ML20127B919
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UNITED STATES
.1 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION h
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WASHINGTON, o.C. 20566 4
JUN 0 31991 Docket No. 55-20117' License No. 50P-20467-1 7
j EA 91-064 1
Mr. William F. Kitchens HOME ADDRESS DELETED UNDER 10 CFR 2.790
Dear Mr. Kitchens:
SUBJECTi ' NOTICE OF ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE AND DEMAND FOR INFORMATION The purpose of this letter ~is to inform you of a Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- (NRC) enforcement conference at which your presence is requested, and to provide you with the enclosed Demand for Information. The purpose of the enforcement conference will be to obtain information to assist the NRC in reaching enforce--
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ment decisions regarding your apparent improper actions with regard to an event which occurred at Georgia Power Company's Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) on October 12 and 13, 1988. The event in question involved the apparent willful violation' of Technical Specification 3.4.1.4.2 in that Unit 1 Reactor
~ Makeup Water Storage Tank valves were opened to facilitate chemical cleaning of the Reactor Coolant System (RCS) when Technical Specifications required tM valves to.be closed'and secured in position while the plant was in Mode 5 with reactor coolant loops not filled.
In January 1990, NRC Region II received information that VEGP Unit I was intentionally placed in a condition prohibited by Technical Specifications.
In i
response to_that information, the NRC initiated an investigation to determine the facts and circumstances of the allegation. The NRC Office of Investigations completed its investigation on March 19, 1991, and concluded that Technical l
Specification 3.4.1.4.2 was knowingly and willfully violated with your express i
knowledge and concurrence.
Based on the investigative findings, the NRC is concerned that you may have intentionally disregarded Technical Specifications in an apparent attempt to
. facilitate outage activities. This is viewed as a particularly significant matter because of the position you held at the time of the event. As Operations i
Manager, it was your' responsibility to ensure compliance with Technical
_j Specifications.
Information provided by you asla result of the enclosed Demand for Information, the. information provided at the Enforcement Conference, and that developed as a result of the' investigation will be used as the basis for deciding what actions or sanctions, if any, should be taken regarding your continued involvement in
'10 CFR-Part 50 and 10 CFR Part 55 licensed activities.
'The enforcement conference will be held at the NRC's Region II office. -Specific schedule arrangements for the enforcement conference wi 1 be made with you to ensure that the conference is scheduled for a mutually convenient time. -You
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Q-f"loQYC. pe d
Mr. William F. Kitchens.
will be informed of the exact date and time at a later date. The enforcement conference will be transcribed. Any questions regarding the enforcement conference should be directed to Mr. Alan R.'Herdt of the NRC Region II staff
- at (404) 331-5583.
This letter and the enclosure are_ not being placed in the NRC's Public Document Room until a decision is made as to whether a formal enforcement action will be taken on this natter.
Sincerely,
'I o
0 w,y;)k unup. '
J ames H. Sniezek
( _peputy Executive Director for Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Regional Operations and Research
Enclosure:
Demand for Information cc w/ enc 1:
Georgia Power Company ATTN:
W. G. Hairston, Ill Sr. Vice President -
Nuclear Operations P. O. Box 1295
. Birmingham, AL 35201 m
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