Headquarters Daily Report DECEMBER 19, 1995 *************************************************************************** REPORT NEGATIVE NO INPUT ATTACHED INPUT RECEIVED RECEIVED HEADQUARTERS û REGION I û REGION II û REGION III û REGION IV û PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION II DEC. 19, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Georgia Power Co. MR Number: 2-95-0106 Hatch 1 Date: 12/19/95 Baxley,Georgia Telephone from Resident Inspector Dockets: 50-321 BWR/GE-4 Subject: HATCH UNIT 1 REACTOR RECIRCULATING WATER PUMP 1B TRIP Discussion: At 0233, on December 16, Hatch Unit 1 Reactor Recirculating (RR) Water pump 1B tripped. The unit had been operating at 97.5 percent power for end of core life coastdown, at a core flow of 104.5 percent and 95.4 percent load line. The unit has been on line for 390 days. Due to the unusual jet pump dp indications and RR speed indicating over 100 percent speed demand, operators decreased the speed of the operating RR pump and intentionally entered a licensee identified region of potential instability serving as a conservative buffer to the Tech. Spec. defined areas of potential instability (which required increased monitoring and prompt exit from the region). Operations within the region lasted approximately 38 minutes. Core flow and control rods were adjusted to exit the region. The NRC resident inspectors reported to the site to investigate the problems and observe licensee recovery actions. The inspectors verified that the instability region that required reactor scram was not entered. The inspectors' review of procedures and operator actions did not identify deficiencies. However, procedure reviews are ongoing. The cause of the trip was determined to be a failed resistor in the voltage control system of the MG set. The resistor was replaced and the pump was placed in service at 0224 on December 17. Reactor power is being increased to rated power. The resistor problem was identified in GE SIL 586 about a year ago. The licensee had developed a MWO work package to replace the resistors in both pumps at the first opportunity (RR pumps out of service). A licensee Event Review Team was initiated to investigate the problem. Regional Action: The resident inspectors will continue to follow this event. Contact: R. WRIGHT (404)331-4198 _ REGION IV MORNING REPORT PAGE 2 DECEMBER 19, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Pacific Gas & Electric Co. MR Number: 4-95-0161 Diablo Canyon 1 2 Date: 12/19/95 Avila Beach,California Dockets: 50-275,50-323 PWR/W-4-LP,PWR/W-4-LP Subject: SHUTDOWN OF UNITS 1 AND 2 DUE TO HEAVY SEAS AND KELP FOULING OF CIRCULATING WATER SYSTEM (UPDATE) REPORTABLE EVENT NUMBER: 29715 Discussion: This report updates PNO-IV-95-055 issued on December 13, 1995, concerning the forced outages on Diablo Canyon Units 1 and 2. Unit 1 tripped and the licensee took Unit 2 off line because heavy seas caused kelp and sea grass to foul the plant circulating water systems. Diablo Canyon Units 1 and 2 have been returned to Mode 1 operation. Unit 2 entered Mode 1 operation at approximately 11:30 a.m. (PST) on December 17, 1995, and paralleled to the grid at 5:20 p.m. that day. Unit 2 is currently at 50 percent power and increasing to full power. Unit 1 entered Mode 1 operation at 6:05 a.m. on December 18, 1995, and paralleled to the grid at 9:55 a.m. that day. Unit 1 is currently at 35 percent power and holding for steam generator chemistry controls. The licensee anticipates that Unit 1 will reach full power by tomorrow. The circulating water systems for each unit have undergone extensive cleaning and kelp removal. Traveling screens that were damaged during the event have been repaired and are operating. Significant amounts of loose kelp are still present in the intake area, but do not appear to be impacting operation of the traveling screens. Weather predictions are for another weather front to pass through the area later today. The front is not expected to produce any significant wave action and the licensee continues to monitor the weather closely. Regional Action: Resident and regional inspection staff continue to follow the power ascension of both units. Contact: David Corporandy (510)957-0319 J. Dixon-Herrity (805)595-2354 Howard Wong (510)975-0296 _ REGION IV MORNING REPORT PAGE 3 DECEMBER 19, 1995 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Washington Public Power Supply System MR Number: 4-95-0162 Washington Nuclear 2 Date: 12/19/95 Richland,Washington SRI and Licensee Dockets: 50-397 BWR/GE-5 Subject: FAILURE OF DIESEL GENERATOR 1 TO PASS SURVEILLANCE TEST Discussion: At 8:33 p.m. (PST), on December 17, 1995, while conducting surveillance testing on Emergency Diesel Generator 1 (EDG 1), the licensee noted that EDG 1 did not start as designed. The EDG immediately went to 940 rpm, instead of idling at approximately 375 rpm. Operators attempted to secure the diesel from the control room, and locally by pressing the emergency stop button, but were unsuccessful. The diesel was stopped by securing its fuel rack. The licensee declared EDG 1 inoperable and began assessing the problem. Based on the behavior of the EDG and a past similar experience with EDG 2, the licensee postulated that EDG 1 had a failed Woodward electronic governor. Licensee Technical Specifications require that with one inoperable emergency diesel generator, the remaining two emergency diesel generators be started once every 8 hours to verify their operability. As of 6:05 p.m. (PST), the licensee had performed two successful tests on each of the two remaining EDGs as required. At 6:05 p.m. (PST), at the licensee's request, the NRC granted enforcement discretion (NOED) to allow the verification of offsite power alignment to the Class 1E distribution system every 8 hours in lieu of performing the remaining EDG tests, which would have necessitated several additional EDG starts. It should be noted that the improved Technical Specifications amendment request submitted by the licensee would have permitted the condition allowed by the NOED. Additionally, the licensee agreed to not perform maintenance or surveillance activities which would challenge the operability of the other EDGs and to inform the NRC, if they intended to initiate any changes in reactor power level. As of 10:00 a.m. (PST) on December 19, 1995, the licensee had replaced the Woodward electronic governor and successfully performed the previously failed surveillance test. The licensee was continuing to perform additional post maintenance tests required by the Technical Specifications and anticipated completion of the tests and return to service of EDG 1 later in the day. Regional Action: The senior resident inspector and the Region are closely following the licensee's restoration of EDG 1. Contact: H. Wong (510)975-0296 R. Barr (509)377-2627 D. Corporandy (510)975-0319 _