ML20149F016

Forwards Insp Repts 50-373/97-08 & 50-374/97-08 on 970428- 0620 & Notice of Violation.Staff Failed to Account for Design Lake Level When Potential Effects of Worst Case Waterhammer Event Were Considered

ML20149F016
Person / Time
Site:	LaSalle
Issue date:	07/17/1997
From:	Leach M NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Subalusky W COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO.
Shared Package
ML20149F020	List: IR 05000373/1997008 ML20149F016 ML20149F022
References
50-373-97-08, 50-373-97-8, 50-374-97-08, 50-374-97-8, EA-97-289, NUDOCS 9707220004
Download: ML20149F016 (3)

See also: IR 05000373/1997008

Text

{{#Wiki_filter:. _ . _ ._ _ ._ IO July 17, 1997 EA 97-289 Mr. W. T. Subalusky Jr. Site Vice President ' LaSalle County Station Commonwealth Edison Company 2601 North 21st Road i Marseilles, IL 61341 SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION REPORT 50-373/97008(DRS); 50-374/97008(DRS), NOTICE OF VIOLATION, AND EXERCISE OF ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION Dear Mr. Subalusky: q On June 20,1997, the NRC completed an inspection at your LaSalle facility. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection. Based on the results of this inspection, two examples of an apparent violation of NRC requirements were identified and considered for escalated enforcement action in , accordance with the " General Statement of Policy and Procedures for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enfarcement Policy), NUREG-1600. The violation is of concern because although waterhammer events in the residual heat removal service water (RHRSW) system had been identified prior to 1990, your staff failed to account for design lake level when the potential effects of a worst case waterhammer event were considered. As a result, your staff failed to recognize that division 2 of the RHRSW system was inoperable from initial plant startup. In addition, division 1 of the RHRSW system was demonstrated , operable only after the completion of a detailed evaluation. Based on the discussions of the waterhammer issue which my staff conducted with LaSalle County Station personnel, we concluded that a pre #ecisional enforcement conference was P.at necessary to enable the NRC to make an enforcement decision. In a , l discussion between Mr. Melvyn N. Leach, Chief, Operator Licensing Branch, and yourself on June 24,1997, you declined the opportunity for a ,,re-decisional enforcement conference. l ' Also, because 1) significant NRC enforcement action was recently taken against your l LaSalle County Station for e service water sealant intrusion event for which your corrective actions encompass the root causes for the violation under consideration, 2) you voluntarily entered an extended shutdown on both units to address wide ranging

, performance problems which encompass the causes for the current violation, and 3) a j l Confirmatory Action Letter was issued which detailed the performance improvements you have taken or will take prior to restarting LaSalle County St6 tion, in accordance with Section Vll.B 6, " Violations involving Special Circumstances," of the " General Statement , of Policy and Procedures for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), 1 NUREG-1600, a Notice of Violation is not being issued for this apparent violation. 1 }

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W. T. Subalusky 2 July 17, 1997 In addition, based on the results of this inspection, the NRC has determined that an additional violation of NRC requirements occurred. This violation is cited in the enclosed Notico of Violation and the circumstances surrounding the violation are described in detail in the enclosed inspection report. The violation is of concern because proper use and approval of overtime is important to prevent injury and to assure nuclear safety. The inspection showed that steps have been taken to correct the identified violation to prevent recurrence. Consequently, no reply to the violation is required and we have no i further questions regarding this matter. in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, and its enclosures, will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room. We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this inspection. Sincerely, i /s/ J. M. Jacobson (for) Melvyn Leach, Chief Operator Licensing Branch Docket Nos. 50-373; 50-374 License Nos. NPF-11; NPF-18 Enclosures: 1. Notice of Violation 2. Inspection Report 50-373/374/97008(DRS) See Attached Distribution l l . DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\DRS\\LAS97008.DRS ' To ricilve a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy w/o attachmendenclosure "E" = Copy with attachmenvenclosure g N" = Noppy

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. i ,* l W. T. Subalusky 3 July 17, 1997 cc w/encls: T. J. Maiman, Senior Vice President, Nuclear Operations Division D. A. Sager, Vico President, Generation Support H. W. Keiser, Chief Nuclear Operating Officer F. Dacimo, Plant General Manager P. Barnes, Regulatory Assurance Supervisor 1. Johnson, Acting Nuclear I Regulatory Services Manager Document Control Desk - Licensing Richard Hubbard Nathan Schloss, Economist, l Office of the Attorney General ! State Liaison Officer Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission Distribution: Docket File w/enct LPM, NRR w/enci J. Lieberman, OE w/enci [PUBOC)Ey{@/eyc[[/ A. B. Beach, Rif t w/enci J. Goldberg, OGC w/ enc! OC/LFDCB w/enci J. L. Caldwell, Rllt w/ encl R. Zimmerman, NRR w/enct DRP w/enct Rlli Enf. Coordinator w/enct DRS w/enci R. A. Capra, NRR w/enci Rlli PRR w/enci TSS w/ encl 1 SRis, LaSalle, Dresden, CAA1 w/enci Quad Cities w/enci DOCDESK w/enci l l. .

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