IR 05000454/1998018

Forwards Synopsis of Investigation Rept 3-98-014 on 980330 Re Insp Repts 50-454/98-18 & 50-455/98-18.Investigation Was to Determine If Numanco Senior Health Physics Technician Had Deliberately Violated Any Required Procedures

ML20155D692
Person / Time
Site:	Byron
Issue date:	10/27/1998
From:	Grobe J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Kingsley O COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO.
References
50-454-98-18, 50-455-98-18, EA-98-379, NUDOCS 9811030292
Download: ML20155D692 (4)

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1. g E849 UNITED STATES 8 $o NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION lli

{ ] 801 WARRENVILLE ROAD LISLE, ILLINOIS 60532 4351

• • • • • October 27, 1998

EA 98-379

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Mr. Oliver President, Nuclear Generation Group .

Commonwealth Edison Company l ATTN: Regulatory Services

Executive Towers West 111 1400 Opus Place, Suite 500

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Downers Grove,IL 60515 SUBJECT: NRC OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS REPORT 3-98-014; INSPECTION REPORTS 50-454/98018(DRS); 50-455/98018(DRS)

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Dear Mr. Kingsley:

i-As a result of your Byron staff informing us of an inattentive worker identified in a radiologically posted area, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Office of Investigations (Oi) conducted an investigation regarding this matter. A copy of the Ol report synopsis is enclosed. On December 19,1997, Byron Station personnel observed a senior contract radiation protection technician loitering on the 426 foot elevation in the Unit 1 containment, a radiologically posted area. Loitering in a radiation field was contrary to your procedure number BRP 5000-7,

" Unescorted Access to and Conduct in Radiologically Posted Areas." An inspection report number was assigned only for NRC tracking purposes, an inspection report is not enclosed.

The Ol investigation determined that this event involved ,a deliberate violation of station radiation protection procedures. Based on the individual's training relative to these activities in the radiation protection area, the individual's successful completion of nuclear general employee training, and interviews with the individual and licensee personnel, the NRC determined that the individual was aware of the procedural requirements which prohibited loitering in a radiation field. Radiation Protection Procedure BRP 5000-7, Revision 7, dated

- June 28,1996, " Unescorted Access To And Conduct in Radiologically Posted Areas,"

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implements the requirements of Technical Specification 6.8.1 and requires in Section F.3.k that workers not loiter in radiation fields or airbome radioactivity areas.

The NRC recognized that this event was identified by Byron Station personnel. However, the individual's deliberate violation of procedures caused Commonwealth Edison Company to be in

. violation of NRC requirements.

Although this violation is deliberate, it was brought to the NRC's attention by the licensee, it involved isolated acts of a low-level individual, and it was addressed by appropriate remedial action. Therefore, this non-repetitive, licensee-identified and corrected violation is being treated as a Non-Cited Violation, consistent with Section Vll.B.1 of the NRC Enforcement Policy.

~ 9811030292 981027 E

_PDR G

ADOCK 05000454 PDR i

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l 0 It is imperative that the NRC be able to rely on its licensees, including their employees, to comply with NRC requirements. Although this incident appeared to be isolated, the employees of a licensee and its contractors must be cognizant that willful noncompliance cannot be l tolerated.

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l In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its j enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

We will gladly discuss any questions you have conceming this matter.

Sincerely, l

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o n A. robe, irector Division of Reactor Safe y l

Docket Nos.: 50-454;50-455 License Nos.: NPF-37; NPF-66 i

Enclosure: 01 Report Synopsis cc w/ encl: D. Helwig, Senior Vice President l H. Stanley, PWR Vice President  !

C. Crane, BWR Vice President R. Krich, Regulatory Services Manager D. Greene, Licensing Director DCD - Licensing K. Graesser, Site Vice President W. Levis, Station Manager B. Adams, Regulatory Assurance Manager R. Hubbard, MHB Technical Associates M. Aguilar, Assistant Attomey General State Liaison Officer State Liaison Offies, Wisconsin Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission

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j l Distribution: l J. Lieberman, OE w/enci J. Goldberg, OGC w/ encl l B. Boger, NRR w/ encl Project Mgr., NRR w/enci C. Pederson, Rlll w/enct SRI Byron w/enci DRP w/ encl TSS w/enci DRS w/ encl Rlli PRR w/enci PUBLIC Mw/enct Ttb l Docket File w/enci l GREENS I R. Paul, Ol:Rlli l OAC:Rlli l I/,

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SYNOPSIS This investigation was initiated on March 30, 1998, by the U.S. Nuclear l- Regulatory Commission Office of Investigations, Region III, to determine if a l NUMANC0 Senior Health Physics Technician (HPT) had deliberately violated any l l required procedures, i Based on the evidence developed during this investigation, it is concluded

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that the NUMANC0 Senior HPT, deliberately violated a Byron Nuclear Station !

l radiation protection procedure and/or NUMANC0 procedure, in that, he was l observed by three individuals to be inattentive to duty (loitering / sleeping)

in the Unit 1 Containment (radiologically posted area) on December 19, 1997, i

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Case No. 3 1998 014 1 i

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