ML20035C758
| ML20035C758 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 04/01/1993 |
| From: | Hodges M NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Reid D VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20035C761 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-93-050, EA-93-50, NUDOCS 9304090063 | |
| Download: ML20035C758 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000271/1993005
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APR
11993
Docket No. 50-271
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Mr. Donald A. Reid
Vice President, Operations
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation
RD 5, Box 169
Ferry Road
Brattleboro, Vermont 05301
Dear Mr. Reid:
SUBJECT: INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-271/93-05, EA-93-050
This refers to the NRC safety inspection that was performed to evaluate the status of your
program for correcting the self-identified fire barrier penetration seal deficiencies. This
safety inspection included on-site inspection by Mr. A. Finkel of utis office from
February 17 - 25, 1993, at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, Vernon, Vermont, of
activities authorized by NRC License No. DPR-28; discussions of findings held by
Mr. Finkel with Mr. D. Reid and other members of your staff at the conclusion of the on-
site inspection; and in office review of documents continued in the Region I office until
March 8,1993.
Areas examined during this inspection are described in the NRC Region I Inspection Report
that is enclosed with this letter. Within these areas, the inspection consisted of selective
examinations of procedures and representative records, interviews with personnel, and '
observations of activities in progress.
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Based on the results of this inspection, two apparent violations are identified and are being
considered for escalated enforcement action in accordance with the " General Statement of
Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy),10 CFR Part 2,
Appendix C (1992). Although you identified and reported this condition, the plant has been
operating since 1979/1980 with fire barrier penetrations which did not meet the requirements
of Technical Specification Section 3.13.E.1, " Vital Fire Barrier Penetration Fire Seals."
We are concerned that this violation existed for over 13 years and none of your program
controls were able to identify this condition. A second apparent violation concerns the lack
of adequate surveillance tests and inspections of the fire barrier penetrations, since this was
one of the controls relied upon to detect inadequacies in fire barriers. This is an apparent
violation of Technical Specification Section 4.13.E.1, " Vital Fire Barrier Penetration Fire
Seals."
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
G:VY9305.AEF
9304090063 930401
ADOCK 05000271
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Mr. Donald A. Reid
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A third apparent violation, which will also be discussed, is the failure to perform sensitivity
testing of the smoke detectors to verify their operability. This is an apparent violation of
Technical Specification Section 4.13.A ," Fire Detectors."
Since an enforcement conference will be held, no Notice of Violation is presently being
issued for these inspection findings. In addition, please be advised that the number and
characterization of the apparent violations described in the enclosed report may change as a
result of further NRC review.
As a result of a recent telephone conversation with Mr. J. Pelletier, an enforcement
conference to discuss these apparent violations and concerns has been scheduled for
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1:00 p.m. on April 19, 1993. The purposes of this conference are to discuss the apparent
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violations, their causes and safety significance; to provide you the opportunity to point out
any errors in our report; to provide an opportunity for you to present your proposed
corrective action (s); and to discuss any other information that will help us determine the
appropriate enforcement action in accordance with the Enforcement Policy. In particular, we
expect you to address the corrective actions that you plan to take to address the
programmatic issues identified. It is requested that you address corrective actions associated
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with the installation and modifications associated with fire barrier penetration and the
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methods for performing Technical Specification surveillances, sensitivity testing of fire
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detectors, and audits of the fire protection and prevention program. You will be advised by
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separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations on these matters. No response
regarding this apparent violation is requimd at this time.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and
its enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Sincerely,
Oridna! signed By.
Ikrvin W. d0dEd5
Marvin W. Hodges, Director
Division of Reactor Safety
Enclosure: NRC R.egion 1 Inspection Report
No. 50-271/93-05
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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Mr. Donald A. Reid
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APR
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cc w/encls:
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R. Wanczyk, Plant Manager
J. Thayer, Vice President, Yankee Atomic Electric Company
L. Tremblay, Senior Licensing Engineer, Yankee Atomic Electric Company
J. Gilroy, Director, Vermont Public Interest Research Group, Inc.
D. Tefft, Administrator, Bureau of Radiological Health, State of New Hampshire
Chief, Safety Unit, Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
R. Gad, Esquire
G. Bisbee, Esquire
R. Sedano, Vermont Department of Public Service
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T. Rapone, Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety
Public Document Room (PDR)
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Local Public Document Room (LPDR)
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
K. Abraham, PAO (2)
NRC Resident Inspector
State of New Hampshire, SLO Designee
State of Vermont, SLO Designee
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, SLO Designee
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bec w/encls:
Region I Docket Room (with concurrences and IFS Forms)
M. Hodges, DRS
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E. Imbro, DRS
L. Bettenhausen, DRS
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DRS/EB SALP Coordinator
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N. Blumberg, DRS
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J. Linville, DRP
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E. Kelly, DRP
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H. Eichenholz, SRI - Vermont Yankee (w/ concurrences and IFS Forms)
V. McCree, OEDO
D. Dorman, NRR
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W. Butler, NRR
A. Finkel, DRS
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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