ML17059B779
| ML17059B779 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Nine Mile Point  |
| Issue date: | 11/28/1997 |
| From: | Hehl C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Sylvia R NIAGARA MOHAWK POWER CORP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17059B780 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-220-97-07, 50-220-97-7, 50-410-97-07, 50-410-97-7, EA-97-530, NUDOCS 9712090004 | |
| Download: ML17059B779 (10) | |
See also: IR 05000220/1997007
Text
CATEGORY 2
REGULATORY INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (RIDS)
ACCESSION NBR:9712090004
DOC.DATE: 97/11/28
NOTARIZED: NO
FACIL:50-220 Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit 1, Niagara
Powe
50-410 Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit 2, Niagara
Moha
AUTH.NAME
AUTHOR AFFILIATION
HEHL,C.W.
Region
1 (Post
820201)
RECIP.NAME
RECIPIENT AFFILIATION
'YLVIA,R.
Niagara
Mohawk Power Corp.
SUBJECT: Forwards insp repts
50-220/97-07
& 50-410/97-07
on 970810-
1004
6 notice of violation re failure to conduct
two
separate
TS required surveillance tests.
DISTRIBUTION CODE: IE01F
COPIES
RECEIVED:LTR /
ENCL
SIZE:
TITLE: General
(50 Dkt)-Insp Rept/Notice of Violation Response
NOTES:
DOCKET ¹
05000220
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RECIPIENT
ID CODE/NAME
PD1-1
INTERNAL:
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EXTERNAL: LITCO BRYCE,J H
NRC PDR
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ENCL
20
November
28,
1997
EA 97-530
Mr. B. Ralph Sylvia
Executive Vice President
and Chief Nuclear Officer
Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (NMPC)
Nuclear Learning Center
450 Lake Road
Oswego, NY 13126
SUBJECT:
NRC INSPECTION REPORT NOS. 50-220/97-07AND 50-410/97-07
Dear Mr. Sylvia;
This report transmits the findings of safety inspections conducted by NRC inspectors at the
Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Units
1 and 2, from August 10, through October 4, 1997.
At the conclusion of the inspection, the findings were discussed with you and members of
your staff. We are providing one integrated report for the inspections conducted during
this period in order to better consolidate our findings into a consistent regulatory message
and more clearly communicate how these findings may reflect a change in your
performance.
During this period, your staff operated both units safely.
The questioning attitude of your
staff that led to the identification of tube leaks in all four Nine Mile Point Unit 1 (NMP1)
emergency cooling condensers
was good.
During the ensuing reactor shutdown, the
NMP1 operators'se
of alarm response
procedures, three-part communications, and
self/peer checking were noticeably improved.
We also found good performance in the
radiation protection area.
However, based on the results of the inspections, the NRC has determined that a violation
of NRC requirements occurred.
The violation is cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation
(Notice), and the details surrounding it are described in the enclosed inspection report.
Specifically, the violation involved the failure to conduct two separate technical
specification required surveillance tests.
Although your staff identified both instances, the
violations are being cited because
NMPC's actions to date to prevent missed surveillances
have been ineffective.
You are required to respond to this letter and should follow the
instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response.
The NRC will
use your response,
in part, to determine whether further enforcement action is necessary
to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
In addition, apparent violations were identified related to transportation of radioactive
material and the radioactive waste (radwaste) program and are being considered for
escalated
enforcement action in accordance with the "General Statement of Policy and
Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), NUREG-1600. Specifically,
'l
97i2090004 97ii28
ADOCK 05000220
8
""FICIAL RECORD
COPY
IE: 01
't
B. Ralph Sylvia
the apparent violations involve:
(1) the shipment of a sample of the NMP1 core shroud
caused the radiation levels in the occupied space of the vehicle to exceed federal limits; (2)
the shipment of a wrong liner of NMP2 radioactive material; (3) the two shipments (1995
and 1997) of radioactive material to a facility not licensed to receive the material; (4) the
failure to maintain the Radwaste Process Control Programs current; (5) the failure to
conduct audits of vendors supplying radwaste services and equipment; and (6) the failure
to identify and correct the deficiencies within the radwaste program.
Accordingly, no
Notice of Violation is presently being issued for these inspection findings.
In addition, be
advised that the characterization
and number of apparent violations described in the
enclosed inspection report may change as a result of further NRC review.
A predecisional enforcement conference to discuss these apparent violations has been
scheduled for December 19, 1997, at the NRC's Region
I office in King of Prussia,
The decision to hold a predecisional enforcement conference does not mean
that the NRC has determined that a violation has occurred, or that enforcement action will
be taken.
This conference
is being held to obtain information to enable the NRC to make
an enforcement decision, such as a common understanding of the facts, root causes,
missed opportunities to identify the apparent violations sooner, corrective actions,
significance of the issues, and the need for lasting and effective corrective action.
In
addition, this is an opportunity for you to point out any errors in our inspection report and
for you to provide any information concerning your perspective
on (1) the severity of the
violations, (2) the application of the factors that the NRC considers when it determines the
amount of a civil penalty that may be assessed
in accordance with Section VI.B.2 of the
Enforcement Policy, and (3) any other application of the Enforcement Policy to this case,
including the exercise of discretion in accordance with Section Vll. You will be. advised
under a separate
correspondence
of the results of our deliberations on this matter.
No
response
regarding these apparent violation is required at this time,
Also, you are also requested to provide, within 30 days of the receipt of the letter which
transmits this inspection report, your plan of action regarding the NMP1 concentrated
waste tank ¹11.
Our inspections identified that this tank continues to store concentrated
waste, at least 17 years after the associated
system was taken out of service.
Your
response
is expected to provide either a safety evaluation to support the current
configuration or a commitment to remediate the current condition.
The responses
directed by this letter and the enclosed Notice are not subject to the
clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Pub. L. No. 96.511.
B. Ralph Sylvia
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter,
its enclosures,
and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Sincerely,
Original Signed
by:
Charles W. Hehl, Director
Division of Reactor Projects
Docket Nos.
License Nos.
50-220, 50-410
Enclosures:
1.
2.
NRC Inspection Report Nos. 50-220/97-07 and 50-410/97-07
cc w/enclosures:
R. Abbott, Vice President 5 General Manager - Nuclear
C. Terry, Vice President- Safety Assessment
and Support
J. Conway, Vice President - Nuclear Engineering
K. Dahlberg, Vice President - Nuclear Operations
D. Wolniak, Manager, Licensing
J. Warden, New York Consumer Protection Branch
G. Wilson, Senior Attorney
M. Wetterhahn, Winston and Strawn
J. Rettberg, New York State Electric and Gas Corporation
P. Eddy, Director, Electric Division, Department of Public Service, State
of New York
C. Donaldson, Esquire, Assistant Attorney General, New York Department of Law
J. Vinquist, MATS, Inc.
F. Valentino, President, New York State Energy Research
and Development Authority
J. Spath, Program Director, New York State Energy Research
and Development Authority
B. Ralph Sylvia
Distribution w/encls:
H. Miller, RA/W. Axelson, DRA (1)
Region
I Docket Room (with concurrences)
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
PUBLIC
NRC Resident Inspector
L. Doerflein, DRP
T. Moslak, DRP
R. Junod, DRP
Distribution w/encls:
(VIAE-MAIL)
K. Kennedy, Rl EDO Coordinator
R. Zimmerman, ADPR, NRR
J.
Goldberg, OGC
J.
Lieberman, OE (OEIVIAIL)
D. Holody, EO, Rl
T. Walker, SES
B. Norris - Nine Mile Point
S. Bajwa, NRR
D. Hood, NRR
M. Campion, Rl
Inspection Program Branch (IPAS)
R. Correia, NRR
F. Talbot, NRR
DOCDESK
DOCUMENT NAME: G:iBRANCH1iNMIR9707.INS
To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment/enclosure
Copy with attachment/enclosure
"N" = No copy
OFF ICE
RI/DRP
RI/DRP
RI/DRS
RI/DRP
SNorris
LDoerflein
JWhite
5'i
C
CHehl
DATE
11/24/97
11/a< /97
11/~ /97
OFFICIAL RECORD
COPY
11/4
/97