ML17229A699
| ML17229A699 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie  |
| Issue date: | 03/20/1998 |
| From: | Boland A, Lieberman J NRC OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT (OE), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| EA-98-009, EA-98-9, EN-98-016, EN-98-16, NUDOCS 9804270060 | |
| Download: ML17229A699 (4) | |
Text
CATEGORY 1 REGULATORY INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (RIDS)
ACCESSION NBR:9804270060 DOC.DATE: 98/03/20 NOTARIZED: NO FACIL:50-335 St. Lucie Plant, Unit 1, Florida Power
&. Light Co.
AUTH.NAME AUTHOR AFFILXATION BOLAND,A.
Region 2
(Post 820201)
LIEBERMAN,J.
Ofc of Enforcement (Post 870413)
RECIP.NAME RECIPIENT AFFILIATION DOCKET 05000335
SUBJECT:
EN-98-016:informs that NOV & proposed imposition of civil penalty in amount of
$ 88,000 issued on or about 980325 to St Lucie facility.Action involves two violations which together represent Severity Level XI problem, associated w/licensee.
DISTRIBUTION CODE: IE33F COPIES RECEIVED:LTR /
ENCL C)
SIZE:
TITLE: Enforcement Notice (EN)
NOTES:
E RECIPIENT ID CODE/NAME INTERNAL: AEOD/SPD/RRAB NRR/DRPM/PERB OE DIR COPIES LTTR ENCL RECIPIENT ID CODE/NAME E
CE NUDOCS FULL TXT OE FILE 01 COPIES LTTR ENCL 0
Y EXTERNAL: LITCO BRYCE,J H NRC PDR NOAC N
NOTE TO ALL NRZDS" RECZPIENTS:
PLEASE HELP US TO REDUCE WASTE. TO HAVE YOUR NAME OR ORGANIZATION REMOVED FROM DISTRIBUTION LISTS OR REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COPIES RECEIVED BY YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION, CONTACT THE DOCUMENT CONTROL DESK (DCD)
ON EXTENSION 415-2083 TOTAL NUMBER OF COPIES REQUIRED:
LTTR 9
ENCL 0
March 20, 1998 EN 98-016 OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT '
~
NOTIFICATION OF SIGNIFICANT ENFORCEMENT ACTION Licensee:
Florida Power 8 Light Company (EA 98-009)
St. Lucie Docket Nos. 50-335 License No. DPR-67
~Sub'ecI:
PROPOSED IMPOSITION OF CIVIL PENALTY - $88,000 This is to inform the Commission that a Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty in the amount of $88,000 will be issued on or about March 25, 1998, to Florida Power 8 Light Company's St. Lucie facility. The action involves two violations which together represent a Severity Level II problem, associated with the licensee's failure to properly calibrate the Refueling Water Tank (RWT) level bistables.
This condition resulted in a Recirculation Actuation Signal (RAS) bistable setpoint of 36 inches indicated level above the RWT bottom, instead of 48 inches indicated level as required by Technical Specifications (TSs). The incorrect setpoint would cause ECCS pump air entrainment under certain design basis accident scenarios.
Given the air entrainment into the ECCS pumps, the licensee did not have reasonable assurance that the ECCS systems would remain operable under all postulated accident scenarios.
The licensee also concluded that the condition resulted in a change in the core damage frequency from 2.5E-5 to 5.5E-5.
This condition existed from April 1993 until December 1997.
In accordance with the Enforcement Policy, a base civil penalty in the amount of $88,000 is considered for a Severity Level II problem.
In considering the proposed civil penalty in this case, the factors of Idenfification and Corrective Action were considered in accordance with Section VI.B.2 of the Enforcement Policy. The licensee was given credit for Identification in that the violations were identified by the licensee because of a questioning attitude by a control room operator and a system engineer, after the bistable card was replaced in December 1997.
Additionally, the licensee was given credit for Corrective Action because of the comprehensive actions taken to determine the root cause and extent of condition.
Notwithstanding credit for Identification and Corrective Action the NRC considers the exercise of discretion to propose a civil penalty for problems categorized at Severity Level I
or II, in accordance, with Section VII.A.1 of the Enforcement Policy.
In this case, the violations resulted in a significant increase in risk over the more than four year period in which the conditions existed.
In addition, the violations are not associated with old design issues in that they were caused by engineering performance deficiencies in the 1990's.
Moreover, better quality assurance of engineering activities at the time of the setpoint change could have prevented the violation altogether.
Accordingly, a base civil penalty in the amount of $88,000 is proposed.
But for the questioning attitude displayed by the licensee staff in identifying the incorrect RWT level setpoint, a more substantial civil penalty would have been proposed.
The licensee has thirty days from the date of the Notice in which to respond to the violations.
It should be noted that the licensee has not been specifically informed of the enforcement action.
The schedule of issuance and notification is:
'F804270060 980320 PDR ISE EN-'V8-OI6'DR
Mailing of Notice Telephone Notification of Licensee The St'ate of Florida will be notified.
March 25, 1998 March 25, 1998
'N 98-016 The licensee has thirty days from the date of the Notice in which to respond.
Following NRC evaluation of the response, the civil penalty may be remitted, mitigated, or imposed by Order.
Contacts: A. Boland, Rll, 404-562-4421 J. Lieberman, OE, 301-415-2741 Distribution OWFN Chairman Jackson Comm. Dicus Comm. Diaz Comm. McGaffigan IP SECY OCA PA OWEN EDO DEDR DEDO OE OGC NRR OI SP TWFN OC AEOD OP CTR NMSS IRM OIG RES ACRS Regional Offices RI RIV RII WCFO Rill MAIL NUDOCS PUBLIC PRELINIINARY INFORMATION - NOT FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE UNTIL VERIFICATION T8AT LICENSEE HAS RECEIVED ACTION