ML20137K343
| ML20137K343 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | LaSalle  |
| Issue date: | 03/24/1997 |
| From: | Leach M NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Subalusky W COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20137K345 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9704070012 | |
| Download: ML20137K343 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000373/1997005
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- March 24, 1997-
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Mr'. W. T. Subalusky, Jr.-
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Site Vice President
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LaSalle County Station
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Commonwealth Edison Company
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2601 North 21st Road
Marseilles, IL .61341
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SUBJECT:-
NRC INSPECTION REPORTS 50-373/9700.5(DRS); 50-374/97005(DRS)
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Dear Mr. Subalusky:
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This refers to the inspection which concluded on February 28,1997, at your LaSalle
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- Nuclear Generating Station. The purpose of the inspection was to review the plant'
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~ chemistry and gaseous and liquid radioactive waste and effluent programs.
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Overall, the chemistry and effluent programs were well implemented. Reactor water
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chemistry parameters were maintained below industry guidelines and activity. released in
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radioactive effluents was low. However, during this inspection, a concern was identified-
regarding the operability of the wide range gas monitors (WRGh) used for noble gas
activity monitoring. . Specifically, there were numerous, recurr6.o minor problems with the -
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monitors that have resulted in spurious alarms and the occasional need to perform
compensatory sampling. The system engineering group was aware of these problems and
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had addressed them individually. However,' the recurrent nature of these problems has
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resulted in one control room operator expressing a lack of confidence in the reliability of
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the WRGMs.
We are also concerned about the radiological condition of some areas in your plant. Three
examples'of a procedural violation were identified regarding the control of contaminated
areas within the Unit 1 "A" and "B" heater drain pump rooms. Similar problems in these
areas were also identified during a previous inspection, indicating that previous corrective
actions to prevent tecurrence were not effective.
- The violation is cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice) and the circumstances
surrounding'it 'are described in detail in the subject inspection 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,
1 to determine whether further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with
regulatory requirements.
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9704070012 970324
DR
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W. T. Subalusky
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March 24, 1997
in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the Ni;C's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter
and its enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this inspection.
Sincerely,
/s/ Melvyn Leach
Melvyn Leach, Acting Deputy Director
Division of Reactor Safety
Docket Nos. 50-373; 50-374
Enclosures:
2. Inspection Reports 50-373/97005(DRS); 50-374/97005(DRS)
See Attached Distribution
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DOCUMENT NAME: G:DRS\\LAS97005.DRS
(SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE)
To receive a sepy of thee document,ind6cate in the boa: "C" = Copy without attachtnent/ enclosure
- E* = Copy w}th attachrnent/ enclosure
- N* en No copy
0FFICE
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NAME
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DATE
03/
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03/
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03/
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03/J/c/97
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OFFICIALREGIIDCOPY
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W. T. Subalusky
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Based on the results of this inspection, the NRC has determined that a violation of NRC
requirements occurred concerning the failure to follow radiological control procedures.
This violation was of concern, because it represents a repetitive failure to follow radiation
protection requirements.
The violation is cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice) and the circumstances
surrounding it are described in detail in the subject inspection report. Please note that your
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
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regulatory requirements.
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.
We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this inspection.
Sincerely,
Melvyn Leach, Acting Deputy Director
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Division of Reactor Safety
Docket Nos. 50-373; 50 374
Enclosures:
2. Inspection Reports 50-373/97005(DRS); 50-374/97005(DRS)
See Attached Distribution
DOCUMENT NAME G:DRS\\LAS97005.DRS
To receive a copy of thle docurnent, Indicate in the boa: *C* = Copy without attachment / enclosure
- E* = Copy with attachment / enclosure
- N* = No copy
0FFICE
RIII
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NAME
NShah:jp 6/
TKozak Tf-
M0apas efdto,
MLeach
DATE
03/te; /97
03/1f/97
03/r_o /97
03/
/97
0FFICIAL RECORD COPY
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W. T. Subalusky
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March 24, 1997
cc w/encis:
T. J. Malman, Senior Vice President,
Nuclear Operations Division
D. A. Sager, Vice President,
Generation Support
H. W. Keiser, Chief Nuclear
Operating Officer
F. Dacimo, Plant General Manager
P. Barnes, Regulatory Assurance
Supervisor
1. Johnson, Acu..; Nuclear
Regulatory Services Manager
Document Control Desk - Licensing
Richard Hubbard
Nathan Schloss, Economist,
Office of the Attorney General
State Liaison Officer
Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission
Distribution:
Docket File w/encls
Rlli PRR w/encls
C. D. Pederson, Rlll w/encls
PUBLICaliWM w/encls
SRis, LaSalle, Dresden,
R. A. Capra, NRR w/encls
OC/LFDCB w/encls
Quad Cities w/encls
Rill Enf. Coordinator w/ enc!s
DRP w/encls
LPM, NRR w/encls
TSS w/encls
DRS w/encls
A. B. Beach, Rill w/encls
CAA1 w/encls
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Commonwealth Edison Company
Docket Nos. 50-373; 50-374
LaSalle Station, Units 1 and 2
During an NRC inspection completed on February 28,1997, a violation of NRC
requirements was identified. In accordance with the " General Statement of Policy and
Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions," NUREG 1600, the violation is listed below:
Technical Specification (TS) No. 6.2(B) required that radiation control procedures shall be
maintained, made available to station personnel, and adhered to.
a.
Station radiation protection (RP) Procedure No. LRP 5721-6 (Revision O),
" Construction of Radiologically Posted Areas and Step-Off Pad Areas," required, in
part, that prior to releasing a contaminated area for use, an RP technician shall
ensure that reasonable efforts are made to prevent the spread of contamination
from a contaminated area and that the area be properly posted and set-up.
b.
Station RP Procedure No. LRP 5721-6 (Revision 0), " Construction of Radiologically
Posted Areas and Step-Off Pad Areas" required, in part, that hoses and electrical
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cords that breach a contaminated boundary be taped or tied securely, or otherwise
secured, where they exit the area.
c.
Station RP Procedure No. LRP-5010-1 (Revision 3), " Radiological Posting and
Labeling Requirements," required, in part, that radiation rope and/or tape be used to
delineate all boundaries of a contaminated area.
Contrary to the obove:
a.
As of February 23,1997, an RP technician did not ensure reasonable efforts were
made to prevent the spread of contamination from the contaminated areas in the
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Unit 1 "A" and "B" heater drain pump rooms prior to releasing them for use.
Specifically, no controls were in place to prevent ground water from flowing from
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the posted contaminated areas to adjacent clean areas,
b.
As of February 23,1997,in the 734' elevation of the radioactive waste building
and in the Unit 1 "A" heater drain pump room, hoses and ropes breached a
contaminated boundary without being taped or tied securely, or otherwise secured,
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where they exited the area.
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c.
As of February 23,1997, the boundaries of two sample sinks in the chemistry
laboratory that were posted as potentially contaminated areas did not have the
contaminated area boundaries delineated by radiation rope or tape.
This is considered a Severity LevelIV violation (Supplement IV).
9704070019 970324-
ADOCK 05000373
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Pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 2.201, Commonwealth Edison is hereby required to
submit a written statement of explanation to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
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ATTN: Document Control Desk, Washington D.C. 20555 with a' copy to the Regional
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Administrator, Region 111, and a copy to the NRC Resident inspector at the facility that is
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the subject of this Notice of Violation (Notice), within 30 days of the date of the letter
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transmitting this Notice. This reply should be clearly' marked as a " Reply to a Notice of
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Violation" and should include for each violation: (1) the reason for the violation or, if
contested, the basis for disputing the violation, (2) the corrective steps that have been
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taken and the results achieved, (3) the corrective steps that will be taken to avoid further
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violation, and (4) the date when full compliance will be achieved. Your response may
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reference or include previous docketed correspondence, if the correspondence adequately
addresses the required response. if an adequate reply is not received within the time
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specified in this Notice, an order or a Demand for information may be issued as to why the
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' license thould not be modified, suspended, or revoked, or why such other action as may
' be proper should not be taken. Where good cause is shown, consideration will be given to
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extending the response time.
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Because your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR), to the
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extent possible, it should not include any personal privacy, proprietary, or safeguards
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information so that it can be placed in the POR without redaction. However, if you find it
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necessary to include such information, you should clearly indicate the specific information
that you desire not to be placed in the PDR, and provide the legal basis to support your
request for withholding the information from the public.
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Dated at Lisle, Illinois,
this 24th day of March 1997
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