ML20134B778

Forwards Insp Rept 50-331/96-07 on 960907-1105 & Notice of Violation

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: IR 05000331/1996007 ML20134B778 ML20134B791
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

AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION

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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. . _ . .. .. .. -. . _ - . - _ _ - _ .

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L. Liu -2- l

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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.

l

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 I

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

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. Notice of Violation

cc w/ encl: G. Van Middlesworth,

Plant Manager

K. E. Peveler, Manager, l

Regulatory Performance '

Chairperson, Iowa Utilities Board

l

See attached continued distribution)

.

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L. Liu -3-

Distribution continued:

Docket File w/ encl

PUBLIC IE-01 w/ encl DRP w/ encl

Project Mgr., NRR w/ encl SRI DAEC 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

l

1

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 N* *

OFFICE RIII RIII ^ 4III a, //

NAME DuPont Jordan'hfkEalhW

DATE 01/ 6 /97 01/'//97 101/7[l/97

0FFICIAL REC 0llD COPY

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.-_ . . _ _ ._. . _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ ___

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UNITED STATES

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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$ S REGION lit

ra ' 1[ 801 WARRENVILLE ROAD

/ USLE. ILLINOIS 60532-4351

• ...* 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

AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION

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.

~

l

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 l

License No. DPR-49

Enclosures:

1. Inspection Report

No. 50-331/96007

2. Notice of Violation

cc w/ encl: G. Van Middlesworth,

Plant Manager

K. E. Peveler, Manager,

Regulatory Performance

Chairperson, Iowa Utilities Board

l

.