Headquarters Daily Report DECEMBER 17, 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 III DEC. 17, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Consumers Power Co. MR Number: 3-96-0130 Big Rock Point 1 Date: 12/16/96 Charlevoix,Michigan RI PHONECON Dockets: 50-155 BWR/GE-1 Subject: EXTENDED OUTAGE TO INSPECT AND REPAIR MAIN TURBINE VIBRATION Discussion: Consumers Power Company's Big Rock Point nuclear power plant may be out of service for one to six weeks to repair the main turbine. While operators were preparing to return the plant to service on Dec. 11, 1996, testing determined that the turbine was out of balance. The plant was shut down on December 13 after additional vibration testing isolated the vibration to the low pressure section of the turbine. During inspection after shutdown, employees discovered a small piece of metal that may have come from a turbine blade or associated turbine system. The licensee has begun preparations for inspecting the turbine and determining what repairs are necessary. Regional Action: Resident Inspector followup. Contact: LEWIS F. MILLER JR. (630)829-9629 ROY LEEMON (616)547-4086 _ REGION III MORNING REPORT PAGE 2 DECEMBER 17, 1996 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Wisconsin Electric Power Co. MR Number: 3-96-0131 Point Beach 1 2 Date: 12/17/96 Two Rivers,Wisconsin RESIDENT INSPECTORS Dockets: 50-266,50-301 PWR/W-2-LP,PWR/W-2-LP Subject: INADVERTENT OPERATION OF RHR PUMP WITH DISCHARGE VALVES CLOSED Discussion: The licensee identified that on December 16, 1996, the Unit 2 A Train Residual Heat Removal (RHR) pump was operated for about 38 minutes with the valves in the normal discharge and recirculation lines closed. Unit 2 is currently in the midst of a steam generator replacement project and all fuel is offloaded. The licensee's initial evaluation determined that there was no damage to the pump. The licensee's investigation of the cause of the event is ongoing, but has identified that a pump pre-start valve lineup had been completed. Although a problem report was issued, no log entry of the event was made by the involved operating crew, and station management had not been immediately notified by crew supervision. A similar problem with an auxiliary feedwater pump had been one of several issues identified in a recent escalated enforcement action. The licensee has stated that because of an errosion of management's confidence in operations ability to safely operate the plant, they are reducing Unit 1 power to 90 percent and considering lower reactor trip setpoints to provide an additional margin of safety. Regional Action: Resident inspectors and regional management are monitoring the licensee's investigation. Contact: JAMES MCCORMICK-BARG (630)829-9872 _