ML20134B778
| ML20134B778 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Duane Arnold  |
| Issue date: | 01/23/1997 |
| From: | Caldwell J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Leslie Liu IES UTILITIES INC., (FORMERLY IOWA ELECTRIC LIGHT |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20134B781 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9701310084 | |
| Download: ML20134B778 (5) | |
See also: IR 05000331/1996007
Text
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January 23, 1997
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Mr. Lee Liu, Chairman of the Board,
President, and Chief Executive Officer
IES Utilities Incorporated
200 First Street S. E.
P. O. Box 351
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-0351
SUBJECT:
NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-331/96007
Dear Mr. Liu:
On November 5,1996, the NRC completed a routine safety inspection at your
'
Duane Arnold Energy Center (DAEC) facility. The enclosed report presents the
results of that inspection.
During the period covered by this inspection, your conduct of activities at
i
the Duane Arnold Energy Center facility was characterized by a safety
'
conscious approach to activities. We are concerned however about two
violations, with multiple examples, of NRC requirements that were identified.
In the first violation, two procedures lacked sufficient detail to ensure
activities were properly performed. As a result of the first inadequate
procedure, a maintenance worker breached a system outside the established
tagout boundary. The second example of an inadequate procedure resulted in
Division II 125 VDC Trouble alarms when test equipment was hooked up
incorrectly. The second violation lists three cases of failure to follow
procedure. An improperly performed tagout resulted in the lifting of a relief
valve, damage to 125 VDC equipment, and an ESF actuation. The safety
consequences of the errors were low.
The violations are cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation, and the
circumstances surrounding the violations are described in detail in the
enclosed report.
Please note that you are required to respond to this letter
and should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when
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.
Continuing a theme from the prior inspection report, human performance
problems related to personnel error and inattention to detail occurred during
this inspection period. These errors occurred during the performance of
routine, day-to-day tasks and were observed across multiple departments.
Significantly, the consequences of these errors increased in severity and, as
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9701310084 970 _123
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discussed above, included a maintenance worker breaching a system outside of
the established tagout boundary, a lifted relief valve during the course of a
tagout implementation, damaged 125 VDC equipment, and an ESF actuation. We
are concerned that events such as these may represent precursors to a
transient or personnel injury.
During the latter part of the inspection period, your plant staff commenced
the planned refueling outage. We noticed an improvement, compared to previous
inspections, during the conduct of these activities. They were conducted in a
well planned and coordinated manner. We will continue to monitor your
progress in this area.
In accordance with 10 CFR Part 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy
of this letter and its enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document
Room (PDR).
j
Sincerely,
/s/ John A. Grobe for
James L. Caldwell, Director
Division of Reactor Projects
Docdet No. 50-331
Lictnse No. DPR-49
Enclosures:
1.
Inspection Report
No. 50-331/96007
2.
cc w/ encl:
G. Van Middlesworth,
Plant Manager
K. E. Peveler, Manager,
Regulatory Performance
'
Chairperson, Iowa Utilities Board
See attached continued distribution)
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L. Liu
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Distribution continued:
Docket File w/ encl
PUBLIC IE-01 w/ encl
DRP w/ encl
Project Mgr., NRR w/ encl
OC/LFDCB w/ encl
CAAl w/ encl (E-Mail)
A. B. Beach, w/ encl
W. L. Axelson, w/enci
H. B. Clayton, w/ encl
RIII PRR w/ encl
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Document:
R:\\lnsprpts\\ powers \\duan\\dua96007.drp
To receive a copy of this deceement. tedicate in the has *C* = Copy withmet ettech/ sect *E' = Copy crith attach / sect
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DATE
01/ 6 /97
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101/7[l/97
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UNITED STATES
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USLE. ILLINOIS 60532-4351
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January 23, 1997
.
.
Mr. Lee Liu, Chairman of the Board,
President, and Chief Executive Officer
IES Utilities Incorporated
200 First Street S. E.
P. O. Box 351
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-0351
SUBJECT:
NRC INSPECTION REPORT N0. 50-331/96007
Dear Mr. Liu:
On November 5, 1996, the NRC completed a routine safety inspection at your
Duane Arnold Energy Center (DAEC) facility.
The enclosed report presents the
results of that inspection.
During the period covered by this inspection, your conduct of activities at
the Duane Arnoli Energy Center facility was characterized by a safety
conscious approach to activities. We are concerned however about two
violations, with multiple examples, of NRC requirements that were identified.
~
In the first violation, two procedures lacked sufficient detail to ensure
activities were properly performed. As a result of the first inadequate
procedure, a maintenance worker breached a system outside the established
tagout boundary. The second example of an inadequate procedure resulted in
Division II 125 VDC Trouble alarms when test equipment was hooked up
-
incorrectly. The second violation lists three cases of failure to follow
procedure. An improperly performed tagout resulted in the lifting of a relief
valve, damage to 125 VDC equipment, and an ESF actuation.
The safety
consequences of the errors were low.
The violations are cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation, and the
circumstances surrounding the violations are described in detail in the
enclosed report.
Please note that you are required to respond to this letter
and should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when
preparing your response. The NRC will use your response, in part, to
determine whether further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance
1
with regulatory requirements.
Continuing a theme from the prior inspection report, human performance
problems related to personnel error and inattention to detail occurred during
this inspection period. These errors occurred during the performance of
routine, day-to-day tasks and were observed across multiple departments.
Significantly, the consequences of these errors increased in severity and, as
-
.
. ._
_
.
-
.
.
_ _ _
.
..
'
.
,
,
l
,
i
L. Liu
-2-
discussed above, included a maintenance worker breaching a system outside of
the established tagout boundary, a lifted relief valve during the course of a
tagout implementation, damaged 125 VDC equipment, and an ESF actuation. We
are concerned that events such as these may represent precursors to a
transient or personnel injury.
!
During the latter part of the inspection period, your plant staff commenced
the planned refueling outage. We noticed an improvement, compared to previous
inspections, during the conduct of these-activities. They were conducted in a
well planned and coordinated manner. We will continue to monitor your
progress in this area.
In accordance with 10 CFR Part 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy
of this letter and its enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document
Room (PDR).
-
Sincerely,
ames L. Caldwell, Director
Division of Reactor Projects
l
Docket No. 50-331
License No. DPR-49
Enclosures:
1.
Inspection Report
No. 50-331/96007
2.
cc w/ encl:
G. Van Middlesworth,
Plant Manager
K. E. Peveler, Manager,
Regulatory Performance
Chairperson, Iowa Utilities Board
.