NRC CAL – NOV (White)

On July 6, 2016, the NRC issued a Notice of Violation with a White Significance Determination Process finding to Exelon Nuclear for a violation of 10 CFR 50, Appendix B, Criterion V, "Instructions, Procedures, and Drawings," and Technical Specifications 3.7.C.2, for failing to appropriately prescribe an activity affecting quality, in documented instructions, associated with maintenance of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generation Station emergency diesel generators (EDGs). Specifically, since 2002, Exelon did not having appropriate work instructions to replace the EDG cooling flexible hose every 12 years as specified by Exelon’s procedure and vendor information. As a result, a flexible coupling hose remained in service for approximately 22 years and was subject to thermal degradation and aging that eventually lead to the failure of EDG No. 1 during a surveillance test on January 4. 2016. In addition, based on analysis of hose failure and review of past operability, the NRC determined that EDG No. 1 was inoperable for a period greater than its technical specification allowed outage time of seven days.