ML19347D719
| ML19347D719 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry  |
| Issue date: | 03/20/1981 |
| From: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | Willis W TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19347D720 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-81-030, EA-81-30, NUDOCS 8103261156 | |
| Download: ML19347D719 (2) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES g y;3e(, g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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E WA$mNGTON. D. C. 20555 o
ma Docket Nos.:
50-259, 260 and 296 ci to License Nos.:
DPR-33, 55 and 68 e
EA 81-20
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Tennessee Valley Authority C
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ATTN:
W. F. Willis, General Manager P
400 Commerce Avenue E12 - B16 g
Knoxville, TN 37902 f
q Gentlemen:
An inspection conducted at the Browns Ferry piant by t.e NRC Region II Office on January 6-9 and 20-23, 1981, indicated that licensed activities were not coing conducted with proper con:ern for the fire protection program.
This inspection revealed significant violations ir,volving failure to provide autcmatic sprinkler protecticn for the RHR service water pumps in the intake pumping structure as required by the operating license, failure to provide an adequate fire resistant enc 1csure for the emergency :attery rooms as required by the operating license, failure to obtain a license change which describes current operation of fire suppression systems for the cable spreading rooms, failure to provide adequate fire watches required by the technical specifi-cations, and failure to adhere to the fire protection procedures for fire pump testing, fire brigade drills and application of fire retardant coatings of electrical cables.
Our concerns regarding the safety significance of these catters were discussed with J. L. Cross, Executive Assistant to the Manager of Power by James P. O'Reilly, Director of the NRC Region II Office by telephone on February 4,1981.
Your corrective actions were confirmed in a letter dated February 4, 1981, frcm the NRC Region II Director to H. G. Parris, Manager of l
Power.
These matters were also discussed in an enfcecement meeting conducted in the Region II Office on February 11, 1981 with E. F. Thomas, Man 3ger of Power Operations, and other members of your staff.
l 1
In view of the 1975 fire at Browns Ferry, TVA management should be aware of the importance of assuring that an adequate fire protection program is implemented at your nuclear plants.
Followir.g the 1975 fire, the Browns Ferry plant was given sufficient time to implement a fire protection program.
however, the violations listed in Appendix A to this letter represent a significant breakdown in your control of tne fire protection program.
Accordingly, we propose the imposition of a 550,000 civil penalty under the authority of the June 30, 1980, amendment to the Atomic Energy Act (P.L. S6-295) for the violations set forth in Appendix A to this letter.
CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED slosseo N M
I i
UTE 20 1??1 Tennessee Valley Authority This breakdown in management control of the fire protection program created a substantial potential for, or could have resulted in, a system designed to prevent or mitigate a serious safety event not being able to perform its intended function under certain conditions.
Because of the 1975 fire, TVA could have reasonably been expected to take effective measures to prevent these violations; therefore, the cumulative civil penalty reflects an increase of 25% of the base value.
This $50,000 is the total of the penalties assigned to the violations in Appendix A.
These violations occurred under both the old and new enforcement policies.
The proposed civil penalty was assessed using the NRC Interim Enforcement Policy for violations that have occurred since September 4,1980.
This inspection also identified certain activities which deviate from commitments to the NRC and from applicable codes approved by the NRC and have safety significance.
These deviations are identified in the Notice of Deviations enclosed herewith as Appendix B and are additional examples of the breakdown in the management control of the fire protection program.
You are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions in Appendix A and Appendix B when preparing your response.
Your reply to this letter and the results of future inspections will be considered in determining whether further enforcement action may be appropriate.
A copy of this letter will be placed in the Public Document Room in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790.
Sincerely,
,l Victor Stello', Jr. '
Director Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Enclosures:
1.
Appendix A, Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalties 2.
Appendix B, Notice of Deviations cc w/ enc 1:
H. G. Parris, Manager of, Power E. F. Thomas, Manager of Power, Operations H. J. Green, Division Director H. L. Abercrombie, Plant Superintendent R. E. Rogers, Project Engineer H. N. Culver, Chief, Nuclear Safety Review Staff
.