ML20132A392

Press Release I-96-81, NRC Staff Proposes to Fine Rg&E $100,000 for Alleged Violations at Ginna Nuclear Plant

ML20132A392
Person / Time
Site:	Ginna
Issue date:	12/13/1996
From:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
References
PR-I-96-081, PR-I-96-81, NUDOCS 9612160048
Download: ML20132A392 (1)

Text

• • 8 United States Nuclear Rrgulstory Commission Offica of Public Affairs, Region I 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19401 Phones 610/337-5330 Fax: 610/337-5241 l Internet dps@nrc. gov or nas@nrc. gov I-96-81 December 13, 1996

Contact:

Diane Screnci FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Neil A. Sheehan NRC STAFF PROPOSES TO FINE RG&E $100,000 FOR ALLEGED VIOLATIONS AT GINNA NUCLEAR PLANT j The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed a $100,000 fine against the operator of the Robert E. Ginna nuclear power plant for two alleged violations involving safety valves at the Ontario, N.Y., facility, j i

The first alleged violation facing Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E)  ;

Corporation stems from a failure to adequately verify the ability of the '

plant's two residual heat removal system core deluge valves to open when necessary. Located in the plant's containment structure in two parallel lines that discharge into the reactor vessel, the valves, upon receipt of a safety signal, would need to open and allow the injection of water from the residual heat removal system into the vessel. They also serve a pressure isolation function for the vessel. Failure of these valves to operate properly would l significantly degrade the ability of the emergency core cooling system to perform as required during an accident.

RG&E's failure to adequately correct the condition despite past opportunities to do so constituted the second alleged violation. <

Since the discovery of the alleged violations, during special NRC inspections conducted last July and August, the utility has modified the valves to assure they perform as intended. Also, RG&E conducted significant additional testing and re-analyses of the valves and concluded they were, in fact, operable prior to modifications in August 1996.

l NRC Region 1 Administrator Hubert J. Miller expressed concern that RG&E l had not performed adequate analysis and verification of the valves

• i capabilities prior to August 1996, despite indications that further analysis was warranted. Mr. Miller also said that given the regulatory significance and duration of the infractions, as well as the impact on plant safety if the i valves had not functioned as needed, they have been catergorized as a Severity Level III problem that warrants a civil penalty. '

"These findings demonstrate the importance of management taking appropriate action to assure that 1.) design inputs for safety-related components are adequately analyzed, and appropriately verified; and 2.)

indications of adverse condicions, including inadequate analysis, are promptly identified and corrected," Mr. Miller wrote in a letter to RG&E.

The utility has 30 days to pay the proposed fine or to request in j writing that part or all of the penalty be withdrawn. j 9612160048 961213 PINT PRESS R RC-I-96-081 PDR-130111 pgc>l cis