ML20129B434
| ML20129B434 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | LaSalle  |
| Issue date: | 09/11/1996 |
| From: | Caldwell J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Subalusky W COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20129B439 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-96-335, NUDOCS 9609230056 | |
| Download: ML20129B434 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000373/1996009
Text
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september 11, 1996
EA 96-335
Mr.- W. T. Subalusky, Jr.
Site Vice President
LaSalle County Station -
Commonwealth Edison Company
2601 North 21st Road
Marseilles, IL 61341
SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION REPORT NOS. 50-373/96009,50-374/96009
Dear Mr..Subalusky:
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This refers to the special inspection conducted by Kerry D. Ihnen and Hershell
'A. Walker,of this office on July 17 to August 20, 1996, at your LaSalle County
Station, Units 1 & 2.
The purpose of the inspection was to review the
circumstances surrounding the injection of quantities of foam sealant into the
safety-related service water tunnel and to determine whether activities
authorized by the license were conducted safely and in accordance with NRC
requirements. Areas examined during the inspection are identified in the
enclosed report. Within these areas, the inspection consisted of selective
~ examinations of procedures and representative records, interviews with
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-personnel, and observation of activities in progress. At the conclusion of
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the inspection, the findings were discussed with those members of your staff
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identified in the enclosed report.
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Based on the results of this inspection, several apparent violations of NRC
requirements were 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), V'JREG-1600.
One of the apparent violations, ' involving failure to provide adequate control
over safety related maintenance activities, was very significant and was the
initiating cause of the inadvertent injection of sealant into the service
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water tunnel.
The injected sealant material had the potential to cause the
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loss of the ultimate heat sink for both reactor units. Other apparent
violations, involving' failures to take adequate and timely actions to correct
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the service water problems, were also very significant because effective
actions could have significantly reduced the period of risk.
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Another apparent violation involving failure to perform a 50.59 safety
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evaluation or screening, was significant because one of the changes appeared
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to include an unreviewed safety question. Finally, apparent violations were
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identified involving inadequate procedures or failure to follow procedures,
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and failure to provide adequate records of maintenance and inspection
activities. The specific examples were less significant, but these issues are
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important as they. reflect the level of discipline ' utilized by your staff in
conducting licensed activities. The details pertaining to each apparent
. violation are described in the enclosed inspection report.
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9609230056 960911
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ADOCK 05000373
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W. T. Subalusky
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No Notice of Violation is presently being issued for these inspection
findings.
In addition, the nus.ber and characterization of apparent violations
described in the enclosed inspection report may change as a result of further
NRC review.
A pre-decisional enforcement conference to discuss these apparent violations
has been scheduled for September 27, 1996. The decision to hold a pre-
decisional enforcement conference does not mean that the NRC has determir,ed
that a violation has occurred or that enforcement action will be taken. This
conference is being held to obtain information to enable the NRC to make an
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enforcement decision, including a common understanding of the facts and
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circumstances surrounding the violations, their root causes, your
opportunities to identify the apparent violations sooner, your corrective
actions, and the significance of the issues.
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In addition, this is an opportunity for you to point out any errors in our
inspection report and for you to provide any information concerning your
perspectives on 1) the severity of the violations, 2) the application of the
factors that the NRC considers when it determines the amount of a civil
penalty that may be assessed in accordance with Section VI.B.2 of the
Enforcement Policy, and 3) any other application of the Enforcement Policy to
this case, including the exercise of discretion in accordance with Section
VII.
You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our
deliberations on this matter. No response regarding these apparent violations
is required at this time.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of
this letter and its enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
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Sincerely,
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Original signed by John A. Grobe, Acting g g
James L. Caldwell, Acting Director
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Division of Reactor Projects
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Docket Nos.:
50-373, 50-374
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Enclosures
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1.
Inspection Report
No. 50-373/96009(DRP); 374/96009(DRP)
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2.
Enforcement Policy: Section V, " Pre-decisional
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Enforcement Conferences"
SEE ATTACHED FOR DISTRIBUTION
File
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0FFICIAL RECORD COPY
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W. T. Subalusky
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No Notice of Violation is presently being issued for these inspection
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findings.
In addition', please be advised that the number and characterization
of apparent violations described in the enclosed inspection report may change
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as a result of further NRC review,
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s
A pre-decisional enforcement conference to discuss these apparent violations
,
has been scheduled for September 27, 1996. The decision to hold a pre-
decisional enforcement conference does not mean that the NRC has determined
!
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that a violation has occurred or that enforcement action will be taken. This
conference is being held to obtain information to enable the NRC to make an
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enforcement decision, including a common understanding of the facts involving
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root causes, opportunities to identify the apparent violations sooner,
corrective actions, significance of the issues and the need for lasting and
effective corrective action.
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In addition, this is an opportunity for you to point out any errors in our
inspection report and for you to provide any information concerning your
perspectives on 1) the severity of the violations, 2) the application of the
,
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factors that the NRC considers when it determines the amount of a civil
^
penalty that may be assessed in accordance with Section VI.B.2 of the
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Enforcement Policy, and 3) any other application of the Enforcement Policy to
"
this case, including the exercise of discretion in accordance with Section
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VII.
,
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You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our
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deliberations on this matter. No response regarding these apparent violations
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is required at this time.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of
this letter and its enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
,
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Sincerely,
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James L. Caldwell, Acting Director
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Division of Reactor Projects
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Docket Nos.:
50-373, 50-374
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Enclosures:
1.
Inspection Report
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No. 50-373/96009(DRP); 374/96003(DRP)
2.
Enforcement Policy: Section V, " Pre-decisional
Enforcement Conferences"
SEE ATTACHED FOR DISTRIBUTION
File Name: R:
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OJFICIAL RECORD COPY
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W. T. Subalusky
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cc w/ encl:
D. A. Sager, Vice President,
Generation Support
H. W. Keiser, Chief Nuclear
Operating Officer
D. J. Ray, Station Manager
J. Burns, Reg'Jlatory Assurance
Supervisor
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O. Farrar, Nv lear Regulatory
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Services Manager
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Richard Hubbard
Nathan Schloss, Economist
Office of the Attorney General
State Liaison Officer
Chairman, Illinois Commerce
Commission
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Document Control Desk-Licensing
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Distribution:
Docket File w/ encl
DRP w/ encl
PUBLIC IE-01 w/ enc 1
RIII PRR w/ encl
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OC/LFDCB w/ encl
W. L. Axelson, RIII w/ encl
SRI LaSalle, Dresden,
RMB/ FEES (E-Mail) w/ enc 1
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Quad Cities w/ encl
A. B. Beach, w/ encl
Project Manager, NRR w/ encl
B. L. Burgess, w/ encl
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RACI (E-Mail)
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