Headquarters Daily Report JUNE 30, 1997 *************************************************************************** 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 - HEADQUARTERS JUNE 30, 1997 MR Number: H-97-0080 NRR DAILY REPORT ITEM GENERIC COMMUNICATIONS NRC Information Notice 97-43, "License Condition Compliance," dated July 1, 1997. The NRC is issuing this information notice to alert addressees to various potential problems found by the NRC staff while reviewing the license conditions for various plants. Technical contact: James Luehman, NRR 301-415-3150 NRC Information Notice 97-44, "Failures of Gamma Metrics Wide-Range Linear Neutron Flux Channels," dated July 1, 1997. The NRC is issuing this information notice to inform addressees of failures that have occurred in Gamma Metrics wide-range linear neutron flux channels that have the potential to defeat the scram function of the channels. Technical contact: Alexander Adams, Jr., NRR 301-415-1127 _ REGION IV MORNING REPORT PAGE 2 JUNE 30, 1997 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Houston Lighting & Power Co. MR Number: 4-97-0054 South Texas 1 Date: 06/30/97 Wadsworth,Texas Resident Inspectors Dockets: 50-498 PWR/W-4-LP Subject: UNIT 1 CONTROL ROD TESTING Discussion: On June 28, South Texas Project Unit 1 was removed from service to conduct control rod drop testing. This testing was performed in response to the previously identified conditions described in NRC Bulletin 96-01, "Control Rod Insertion Problems." During the test, five rod cluster control assemblies (RCCAs) failed to fully insert. Four of the assemblies inserted to a position 6 steps (4 3/4 inches) withdrawn, and the remaining assembly, located at Core Position C-7, stopped at 12 steps (7 1/2 inches) withdrawn. All five assemblies were driven to rod bottom, utilizing the control rod drive system. The licensee had previously established evaluation criteria for the test. The number of RCCAs failing to reach rod bottom was well within the applicable limits. However, the RCCA in Core Position C-7 failed to meet the first of three administrative limits set by the licensee. The previously established "Immediate Restart Limit" required that all RCCAs insert to the top of the dash pot in less than or equal to 1.86 seconds. The measured drop time for the RCCA in Core Location C-7 was 1.877 seconds. This drop time still remained well within the licensee's "Review Limit" of less than or equal to 2.06 seconds and the Technical Specification limit of less than or equal to 2.8 seconds. Based on these findings, licensed operators were permitted to return the unit to power. The licensee had previously committed to perform an evaluation of the data, within 2 weeks, to determine the need for additional testing and to evaluate whether a revision to the shutdown margin calculations is necessary. The results are to be communicated to the resident inspectors and appropriate NRR personnel. Regional Action: The resident inspectors were on site during the rod drop testing and discussed the results and plant restart with Regional management. Contact: Ronald A. Kopriva (817)860-8104 Joseph I. Tapia (817)860-8243 _