ML19322B808
| ML19322B808 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oconee  |
| Issue date: | 03/29/1977 |
| From: | Volgenau E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | Horn C DUKE POWER CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19322B778 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7912050793 | |
| Download: ML19322B808 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000269/1977001
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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MAR 291977
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Duke Power Company
License Nos.: DPR 38
Attn:
Mr. Carl Horn, Jr.
DPR 47
President
DPR 55
P.O. Box 2178
Docket Nos.:
50-269
Charlotte, North Carolina 28242
50-270
50-287
Gentlemen:
This refers to the inspection conducted on December 20-23, 1976 by
Mr. A. L. Cunningham; January 18--21, 1977 by Messrs. T. Epps, P. Burnett
and C. Alderson; and January 25-28, 1977 by Mr. A. Kowalczuk of our
Region II office in Atlanta, Georgia, of activities authorized by NRC
License Nos. DPR-38, DPR-47 and DPR-55; and to the meetings held on
December 23, 1976, January 21, 1977, and January 28, 1977, with Mr. J.
E. Smith and members of the Oconee staff to discuss the inspection
findings. This also refers to the meetin;; held at the Region II offics
on February 11, 1977, attended by Mr. W. O. Parker, Jr. and other members
of your staff with Mr. N. C. Moseley and other members of the Region II
office.
This inspection concentrated on events associated with the release of
more than three curies of radioactivity resulting from radioactive
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secondary system water leaking in,.a a turbine building sump beginning
January 17, 1977.
Other activities including plant operaticas and
testing, nonradiological environmental controls and followup on pre-
viously identified items of nonce =pliance and unresolved items were also
examined.
Based on the results of this inspection, it appears that several of your
activities were not conducted in full compliance with NRC requirements
as set forth in the Notice of Violation, enclosed herewith as Appendix A.
Our concern for inadequate control syste=s related to the identified
problem areas was expressed in the Region II meeting with Duke Power
Company representatives on February 11, 1977. Concern was expressed
that timely, effective corrective action had not been imple=en ad to
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prevent recurrence and to minimire the consequences cf identified
problems. The need for i= mediate, corrective action was emphasized. % .a
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letter from the Region II office to Duke Power Company dated February 1,
1977, confirming corrective actions to be Omh regarding the leakage of
CERTInED MAIL
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RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
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MAR 291977
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Duke Power Company
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radioactive water that began on January 17, 1977. Certain of the items
in Appendix A illustrate that several days passed before a coordinated
management effort to minimize, control and adequately monitor radio-
active effluents was developed to prevent additional noncompliance with
regulatory requirements, even though license conditions require prior
planning to cope with such occurrences.
In addition, Region II personnel
met with senior Duke Power Company representatives on April 16, 1974,
August 29, 1974, and June 9, 1976, to discuss our~ concerns regarding
your implementation of radiological requirements and the need for
improved management controls to correct identified problems.
The enforcement history of the Oconee Nuclear Station related to radio-
logical cont:ols, enclosed herewith as Appendix C, shows numerous as
well as repetitive or similar items of noncompliance.
Specifically,
Appendix C shows 41 items of noncompliance involving 30 basic require-
ments over the past three years.
Of the 30 basic requirements, it was
found that in seven instances the items were repetitive ce similar to
items found during other inspections.
Further, Iten Nos. 1, 5 and 6 in
Appendix A to this letter are repetitive or similar in nature to items
found during previous inspections.
Based on our review of the enforcement history related to the Oconee
Nuclear Station it appears that the history of repetitive and chronic
noncompliance, when considered in conjunction with failure to institute
effective corrective action and =anagement controls, demonstrates that
management is.apparently not conducting licensed activities with adequate
concern for the health, safety or interest of its employees or the public.
Consequently, in your reply, you should describe those actions taken or
planned to imp' rove the ef f ectiveness of your management syste=s to con-
trol plant effluents, effluent =onitoring, radiation safety and to i= prove
communications and performance among operating, health physics, chemistry
and =aintenance organizations involved with such activities.
As you are aware from the " Criteria for Deter"N g Enforcement Action,"
which was provided to you by letter dated December 31, 1974, the enforce-
ment actions available to the Cocsission in the exercise of its regulatory
responsibilities include administrative actions in the form of written
notices of violation, civil monetary penalties, and orders pertaining to
the modification, suspension or revocation of a license. After careful
evaluation of the items of nonco=pliance identified in Appendix A and the
results of our inspection, this office proposes to i= pose civil penal-
ties, pursuant to Section 234 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as
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Duke Power Company
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amended, (42 USC 2282) and 10 CFR 2.205, in the cumulative a=ount of
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Tverty One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($21,500) as sec forth in the
" Notice of Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalties," enclosed herewith
as Appendix 3.
This notice is sent to you pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.201
of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," Part 2 Titic 10, Code of Federal
Regulations.
Section 2.201 requires you to submit to this office
within twenty (20) days of your receipt of this notice a written
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statement or explanation in reply including: (1) corrective steps which
have been taken by you and results achieved;
(2) corrective steps which
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will be taken to avoid further items of nonco=pliance; and (3) the date
when full compliance will be achieved.
Your written reply to this letter, combined with our findings from our
continuing inspection program, will be considered in determining whether
any further enforce =ent action such as license modification, suspension
or revocation is appropriate.
Sincerely,
h,fl
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Ernst Volgenau,
Director
Office of Inspection and
Enforcement
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Enclosures:
1.
Appendix A, Notice
of Violation
2.
Appendix 3, Notice of
Proposed I= position of
Civil Penalties
Ap'endix C, Enforcement
3.
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History Related to
Radiation Safety
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