ML20134P482
| ML20134P482 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Zion File:ZionSolutions icon.png |
| Issue date: | 02/11/1997 |
| From: | Grant G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Mueller J COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20134P485 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-97-048, EA-97-48, NUDOCS 9702250490 | |
| Download: ML20134P482 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000295/1996021
Text
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February 11, 1997
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EA 97-48
Mr. J. H. Mueller
Site Vice President
Zion Generating Station
Commonwealth Edison Company
101 Shiloh Boulevard
Zion, IL 60099
SUBJECT:
NRC ROUTINE RADIATION PROTECTION INSPECTION REPORTS NO.
50-295/96021(DRS); 50-304/96021(DRS) AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Dear Mr. Mueller:
On January 22,1997, the NRC completed an inspection of your Zion Generating Station,
Units 1 and 2. The enclosure to this letter presents the results of this inspection.
As described in the enclosed report, five apparent violations were identified during our
inspection of your radioactive material transportation program. Although the apparent
violations when taken alone would not normally warrant consideration for escalated
enforcement, we are particularly concerned that problems were identified in virtually every
phase of the program. This indicates a basic lack of attention to and oversight of the
program. Additionally, an April 1996 audit conducted by your staff in this area lacked the
depth and thoroughness necessary to identify the fundamental program weaknesses which
the NRC subsequently identified. Lack of an effective audit in this area was particularly
noteworthy given that a major change to applicable transportatico reNirions was made
effective April 1,1996.
The NRC has recently documented several other concerns with your staff's radiation
protection performance and with the poor radiological condition of the plant. In our
May 17,1996 report, a violation was issued for the failure to post the area around a
highly radioactive steam generator gasket which was left unattended inside the Unit 1
missile barrier. In our November 21,1996 report, we documented that a number of
radiologicalimpediments, including high dose rate and high contamination areas,
encumbered access to certain plant safety systems, and that rework had increased the
already high station dose. We also issued several violations that were caused by your
longstanding radiation monitor operability problems in the November report. These issues
,
along with those identified in the enclosed report indicate that radiation protection
f.9fformance haS declined over the past year. This decline occurred after a period of
improved radiation protection performance and is an example of cyclical performance at
the station.
Based on the results from the inspection and as noted above, five apparent violations of
NRC requirements were identified and are being considered for escalated enforcement
action in accordance with the " General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC
Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), NUREG-1600.
(, O \\
97CQ250490 970211
ADOCK 05000295
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.
.
J. Mueller
-2-
February 11, 1997
No Notice of violation is presently being issued for these inspection findings. In addition,
the number and characterization of apparent violations described in the enclosed inspection
,
reports may change as a result of further NRC review.
A pre-decisional enforcement conference will be scheduled to discuss these apparent
violations and your plans to improve the general radiation protection performance and the
'
radiological condition of your plant. The decision to hold a pre-decisional enforcement
conference does not mean that the NRC has determined that a violation has occurred or
that enforcement action will be taken. The conference will be held to obtain information
to enable the NRC to make an enforcement decision, including a common understanding of
the facts and circumstances surrounding the violations, their root causes, your
opportunities to identify the apparent violations sooner, your corrective actions, and the
significance of the issues.
In addition, this is an opportunity for you to point out any errors in our inspection reports
and for you to provide any information concerning your perspectives on 1) the severity of
the violations; 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
manner. 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 enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Sincerely,
/s/ G. E. Grant
Geoffrey E. Grant, Director
Division of Reactor Safety
Docket Nos. 50-295; 50-304
Enclosure:
Inspection Reports No.
50-295/96021(DRS);
50-304/96021(DRS)
See Attached Distribution
DOCUMENT NAME: GaDRS\\ZIO96021.DRS
To t:ccive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy w/o attachment / enclosure *E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure 'N" = No copy
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J. Mueller
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February 11, 1997
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cc w/ encl:
T. J. Maiman, Senior Vice President,
Nuclear Operations Division
D. A. Sager, Vice President,
<
Generation Support
H. W. Keiser, Chief Nuclear
Operating Officer
i
G. K. Schwartz, Station Manager
W. Stone, Regulatory Assurance
i
Supervisor
j
l. Johnson, Acting Nuclear
Regulatory Services Manager
Document Control Desk - Licensing
'
Richard Hubbard
Nathan Schloss, Economist,
,
i
Office of the Attorney General
Mayor, City of Zion
.
State Liaison Officer, Wisconsin
State Liaison Officer
Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission
Distribution:
Docket File w/enct
SRIs, Zion, Braidwood,
Enf. Coordinator, Rill w/enci
j
PUBLIC IE-01 w/enct
Byron w/ encl
R. A. Capra, NRR w/enci
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OC/LFDCB w/enci
G. E. Grant, Rill w/enci
CAA1 w/ encl
DRP w/enci
LPM, NRR w/enci
J. Lieberman, OE w/ encl
DRS w/enci
A. B. Beach, Rill w/enci
J. Goldberg, OGC w/ encl
Rlli PRR w/enci
W. L. Axelson, Rlli w/enci
R. Zimmerman, NRR w/enci
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