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Iog UNITED STATES n.
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION n
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20066
%...v..f JUN 0 31991
. Docket.No. 20395
-License No. SOP-20458-l' t
EA 91-066 Mr. John E. Bowles
.HOME ADDRESS DELETED
-UNDER 10 CFR 2.790
Dear Mr. Bowles:
SUBJECT:
DEMAND FOR INFORMATION vThe' purpose'.of this letter is to provide'you with the enclosed Demand for
>Information.
In January 1990, NRC Region II received information alleging that Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) Unit 1 was willfully and intentionally placed in.a condition prohibited by Technical Specifications.
In 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 Specification -3.4.1.4.2 was knowingly and willfully violated.
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The NRC is concerned that, according to testimony you provided during the investigation, you were on shift as Shift Supervisor on October 12, 1988, and you. stated that Reactor Makeup Water. Storage Tank discharge valves 1-1208-U4-176 and 1-1208-U4-177 were opened on October 12, 1988, and that you were aware that
-Clearance No. 1-88-371 required valves 176 and 177 to be locked closed in order to isolate Reactor Makeup Water. You denied intentionally violating Technical
-Specification 3.4.1.4.2 b,y stating that at the time you ordered the opening of
.valvec 176 and 177, you were not sure whether the loops were filled.
The' e' ent in question involved the apparent willful violation of Technical 4
v 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 when
. Technical Specifications required the valves to be closed and secured in position while the plant was in Mode 5 with reactor coolant loops not filled.
i The NRC is concerned that you may have intentionally disregarded Technical Specifi-cations in an apparent attempt to facilitate outage activities. This is viewed las aLparticularly significant situation because of the position you held at the tiv.e of the event. As Shift Supervisor on shift at the time, it was your Lresponsibilityito ensure compliance with Technical Specifications.
s Information provided by you as a result of this Demand for Information, as well Las informationLdeveloped as a result of the investigation, will be used as the
' basisifor. deciding what' NRC actions, if any, are appropriate regarding your-continued involvement in.10 CFR Part 50 and 10 CFR Part 55 licensed activities.
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wasomm-y 1
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l Mr. John E. Bowles
- Upon com)1etion of the evaluation of all appropriate information, the NRC will j
decide w1 ether to conduct an enforcement conference with you regarding this matter. Questions regarding this letter should be directed to Mr. Alan R.
HerdtoftheNRCRegionIIstaffat(404)331-5583.
This letter and the enclosure are not being placed in the NRC's Public Document i
1 Room until a decision is made as to whether a formal enforcement action will be taken on this matter.
Sincerely,
,,u lk.
.Jpmes H. Sniezek
' Djeputy Executive Director for Nuclear 1
Reactor Regulation, Regional Operations and Research
Enclosure:
Demand for Information cc w/ enc 1:
)
Georgia Power Company ATTN:
W. G. Hairston, III Sr. Vice President -
Nuclear Operations P. O. Box 1295 Birmingham, AL 35201 i
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