Headquarters Daily Report JULY 02, 1996 *************************************************************************** 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 I JULY 2, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Public Service Electric & Gas Co. MR Number: 1-96-0064 Hope Creek 1 Date: 07/02/96 Hancocks Bridge,New Jersey SRI PC Dockets: 50-354 BWR/GE-4 Subject: FAILURES OF HLLER-ACTUATED FLEX WEDGE GATE VALVES Discussion: On June 29, 1996, valve 1EGHV-2303E, a Hiller-actuated 4 inch flex wedge gate valve designed to automatically open to provide safety related cooling water flow to the E train of the Filtration, Recirculation, and Ventilation System (FRVS-analogous to Standby Gas Treatment at other BWRs), failed to open when required during a quarterly surveillance test. Operators declared the E train of FRVS inoperable, then subsequently failed the 1EGHV-2303E valve open to restore the FRVS train to operable (but degraded) status. Additionally, on the same day, operators discovered that valve 1EGHV-2398A, a Hiller-actuated 6 inch flex wedge gate valve supplying room cooling for the A Emergency Diesel Generator (EDG), exceeded inservice stroke time test criteria mandating an increased test frequency. The EDG rooms have two redundant 100 percent capacity room coolers which precluded the need for declaring the (A) EDG inoperable. Failure to implement adequate corrective actions for previous Hiller-actuated valve failures was the subject of a cited 10 CFR 50 Appendix B violation in August 1995. PSE and G response to this violation committed to resolving the valve reliability problems prior to restart from RFO-6 (March 1996). In a follow up letter dated March 13, 1996, PSE and G stated that additional root causes for the valve performance problems had been identified, but that the 3 inch and 4 inch valve applications would not be modified since their performance during periodic testing has been satisfactory. The eight 6 inch valves (2 for each of four EDG room coolers) would likely be replaced by design change during the next RFO to permanently resolve the issue. As an interim measure to ensure performance of its safety function, PSE and G opted to fail open one of the two redundant room cooler Hiller-actuated valves in each EDG room. Until permanent corrective actions are implemented, these valves are being administratively controlled by temporary modification. There are 32 Hiller-actuated flex wedge gate valves installed in safety-related applications at Hope Creek. Regional Action: Routine resident inspector follow up. Contact: Scott Morris (609)935-3850 Gene Barber (610)337-5232 _ REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 2 JULY 2, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Commonwealth Edison Co. MR Number: 3-96-0071 Byron 1 Date: 07/02/96 Byron,Illinois ENS PHONE CALL Dockets: 50-454 PWR/W-4-LP Subject: UNIT 1 REACTOR TRIP DURING STARTUP FOLLOWING REFUELING OUTAGE Discussion: On June 30, 1996, at approximately 5:45 p.m. (CDT), criticality was achieved on Unit 1 following a refueling outage. At 3:56 a.m. (CDT) on July 2, 1996, the licensee notified the NRC of a manual trip on Unit 1. The trip occurred at 3:16 a.m. with Unit 1 at 15 percent power (the unit was off line). A feedwater isolation valve used during startup failed shut due to an instrument air line failure. Prior to steam generator level reaching the automatic reactor trip setpoint, the unit was tripped manually. The licensee's initial investigation indicates the instrument air line failed at a solder joint. The licensee is investigating the root cause of the joint failure. Prior to the reactor trip, at approximately 10:30 p.m., a Unit 1 turbine bearing outboard oil seal failed. The bearing seal that failed is between the main generator and the exciter. No oil or hydrogen was detected to have leaked from the generator. This failure resulted in a manual turbine trip. The licensee is investigating the cause of the seal failure. Current estimated repair time is 24-36 hours. Unit 1 is currently stable in hot standby (Mode 3). Unit 1 startup is pending repairs to the feedwater isolation valve and turbine bearing seal. Regional Action: The residents will continue to monitor the licensee's actions. Contact: LEW MILLER (708)829-9629 _ REGION IV MORNING REPORT PAGE 3 JULY 2, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Houston Lighting & Power Co. MR Number: 4-96-0072 South Texas 1 Date: 07/01/96 Wadsworth,Texas Resident Inspector Dockets: 50-498 PWR/W-4-LP Subject: VALID LOOSE PARTS MONITOR ALARM Discussion: On July 1, 1996 at 12:19 a.m., multiple loose parts monitor alarms occurred during a four-minute period. The alarms indicated a possible loose part in the lower manway area of the hot leg bowl of Steam Generator 1-C. The licensee contacted the vendor of the loose parts system to analyze the acoustic data. The vendor determined that the alarms were valid. The signals suggested the loose object was metal, between 4 ounces and 1 pound in size. The licensee has increased monitoring of the secondary and reactor coolant system gaseous activity levels, with no degradations detected. They stated that they plan to initiate a plant shutdown if a second valid loose parts monitor alarm occurs. The licensee is working with the loose parts system vendor and the NSSS vendor to develop a long term action plan. Regional Action: Continued monitoring by the resident staff. Contact: Linda J. Smith (817)860-8183 _