ML063470349
| ML063470349 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 12/15/2006 |
| From: | Dave Solorio, Trocine L NRC/OE |
| To: | Entergy Nuclear Operations |
| Trocine L | |
| References | |
| EA-06-253 EN-06-061 | |
| Download: ML063470349 (2) | |
Text
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION - NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE UNTIL VERIFICATION THAT LICENSEE HAS RECEIVED ACTION PRELIMINARY INFORMATION - NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE UNTIL VERIFICATION THAT LICENSEE HAS RECEIVED ACTION December 15, 2006 EN-06-061 OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT NOTIFICATION OF SIGNIFICANT ENFORCEMENT ACTION Licensee:
Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Docket No. 05000271
Subject:
ISSUANCE OF FINAL SIGNIFICANCE DETERMINATION AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION This is to inform the Commission that a Notice of Violation associated with a White significance determination process finding will be issued on or about December 20, 2006, to Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., as a result of inspections at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station. This White finding, an issue of low to moderate safety significance which may require additional NRC inspection, involved the August 31, 2006, shipment of a package containing radioactive material from the Vermont Yankee facility via an exclusive-use open transport vehicle. The package did not conform to the applicable U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulatory requirements when it arrived at the Susquehanna facility in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, on September 1, 2006. The actual condition did not involve an exposure or hazard to the public, but it had the potential to adversely affect personnel who would normally receive the package or respond to an incident involving the package since responders could have a reasonable expectation that the package conformed with DOT radiation limitations. In addition, it was fortuitous that the surface of the package was inaccessible to the public during transport.
A Notice of Violation is included based on a violation of 10 CFR 71.5, Transportation of Licensed Material, and DOT regulation 49 CFR 173.441(a) because the package containing the radioactive material was not designed and prepared to assure, under conditions normally incident to transportation, that the radiation level on any point on the external surface of the package would not exceed 200 millirem per hour. As a result, when the package arrived at the Susquehanna facility, an area on the bottom of the external surface of the package exhibited a radiation level of 820 millirem per hour. The staff discussed the matter with its principal point of contact in the DOT.
It should also be noted that the licensee has not been specifically informed of the enforcement action. The schedule of issuance and notification is:
Mailing of Notice of Violation December 20, 2006 Telephone notification of licensee December 20, 2006
EN-06-061 PRELIMINARY INFORMATION - NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE UNTIL VERIFICATION THAT LICENSEE HAS RECEIVED ACTION PRELIMINARY INFORMATION - NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE UNTIL VERIFICATION THAT LICENSEE HAS RECEIVED ACTION The States of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania will be notified.
The licensee has 30 days from the date of the letter in which to respond.
Contacts: Leigh Trocine, OE, 301-415-2319 David Solorio, OE, 301-415-2741 Electronic Distribution: EN-06-061, December 15, 2006 OWFN Chairman Klein Comm. McGaffigan Comm. Merrifield Comm. Jaczko Comm. Lyons SECY OCA PA IP OWFN EDO DEDR DEDMRS OE OGC NRR NSIR OI STP TWFN OCFO OP CENTER NMSS OIG OCIO RES ACRS Regional Offices RI RII RIII RIV MAIL ADAMS OE Staff DISTRIBUTION: (Hard copy)
C. Carpenter J. Luehman L. Trocine D. Solorio OE r/f EA-06-253 File EN binder X Publicly Available X Non-Sensitive File Name: C:\\FileNet\\ML063470349.wpd ADAMS ML063470349 OE:ES OE:SC LTrocine DSolorio 12/13/06 12/15/06