IR 05000289/2005006
| ML052100204 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 07/29/2005 |
| From: | Collins S Region 1 Administrator |
| To: | Crane C AmerGen Energy Co |
| References | |
| EA 05-100 IR-05-006 | |
| Download: ML052100204 (7) | |
Text
July 29, 2005
SUBJECT:
FINAL SIGNIFICANCE DETERMINATION FOR A WHITE FINDING (NRC Emergency Preparedness Program Inspection Report 05000289/2005006)
Three Mile Island Station, Unit 1
Dear Mr. Crane:
This letter provides the final results of our significance determination for the preliminary White finding identified at Three Mile Island, Unit 1, during an emergency preparedness program inspection completed on May 19, 2005. The results of the inspection were discussed with Mr. G. Chick, Plant Manager, and other members of your staff during an exit meeting on May 19, 2005. The inspection finding was assessed using the significance determination process and was preliminarily characterized as White, a finding with low to moderate importance to safety that may require additional NRC inspections. The basis for this preliminary White finding was explained in our letter dated June 30, 2005, which transmitted the subject inspection report.
This preliminary White finding involved approximately 50 percent of the Emergency Response Organization (ERO), including key responders, not receiving the required annual radiological response classroom retraining necessary to maintain familiarity with their specific emergency response duties. Although these individuals had received such training in March 2003, they were not provided the retraining until November 2004. The TMI Annex Emergency Plan defined annual as every 12 months +/- 3 months, and therefore, the annual retraining of these individuals should have been completed by June 2004. As a consequence of these individuals not completing the annual retraining until November 2004, the individuals would not have been considered qualified to respond to a radiological emergency for an approximate five-month period (June - November 2004). This resulted in some key ERO positions not being filled by qualified ERO members in accordance with AmerGens Three Mile Island Emergency Plan requirements.
In our letter dated June 30, 2005, the NRC provided you an opportunity to either request a Regulatory Conference to discuss this finding, or to explain your position in a written response.
In a telephone call between Mr. C. Smith and Mr. R. Lorson of my staff on July 8, 2005, as well as in a letter on that date from Mr. R. G. West, Vice President, Three Mile Island Unit 1, the NRC was informed that AmerGen did not contest the preliminary White finding, declined a Regulatory Conference, and would not be providing a written response.
Mr. C. After considering the information developed during the inspection, the NRC has concluded that the inspection finding is appropriately characterized as White, an issue with low to moderate increased importance to safety that may require additional inspections.
You have 30 calendar days from the date of this letter to appeal the staffs determination of significance for the identified White finding. Such appeals will be considered to have merit only if they meet the criteria given in NRC Inspection Manual Chapter 0609, Attachment 2.
The NRC has also determined that this finding is a violation of 10 CFR 50.47(b)(15). The circumstances surrounding the violation are described in detail in the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice) as well as the subject inspection report. In accordance with the NRC Enforcement Policy, this Notice is considered escalated enforcement action because it is associated with a White finding. You are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response.
Because plant performance for this issue has been determined to be in the regulatory response band, we will use the NRC Action Matrix to determine the most appropriate NRC response for this issue. We will notify you by separate correspondence of that determination.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRCs Rules of Practice, a copy of this letter will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
Sincerely,
/RA/
Samuel J. Collins Regional Administrator Docket No. 50-289 License No. DPR-50 Enclosure: Notice of Violation
Mr.