IR 05000321/1997003

Forwards Insp Repts 50-321/97-03 & 50-366/97-03 on 970406-0517,NOV & OI Rept 2-97-014.NRC Concluded That Lr Tillman Engaged in Deliberate Misconduct in Violation of 10CFR50.5(a)(1),causing Plant TSs to Be in Violation

ML20199G910
Person / Time
Site:	Hatch
Issue date:	12/01/1997
From:	Reyes L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:	Tillman L AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML20199G914	List: IR 05000321/1997003 ML20199G938
References
50-321-97-03, 50-321-97-3, 50-366-97-03, 50-366-97-3, IA-97-089, IA-97-89, NUDOCS 9802040365
Download: ML20199G910 (4)

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i I December 1, 1997 IA 97 089-Mr. Lanny [HOME ADDRESS DELETED PURSUANT TO 10 CFR 2,790]

l SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION u

(NRC INSPECTION REPORT NOS. 50-321, 366'97-03 AND OFFICE OF .

INVESTIGATIONS REPORT NO. 2 97-014)

Dear Mr. Tillman:

This' letter refers to a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) inspection conducted on April 6 through May 17, 1997, and an NRC Office of Investigations (01) investigation completed on September 30, 1997. During these reviews. the NRC examined the facts and circumstances surrounding work March 1997 at Southern Nuclear Operating Company. Inc.'s-(you SNC) Edwinperformed 1. Hatch in Nuclear Plant. You were interviewed en July 10, 1997, by 01 as part of the investigation. Copies of the subject inspection report and the synopsis to the 01 report are enclosed.

Based on the information developed during the inspection and investigation, the NRC concluded that you engaged in deliberate misconduct in violation of-10 CFR 50.5(a)(1), which caustd SNC to be in violation of the Hatch Nuclear Plant Technical Soecifications.(TS), when you deliberately worked on Valve No. 2E51-F102, Reactor Core Injection Coolant System (RCIC) Exhaust Line Vacuum Breaker, without authorization. Specifically. on March 20,=1997, you were assigned to cut away the bonnet of Valve No._2E51-F103, clean the inside',.

and reweld the bonnet back in place in accordance with a Maintenance Work Order (MWD). However. in error you used a line on the valve body to bonnet of Valve No. power grinder 2E51-F102, thetowrong cut avalve.

shallow Upon recognition.of-the error, you relocated to Valve No. 2E51-F103 and completed the MWO. Subsequently,.you returned to Valve No. 2E51-F102 and performed a weld repair to the grind mark without an MWO and used incorrect weld material based on the composition of the valve bonnet and body. During a subsequent quality control (OC) inspection conducted in the area of the two RCICivalves in April 1997, the undocumented work on Valve No. 2E51-F102 was discovered. Upon being questioned by the Maintenance Superintendent on-April-8.-1997, you initial.ly denied any responsibility for the work on the-valve: however. the next day you admitted to your foreman that you were responsible for the work. On April 22. 1997, your employment was formally terminated by CNC. [

CERTIFIED Mall N0. P 058 054 424 J-RETURN RECEIPT. REQUESTED M. *388M 7da!8su ~

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L. Tillman 2 During your interview with 01, you admitted that you should have stopped work immediately upon realizing that you had initiated work on the incorrect valve and should have immediately notified your foreman.

As a mechanic and certified welder at the Hitch Nuclear Plant, you were entrusted with the responsibility to assure that activities assigned to you were conducted safely and in accordance with procedural requirements. Your actions in March 1997 did not adhere to these standards. Public health and safety require that licensee employees comply with NRC regulations related to all work associated with nuclear power plant ecuipment and processes. NPC recognizes that your initial unauthorized grincing activities on Valve No. 2E15-F102 were in error; however, your subsequent failure to report the i error to your foreman promptly and your 3erformance of unauthorized repairs in l an attempt to conceal the error caused t1e SNC to be in violation of TS 5.4, l which requires that plant maintenance activities be conducted in accordance with procedures. The s)ecific plant procedures violated are described in detail in the enclosed lotice of Violation (Notice). Therefore, after consultation with the Director. Office of Enforcement, the NRC has decided to issue the enclosed Notice to you based on your violation of the NRC's regulations regarding deliberate misconduct. In accordance with the " General Statement of Policy and Procedures for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy). NUREG-1600, the violation has been classified at Severity Level 111.

Copies of the applicable regulation and Enforcement Policy are enclosed for your reference.

In determining the appropriate sanction to be issued in this case, the NRC gave considerable weight to the fact that you cooperated with 01, ultimately admitted your error to the licensee, and were subjected to a substantial disciplinary action. However, should there be evidence of similar conduct on your part in the future, you may be subject to further enforcement action that could include an order prohibiting your involvement in NRC-licensed activities for a term of years.

You are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response. In your response, you should document the specific actions taken and any additional actions you plan to 3revent recurrence. In addition, please include in your response why, in lig1t of your actions in March 1997, the NRC should have confidence that you will adhere to NRC requirements should you be employed in the nuclear industry in the future. -

In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice." Part 2.

Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations records or documents compiled for enforcement purposes are placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR). A copy of this letter, with your address removed, and your response will be placed in the PDR 45 days after the date of this letter unless you provide sufficient basis to withdraw this letter. Upon placement of these documents in the PDR.

a copy of this enforcement action will also be provided to SNC.

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L, Tillman 3

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Ouestions concerning this letter may be addressed to Mr. Pierce Skinner.

Chief Projects-Branch 2 at 404 562-4520 or Mrs. Anne Boland. Director.

Enforcement and Investigations Coordination Staff at 404-562-4421.

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Sincerely

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l Original Signed by B.S. Mallett l

Luis A. Reyes Regional Administrator Enclosures: 1. Notice of Violation 2, . Inspection Report No.

50-321, 366/97-03 3. Synopsis to 01 Report i No. 2-97-014 4. 10 CFR 50,5, Deliberate  !

Misconduct 1 5. NUREG 1600 t

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L. Tillman 4 Distribution w/encls 1. 2. and 3 on' y THOME ADDRESS DELETEDl:

PUBLIC (HOLD FOR 45 DAYS LICS AC1;.ON)

LJCallan, EDO AThadani, DEDE JLieberman. OE SCollins, NRR RZinnerman,- NRR LChanaler, OGC JGoldberg. 0GC Enforcement Coordinators R1, R111 RIV OE:EA File (BSummers. OE) (2 letterhead)

WBeecher. OPA (HOLD FOR 45 DAYS - EICS ACTION)

HBell, OlG EJulian. SECY (HOLD FOR 45 DAYS - ElCS ACTION)

BKeeling, CA (HOLD FOR 45 DAYS - EICS ACTION)

TMartin, AEOD GCaputo, 01 LTrocine, OEDO L01shan, NRR HBerkow, NRR CEvanS RIl l ABoland, RIl

! KClark, Ril RTrojanowski,Ril JJohnson, Ril JJaudon, Rll PSkinner. Rll KBarr, R11 LWatson, Rll

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NRC Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 7388 N State Hwy 95 Columbia, AL 36319 SEND TO PUBLIC DOCUMENT R00M7 YES (HOLD FOR 45 DAYS)

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