ML18065B121
| ML18065B121 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 12/13/1997 |
| From: | Grove J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Thomas J. Palmisano CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18065B122 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-255-97-15, NUDOCS 9712230374 | |
| Download: ML18065B121 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000255/1997015
Text
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Mr. T. Pa.lmisano
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December 13, 1997
Site Vice President and General Manager
Palisades Nuclear Generating Plant
Consumers Energy Company
27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway
Covert, MI 49043-9530
SUBJECT:
NRC RADIATION PROTECTION INSPECTION REPORT 50-255/97015(DRS)
Dear Mr. Palmisano:
On November 7, 1997, the NRC completed an inspection of your Palisades Nuclear Generating
Plant. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection.
The inspection was an examination of activities conducted under your license as they relate to
radiation safety and to compliance with the Commission's rules and regulations and with the
conditions of your license. The principal purpose of the inspection was to review a high
radiation. area posting incident and the radiological surveys, training, and root cause evaluation
associated with this occurrence. The inspection consisted of a selective examination of
procedures and representative records, walkdowns throughout the radiologically controlled
areas, and interviews with personnel.
Three violations associated with work conducted in the Clean Waste Filter Transfer Room were
identified. The first violation was the failure to conspicuously post the high radiation area in this
room for over 16 hours1.851852e-4 days <br />0.00444 hours <br />2.645503e-5 weeks <br />6.088e-6 months <br />. Although no significant radiation exposures resulted from this violation,
the dose rate at one foot from the filter storage box was 500 millirem per hour. The second
violation was the failure of a health physics technician to be aware of dose rate levels prior to
entering this high radiation area. The third violation relates to three examples of failure by your
health physics staff to follow radiological survey requirements in support of the filter transfer
activities. Weaknesses regarding the lack of a clear communication of health physics
management's expectations for certain radiation protection duties and the narrow focus of the
health physics staff in the conduct of their specific duties were also identified.
In particular, the NRC is concerned that these violations involved members of your health
physics staff who are responsible for implementing and monitoring the radiation protection
activities at your plant. These individuals did not exhibit a questioning attitude and failed to
consider several indicators which demonstrated a problem with the high radiation area posting.
Although the high radiation area posting and entry violations were initially identified by your staff
during a root cause evaluation, the failure of radiation protection personnel to consider and
respond to the several indicators formed the basis for citing the violations.
9712230374 971213
ADOCK 05000255
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T. Palmisano
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December 13, 1997
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 prevent recurrence. Your
response may reference or include previous docketed correspondence, if the correspondence
adequately addresses the required response. After reviewing your response to this Notice,
including your proposed corrective actions and the results of future inspections, the NRC will
determine whether further NRC enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with
NRC regulatory requirements.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2. 790 of the NRC's "Rules and Practice," a copy of this letter and its
enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR). To the extent possible,
your response should not include any personal privacy, proprietary, or ~afeguards information
so that it can be placed in the PDR without redaction.
We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this inspection.
Sincerely,
Original Signed by Gary L. Shear
John A. Grobe, Director
Division of Reactor Safety
Docket No. 50-255
License No. DPR-20
Enclosures:
2. Inspection Report 50-255/97015(DRS)
cc w/encls:
Robert A. Fenech, Senior Vice President,
Nuclear, Fossil and Hydro Operations
Thomas C. Berdine, Licensing Manager
Richard Whale, Michigan Public *
Service Commission
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Department of Attorney General (Ml)
DOCUMENT NAME: G:/DRS/PAL97015.DRS
To receive a cop of this document, indicate In the box: *c* =Co
without attachmenUendosure "E" =Co
OFFICE
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NAME
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DATE
12/3 /97
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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T. Palmisano
Distribution
Docket Fi.le w/encl
PUBLIC IE-01 w/encl
LPM, NRR w/encl
DRP w/encl
DRS w/encl
3
Rill PRR w/encl
SRI, Palisades w/encl
J. L. Caldwell, Rill w/encl
A. B. Beach, Rill w/encl
December 13, 1997
Rll I Enf. Coordinator w/encl
TSS w/encl
DOCDESK w/encl
CAA1 w/encl