ML20133C766

Forwards Insp Repts 50-282/96-14 & 50-306/96-14 on 961009- 1119 & Notice of Violation

ML20133C766
Person / Time
Site:	Prairie Island
Issue date:	12/27/1996
From:	Caldwell J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Watzl E NORTHERN STATES POWER CO.
Shared Package
ML20133C768	List: ML20133C766 ML20133C808 ML20133C840
References
NUDOCS 9701080088
Download: ML20133C766 (2)

See also: IR 05000282/1996014

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December 27, 1996

Mr. E. Watzl

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Vice President

Nuclear Generation

Northern States Power Company

414 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, MN 55401

SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-282/96014, 50-306/96014

NOTICE OF VIOLATION.

Dear Mr. Watz1:

On November 19, 1996, the NRC completed an inspection at your Prairie Island

Nuclear Generating Plant. The enclosed report presents the results of that

inspection.

During the 6-week period covered by this inspection, your conduct of

activities at the Prairie Island facilities wae usually good. However, a

concern with operator performance during surve...iance activities was '

identified in the two most recent resident inspector reports. During this

report period an additional operator error during surveillance activities was

identified. This resulted in a violation of Technical Specifications. We i

remain concerned with this negative trend and request that your response to l

the violation include actions comprehensive enough to address the broad issue i

and not just the single event. '

An additional violation of Technical Specifications was identified by the NRC

when plant management misinterpreted the requirements and failed to test the

redundant diesel generator when one diesel was declared inoperable due to a

problem with the ventilation system. We are concerned with this issue because

the Operations Committee, led by senior plant management, approved a

nonconservative interpretation of the Technical Specifications action

requirements.

The violations are cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation, and the

circumstances surrounding the violations are described in detail in the I

enclosed report. Please note that you are required to respond to this letter

and should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when < I ,

preparing your response. The NRC will use your response, in part, to '

determine whether further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance

with regulatory requirements.

9701000088 961227 Ol

PDR ADOCK 05000282

G PDR

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E. Watzl 2

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In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of l

this letter and its enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room

(PDR). l

Sincerely,

/s/ J. L. Caldwell l

James L. Caldwell, Director

Division of Reactor Projects

Docket Nos.: 50-282, 50-306

License Nos: DPR-42, DPR-60

Enclosures: Notice of Violation

Inspection Report 50-282/96014, 50-306/96014

cc w/encls: Plant Manager, Prairie Island

John W. Ferman, Ph.D., i

Nuclear Engineer, MPCA

State Liaison Officer, State

of Minnesota

State Liaison Officer, State

of Wisconsin

Tribal Council

Prairie Island Dakota 'ommunity

pistribution:

Docket File w/ encl DRP w/ encl

PUBLIC IE-01 w/ encl RIII PRR w/ encl

OC/LFDCB w/ enc 1 Prairie Island PM, NRR w/ encl

SRI Prairie Island w/ encl CAA1 w/ encl (E-mail)

Monticello w/ enc 1 A. B. Beach w/ encl

W. L. Axelson w/ encl Enf. Coordinator w/ encl

DOCUMENT NAME: R:INSPRPTS\ POWERS \PRA96014.DRP

To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box 'C' = Copy w/o attach /enct "E" = Copy w/ attach / encl"N" = No copy

0FFICE DRP v2] l C. DRP co; IE DRP /A lO I

I

NAME Schweibinz/sn Jacobso'n Ar- Cald# ell

,

DATE 12/>7/96 12/a-7/96~ 12'/n/96

0FFICIAL RECORD COPY

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