ML20129D806

Forwards Insp Rept 50-293/96-07 on 960920.Non-cited Violation Identified & Being Considered for Escalated Enforcement Action

ML20129D806
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	09/20/1996
From:	Wiggins J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Boulette E BOSTON EDISON CO.
Shared Package
ML20129D811	List: ML20129D806 ML20129D836
References
NUDOCS 9609300198
Download: ML20129D806 (4)

See also: IR 05000293/1996007

Text

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t September 20, 1996 '

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j EA 96-271

E. Thomas Boulette, PhD

Senior Vice President - Nuclear

Boston Edison Company

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station

600 Rocky Hill Road

Plymouth, Massachusetts 02360-5599

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SUBJECT: PILGRIM SPECIAL INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-293/96-07 )

Dear Mr. Boulette:

This letter refers to the special inspection conducted from July 8-12,1996, and

July 22-26,1996, at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, Plymouth, Massachusetts. The

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purpose of the inspection was to determine whether activities authorized by the license I

were conducted safely, and in accordance with NRC requirements. At the

September 3,1996, telephone exit meeting, the findings were discussed with you and

other members of your staff.

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The inspection was directed toward areas important to public health and safety. The areas

examined during this inspection included: (1) your corrective actions after you identified

potentially inoperable primary containment as documented in Licensee Event Report 96-04;

(2) your corrective actions in the environmental qualification program in response to the

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post-accident environment changes in the primary containment because of elevated service

water temperature; and (3) your corrective actions fe asolving two previously identified

electrical unresolved items. The inspection cordm " wiected examinations of design

documentation, procedures and representative ewrds, personnel interviews, and review of

. the actions taken by your staff to address these issues.

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Based on the results of this inspection, one apparent violation was identified and is being ,

considered for escalated enforcement action in accordance with the " General Statement of

Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy) (60 FR 34381;

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June 30,1995). Boston Edison had failed to promptly identify and correct the deficient

condition involving 12 improperly set breakers that provided protection to the electrical

containment penetrations. This improper breaker setting compromised the overcurrent

protection for the electrical penetrations. Under certain high impedance fault conditions,

I this improper setting could have led to damage to an electrical containment penetration,

and thus damage to the primary containment. No Notice of Violation is presently being '

issued for these inspection findings. In addition, be advised that the number and  ;

characterization of the apparent violation described in the enclosed inspection report may

change as a result of further NRC review.

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J 9609300198 960920

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PDR ADOCK 05000293

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E. Thomas Boulette, PhD 2

A predecisional enforcement conference to discuss the apparent violation is scheduled for

October 3,1996. The decision to hold a predecisional enforcement conference does not

mean that the NRC has determined that a violation has occurred or that enforcement action

will be taken. The conference is being held to obtain information to enable the NRC to

make an enforcement decision, such as a common understanding of the facts, root causes,

missed opportunities to identify the apparent violations sooner, corrective actions,

significance of the issues, and the need for lasting and effective corrective action. 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

apparent violation, (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 Vll.

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.

Sincerely,

James T. Wiggins, Director

Division of Reactor Safety

Docket No. 50-293

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E. Thomas Boulette, PhD 3 '

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cc w/ encl:

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L. Olivier, Vice President - Nuclear and Station Director  ;

T. Sullivan, Plant Department Manager i

N. Desmond, Regulatory Relations

D. Tarantino, Nuclear information Manager ,

R. Hallisey, Department of Public Health, Commonwealth of Massachusetts l

The Honorable Therese Murray 1

The Honorable Linda Teagan

B. Abbanat, Department of Public Utilities  !

Chairman, Plymouth Board of Selectmen j

Chairman, Duxbury Board of Selectmen l

Chairman, Nuclear Matters Committee

Plymouth Civil Defense Director l

P. Gromer, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy Resources l'

J. Shaer, Legislative Aseistant

J. Fleming

A. Nogee, MASSPIRG  :

Regional Administrator, FEMA

Office of the Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality

Engineering  !

Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

T. Rapone, Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety

' Chairman, Citizens Urging Responsible Energy

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, SLO Designee

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E. Thomas Boulette, PhD 4

Distribution w/ encl:

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J. Wiggins, DRS

Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)

PUBLIC

Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)

J. Knox, NRR

D. Screnci, PAO

NRC Resident inspector

R. Conte, DRP

H. Eichenholz, DRP

C. O'Daniell, DRP

DRS File

Distribution w/enci (VIA E-MAIL):

S. Shankman, NRR

R. Eaton, NRR

W. Dean, OEDO

R. Zimmerman, ADPR, NRR

J. Goldberg, OGC

J. Lieberman, OE (OEMAIL)

D. Holody, EO, RI

Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)

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DOCUMENT NAME: A:\PIL9607. INS

To receive e copy of this document, Indicate in the box: *C* = Co y without attachment / enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure *N* = No copy

0FFICE RI/DRS & (_.- l( RI/DRS / X RI/DRP , .] l l

NAME LCHEUNG WRULAND RCONTE//6 +/

DATE 09/18/96 09/ /96 09//7796 09/ /96 09/ /96

0FFICIAL RECORD COPY

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