ML19249D417
| ML19249D417 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000113 |
| Issue date: | 09/07/1979 |
| From: | Engelken R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | Seale R ARIZONA, UNIV. OF, TUCSON, AZ |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7909240630 | |
| Download: ML19249D417 (1) | |
Text
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WALNUT CHEEK, calif ORNI A 94596 September 7, 1979 Docket flo. 50-113 University of Arizona College of Engineering Tucson, Arizona 85721 Attention; Dr. Robert L. Seale, Head fluclear Reactor Laboratory Gentlemen:
This Information t;otice is being reissued to correct a word cmission and a punctuation error that, when taken together, completely changed the intent of a statement. The changed statement is underlined in the test of the Information fiotice.
It is requested that the facility licensee provide copies of this In-formation flotice to all flRC licensed individuals at the facility.
fio specific response is requested at this time.
If you have questicas regarding this matter, please contact the Director of the appropriate flRC Regional Office.
Sincerely, hCD~pG-R. H. Engelken Director
Enclosure:
IE Information flotice flo. 79-20, Revision 1
,o 7969240f P
SSIt!S: 6870 Accession flo:
7908220108 UNITED cTATES NUCLEAR REGULATURY COP 111SSION OFFICE OF IflSPECTION AND ENFORCEMEflT WASHIf!GTON, D.C. 20555 September 7, 1979 IE Information Notice No. 79-20 Rev. 1 flRC EliFORCEf)ENT POLICY - flRC LICENSED It!DIVIDUALS
Background:
In the past, f RC licensed individuals have been cited by the flRC for failure to comply with the conditions of their licenses.
These items of noncompliance can generally be characterized as serious or repeated failures to follow reactor operating procedures.
Two recent events involving the radiation overexposure of NRC licensed individuals through their violation of utility procedures, facility Technical Specifications and the Code of Federal Regulations have raised questions about the exercise of their responsibilities.
The purpose of this Information flotice is two-fold:
(1) To remind the fiRC licensed individuals of their responsibilities, not only in the proper operation of the facility controls, but in compliance with the facility administrative procedures, and (2) To summarize thc enforcement sanctions available to the flRC for use against licensed individuals.
Description of Circumstances:
1.
Responsibilities Facility licensees are charged with the responsibility to design, construct and operate their plants in accordance with NRC requirements to assure that public health and safety are protected.
The role of flRC licensed individuals is no less important in the overall Regulatory scheme.
The NRC recognizes that timely actions by flRC licensed indivi-duals are an important part of safety.
Reliance on these actions is a part of the defense-in-depth concept.
Specifically, the NRC requires that:
(1) Only licensed operators are permitted to manipulate the controls that directly affect reactivity (10 CFR 50.54 (i))
(2) Licensed operators are required to be present at the controls at all times during the operation of the facility (10 CFR 50.54 (k))
l
IE Infonaation f!otice tio. 79-20 Rev.1 September 7,1979 (3)
Page 2 of 3 Operation of mechanisms and apparatus other th indirectly affect the power level or reactivit an controls which only be accomplished with the knowledge and conse ty of licensed in accordance with Part 55 (10 CF of an operator n
(4) j))
during specified conditions, and availableLicel present at the facility during operation (10 CFR 50.54 (a)) or on call at other times h
(5) regulations and orders of the CormissionThe liR l
4 applicable rules, h
tb.e li:er.se (IC CFR 55.31(d , whether or not stated in E The above requires the t;RC licensed individ pertaining to the operation of the facility a d /p and to comply with radiation safety procedures iual to comply n nanipulatinn of its controls .B nplementing 10 CFR 20 flRC policy for the responsibility for safe k continues to be as follows: D operation of tiRC licensed facilities g (1) -i The facility licensee is responsible for a oper>ted within the requirerents of the licensessuring that the facili f@ tions, rules, re their employees.gulations, and Orders of the i;RC and for th A 'f (2) ns of flRC licensed individuals are responsible f ,, 3 proper actions so as not to creste or causeor taking timely and 7 *{.'j gi. tion of the facility" (i.e. accions or acti ia hazard to " safe opera-@bN 2 to ta'<e action, related to the facility whi hv ties, including failure affect on the health and safety of the public c could have an adverse NE individuals). , plant workers or the i% 2. Enforcement Sanctions 7~* h b On December 31, 1974, the then AEC sent a lett gb of noncompliance with AEC regulatory requirenen categories are applicable to tRC licensed individent action and the he licensees. Those criteria and g$[ s. d uals as well as facility fS Paragraph 55.40(b) of Title 10 of the Code ?l; modified for failure to observe any terms or cprescr a c y be revoked, suspended or j(( f% regulation or Order of the Commission onditions of any rule, 41 8 serious items of noncompliance where: hazard to safe "%h, These would generally involve demonstrate inattention to deties or dis ' W-(1) regard for requirements inckding i$ individual fails to take a required actiontechnical spec IM e ures; 2 or takes (an) iWeggMGnT EttTwi the liRC licensed ik Tiiat-~results in signiticant actual or potenti ~ T3) there is repetitive nonconpliance witUe'gulatory M.9 al satety consequences; or s!$ N[@ requirements-y n h, [p@a@ E
IE Information flotice fio. 79-20 Rev.1 September 7, 1979 Page 3 of 3 Examples of situations which could result in violations include: (1) floting a serious violation of procedural requirements and not taking corrective action. (2) Unauthorized bypassing of required reactor safety systems (3) Defeating alarms which have serious safety significance (4) Unauthorized abandoning of reactor controls (5' rwingly t@Sg actins that vblate T5 Liniting Conditions for v Operation The examples listed above involve the failure of an fiRC licensed individual to follow procedures and adhere to controls. These are violations of flRC require-ments. In the past the fiRC has issued flotices of Violation, as provided for in 10 CFR 2.201, and suspended, modified or revoked the license, as provided for in 10 CFR 55.40 (b), of fiRC licensed individuals. The issuance of civil monetary penalties, as provided for in 10 CFR 2.205 and 10 CFR 55.50, or criminal charges, as provided for in 10 CFR 55.50, have not been previously used against flRC licensed individuals but may be used if the circunstances warrant such action. The Comission will continue to monitor the performance of fiRC licensed individuals and will continue to take the appropriate enforcement action against NRC licensed individuals. flo written response to this Information flotice is required. If you have questions regarding this natter, please contact the Director of the appro-priate fiRC Regional Office, s) i}}