Headquarters Daily Report

                         JUNE 26, 1998

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                    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 IV  JUNE 26, 1998

Licensee/Facility:                     Notification:

Entergy Operations, Inc.               MR Number: 4-98-0037
River Bend 1                           Date: 06/26/98
St Francisville,Louisiana              Senior Resident Inspector          
Dockets: 50-458
BWR/GE-6                              

Subject: Emergency Diesel Generator Control Air System                   

Discussion:

On November 14, 1989, River Bend's Division 1 emergency diesel generator 
tripped within 1 minute after starting as a result of a failed           
temperature sensor for the Number 7 main bearing. As designed, the sensor
bled control air pressure down from 60 psig to 10 psig, and the diesel   
control logic card, sensing the low pressure, tripped the diesel. During 
a telephone conversation with the NRC on January 3, 1990, the licensee   
explained that the diesel air start system supplies reduced pressure (60 
psig) to the control air system. The licensee also stated, in response to
questions, that the compressors for the air start system did not have 1E 
Power available. The NRC staff questioned long-term operability of the   
emergency diesels, since sufficient leakage from the control air system, 
with the compressors unavailable, would eventually cause the emergency   
diesels to trip on low control air pressure. The NRC staff questioned,   
specifically, whether the licensee had procedures to connect an alternate
air supply if needed. In response, the licensee committed to review      
procedures and make any changes necessary to ensure the availability of a
long-term air supply.                                                    
                                                                         
On June 24, 1998, as a result of questions from NRC inspectors, the      
licensee discovered that they had failed to complete necessary measures  
to ensure a long-term air supply for emergency diesel generator control  
air. Although operations had written procedures for the installation of a
backup air supply, plant staff had neither assembled and staged the      
necessary materials nor demonstrated the ability to supply control air   
within 2 hours, as stated in the procedures. Early on June 25, plant     
staff completed staging the materials, including charged air bottles, and
demonstrated the ability to connect the backup air supplies within       
approximately 30 minutes.                                                

Regional Action:

Inspectors from the Region IV Division of Reactor Safety are reviewing   
the effectiveness of the licensee actions.                               

Contact:  C. Marschall               (817)860-8185
          N. Garrett                 (504)635-3193
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