Event Notification Report for December 29, 1999

HPCI INOPERABLE

During QCOS 2300-28 'HPCI Turning Gear Logic Functional Test' the HPCI turning gear failed to engage. The test was stopped and HPCI was placed on the turning gear from a normal standby lineup and removed from the turning gear using QCOP 2300-13 'HPCI Turning Gear Operation'. Per analysis the HPCI turbine must be able to be remotely placed on the turning gear. Since HPCI failed to go on gear during the logic test it was declared inoperable at 0420. A 14 day LCO was centered per Tech Spec 3.5.A action 3.

The Licensee will notify the NRC resident inspector.

* * * UPDATE AT 1839 ON 12/30/99 BY TONY SCOTT TO JOLLIFFE * * *

The licensee desires to retract this event due to the test method being used during the test. During the test, the HPCI turning gear would have functioned, as required.

The licensee notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

The NRC Operations Officer notified the R3DO Bruce Burgess.

UNUSUAL EVENT DECLARED AT 0555 DUE TO AN IDENTIFIED REACTOR COOLANT LEAK.

THE LETDOWN STORAGE TANK BYPASS VALVE (3HP14) FAILED IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION. APPROXIMATELY 45 GPM OF RCS WATER IS BEING BLED THROUGH THE VALVE INTO THE DE-LITH DEMINERALIZERS. THE PLANT IS STABLE AT 80% POWER. VALVE 3HP14 IS AN MOV ON A 2 1/2" LINE. THE 45 GPM OF FLOW IS CONSIDERED "RECOVERABLE" RCS LEAKAGE.

THE EVENT OCCURRED AT 0555 AND THE CURRENT LINEUP WAS REACHED AT 0604. THE LICENSEE WILL REMAIN IN THE UNUSUAL EVENT UNTIL THEIR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THAT THEY CAN REMAIN IN THIS LINEUP WHILE REPAIRS ARE MADE TO 3HP14.

THIS EVENT IS SIMILAR TO EVENT 36543 WHICH OCCURRED ON 12/27/99. THAT EVENT LED TO REPAIRS ON 3HP14. THE MOTOR HAD BECOME UNCOUPLED FROM THE VALVE AND WAS REPAIRED. IT IS NOT KNOWN NOW WHETHER THE SAME FAILURE MECHANISM HAS BEEN REPEATED DURING THE CURRENT EVENT.

THE RESIDENT INSPECTOR HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ALONG WITH STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES.
THERE WILL BE NO PRESS RELEASE.

* * * UPDATE AT 0715 ON 12/29/99, BY BALDWIN, TAKEN BY WEAVER * * *
THE UNUSUAL EVENT WAS TERMINATED AT 0713. THE LICENSEE WILL INFORM THE NRC RESIDENT INSPECTOR. THE HOO NOTIFIED R2DO (CHRISTENSEN); EO (STROSNIDER); IRO (GIITTER); FEMA (RISHE)

SOME KAOWOOL FIRE BARRIERS OUTSIDE 10CFR50 APPENDIX R DESIGN BASIS

"V.C. SUMMER HAS BEEN PERFORMING CONFIRMATORY TESTING ON KAOWOOL TRIPLE WRAP FIRE BARRIERS BASED ON SECY 99-204 ISSUES. PRELIMINARY RESULTS INDICATE THAT SOME CABLE/CONDUIT APPLICATIONS DO NOT MEET APPENDIX R III.G.2 REQUIREMENTS (FREE OF FIRE DAMAGE FOR ONE HOUR). THESE APPLICATIONS INCLUDE SMALL OPEN AIR CONDUIT (LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 1"), AIR DROPS AND SMALL CABLE TRAYS (LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 6" x 6"). OTHER APPLICATIONS PERFORMED ACCEPTABLY BASED ON PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF THE TEST DATA. V.C. SUMMER IS CURRENTLY COMPARING THE TEST CONFIGURATIONS TO ACTUAL PLANT CONFIGURATIONS TO DETERMINE AFFECTED AREAS. AS A CONSERVATIVE MEASURE A ROVING FIRE WATCH WAS ESTABLISHED ON ALL APPENDIX R AREAS UTILIZING KAOWOOL. ADDITIONAL ACTIONS WILL BE BASED ON FURTHER ENGINEERING EVALUATIONS."

THE LICENSEE INFORMED THE NRC RESIDENT INSPECTOR.

1-HOUR SECURITY REPORT INVOLVING HISTORICAL ACCESS AUTHORIZATION PROGRAM VIOLATION

"During performance of a Plant Evaluation Checklist (PEC OB 99-1157) on the NRC Performance Indicator for [the] Physical Protection Area, a historical error was discovered pertaining [to] access authorization. It was discovered that unescorted access was authorized to an individual from 11/10/95 to 01/16/96. However, on 01/11/96, information was received that, had it been properly investigated, would have caused denial of unescorted access at that time.

"This event is reportable as a 1-hour report pursuant to 10 CFR 73.71 as an Access Authorization (AA) program violation as stated in an NRC letter from LeMoine J. Cunningham, Chief Safeguards Branch, USNRC to the NRC Regions chief, dated 05/19/95. In the letter, Mr. Cunningham states that events involving AA program failure are reportable and a 30-day written report required."

The licensee plans to inform the NRC resident inspector.

* * * RETRACTION ON 01/13/00 AT 1022ET FROM BOB WALTER TAKEN BY MACKINNON * * *

Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation has further reviewed this event and has determined in the information used to develop on 01/11/96 did not provide a preponderance of evidence to require access screening to further investigate the individual. Investigation conducted by access screening identified that the Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating program for access screening met the guidance of NUMARC 91-03 and that a program failure did not occur as a result of this event. Because a program failure did not occur based upon the reportability requirements as clarified by the 05/19/95 Cunningham letter, this event is no longer considered to be a 1-hour reporting event. Therefore, this event notification is being retracted.

The NRC resident inspector was notified of this event retraction by the licensee. The NRC operations officer notified the R4DO (Jeff Shackelford).

* * * UPDATE ON 7/25/00 @ 1300 BY YUNK TO GOULD * * * UNRETRACTION

Further review has lead the licensee to determine that this event could be considered a program failure to review and disposition derogatory information. Therefore, the licensee is unretracting this event. Since this incident, the individual has not been onsite.

The NRC Resident Inspector was notified by the licensee. The Reg 4 RDO(Jones) has been informed.