ML18065B165
| ML18065B165 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 02/26/1998 |
| From: | Beach A NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Thomas J. Palmisano CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18065B166 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-255-97-18, EA-97-510, NUDOCS 9803030371 | |
| Download: ML18065B165 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000255/1997018
Text
EA 97-510
Mr. Thomas J. Palmisano
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
REGION Ill
801 WARRENVILLE ROAD
LISLE, ILLINOIS 60532-4351
February 26, 1998
Site Vice President and General Manager
Palisades Nuclear Generating Plant
27780 Blue Star Memorial Highway
Covert, Ml 49043-9530
SUBJECT:
NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND NRC INSPECTION REPORT
NO. 50-255/97018(DRP)
Dear Mr. Palmisano:
On January 27, 1998, the NRC completed an inspection at your Palisades Nuclear Generating
Plant. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection.
The inspection covered a seven-week period. Areas examined during the inspection are
identified in the report. Within these areas, the inspection consisted of a selective examination of
procedures and representative records, interviews with personnel, and observation of activities in
progress. The purpose of the inspection effort was to determine whether activities authorized by
the licensee were conducted safely and in accordance with NRC requirements.* The summary
contained in the report provides an overview of our assessment of your performance.
Based on the r~sults of this inspection, the NRC has determined that a violation of NRC
requirements occurred. The violation is cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice), and the
circumstances surrounding it are described in the enclosed report .. This violation is of concern
because longstanding design deficiencies have affected high pressure air system reliability.
In addition to the above inspection, this inspection report also addresses the results of a
separate inspection conducted at Palisades from August 28 through October 17, 1997. Findings
from this inspection are detailed in Inspection Report No. 50-255/97011 (DRP). In that report, two
Appendix R design issues were discussed pertaining to: 1) improper evaluation for the effects
caused by spurious operation of component cooling water/service water interface valves; and
2) alternate shutdown procedures not incorporating the Appendix R assumption that all reactor
coolant pumps would be tripped if a fire caused an evacuation of the control room. A third issue
delineated in an October 30, 1997, licensee event report discussed an inadequate evaluation for
the effects caused by a spurious opening of the atmospheric steam dump valves.
These issues are of concern because of the safety significance associated with plant equipment
configurations that did not meet 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix R, safe shutdown requirements for a
design basis-fire:*--These issues*would normally be designated as a Severity Level Ill problem in
accordance with the NRC's NUREG-1600, "General Statement of Policy and Procedures for NRC
Enforcement Actions," (Enforcement Policy). However, I have been authorized, after
consultation with the Director, Office of Enforcement, to exercise enforcement discretion in
accordance with Section Vll.B.3, "Violations Involving Old Design Issues," of the Enforcement
9803030371 980226
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Policy to not issue a Notice of Violation in this case. The decision to apply enforcement
discretion was based on consideration of the following: 1) significant NRC enforcement action
(EA 96-131) was taken against the Consumers Energy Company for several examples of a
failure to take prompt corrective actions related to A:ppendix R deficiencies; 2) Palisades
identified the issues detailed above and promptly notified NRC; 3) corrective actions were
immediate and encompassed the root causes for these issues; 4) some of the issues were
related to activities that were in progress before the enforcement action was issued; 5) the
issues would not be classified at a severity level higher than Severity Level Ill; and 6) Consumers
Energy Company met with the NRC to explain their efforts to resolve these issues, which were
outlined in their reply dated September 12,1996; 7) these issues.were identified through a
voluntary initiative; and 8) these issues would not likely have been identified by routine licensee
efforts.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, the
enclosures, and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Docket No.: 50-255
License No.: DPR-20
Enclosures:
2. Inspection Report
No.* 50-255/9701 S(DRP)
See Attached Distribution
See Previous Concurrence
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\pali\\pal97018.drp
Sincerely,
/s/A. Bill Beach
A. Bill Beach
Regional Administrator
To receive a co
of this document, Indicate in the box "C" .= Co
without attach/encl "E" = Co
with attach/encl "N" = No copy
OFFICE
Riii
Riii
Riii
NAME
Bur ess:nmo
Grant
Be
DATE
02/ /98
021 /98
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
c
T. Palmisano
-2-
Policy to not issue a Notice of Violation in this case. The .decision to apply enforcement
discretion was based on consideration of the following: 1) significant NRC enforcement action
(EA 96-131) was taken against the Consumers Energy Company for several examples of a
failure to take prompt corrective actions related to Appendix R deficiencies; 2) Palisades
identified the issues detailed above and promptly notified NRC; 3) corrective actions were
immediate and encompassed the root causes for these issues; 4) some of the issues were
related to activities that were in progress before the enforcement action was issued; 5) the
issues would not be classified at a severity level higher than Severity Level Ill; and 6) Consumers
Energy Company met with the NRC to explain their efforts to resolve these issues, which were
outlined in their reply dated September 12, 1996.
In accordance with 10 CFR.2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, the
enclosures, and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Docket No.: 50-255
License No.: DPR-20
Enclosures:
2. Inspection Report
No. 50-255/97018(DRP)
See Attached Distribution
Sincerely,
A. Bill Beach
Regional Administrator
DOCUMENT NA~E: G:\\pali\\pal97018.drp
To receive a- co -Otthis document, Indicate In the box "C" = Co
without attach/encl "E" = Co
with attach/encl "N" = No copy
OFFICE
Rill
Riii
NAME
Grant
Beach
/'
DATE
02n.,yg
021
198
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
T. Palmisano
. -3-
cc w/encls:
RA.Fenech, Senior Vice President,
Nuclear Operation
T. Bordine, Manager, Licensing
Department
R. Whale, Michigan
Public Service Commission
Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality
Department of Attorney General
Distribution:
Docket File w/encls
DRP w/encls
Project Manager, NRR w/encls
Riii Enf. Coordinator w/encls
CAA 1 (E-mail)
DRS (2) w/encls
TSS w/encls
J. Lieberman, OE w/encls
B. Boger, NRR w/encls
J. Goldberg, OGC w/encls
PUBLIC IE-01 w/encls
SRI Palisades w/encls
A. B. Beach w/encls
Deputy RA w/encls
Riii PRR w/encls
DOCDESK (E-mail)