DHR C.W Hehl OSTG PORVoperabilityEselgrothdispositioned SROs LCO TSIBlough ERO QCL DHRS BWST FSAR dispositioning PUCQuain ops LOCAGoshutesRemediationsubmittal IHQTrocine RCT CRDMSheehan RCP*X\&‰œ”%¢Ų+003|x’U‹’ĄĄĄŻ ƒ!ŻŻ  ŻŌ_ŌńńŃ  ŃÓB.°°` ø hĄpČ xŠ (#°œXBÓŌ‡ō¼sõXXŌŌ‡ō¼sõõō¼sŌMarch€5,€1993€„€The€NRC€issued€a€Notice€of€Violation€"related€to€an€eventŠ ° Šwhich€resulted€when€an€Auxiliary€Operator€(AO)€bypassed€river€water€from€bothŠ ŠDecay€Heat€Service€Coolers€(DC„C€„2A/B)€affecting€both€trains€of€the€DecayŠ ŠHeat€Closed€Cooling€Water€System"€(GPU€Nuclear€response€to€NOV,€August€17,Š Š1993.)Š ŠŠ ŠJune€18,€1993€„€GPU€took€the€'A"€emergency€diesel€generator€out€of€serviceŠ Šfour€days€earlier€for€the€annual€maintenance€inspection.€An€NRC€inspectorŠ Šnoted€a€discrepancy€on€testing€patterns€on€June€14,€1993,€and€on€June€18Š Š"while€performing€post„maintenance€testing€on€the€'A'€emergency€dieselŠ Šgenerator€(EDG),€the€licensee€noted€that€while€the€diesel€was€paralleled€toŠ Šoff„site€power,€the€diesel€electrical€load€was€erratic"€(IR€50„289/93„13€&Š Š50„320/93„06.)"Š ŠŠ ŠJune€24€„€July€1,€1993€„€During€an€NRC€inspection,€the€staff€found€anŠ Š"inadequate€surveillance€procedure,€the€bolts€for€the€'B'€diesel€generator€(EDG)Ģlubricating€oil€filter€cover€were€not€properly€torqued.€As€a€result,€theŠ Šability€of€the€EDG€to€continue€to€perform€if€called€upon€in€an€emergency€wasŠ Šuncertain."€A€Notice€of€Violation€was€issued.€(IR€50„289/93„14.)Š ŠŠ ŠJuly€2,€1993€„€An€NRC€inspection€identified€weaknesses€in€the€licensee€andŠ Šlocal€law€enforcement€agency€"intrusion€protection€strategy"€(See€February€7Š Šand€August€11,€1993€and€September€22,€1995€for€related€incidents.)€(IRŠ Š50„289/93„12.)Š ŠŠ ŠAugust€1€to€September€9,€1993€„€During€this€inspection€the€following€problemsŠ Šwere€identified:€"...inadvertent€auto„start€of€the€motor€driven€emergencyŠ Šfeedwater€pumps,€the€inadvertent€lifting€of€the€pressurizer€power€operatedŠ Šrelief€valve,€and€the€disabling€of€make€pump€1C...movement€of€fuel€withŠ Šreactor€building€doors€open..."€(IR€50„289/93„19.)Š ŠŠ ŠAugust€11,€1993€„€The€NRC€issued€two€Notice€of€Violations€relating€toŠ Šemergency€preparedness€(EPńńńńńń€Ō_ŌŌ_Ō.ńńńńńń)€One€violation€occurred€during€the€EP€exerciseŠ Šconducted€from€June€7„11,€1993€and€involved€adequacy€of€fire€protection€exitŠ Šprovisions.€The€other€violation€dates€back€to€February€7,€1993,€and€is€relatedŠ Što€a€delay€in€Ō_ŌcalloutŌ_Ō€of€the€emergency€response€organization.€(This€violationŠ Šis€being€"considered€for€escalated€enforcement."€(See€February€7€and€July€2,Š Š1993€for€more€information.)€(IR€50„289/93„08.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€10,€1993€„€The€plant€was€shut€down€for€a€six„week€re„fueling€outage.Š ŠEighty€of€the€177€fuel€rods€were€replaced,€bringing€the€total€to€more€than€500Š Š(or€265€metric€tons)€which€have€accumulated€since€the€plant€started€operatedŠ Šin€1974.€(When€the€plant€began€operation,€refueling€outages€were€annually.Š ŠGPU€has€now€requested,€and€received,€permission€to€refuel€every€24€months.)Š ŠGPU€has€claims€to€have€enough€storage€space€in€their€spent€fuel€pools€toŠ Šcontinue€accumulating€fuel€rods€until€2014€(D€ate€of€license€expiration.)Š ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠAs€one€worker€said,€"The€brass€here€figures€if€one€woman€can€have€a€baby€inŠ Šnine€months,€maybe€nine€women€can€have€a€baby€in€one€month.€So€they'reŠ Šbringing€more€than€a€thousand€workers€and€are€aiming€to€have€this€shutdown€oneŠ Šof€the€shortest€ever."Š ŠŠ y-É(5 ŠSeptember€10,€1993€„€"While€the€plant€was€shutdown€and€in€mid„loop€operation,Š Šthe€licensee€shifted€electrical€power€supplies€to€support€maintenanceŠ Šactivities,€and€caused€an€inadvertent€increase€in€core€thermocoupleŠ Štemperatures€of€about€11€[degrees]€F€due€to€a€decrease€in€cooling€flow€to€theŠ Šdecay€heat€removal€heat€exchanger"€(IR€50„289/93„22.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€15,€1993€„€During€surveillance€testing,€"250€gallons€of€water€leakedŠ Šfrom€the€'C'€makeup€pump€casing€drain€valve,€MU„V„172C,€because€the€valveŠ Šhad€been€inadvertently€left€open€approximately€1.5€turns."€(IR€50„289/93„22.)€Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€20,€1993€„€During€testing,€an€"inadvertent"€trip€of€the€reactorŠ Šprotection€system€channel€'D'€occurred.Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€22,€1993€„€During€a€90€minute€interval,€"4,600€gallons€of€water€wereŠ Šinadvertently€transferred€from€the€reclaimed€water€storage€tank€to€the€ReactorŠ ŠBuilding€sump...Maintenance€personnel€had€opened€the€reclaimed€water€supplyŠ Švalve,€CA„V„194,€to€the€reactor€coolant€drain€(RCDT)€which€in€turn€overflowedŠ Što€the€Reactor€Building€sump€via€the€opening€from€the€RCDT€relief€valve.Š ŠOperators€were€not€alerted€to€the€rising€level€in€the€RCDT,€because€the€levelŠ Šinstrumentation€and€high€level€alarm€were€out€of€service."€(IR€50„289/93„22.)€Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€24,€1993€„€"[D]ue€to€a€level€difference,€about€4000€gallons€of€waterŠ Šwere€inadvertently€transferred€from€the€fuel€transfer€canal€to€theŠ Špressurizer..."€(IR€50„289/93„22.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€25,€1993€„€The€'A'€emergency€diesel€generator€was€inadvertentlyŠ Šstarted.Š ŠŠ ŠSeptemberńńńńńń€Ō_ŌŌ_Ōńńńńńń€30,€1993€„€GPU€declared€an€Event€of€Potential€Public€Interest"Š Šdue€a€small€fire€in€the€'C'€condensate€pump.Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€4„8,€1993€„€During€an€announced€safety€inspection€of€the€radiationŠ Šprogram,€the€NRC€issues€a€violation€"regarding€the€control€of€personnel€accessŠ Što€high€radiation€areas€to€prevent€inadvertent€entry..."€The€NRC€also€observedŠ Ša€weakness€in€"documentation€of€contractor€health€physics€technicians'Š Šqualifications"€(IR€50„289/93„23.)€(See€August€7,€1996,€for€a€relatedŠ Šincident.)Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€8,€1993€„€"[W]hile€filling€the€'A'€condensate€storage€tank€(CST)€fromŠ Šthe€million€gallon€tank,€300€to€400€gallons€of€water€spilled€through€the€CSTŠ Švent."€(IR€50„289/93„22.)Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€14,€1993€„€During€control€rod€drop€testing,€"One€rod€in€each€of€rodŠ Šgroups€1,€3€and€4€initially€failed€to€meet€the€rod€drop€(flight)€time..."€(IRŠ Š50„289/93„22.)Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€14,€1993€„€NRC€staff€reported:"...one€day€prior€to€startup€fromŠ Šthe€10R€refueling€outage,€the€licensee€noted€that€one€of€two€reactor€coolantŠ Šsystem€(RCS)€pressurizer€code€safety€valves...was€leaking€at€25€gallons€perŠ Šhour€(gph).€The€leak€gradually€increased€to€58€gph€and€on€November€14,€theŠ Šlicensee€placed€the€plant€in€hot€shutdown€to€attempt€to€reseat€the€valve"€(IRŠ Š50„289/93„25.)Š ŠŠ Š"We€found€that€your€staff€planned€to€slightly€open€the€valve€at€power€withoutŠ y-É(5 Ša€sound€technical€basis€for€concluding€that€the€valve€would€not€fully€lift.€InŠ Šaddition,€your€staff€did€not€give€sufficient€consideration€to€the€relativeŠ Šrisks€of€performing€the€evolution€at€power€versus€hot€shutdown"€(Lawrence€T.Š ŠDoerflien,€Chief,€Projects€Branch€No.€4,€Division€of€Reactor€Projects,€JanuaryŠ Š6,€1994.)Š ŠŠ ŠIn€other€words:€"They€wanted€to€do€something€we€didn't€want€them€to€do"Š Š(Michelle€Evans,€NRC,€February€25,€1994.)Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€15,€1993€„€In€response€to€(IN)€92„30,€"Falsification€of€PlantŠ ŠRecords,"€a€generic€NRC€initiative,€the€NRC€"is€concerned€about€the€apparentŠ Šmisconduct€on€the€part€of€the€plant€individual€involved€with€this€record.Š ŠBecause€the€NRC€must€be€able€to€rely€on€the€professionalism€and€integrity€ofŠ Špersonnel€who€perform€safety„related€activities,€including€log€taking€andŠ Šrecord€keeping,€such€misconduct€cannot€be€tolerated."€A€NOV€was€issued.Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€22,€1993€„€GPU's€score€during€the€latest€SALP€period€was€downgradedŠ Šfrom€a€"1"€to€a"2"€in€plant€operations.Š ŠŠ ŠNovember€14,€1993€„€The€plant€was€shut€down€for€a€couple€of€days€so€GPU€couldŠ Šrepair€a€pressurizer€code€safety€valve€leaking€720€gallons€per€day.€Š ŠŠ ŠNovember€16,€1993€„€"The€licensee€failed€to€establish€an€adequate€procedureŠ Šfor€draining€the€reactor€coolant€system€because€the€operating€procedure€didŠ Šnot€address€how€to€minimize€or€prevent€the€spill€over€of€reactor€vessel€waterŠ Šinto€the€cold€legs€as€the€cold€legs€are€drained"€(IR€50„289/94„02.)€(See€MarchŠ Š30,€1994€for€Notice€of€Violation.)Š ŠŠ ŠJanuary€27,€1994€„€"Operations€management€determined€that€the€day€shiftĢOutbuilding€Auxiliary€Operator€(AO),€on€January€27,€1994,€inaccuratelyŠ Šreported€log€readings€for€the€fire€service€water€diesel€pump€without€enteringŠ Šthe€locked€building"€(IR€50„289/94„21.)Š ŠŠ ŠFebruary€23,€1994€„€GPU€"determined€that€the€spline€adapters€were€installedŠ Šupside€down€[for€the€nuclear€river€water€motor€operated€valves.]"€(IRŠ Š50„289/94„13.)€(See€August€30€and€September,€1994;€August€17,€1995;€and,Š ŠSeptember€13,€1996€for€related€issues.)€(See€February€26,€1998€for€follow„upŠ Šreprimand.)Š ŠMarch€5,€1994€„€The€reactor€coolant€system€leak€rate€increased.Š ŠŠ ŠMarch€7,€1994€„€GPU€reduced€power€from€100%€to€75%€due€to€a€leak€on€theŠ Špressurizer€spray€valve.€(See€March€17€and€May€31,€1994€for€relatedŠ Šincidents.)Š ŠŠ ŠMarch€17,€1994€„€The€plant€was€shut€down€due€to€problems€with€the€pressurizerŠ Šspray€valve.€(See€March€7€and€May€31,€1994.)€Š Š"Following€the€shutdown,€c€1ontrol€rod€drive€drop€testing€was€performed,Š Šand€the€licensee€found€that€12€control€rod€drives€had€excessive€drop€times"Š Š(IR€50„289„/94„04.)€The€plant€returned€to€operation€on€March€23,€1994.€(SeeŠ ŠSeptember€9,€1995€for€a€related€incident.)Š ŠŠ ŠMarch€30,€1994€„€A€severity€level€IV€violation€was€issued€by€King€of€PrussiaŠ Šfor€an€incident€that€occurred€on€November€16,€1993.€Another€severity€IVŠ Šviolation€was€issued€for€inaccurate€and€incomplete€log€keeping€related€to€theŠ y-É(5 Šriver€water€fire€service€diesel.Š ŠŠ ŠMay€23,€1994€„€An€auxiliary€operator€inadvertently€reduced€the€levelŠ Šdeferential€in€the€sodium€hydroxide€tank/borated€water€storage€tank.€TheŠ Šincident€prompted€a€License€Event€Report.€Š ŠŠ ŠMay€19,€1994€"...operators€failed€to€recognize€that€the€high€range€condenserŠ Šoffgas€radiation€monitor€(RM„A„5)€was€greater€than€the€high€alarmŠ Šsetpoint,€a€condition€requiring€an€Alert€declaration.€Channel€RM„A„5€was€inŠ Šalarm€for€approximately€one€hour€before€the€alert€condition€was€recognized.Š ŠThe€NRC€considered€this€oversight€to€an€[emergency€preparedness]€exerciseŠ Šweakness."€(IR€50„289/95„05.)€(See€June€2,€1995€for€related€incident.)Š ŠŠ ŠMay€31,€1994€„€GPU€announced€a€planned€shutdown€for€June€1,€1994€to€test€forŠ Šleaks€in€the€condenser.€"In€March,€GPU€technicians€discovered€that€12€of€theŠ Š69€control€rods€used€to€control€the€nuclear€reaction€failed€to€move€intoŠ Šposition€in€the€1.66„second€time€period€required€by€the€NRC.€Ability€to€moveŠ Šthe€rods€over€the€reactor's€fuel€is€critical€to€plant€safety,€N€RCŠ Šofficials€said"€("The€Patriot€News,"€May€31,€1994,€B4.)€(See€March€7€and€17,Š Š1994€for€related€information.)Š ŠŠ ŠJune€6,€1994€„€"A€worker€who€was€decontaminating€piping€failed€to€meet€theŠ ŠRadiation€Protection€Work€permit€clothing€requirements€when€she€treated€anŠ Šarea€decontaminated€before€it€was€radiologically€surveyed€and€released€by€aŠ ŠRadiological€Controls€Technician"€(Jacque€P.€Durr,€Chief,€Projects€No.€4,Š ŠDivision€of€Power€Reactors,€NRC.)Š ŠŠ ŠJune€9,€1994€„€TMI„1€returned€to€service€after€an€eight€day€shutdown.€DuringŠ Šthe€plant€startup,€with€reactor€power€at€20%,€the€control€room€operator€"notedŠ Šan€unacceptable€overlap€between€the€average€positions€of€control€rod€groupsŠ Šsix€and€seven."€A€Licensee€Event€Report€was€prepared€by€the€licensee.(IRŠ Š50„289/94„13.)€(See€May€31,€1994€for€related€problems.)Š ŠJune€29,€1994€„€During€an€inspection€of€the€boric€acid€corrosion€program,Š Šseveral€weaknesses€were€identified€including€"...the€lack€of€programŠ Šdocumentation,€program€awareness,€and€program€preventive€guidance€to€enŠ Šsure€maintenance€is€performed€on€components€identified€as€susceptible€beforeŠ Šleakage€can€cause€significant€corrosion€damage.€Additionally,€there€is€noŠ Šformal€or€documented€centralized€collection€or€evaluation€group,€or€a€formalŠ Šfeedback€mechanism€for€evaluation€of€leaks€identified€by€non„surveillanceŠ Štesting€activities.€These€programmatic€weaknesses€may€lead€to€the€reducedŠ Šassurance€that€the€reactor€coolant€boundary€will€have€an€extremely€lowŠ Šprobability€of€abnormal€leakage,€rapid€propagating€failure,€or€gross€rupture"Š Š(Michael€C.€Modes,€Chief,€Materials€Section,€Division€of€Reactor€Safety,€NRC.)Š ŠŠ ŠJuly€11,€1994€„€"Overall,€your€on„site€response€during€the€Annual€EmergencyŠ ŠPreparedness€Exercise€was€acceptable.€However,€the€approximately€one€hourŠ Šdelay€in€recognizing€plant€conditions€warranted€upgrading€the€emergencyŠ Šclassification€to€an€Alert€is€considered€to€be€a€significant€weakness"Š Š(Jacques€P.€Durr,€Chief,€Projects€No.€4,€Division€of€Power€Reactors,€NRC.)Š ŠŠ ŠJuly€12,€1994€„€A€through€wall€leak€was€discovered€in€a€safety€related€nuclearŠ Šservice€river€water€pipe.Š ŠŠ ŠAugust€9,€1994€„€The€NRC€reported€results€of€TMI's€radioactive€wasteŠ y-É(5 Šmanagement€and€transportation€program€and€identified€"minor€weaknesses"€in€theŠ Šfollowing€areas:€"auditors'€training€and€qualifications,€timeliness€ofŠ Šupdating€isotopic€distribution€(i.e.,€scaling)€factors,€and€controls€forŠ Šlimiting€the€public€dose€from€the€storage€of€radioactive€waste"€(James€H.Š ŠJoyner,€Facilities€Radiological€Safety€and€Safeguards€Branch,€Division€ofŠ ŠRadiation€Safety€and€Safeguards,€NRC,€August€9,€1994.)Š ŠŠ ŠAugust€30,€1994€„€After€an€inspection€of€TMI's€motor„operated€valve€programŠ Š(MOV),€NRC€staff€concluded:€"While€we€recognize€the€positive€actions€taken€toŠ Šimprove€the€MOV€program,€your€previous€corrective€actions€have€beenŠ Šineffective€regarding€the€review€of€MOV€test€data.€Specifically,€your€processŠ Što€evaluate€dynamic€test€results€is,€in€our€estimation,€informal€and€stillŠ Šlacks€adequate€guidance€for€capability€calculations.€We€also€consider€yourŠ Šindependent€review€of€such€calculations€as€not€comprehensive.€Consequently,Š Šthe€violation€cited€as€part€of€the€NRC€Inspection€92„80€will€remain€open€forŠ Šfurther€inspection"€Eugene€M.€Kelly,€Chief€Systems€Section,€Division€ofŠ ŠReactor€Safety.€(See€February€23,€August€30€and€September€9,€1994;€August€17,Š Š1995;€and€September€13,€1996€for€related€incidents.€(See€February€26,€1998Š Šfor€follow„up€reprimand.)Š ŠŠ ŠAugust€31,€1994€„€Power€was€reduced€from€100%€to€10%€to€correct€anŠ Šelectro„hydraulic€control€circuit€card€problem.€The€problem€affected€theŠ Šposition€of€the€main€turbine€control€valves.Š ŠŠ ŠAugust€31,€1994€„€A€Notice€of€Violation€was€issued€for€the€incident€whichŠ Šoccurred€on€May€23,€1994.Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€8,€1994€„€Misalignment€with€a€building€spray€[BS]€transmitter€valveŠ Šwas€documented€by€NRC€inspectors.€(A€similar€event€occurred€in€JuneŠ Š1993.)€"The€BS€flow€instrument€is€an€important€indication€used€by€the€controlŠ Šroom€operators€to€determine€if€the€safety€system€is€performing€as€designed€inŠ Šnormal€and€emergency€situations"€(IR€50„289/94„19.)€A€Notice€of€Violation€wasŠ ŠissuedŠ ŠŠ ŠSeptember€9,€1994€„A€Severity€Level€IV€Violation€was€issued€for€the€followingŠ Šincident:€"The€deferral/cancellation€of€preventive€maintenance€(PM)€tasks€onŠ Šsafety„related€motor„operated€valves€without€a€documented€technicalŠ Šjustification€or€assessment€of€the€adequacy€of€the€PM€program€occurred€becauseŠ ŠStep€4.2.3.D€of€Ap€was€misinterpreted"€(Richard€W.€Cooper€II,€Director,Š ŠDivision€of€Reactor€Projects.)€(See€February€23€and€August€30,€1994;€AugustŠ Š17,€1995;€and,€September€13,€1996€for€related€incidents.)€(See€February€26,Š Š1998€for€follow„up€reprimand.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€16,€1994€„€Power€was€reduced€to€50%€to€test€problems€associated€withŠ Šthe€condenser.€"Small€leaks€in€tubes€inside€the€condenser€are€allowingŠ Šriver€water€used€for€cooling€to€mix€with€pure€water€of€the€steam€system"€(GPUŠ ŠNuclear,€"News€Release,"€September€15,€1994.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€29,€1994€Thermal„Services„Inc.€and€its€president€Rubin€Feldman,€wereŠ Šindicted€September€29€by€a€federal€grand€jury€on€seven€criminal€charges,Š Šincluding€willful€violations€of€the€Atomic€Energy€Act,€a€decade„longŠ Šconspiracy€to€defraud€the€US€government,€false€statements€and€more.€TheŠ Šcharges€are€the€culmination€of€a€nearly€two„year€grand€jury€investigation€ofŠ Šthe€company,€which€manufactures€Thermo„Lag,€the€ineffective€fire€barrierŠ y-É(5 Šmaterial€used€in€more€than€70€nuclear€reactors€[including€Three€Mile€Island]"Š ŠThe€Nuclear€Monitor,€,€October€17,€1994.)€(For€follow„up€data,€see€October€1,Š Š1996€and€May€29€and€October€23,€1998.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€30,€1994€„€A€Notice€of€Violation€was€issued.€"Your€correctiveŠ Šactions€for€a€June€1993€building€spray€transmitter€valve€misalignment€eventŠ Šwere€ineffective€in€that€they€did€not€preclude€the€repetition€of€a€similarŠ Ševent€on€September€8,€1994.€This€violation€is€an€example€of€the€type€of€eventŠ Šthat€could€be€prevented€by€a€comprehensive€root€cause€analysis€and€correctiveŠ Šaction€program"€(Jacque€P.€Durr,€Chief€Projects€Branch€No.€4,€Division€ofŠ ŠReactor€Projects,€NRC,€September€30,€1994.)Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€2,€1994€„€The€emergency€diesel€generator€(EG„Y„B)€startedŠ Šautomatically.€"TMI€failed€to€report€the€automatic€actuation€of€an€EngineeredŠ ŠSafety€Feature€within€four€hours€as€required€by€10€CFR€50.72.€Our€decision€notŠ Što€cite€this€item€is€based€on€the€NRC€enforcement€policy€goal€of€encouragingŠ Šlicensees€to€aggressively€and€thoroughly€pursue€self„identification€andŠ Šcorrection€of€problems"€(Jacque€P.€Durr,€Chief,€Projects€Branch€No.€4,Š ŠDivision€of€Reactor€Projects,€November€15,€1994.)Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€24,€1994€„€The€NRC€inspection€"team€noted€instances€whereŠ Šadministrative€requirements,€which€prescribe€operator€performanceŠ Šstandards,€do€not€accurately€reflect€management€expectations"€(Richard€W.Š ŠCooper€II,€Director,€Division€of€Reactor€Projects.)€A€Notice€of€Violation€wasŠ Šissued.Š ŠNovember€4,€1994€„€"Although€our€review€revealed€a€number€of€issues,€whichŠ Šconstituted€a€reduction€in€commitments€from€the€plan€previously€accepted€byŠ Šthe€NRC€as€tabulated€in€Attachment€1€[GPUN,€April€19,€1994]€the€operationŠ Šquality€plan€continues€to€satisfy€the€requirements€of€10€CFR€50,€Appendix€E.Š ŠIn€the€future,€submittals€should€be€made€thoroughly€evaluated€to€determine€ifŠ Ša€change€constitutes€a€reduction€previously€approved€by€the€NRC"€Michael€C.Š ŠModes,€Chief,€Materials€Š ŠSection,€Division€of€Reactor€Safety.€The€NRC€later€asked€GPU€to€"destroy"€thisŠ Šcommunication€,€because€of€"an€inadequate€review€by€the€NRC"€(Michael€C.Š ŠModes,€December€5,€1994.)Š ŠŠ ŠDecember€1994€„€GPU€Nuclear€joined€a€consortium€of€33€nuclear€utilitiesŠ Špressuring€the€Mescalero€Apaches€to€accept€high„level€radioactive€waste.€(SeeŠ ŠJune€1997€for€a€related€development.)Š ŠŠ ŠDecember€3,€1994€„€Power€was€reduced€to€50%€to€repair€a€"water€leak",€i.e.Š Šrepair€main€condenser€tube€leaks.€In€addition,€145€of€the€condenser'sŠ Š66,000€tubes€were€"removed."€The€plant€returned€to€"full„power"€on€DecemberŠ Š7,€1994.Š ŠŠ Š"And€the€week€of€December€1€to€7,€in€fact€readings€were€a€bit€higher.€ButŠ Šthey€were€higher€in€all€five€[low„volume€air€sampler]€stations...Could€use€aŠ Šcontrol€station...I'll€try€and€get€a€hold€of€GPU€next€week€and€see€if€they€gotŠ Šsame€high€readings...[May€be]€environmental€blips€we€get€once€in€awhile"Š Š(John€Leutzelschwab,€December€24,€1994,€phone€message.)Š ŠŠ ŠDecember€5,€1994€„€During€a€review€of€the€Quality€Assurance€Plan€a€"number€ofŠ Šinstances"€were€"revealed...which€represent€an€apparent€reduction€inŠ Šcommitment€from€the€program€previously€accepted€by€the€NRC..."€(Michael€C.Š y-É(5 ŠModes,€Chief,€Materials€Section,€Division€of€Reactor€Safety.)Š ŠŠ ŠDecember€15,€1994€„€"Operators€were€investigating€the€decrease€in€power€[plantŠ Šoutput]€when€a€phone€call€from€a€member€of€the€public€alerted€them€of€steamŠ Šcoming€from€the€turbine€roof.€This€led€them€to€identify€that€steam€was€flowingŠ Šthrough€the€relief€valve€for€the€'A'€second€stage€feedwater€(FEW)€heater€(HV„Š ŠV„13A).€This€resulted€in€steam€from€the€secondary€plant€being€released€toŠ Šatmosphere€through€MS„V„103€to€the€turbine€building€roof."€(IRŠ Š50„289/94„26.)Š ŠŠ ŠJanuary€10,€1995€„€"...the€inspectors€did€identify€a€tagging€activity€relatedŠ Što€the€battery€charger€that€was€not€well€controlled€due€to€an€inconsistentŠ Šunderstanding€of€management's€expectations€for€the€control€and€restoration€ofŠ Šequipment"€(Jacque€P.€Durr,€Chief,€Projects€Branch€No.€4,€Division€of€ReactorŠ ŠProjects.)€Š ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠFebruary€13,€1995€„€"The€inspector€reviewed€a€radiological€incident€reportŠ Šthat€documented€the€failure€by€radiological€controls€technicians€to€identifyŠ Šcontamination€on€the€same€individual€on€a€number€of€occasions...The€licensee'sŠ Šstaff€calculated€the€Š Šexposure€to€the€worker€from€the€contamination€event€and€assigned€236€milliremsŠ Što€the€skin€of€the€whole€body."€(NRC€IR€50„289/95„09€&€50„320/95„03,€SeptemberŠ Š29,€1995.)Š ŠŠ ŠMarch€7,€1995€„€A€reactor€coolant€leak€of€approximately€15€gallons€per€minuteŠ Šdeveloped.Š ŠŠ ŠMarch€8,€1995€„€Radioactive€water€leaked€and€contaminated€a€worker.€AnŠ ŠUnusual€Event€was€declared.Š ŠŠ ŠJune€2,€1995€„€"An€exercise€weakness€was€identified€in€the€area€off„site€doseŠ Šassessment€and€projection...One€unresolved€item€was€identified€concerning€yourŠ Šprotective€action€recommendation€(PAR)€logic's€conformity€with€FederalŠ Šguidance...Your€PAR€logic€diagram's€methodology€is€overly€reliant€onŠ Ševacuation€time€estimates€and€release€duration,€without€due€consideration€ofŠ Šradiation€doses€that€could€be€received."€James€H.€Joyner,€Chief,€FacilitiesŠ ŠRadiological€Safety€and€Safeguards€Branch,€Division€of€Radiation€Safety€andŠ ŠSafeguards,€NRC.)€(See€May€19,€1994€for€related€incident.)Š ŠŠ ŠAugust€17,€1995€„€"A€weakness€was€noted€in€the€plant€response€to€the€degradedŠ Šcondition€of€the€safety€related€'B'€nuclear€river€(NR)€water€pump€dischargeŠ Šcheck€valve€NR„V„20B.€The€check€valve€was€declared€inoperable€after€the€plantŠ Šoperators€noticed€the€'B'€NR€pump€rotating€backwards€on€two€separateŠ Šoccasions.€When€the€problem€was€first€noted€on€June€10,€1995,€the€check€valveŠ Šcondition,€pump€Y€performance,€and€understanding€of€the€pump€discharge€MOVŠ Šoperation€were€not€evaluated€thoroughlyŠ Što€ensure€that€the€NR€system€was€performing€acceptably.€The€performance€of€theŠ Špump€inservice€surveillance€test€on€June€28,€1995,€revealed€that€the€conditionŠ Šof€the€check€valve€was€degraded.€Ultimately,€a€thorough€engineeringŠ y-É(5 Ševaluation,€performed€at€the€request€of€the€plant€review€group,€did€determineŠ Šthat€the€NR€system€was€operable€between€June€10€and€28,€1995."€(Jacque€P.Š ŠDurr,€Chief,€Projects€branch€No.€4,€Division€of€Reactor€Projects,€NRC.)€(SeeŠ ŠOctober€10€and€December€4,€1995€for€follow„up.)Š Š(See€February€26,€1998€for€a€follow€up€reprimand€relating€to€the€MOV.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€9,€1995€„€A€non„isolable€leak€in€the€reactor€coolant€system€locatedŠ Šin€one€of€the€cold€legs€of€steam€generator€A€was€detected.€GPU€plans€to€weldŠ Šthe€fatigue€crack.Š ŠŠ ŠSept€ember€9,€1995€„€Several€control€rods€exceeded€the€technicalŠ Šspecification€(TS)€drop€time.€"Of€the€seven€rods€exceeding€the€TS€criteria,Š Šfour€had€exceeded€the€criteria€in€March€[17]€1994,€the€other€three€had€neverŠ Šexceeded€the€criteria."€(NRC,€Region€I.)€Š ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠSeptember€9,€1995€„€Inspectors€reviewed€a€crack€in€the€reactor€coolant€systemŠ Šdrain€line€and€identified€the€following€weaknesses€and€errors:€"(1)€failuresŠ Šin€the€design€verification€process,€(2)€discrepancies€with€design„relatedŠ Šdocuments,€and€(3)€apparent€weaknesses€in€engineering€management's€control€ofŠ Šthe€design€process.€Š ŠMore€significantly,€while€reviewing€GPUN's€response€to€past€problems€with€theŠ Šdrain€lines,€the€inspectors€identified€activities€that€appear€to€be€inŠ Šviolation€of€NRC€requirements."€(Jame€us€T.€Wiggins,€NRC,€Director,€DivisionŠ Šof€Nuclear€Safety,€November€7,€1995.)€(See€March€11,€1996€for€a€Severity€LevelŠ ŠIII€Violation€and€October€29,€1996€for€follow„up.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€12,€1995€„€"There€was€a€momentary€interruption€of€decay€heat€removalŠ Š(DHR)€flow€to€the€reactor€core€due€to€an€inadvertent€closure€of€the€pumpŠ Šsuction€isolation€valve€DH„V„1."€(See€October€10,€1995.)€(IR€50„289/95„13.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€22,€1995€„€Four€security€breaches€were€reported€to€the€NRC€inŠ ŠSeptember€1995.€(See€February€7,€1993,€October€10€and€11€and€November€16,Š Š1995€and€March€1€and€26,€1996.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€28,€1995€„€Approximately€23%€of€the€fuel€assemblies€were€discoveredŠ Što€have€excessive€amounts€of€corrosion.€(See€March€13€and€31,€1992.)Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€10,€1995€„€"A€number€of€issues€have€occurred€that€raise€concernŠ Šregarding€the€adequacy€of€your€planning€process€for€maintenance€activities.Š ŠExamples€of€these€include,€maintenance€on€instrument€line€fittings€whichŠ Šresulted€in€a€reactor€coolant€system€leak,€replacement€of€an€emergencyŠ Šsafeguards€actuation€system€relay€that€resulted€in€an€interruption€of€decayŠ Šheat€removal€capability€[See€September€22,€1995]€,€and€a€weak€initial€responseŠ Što€the€degraded€condition€of€the€nuclear€river€discharge€check€valve€thatŠ Šresulted€in€a€delay€in€identifying€the€degraded€condition€of€the€nuclear€riverŠ Šwater€system.€[See€August€17,€1995.]€Most€significant€of€the€work€planningŠ Šissues€was€the€work€on€the€circulating€pumps€that€resulted€in€breaches€of€theŠ Šsecurity€boundary."€(See€September€22,€1995€for€background€data€and€October€11Š Šand€November€16,1995€for€follow„up.)€Richard€W.€Cooper,€Division€of€ReactorŠ ŠProjects,€NRC.)Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€11,€1995€„€"...€one€apparent€violation€was€identified€involvingŠ Šmultiple€examples€of€failure€to€provide€compensatory€measures€prior€to€causingŠ y-É(5 Šbreaches€in€the€protected€area€barrier."€(C.W€Hehl,€Division€of€NuclearŠ ŠMaterials€Safety,€NRC€.)€(See€September€22,€October€10€and€November€16,Š Š1995€and€March€1€and€26,€1996.)Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€12,€1995€„€An€inadvertent€heat€sink€protection€system€actuationŠ Šoccurred€for€the€'B'€OSTG.Š ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠOctober€31,€1995€„€"...the€pressurizer€power€operated€relief€valve€(PORV),€aŠ ŠClass€I€valve,€was€returned€to€service€without€performing€an€IST€[In€ServiceŠ ŠTesting]€to€verify€proper€valve€operation€after€the€PORV€was€replaced.€As€aŠ Šresult,€a€wiring€error,€that€prevented€the€PORV€from€opening€in€response€to€anŠ Šautomatic€manual€signal,€was€not€detected.€Consequently,€the€PORV€wasŠ Šinoperable€for€the€operating€cycle€from€October,€1995,€until€September,€1997."Š Š[NRC€50„289/97„09€(EA€97„533),€May€1,€1998.]€A€Notice€of€Violation€was€issuedŠ Šby€the€NRC.€Š Š(See€January€27,€1998,€for€an€incident€involving€the€PORV.)Š ŠŠ ŠNovember€16,€1995€„€A€Violation€of€Security€Level€IV€was€issued€for€securityŠ Šbreaches€that€occurred,€on€or€around,€September€22,€1995.€"...the€NRC€isŠ Šconcerned€with€the€manner€in€which€the€vulnerabilities€were€identified,€tŠ Šhe€amount€of€time€between€identifying€the€first€and€the€second€vulnerability,Š Šthe€thoroughness€of€the€corrective€actions,€and€the€communication€weaknessesŠ Šidentified€during€the€inspection."€(James€T.€Wiggins,€NRC,€Division€of€ReactorŠ ŠSafety,€November€16,€1995.)Š ŠŠ ŠDecember€4,€1995€„€The€NRC€identified€an€"area€of€concern"€relating€to€"aŠ Šclogged€strainer€for€a€decay€river€pump.€Considering€the€potential€genericŠ Šconcern€with€the€other€safety€related€river€water€pumps,€it€appears€that€aŠ Šmore€timely€approach€was€warranted€to€ensure€the€operability€of€the€non„Š Šrunning€pumps."€(See€August€10,€1995€for€a€related€incident.)Š ŠŠ ŠAdditionally,€a€Notice€of€Violation€was€issued€"regarding€failure€to€followŠ Šradiological€control€procedures€for€control€of€a€radiography€area."€(Peter€W.Š ŠEselgroth,€Chief,€Projects€Branch€No.€7,€Division€of€Reactor€Projects,€NRC.)Š ŠŠ ŠDecember€6,€1995€„€An€inadvertent€opening€of€an€electrical€breaker€[RR„V„1A]Š Šwas€identified€by€control€room€operators.Š ŠŠ ŠMarch€1,€1996€„€The€NRC€identified€an€"a€Apparent€violation"€which€mayŠ Šnecessitate€"escalated€enforcement€action."€Š ŠThe€apparent€violation€involved€the€failure€to€provide€adequateŠ Šcompensatory€measures€during€maintenance€activities€in€the€protectedŠ Šarea,€which€enhanced€the€potential€for€an€unauthorized€individual€toŠ Šgain€access€from€the€owner„controlled€area.€Due€to€this€event€beingŠ Šsimilar€to€other€security€events€that€occurred€in€September€1995€and€forŠ Šwhich€you€were€cited€with€a€violation,€the€NRC€is€concerned€about€theŠ Šimplementation€and€effectiveness€of€corrective€actions€to€preventŠ Šrecurrence€of€that€type€of€violation€that€were€provided€in€your€"ResponseŠ Što€Notice€of€Violation",€dated€December€20,€1995.€Additionally,€the€NRCŠ Šinterviews€during€the€inspection€period,€as€discussed€with€you,€during€theŠ y-É(5 Šinspection€exit€meeting€on€February€23,€1996,€revealed€that€there€is€aŠ Šlack€of€alertness€to€security€requirements€by€workers€in€theŠ ŠOperations,€Maintenance,€Planning,€and€Security€departments.€(James€T.Š ŠWiggins,€NRC,€Director,€Division€of€Reactor€Safety.)€(See€March€26,€1996Š Šfor€related€event.)Š ŠMarch€11,€1996€„€The€NRC€reprimanded€GPU€Nuclear€and€issued€a€Severity€LevelŠ ŠIII€Violation€for€continued€cracks€and€leaks€in€the€reactor€coolant€system.Š ŠThe€NRC€opted€to€waived€a€$50,000€fine€and€extended€"credit"€because€TMI€"hasŠ Šnot€been€the€subject€of€escalated€enforcement€actions€within€the€last€2Š Šyears..."€The€NRC€noted€chronic€problems€with€drain€lines.€(See€September€9,Š Š1995.€Also,€see€October€29,€1996€for€follow„up.)Š ŠŠ ŠGPUN€could€provide€no€documentation€to€demonstrate€that€theŠ Šmodifications€were€ever€properly€dispositioned.€In€addition,€GPUN'sŠ Šdesign€verification€process€failed€to€identify€a€significant€error€in€theŠ Š1990€analysis€that€resulted€in€GPUN€underestimating€the€level€of€overŠ Šstress€in€the€pipe.€GPUN€indicated€to€the€NRC,€at€the€pre„decisionalŠ Šenforcement€conference€and€during€subsequent€telephone€conversations€thatŠ Šwhen€the€error€in€the€1990€analysis€was€corrected,€the€stresses€in€theŠ Špiping€were€approximately€100%€above€the€code€allowable.€These€failures€ledŠ Što€the€RCS€being€returned€to€service€in€a€degraded€condition€for€the€pastŠ Šfive€years€without€any€additional€evaluation,€monitoring€or€inspection,Š Šuntil€the€support€configuration€was€modified€during€the€1995€refuelingŠ Šoutage.€(Thomas€T.€Martin,€NRC,€Regional€Administrator.)Š ŠŠ ŠMarch€26,€1996€„€The€NRC€issues€another€Severity€Level€III€Violation€for€"aŠ Šsecurity€degradation€that€existed€at€the€facility€for€approximately€one€day€inŠ ŠFebruary€1996...This€failure€is€significant€because€three€similarŠ Šdegradations€had€occurred€in€September€1995€(and€were€the€subject€of€aŠ Špre„decisional€enforcement€conference€with€you€on€October€25,€1995.)€In€ourŠ Šview,€the€corrective€actions€taken€in€response€to€the€violation€cited€forŠ Šthose€degradations€should€have€prevented€this€recent€violation€fromŠ Šoccurring."€However,€the€NRC€once€again€issued€GPU€"credit"€and€opted€not€toŠ Šassess€a€base€civil€penalty€of€$50,000.€(Thomas€T.€Martin,€NRC,€RegionalŠ ŠAdministrator.)€(See€September€22,€October€10€and€November€16,€1995€and€MarchŠ Š1,€1996,€for€related€events.)Š ŠŠ ŠMay€15,€1996€„€A€Severity€Level€IV€violation€was€issued€relating€to€a€SeniorŠ ŠReactor€Operator's€(SRO)€"review€of€the€Auxiliary€Building€filterŠ Šreplacement,€and€subsequent€shift€SROs'€and€operations,€management's€decisionŠ Što€wait€for€the€Plant€Review€Group€evaluation€of€the€filter€issue,Š Šresulted€in€the€untimely€entry€and€documentation€of€the€applicable€7€day€TSŠ Šlimiting€condition€for€operation€(LCO)."€Peter€W.€Eselgroth,€NRC,€Chief,Š ŠProjects€Branch€No.€7,€Division€of€Reactor€Projects.)€Š ŠŠ ŠAugust€7,€1996€„€A€violation€was€issued€"for€the€improper€control€of€a€postedŠ Šhigh€radiation€area€entrance...This€is€a€repeat€problem€involving€a€workerŠ Šsensitivity€to€plant€rules€and€regulations."€(See€October€4„8,€1993,€for€aŠ Šrelated€incident.)€(Peter€W.€Eselgroth,€NRC,€Chief€Projects€Branch€No.€7,Š ŠDivision€or€Reactor€Projects,€November€14,€1996.)Š ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠAugust€18,€1997€„€"A€contractor€supervisor€[Raytheon€Nuclear]€at€GPU€NuclearŠ y-É(5 ŠCorp.'s€Three€Mile€Island€(TMI)€tested€positive€for€a€controlled€substanceŠ Šlast€week€and€was€escorted€from€the€site."€("Inside€NRC").€(See€February€19,Š ŠMarch€7€and€12€and€June€15,€1987;€July€19€and€30,€1991;€and,€July€29€andŠ ŠAugust€29,€1992,€for€related€incidents.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€13,€1996€„€SALP€grades€plummeted€to€a€"2"€in€Engineering€and€PlantŠ ŠSupport€for€the€period€of€February€19,€1995€through€August€3,€1996.Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€13,€1996€„€A€Notice€of€Violation€was€issued€relating€to€problems€inŠ ŠTMI's€Motor„Operated€Valve€Program:€"...the€program€has€remained€substantiallyŠ Šincomplete€18€months€later,€with€several€fundamental€weaknesses,€ineffectiveŠ Šoversight,€and€an€apparent€lack€of€ownership."€(NRC,€Peter€W.€Eselgroth,Š ŠChief,€Projects€Branch€No.€7,€Division€of€Reactor€Projects.)€(See€February€23,Š ŠAugust€30€and€September€9,€1994;€and,€August€17,€1995€for€relatedŠ Šincidents.)€(See€February€26,€1998€for€follow„up€reprimand.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€29,€1996€„€A€NOV€was€issued€when€"...a€scaffold€was€tied„off€andŠ Šsupported€by€a€safety€related€pipe€support€for€the€nuclear€river€water€systemŠ Šwithout€prior€engineering€evaluation€and€approval"€(IR/NOV€50„289/96„07.€)€SeeŠ ŠNovember€5€and€December€6,€1996,€for€related€incidents.)Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€1,€1996€„€The€Nuclear€Regulatory€Commission€(NRC)€fined€ThermalŠ ŠScience,€Inc.€(TSI)€$900,000€for€"deliberately€providing€inaccurate€orŠ Šincomplete€information€to€the€NRC€concerning€TSI's€fire€endurance€and€capacityŠ Štesting€programs."€(James€Lieberman,€Director€of€Enforcement.)€The€fine€wasŠ Šthe€largest€assessed€against€a€nuclear€contractor€and€the€second€highest€inŠ Šthe€agency's€history.€In€1992,€the€NRC€declared€TSI's€fire€barrier,€Thermo„Š ŠLag,€"inoperable."€(For€a€related€incident,€see€September€29,€1994€and€š š€MayŠ Š29€and€October€23,€1998.)Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€29,€1996€„€[See€March€11,€1996€for€background.]€"We€disagree€with€partŠ Šof€your€response€to€the€second€violation€in€which€you€suggest€that€the€use€ofŠ Šengineering€judgment€to€evaluate€non„conforming€conditions,€in€lieu€of€specificŠ ŠASME€code€requirements,€is€acceptable€and€within€the€guidance€of€ASME€SectionŠ ŠXI...We€disagree€with€that€position."€(James€T.€Wiggins,€NRC,€Director,Š ŠDivision€of€Reactor€Safety.)€(Also,€see€September€9,€1995€for€a€relatedŠ Ševent.)€Š ŠŠ ŠNovember€1996€„€The€Allegheny€Electric€Cooperative€filed€suit€with€the€FederalŠ ŠEnergy€Regulatory€Commission€against€GPU€Energy.€(See€May€22,€1997.)Š ŠŠ ŠNovember€5,€1996€„€A€NOV€was€issued€when€"€a€scaffold€was€used€to€lift€theŠ Šmotor€of€valve€MU„V„14A,€inside€the€protected€area,€before€the€operationsŠ Šdepartment€reviewed€and€approved€that€the€scaffold's€final€installation€wouldŠ Šnot€endanger€emergency€safeguards€equipment."€(IR/NOV€50„289/96„07.)€(SeeŠ ŠSeptember€29€and€December€6,€1996,€for€related€incidents.)Š ŠŠ ŠNovember€7,€1996€„€Inservice€Test€Program€(IR€96„08):€Š Š"We€understand€that€you€have€committed€to€add€to€your€IST€program€the€28€ASMEŠ ŠClass€2€and€3€relief€valves€and€the€four€decay€heat€removal€pump€casing€ventŠ Švalves€listed€in€this€report,€as€well€as€to€reconsider€formalized€treatment€ofŠ Šthis€finding€within€the€corrective€action€program.€We€consider€the€exclusionŠ Šof€the€32€valves€in€question,€in€numerous€safety€related€systems,€to€haveŠ Šregulatory€significance."€(A.€Randolph€Blough,€NRC,€Deputy€Director,€DivisionŠ y-É(5 Šof€Reactor€Safety.)€(See€February€26,€1998€for€a€follow„up€reprimand.)€(Also,Š Šsee€October€31,€1995,€for€a€related€incident.)Š ŠŠ ŠDecember€6,€1996€„€A€Notice€of€Violation€was€issued€for€scaffold€relatedŠ Šincidents€on€September€29€and€November€5,€1996.Š ŠŠ ŠJanuary€22,€1997€„€"The€quality€of€corrective€actions€[emergency€coreŠ Šcooling€systems]€identified€in€event€or€near€miss€capture€forms,€as€well€asŠ Štracking€of€the€actions,€was€reviewed.€We€found€that€the€quality€varied€byŠ Šdepartment€and€that€improvement€is€needed€in€the€engineering€area."€(Peter€W.Š ŠEselgroth,€NRC,€Chief€Projects€Branch€No.€7.€Division€of€Reactor€Projects.)Š ŠŠ ŠMarch€4,€1997€„€The€NRC€"determined€that€numerous€safety€related€componentsŠ Šwere€improperly€downgraded€from€the€'nuclear€safety€related'€classification€toŠ Ša€lower€tier€classification€without€appropriate€safety€evaluations€or€otherŠ Šsupporting€engineering€documentation...Moreover,€we€are€concerned€about€theŠ Špoor€implementation€of€the€component€classification€process,€as€well€asŠ Šrelated€weaknesses€in€procedure€adherence€and€communications.€We€are€alsoŠ Šconcerned€about€the€ineffective€oversight€of€the€process€by€management,Š Šespecially€related€to€not€taking€prompt€action€to€evaluate€and€resolve€programŠ Šproblems€identified€by€your€own€quality€assurance€activities.€Because€of€theŠ Šconsiderable€extent€of€the€process€weaknesses,€we€also€question€the€broaderŠ Šimplications€of€these€problems€for€other€engineering€processes."€(NRC,€HubertŠ ŠJ.€Miller,€Regional€Administrator.)€(See€March€20€and€October€10,€1997,€forŠ Š€data€relating€to€the€$50,000€fine€levied€by€the€NRC€against€GPU€Nuclear.)Š ŠŠ ŠMarch€12,€1997€„€During€an€emergency€preparedness€exercise,€"the€NRC€ĢŃ  Ńinspection€team€identified€four€exercise€weaknesses,€as€follows:€1)€the€emergencyŠ Šresponse€organization€(ERO)€failed€to€recognize€a€General€Emergency€whenŠ Šwarranted€by€plant€conditions;€2)€the€ERO€staff€incorrectly€evaluated€steamŠ Šgenerator€tube€leakage;€3)€the€technical€analysis€of€simulated€accidentŠ Šconditions€provided€to€ERO€managers€by€the€Technical€Support€Staff€Center€wasŠ Šinadequate;€and€4)€the€Emergency€Operations€Facility€staff€did€not€initiateŠ Šprotective€action€recommendations€to€off€site€officials€for€residents€outsideŠ Šof€the€10„mile€emergency€planning€zone€when€dose€projections€appeared€toŠ Šindicate€that€protective€action€guidelines€would€be€exceeded.€During€the€post„Š Šexercise€critique,€your€organization€identified€several€significant€problems,Š Šbut€did€not€identify€weaknesses€2€&€4€above.€Additionally,€it€appeared€us€thatŠ Šyour€critique€emphasized€the€impact€of€the€simulation€and€proceduralŠ Šdeficiencies€rather€than€the€identified€problems...the€NRC€views€theŠ Šidentified€weaknesses€and€problems€as€important€findings,€requiring€promptŠ Šcorrective€action."Š ŠŠ Š(NRC,€Hubert€J.€Miller,€Regional€Administrator.)€(See€April,€24€and€June€27,Š Š1997€for€related€information,€and€October€10,€1997€for€data€relating€to€theŠ Š$55,000€fine.)Š ŠŠ ŠMarch€20,€1997€„€"An€inspection€of€your€quality€classification€list€andŠ Šcomponent€downgrade€program€determined€that€your€implementation€of€theŠ Šcomponent€classification€process€was€poor."€(NRC,€Charles€W.€Hehl,€Director,Š ŠDivision€of€Reactor€Projects.)€(See€March€20€and€October€19,€1997€forŠ Šbackground€information€and€data€relating€to€the€$50,000€fine.)€(Also,€seeŠ ŠFebruary€26,€1998€for€follow„up€reprimand.)Š Š"Between€June€1,€1992,€and€March€2,€1997,€GPUN€did€not€correctly€identifyŠ y-É(5 Šdeficiencies€in€the€supporting€documentation€for€the€safety€classification€ofŠ Šcomponents€to€preclude€repetition€of€problems€with€insufficient€documentationŠ Šin€support€of€QCL€activities."€(IR€50„289/98„08.)Š ŠŠ ŠApril€25,€1997€„€"Based€on€review€of€findings€(unresolved€items)€Š Šreference€1,€we€have€identified€seven€apparent€violations€associated€withŠ ŠTechnical€Specifications...A€pre„decisional€enforcement€conference€to€discussŠ Šthese€apparent€violations€has€been€scheduled€for€May€22,€1997...."Š ŠŠ Š(1)€design€control€weaknesses€in€the€performance€of€calculations€and€in€theŠ Šcontrol€of€calculations€used€in€the€analysis€for€switch€over€to€decay€heatŠ Šremoval€system€(DHRS)€pump€suction€from€the€borated€water€storage€tank€(BWST)Š Što€the€reactor€building€sump€under€post„accident€conditions;€Š ŠŠ Š(2)€calculations€that€were€being€performed€in€documents,€such€as€memoranda,Š Štechnical€data€reports,€and€plant€engineering€evaluation€requests,€that€do€notŠ Šcomply€with€your€engineering€procedures€for€calculations;Š ŠŠ Š(3)€non„conservative€assumptions€and€missing€inputs€in€calculations€for€theŠ Šmakeup€pumps€and€makeup€tank;Š ŠŠ Š(4)€a€potential€un„reviewed€safety€question€when€evaluating€a€Fin€4al€SafetyŠ ŠAnalysis€Report€(FSAR)€change€regarding€the€net€positive€suction€head€of€theŠ ŠDHRS€pumps;€andŠ ŠŠ Š(5)€untimely€and€ineffective€actions€relative€to€dispositioning€of€licenseeŠ Šidentified€deficiencies€associated€with€the€Quality€Classification€List.€[SeeŠ ŠFebruary€26,€1998€for€follow„up€reprimand.]Š ŠŠ Š(NRC,€Charles€W.€Hehl,€Director,€Division€of€Reactor€Project.)€(See€OctoberŠ Š10,€1997€for€information€relating€to€the€$210,€000€fine€assessed€against€GPUŠ ŠNuclear.)Š ŠŠ ŠApril€24,€1997€„€"During€the€inspection,€[Emergency€Preparedness€ExerciseŠ ŠMarch€5„7,1997]€the€NRC€identified€four€exercise€weaknesses:€1)€the€ERO€failedŠ Što€recognize€a€General€Emergency€when€warranted€by€plant€conditions;€2)€theŠ ŠERO€staff€incorrectly€evaluated€steam€generator€tube€leakage;€3)€the€technicalŠ Šanalysis€of€simulated€accident€conditions€provided€to€ERO€managers€by€theŠ ŠTechnical€Support€Center€staff€was€inadequate;€and€4)€the€Emergency€OperationsŠ ŠFacility€staff€did€not€assess,€and€discuss€with€off€site€officials,€the€needŠ Šfor€protective€action€recommendations€for€residents€outside€of€the€10„mileŠ Šemergency€planning€zone€when€dose€projections€Š Šappeared€to€indicate€that€protective€action€guidelines€would€be€exceeded,Š ŠAdditionally,€we€were€unable€to€evaluate€your€actions€to€correct€a€radiationŠ Šdose€assessment€weakness€from€the€April,€1995€full„participation€exercise€dueŠ Što€similar€malfunctions€and€controller€actions€which€resulted€in€incorrectŠ Šradiological€data€being€provided€to€the€field€monitoring€teams...Š ŠThese€findings€represent€a€significant€degradation€in€performance€since€theŠ Šlast€full„participation€exercise."Š Š(NRC,€James€T.€Wiggins,€Director,€Division€of€Reactor€Safety.)€(See€OctoberŠ Š10,€1997€for€information€relating€to€the€$55,000€fine.€Also,€backgroundŠ Šinformation€can€be€found€on€March€12,€April€24€and€June€27,€1997.)Š ŠŠ ŠMay€22,€1997€„€PUC€Chairman€John€M.€Quain€has€been€selected€to€mediate€aŠ y-É(5 Šdispute€filed€by€the€Allegheny€Electric€Cooperative€(AEC)€with€the€FederalŠ ŠEnergy€Regulatory€Commission€against€GPU€Energy€(GPU).€In€November€1996€theŠ ŠAEC€charged€GPU€"was€providing€'abysmally€bad'€service,€including€cutting€backŠ Šmaintenance€in€rural€areas,€because€it€needed€to€save€money€in€a€soon„to„beŠ Šcompetitive€environment€and€saw€the€rural€electric€co„ops€as€futureŠ Šcompetition€for€the€same€customers."€("The€Patriot€News",€May€22,€1997€B9.)Š ŠŠ ŠMay€29,€1997€„€Two€apparent€violations€were€identified€by€the€NRC€during€anŠ Šinspection€on€April€27,€1997.€"First,€your€staff€identified€that€duringŠ Šthe€period€of€about€March€17,€1986€until€March€23,€1997,€there€was€noŠ Šreasonable€assurance€that€the€reactor€building€emergency€cooling€fans,€AH„Š ŠE„1A,€1B,€&€1C€would€have€functioned€under€post„LOCA€environment€conditionsŠ Šbecause€their€motors€were€not€environmentally€qualified.€There€was€a€smallŠ Šlength€of€exposed€metal€between€the€heat€shrink€tubing€and€the€spark€plugŠ Šporcelain€connector€to€the€motor.€In€addition,€the€inspectors€concluded€thatŠ Šyour€process€for€and€the€timeliness€of€addressing€corrective€actions€of€theŠ Šcondition€of€AH„E„1B€&€1C€upon€identifying€the€condition€of€AH„E„1A€was€weak."Š ŠŠ ŠJune€1997€„€"Some€utilities,€GPU€included,€are€looking€outside€the€federalŠ Šgovernment€to€address€the€problem€[spent€nuclear€fuel].€last€December€10.Š Šnuclear€electric€utilities€entered€into€discussions€with€the€Skull€ValleyŠ ŠGoshutes€Indian€tribe€in€Utah€to€establish€a€private€fuel€storage€facility€onŠ Štribal€grounds.€Š ŠUnder€the€proposal€,€the€spent€fuel€from€the€10€utilities€would€be€placed€inŠ Šsteel€canisters€and€then€in€reinforced€concrete€casks.€the€facility€would€beŠ Šused€only€until€the€federal€repository€begins€operations.€The€project€timeŠ Šline€calls€for€the€NRC€licensee€fueling€this€summer€with€final€approvals€andŠ Šconstruction€beginning€in€three€to€five€years."€GPU€Nuclear€Perspectives,Š ŠInformation€for€Opinion€Leaders€Around€the€Three€Mile€Island€Nuclear€Station.Š Š(€See€December€1994€for€a€related€incident.)Š ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠJune€21,€1997€„€Due€to€the€loss€of€off€site€power€caused€by€the€failure€ofŠ Šelectrical€problems€with€two€damaged€substation€generator€breakers,€TMI€wasŠ Šforced€to€shut€down€for€eight€days.€(See€August€19,€1997,€for€the€NRC'sŠ Šfollow„up€evaluation.)Š ŠŠ ŠJune€27,€1997€„€Remediation€of€the€four€weaknesses€displayed€during€the€MarchŠ Š[Emergency€preparedness]€exercise€was€adequately€demonstrated€during€thisŠ Šexercise...However,€two€of€those€weaknesses€(i.e.,€the€failure€to€recognize€aŠ ŠGeneral€Emergency€condition,€and€the€failure€to€assess€the€need€for€aŠ Šprotective€action€recommendation€(PAR)€outside€of€10€miles)€are€apparentŠ Šviolations€which€remain€open,€pending€consideration€of€escalated€enforcementŠ Šaction€..."€(James€T.€Wiggins,€NRC,€Director,€Division€of€Reactor€Safety.)Š Š(See€August€19,€1997,€for€the€NRC's€follow„up€evaluation€and€October€10,€1997Š Šfor€the€$55,000€fine.€Additional€background€data€can€be€found€on€March€12,Š Š1997.)Š ŠŠ ŠJuly€3,€1997€„€GPU€requested,€and€was€granted€permission,€to€be€exempted€fromŠ Šcriticality€monitors€for€special€nuclear€materials.€"The€Commission['s]Š Štechnical€staff€has€reviewed€the€licensee's€submittal€and€has€determinedŠ Šthat€inadvertent€criticality€is€not€likely€to€occur€in€special€nuclearŠ Šmaterials€handling€or€storage€areas€at€TMI„1.€The€quantity€of€special€nuclearŠ y-É(5 Šmaterial€other€than€fuel€that€is€stored€on€site€is€small€enough€to€precludeŠ Šachieving€a€critical€mass."€(Federal€Register,€July€11,€1997,€Volume€62,Š ŠNumber€133,€pp.€37317„37318.)Š ŠŠ ŠJuly€23,€1997€„€During€an€NRC€inspection€of€the€motor„operated€valve€program,Š Ša€Notice€of€Violation€was€identified.Š ŠŠ ŠJuly€28,€1997€„€GPU€"declared€the€'B'€train€of€low€pressure€injection€andŠ Šbuilding€spray€inoperable€because€these€systems€are€affected€by€the€transferŠ Šfrom€the€borated€water€storage€tank€to€the€reactor€building€sump.€This€placesŠ Šthe€unit€in€a€72„hour€technical€specification€limiting€condition€forŠ Šoperation."€[Event€date:€July€25,€1997.]€(NRC€Region€I,€IHQ€OPS€Officer,€LeighŠ ŠTrocine.)Š ŠŠ ŠAugust€19,€1997€„€"The€[NRC]€inspector€noted€that€your€staff€had€planned€toŠ Šdetermine€the€cause€of€unbalanced€current€condition€observed€in€the€seŠ Šbreakers€by€a€substation€technician€prior€to€the€LOOP€[loss€of€off€site€power]Š Ševent€on€June€21,€1997.€Even€though€your€staff€had€planned€to€troubleshoot€theŠ Šcondition,€this€issue€was€not€properly€documented€per€your€corrective€actionŠ Šprocess€and€plant€management€was€not€made€aware€of€this€anomaly€prior€to€theŠ ŠLOOP€event.€Therefore,€we€are€considering€this€an€unresolved€open€item€untilŠ Šour€final€review€is€done."€Peter€W.€Eselgroth,€NRC,€Chief€of€Projects€BranchŠ ŠNo.€7,€Division€of€Reactor€Projects.)Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€4,€1997€„€"...upon€raising€of€the€[reactor€vessel€head]€seal€plateŠ Šnumerous€hot€particles€were€discovered€by€the€RCT€[Rad€Con€Technician.]€"€TheŠ ŠNRC€issued€a€Notice€of€Violation.€[NRC€50„289/97„09€(EA€97„533)€].€Š Š(See€February€26,€1998€for€follow„up€SAL€P€information.)Š ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠOctober€10,€1997€„€The€NRC€fined€GPU€Nuclear€$210,000€for€four€violations€atŠ ŠTMI„1€including:€$50,000€for€inadequate€design€controls,€including€the€use€ofŠ Šincorrect€numbers€for€calculations€and€inadequate€verification€of€safetyŠ Ševaluations€[See€April€25,€1997,€(1)€through€(4)€for€more€information];Š Š$50,000€for€improperly€downgrading€some€safety„related€equipment€withoutŠ Šproviding€proper€evaluations€or€documentation€{See€March€4,€1997€forŠ Šbackground€data];€$55,000€for€failing€to€address€outstanding€problems€in€aŠ Štimely€fashion€[See€April€25,€1997,€(5)€for€more€documentation]€;€and,€$55,000Š Šfor€the€flawed€emergency€training€exercise€held€on€March€5,€1996€[See€June€27Š Šand€August€19,€1997€for€related€information].€("The€Patriot€News",€October€1Š Šš6š0,€1997.)Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€15,€1997€„€GPU€failed€to€implement€operating€procedures€during€theŠ Šfilling€and€venting€of€the€reactor€coolant€system€(RCS).€"Consequently,Š Šapproximately€50€gallons€of€RCS€water€overflowed€out€of€the€CRDM€[control€rodŠ Šdrive€mechanism]€vents€onto€the€reactor€vessel€head€area."€(NRC€50„289/97„09Š Š[EA€97„433€&€50„289/97„10).Š ŠThe€NRC€issued€a€Notice€of€Violation.Š ŠŠ ŠNovember€20,€1997€„€The€NRC€issued€a€Notice€of€Violation€when€GPU€failed€toŠ Š"review€and€approve€a€substantive€change€to€an€existing€inservice€test€(IST)Š Šsurveillance€procedure€1300„3K,€"IST€of€Reactor€River€Water€Pumps€and€Valves,"Š Šbefore€the€closure€of€the€reactor€building€emergency€cooler€inlet€and€outletŠ Švalves€to€conduct€a€leak€test.€The€IST€procedure€was€written€and€approved€toŠ y-É(5 Šdetermine€the€cooler€and€inlet€and€outlet€open€and€closed€times,€but€did€notŠ Šallow€the€valves€to€be€closed€for€the€seven€hour€leak€rate€test."€(NRCŠ Š50„289/97„09€[EA€97„433€&€50/289/97„10).Š ŠŠ ŠDecember€19,€1997€„€The€NRC€launched€an€investigation€at€TMI„1€trying€toŠ Šidentify€why€GPU€failed€to€detect€that€the€pressure€[operated]„relive€valveŠ Š[the€same€valve€that€failed€at€Unit„2€and€caused€the€March€1979€nuclearŠ Šaccident]€was€inoperable€for€two€years:Š Š"...€the€regulatory€agency€[NRC]€said€the€findings€are€serious€enough€toŠ Šwarrant€a€Monday€[December€22,€1997]€meeting€in€the€NRC's€suburbanŠ ŠPhiladelphia€offices€to€determine€why€they€occurred€[four€maintenance€relatedŠ Šproblems€under€NRC€review.]"€Š Š"In€the€recent€past,€we€have€a€seen€a€number€of€areas€that€we€are€concernedŠ Šabout,€and€we€are€going€to€bring€them€in€on€Monday€to€find€out€more€about€it,Š Š"€said€NRC€spokesman€Neil€A.€Sheehan.€"As€far€as€public€health€and€safety,€weŠ Šbelieve€the€public€was€protected."Š Š"These€problems€mostly€reflect€personnel€error,€carelessness€on€the€part€ofŠ Štheir€work€staff,"€Sheehan€said.€("Patriot€News",€December€19,€1997,€B)€(SeeŠ ŠExecutive€Summary€for€numerous€related€incidents€listed€under€"Housekeeping€ĢŃ  ŃFlaws.")[At€GPUN's€other€nuclear€power€plant,€Oyster€Creek,€the€NRC€cited€theĢCompany€for€six€violations€of€NRC€code€and€Hubert€Miller,€Regional€Administrator,Š Šstated€that€the€problems€were€"repetitive€violations€caused€by€human€error.Š ŠMiller€added,€"[They€were]€part€of€a€larger€trend€of€human€errors€at€OysterŠ ŠCreek."Š ŠThe€violations€included€performing€electrical€repairs€without€notifying€theŠ Šcontrol€room€supervisor€and€sending€soil€contaminated€by€low„levelŠ Šradioactivity€to€a€local€landfill.]Š ŠJanuary€27,€1998€„€A€Violation€was€issued€for€a€problem€identified€by€the€NRCŠ Šin€IR€97„09.€The€PORV€was€inoperable€"due€to€being€mis„wired€and€failure€toŠ Šperform€post„maintenance€test(s)€following€replacement€during€11R€refuelingŠ Šoutage.€(See€October€31,€1995,€for€an€incident€involving€the€PORV.)Š ŠŠ ŠFebruary€18,€1998€„€A€missing€Thermo„Lag€barrier€was€identified.€(LERŠ Š98„003„00;€March€19,€1998.)€(See€May€29€&€(October€23,€1998,€for€relatedŠ Šincidents.)Š ŠŠ ŠFebruary€26,€1998€„€During€the€SALPńńńń€1ńńńńńń€Ō_Ōš2šŌ_Ōńńńńńń€evaluation€period€(August€5,€1996„Š ŠJanuary€24,€1998),€the€NRC€observed:Š ŠŠ Š"...performance€declined€in€the€engineering€area;€the€second€consecutiveŠ Šassessment€in€which€a€decline€was€noted,€indicating€that€previous€effortsŠ Što€improve€performance€in€that€area€was€not€effective...on€occasion€theŠ Šoperators€did€not€rigorously€follow€approved€procedures,€the€mostŠ Šnoteworthy€example€resulted€in€a€reactor€coolant€systemŠ Šoverfill....Significant€problems€were€identified€in€many€engineering€programŠ Šareas.€Examples€included€problems€with€Inservice€Testing€(IST),€the€MotorŠ ŠOperated€Relief€Valve€(MOV)€programs,€the€Quality€Classification€List€(QCL)Š ŠProcess,€and€technical€support.€Adverse€findings€associated€with€engineeringŠ Šperformance,€which€were€identified€by€oversight€groups,€were€notŠ Šeffectively€addressed€until€eventually€found€by€the€NRC...OverallŠ Šperformance€in€the€radiation€protection€area€was€good,€though€there€wereŠ Šsome€problems€in€the€controls€of€hot€particles,€and€posting€andŠ Šmonitoring€of€areas€within€the€radiologically€controlled€area...SomeŠ Šsignificant€problems€were€identified€during€the€March€1997€emergency€drill,Š y-É(5 Šwhich€required€a€remedial€drill€be€conducted.€These€performance€problemsŠ Šhighlighted€ineffective€management€in€the€emergency€preparednessŠ Šarea.(Hubert€J.€Miller,€NRC,€Regional€Administrator,€February€26,€1998.)Š ŠŠ ŠFebruary€26,€1998€„€"...in€numerous€instances€your€organization€has€not€takenŠ Šappropriate€and€timely€action€to€correct€known€adverse€conditions.€EngineeringŠ Šwork€backlog€to€resolve€issues€continues€to€grow€as€you€have€not€establishedŠ Šan€effective€corrective€action€tracking€and€resource€planning€process.€FurtherŠ Šsenior€management€attention€to€manage€the€existing€corrective€action€backlogŠ Šand€to€address€long„standing€engineering€issues€is€warranted...Š ŠŠ Š"€Based€on€the€results€of€this€inspection,€the€NRC€has€determined€that€aŠ Šviolation€of€NRC€requirements€has€occurred...This€violation€is€of€concernŠ Šbecause€this€is€„a€second€example€where€plant€operators€used€a€procedureŠ Šthat€did€not€meet€the€intent€of€the€activity€performed.€Specifically,€theŠ Šinspectors€identified€a€failure€of€your€operations€staff€to€employ€a€reviewedŠ Šand€approved€procedure€to€perform€a€troubleshooting€leak€check€of€the€reactorŠ Šbuilding€emergency€coolers."€(NRC€Integrated€IR€50„289/97„10€&€50„320/97„03€&Š ŠNotice€of€Violation.)Š ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠApril€9,€1998€„€"Following€self„identification€of€a€minor€non„safetyŠ Šsignificant€missed€technical€specification€sampling€requirement€on€the€spentŠ Šfuel€pool,€your€staff€focused€too€narrowly€on€the€root€cause€as€documented€inŠ ŠLER€98„002."€[Missed€Spent€Fuel€Pool€(Ō_ŌSFPŌ_Ō)€Sample€Following€a€Water€Addition.Š Š{Section€E8.1}€(IR€50„289/98„01.)Š ŠŠ ŠMay€29,€1998€„€"In€an€order€confirming€GPU€Nuclear€Inc.'s€commitment€toŠ Šreplace€Thermo„Lag€fire€barrier€material,€federal€officials€yesterday€notifiedŠ Šthe€utility€that€its€efforts€may€not€be€enough€to€complete€the€work€on€timeŠ Š[December€31,€1999]€an€d,€therefore,€may€not€meet€regulatory€requirementsŠ Šfor€licensing."€(See€also€March€19,€Š Š1987;€March€6,€1988;€June€12€and€September€1€and€3,€1991;€July€27€and€NovemberŠ Š23,€1992;€August€11€and€September€30,€1993;€and,€September€29,€1994;€OctoberŠ Š1,€1996,€and,€February€18€&€October€23,€1998.)€Š ŠŠ ŠAugust€25,€1998€„€GPUN€"identified€a€situation€where€operation€with€a€singleŠ Šoffsite€power€source,€and€an€ES€[emergency€safeguard]€actuation€could€cause€aŠ Šcomplete€a€loss€of€offsite€power€(LOOP)€to€the€safety€related€4€KV€buses.€TheŠ Šcause€of€this€issue€was€previously€incorrect€assumptions€for€the€impedance€ofŠ Šthe€bus€duct€between€the€auxiliary€transformers€and€the€4€KV€safety€relatedŠ Šbuses."€(IR€50„289/98„05)€(See€September€16,€1998€for€a€related€incident.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€4,€1998€„€"We€[the€NRC]€are€concerned€by€your€poor€control€over€theŠ Šdocumented€accident€analysis€for€a€loss€of€feedwater€accident€and€apparentŠ Šinadequacies€in€the€safety€evaluation€review€of€a€design€basis€calculationŠ Šallowing€a€reduction€in€the€emergency€feedwater€flow€rate€following€suchŠ Šan€accident.€While€there€does€not€appear€to€be€an€operability€problem,€theseŠ Šissues€raise€continuing€concern€regarding€your€calculation€review€process€andŠ Šsensitivity€toward€the€maintenance€of€the€design€basis€for€safety€relatedŠ Šsystems."€(IR€50„289/98„03.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€16,€1998€„€GPUN€"identified€a€situation€where€a€loss€of€one€offsiteŠ Špower€source,€with€the€unit€operating€at€100%€power€with€assumed€maximumŠ y-É(5 Šbalance€of€plant€electrical€loading€and€minimum€expected€offsite€gridŠ Švoltage,€could€result€in€a€complete€LOOP€[loss€of€on€site€power]€to€the€safetyŠ Šrelated€4€KV€buses.€(IR„50„289/98„05.)€(See€August€25,€1998€for€a€relatedŠ Šincident.)Š ŠŠ ŠSeptember€30,€1998€„The€NRC€evaluated€the€emergency€preparedness€drill:€"AŠ Šnotable€deficiency€was€the€failure€to€complete€the€necessary€off„site€agencyŠ Šnotifications€within€the€required€fifteen€minutes€after€both€of€the€drillŠ Ševent€declarations.€This€deficiency€is€being€classified€as€an€exerciseŠ Šweakness€requiring€corrective€action."€(IR€50„289/98„07.)Š ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠŠ ŠOctober€2,€1998€„The€NRC€"identified€a€weakness"€in€GPU's€"actions€to€correctŠ Šknown€deficiencies€in€the€calibration€of€the€makeup€tank€level€instruments,Š Šthat€existed€between€May€1997€and€August€1998.€These€deficiencies€included€anŠ Šimproper€assessment€of€makeup€tank€e€operability,€problems€with€the€trackingŠ Šof€open€commitments€to€correct€known€deficiencies,€and€the€failure€toŠ Šimplement€calibrations€in€a€timely€manner€following€setpoint€calculationŠ Šchanges.€The€NRC€identified€this€"weakness"€as€an€"apparent€violation."€PeterŠ ŠW.€Eselgroth,€Chief,€NRC,€Projects€Branch€No.€7,€Division€of€Reactor€Projects.Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€15,€1998€„€The€NRC€identified€a€violation€relating€to€a€change€GPUNŠ Š"made€to€the€makeup€system€cross„connect€valves..."€(IR€50„289/98„06).€JamesŠ ŠT.€Wiggins,€NRC,€Director,€Division€of€Reactor€Safety.Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€19,€1998€„€The€NRC€observed€a€failed€feedwater€heater€relief€valveŠ ŠŠ ŠOctober€23,€1998€„€GPUN€discovered€11€incidents€dating€back€to€1987€whereŠ ŠThermo„Lag€was€improperly€installed.€"More€cases€may€be€discovered€as€theŠ Šreplacement€work€continues,€NRC€officials€said."€("Patriot€News",€October€23,Š Š1998,€B1).Š Š(See€February€11€&€May€29,€1998,€to€track€problems€associated€with€Thermo„Š ŠLag.)€Š ŠŠ ŠOctober€28,€1998€„€A€potential€violation€was€identified€by€NRC€inspectorsŠ Šrelating€to€"the€potential€for€bypass€of€the€suppression€pool.€This€issue€isŠ Ša€violation€of€NRC€requirements,€which€could€be€considered€for€escalatedŠ Šenforcement€and€be€subject€to€a€civil€penalty."€The€NRC€declined€to€"exerciseŠ Šdiscretion"€and€cite€GPU€for€a€violation€or€mandate€a€civil€penalty.€(CharlesŠ ŠW.€Hehl,€NRC,€Director,€Division€of€Reactor€Projects.)Š ŠŠ ŠDecember€6,€1998€„€An€NRC€inspector€found€an€emergency€diesel€generator€valveŠ Šout€of€position.€(IR€50„289/98„06.)Š ŠŠ ŠDecember€16,€1998€„€The€NRC€noted€observed€"an€unexpected€increase€in€theŠ Šreactor€coolant€drain€tank€(RCDT)€and€a€decrease€in€makeup€tank€(MUT)€levelŠ Šduring€work€on€a€reactor€coolant€pump€(RCP)€seal€leak€off€flow€transmitter€inŠ Šā āthe€reactor€building€(RB)."Š “,(4 Š(IR€50„289/98„08.)€Š ŠĢā āĢŃ  ŃŌ#†XdqXõō¼s~#ŌŌ#†XdqXXXdq#Ōńń