ML20137W732
| ML20137W732 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | FitzPatrick  |
| Issue date: | 04/14/1997 |
| From: | Hehl C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Michael Colomb POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (NEW YORK |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20137W736 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-97-118, NUDOCS 9704180201 | |
| Download: ML20137W732 (6) | |
See also: IR 05000333/1997003
Text
{{#Wiki_filter:- Y . April 14, 1997 EA No. 97-118 Michael J. Colomb Site Executive Officer New York Power Authority James A. FitzPatrick Power Plant Post Office Box 41 Lycoming, NY 13093 l SUBJECT: NRC SPECIAL INSPECTION 50-333/97-03 ' Dear Mr. Colomb- ' On March 14,1989 the NRC completed a special inspection of an inadvertent control rod withdrawal event which was the result of human error at your FitzPatrick Power Plant. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection. In this event, a licensed reactor operator withdrew a control rod without following established station procedures. Additionally, the control room supervisor, a licensed senior reactor operator, granted permission for this activity while procedures require the shift manager to grant permission for this evolution. The cause of this event was inattention to detail and failing to control the activity per established station procedures. This event is similar to several past events in that personnel involved failed to consider the consequences of their actions prior to conducting an evolution. These types of errors indicate an operating environment where a questioning attitude is not consistently a part of station practices. It also reflects an informality in the conduct of control room activities. The NRC is concerned about the continued significant personnel errors and the significance of these errors which have occurred at your plant. For example, three incorrect control rod drives were removed during the last refueling outage. In September 1996, an automatic reactor scram was initiated during improper relay calibration. Operator errors and performance weaknesses were evident during this event as reflected in operators transferring the Reactor Protection System (RPS) buses to alternate power supplies that were de-energized, in spite of clear indication that the buses were energized and the alternate power supply was not powered. In each of these events, personnel failed to exercise sound decision making and a questioning attitude. ' Based on the results of this inspection, an apparent violation was identified and is being considered for escalated enforcement action in accordance with the " General Statement of ;j Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), NUREG-1600. Accordingly, no Notice of Violation is presently being issued for these inspection findings. } In addition, please be advised that the number and characterization of the apparent violation described in the enclosed inspection report may change as a result of further NRC review. , 9704180201 970414 gjjjlgglljlgjglp.ygJ PDR ADOCK 05000333 .,, .... G PM 1S0020 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY IE:01 ,
, - ) . l ' Michael J. Colomb 2 , A predecisional enforcement conference to discuss this apparent violation has been scheduled for May 6,1997 at 10:00 a.m. The decision to hold a predecisional enforcement conference does not mean that the NRC has determined that a violation has occurred or that enforcement action will be taken. This conference is being held to obtain information to enable the NRC to make an enforcement decision, such as a common 4 understanding of the facts, root causes, missed opportunities to identify the apparent
violation sooner, corrective actions, significance of the issues and the need for lasting and effective corrective action, in particular, we request that you also discuss your evaluation
of other similar events to the March 3rd issue, most particularly the human performance issues noted during the September 16,1996, reactor scram, and your plans for preventing ' such events in the future. We understand that you recently completed a human performance review and are in the process of implementing corrective actions for identified problems. The purpose of the conference, in part, will be to understand the results of your review and corrective actions to address this problem. in addition, this is an opportunity for you to point out any errors in our inspection report and for you to provide any information concerning your perspectives on 1) the severity of the violation (s), 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. ! This conference will be open to public observation. You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations on this matter. No response regarding the apparent violation 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. Sir.cerely, Original Signed by: Charles W. Hehl, Director Division of Reactor Projects Docket No.: 50-333 License No.: DPR-59 Enclosure: Inspection Report 50-333/97-03 -
. - . . .. . - - Michael J. Colomb 3 . cc w/ encl: C. D. Rappleyea, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer R. Schoenberger, President and Chief Operating Officer J. Knubel, Chief Nuclear Officer H. P. Salmon, Jr., Vice President of Nuclear Operations W. Josiger, Vice President - Engineering and Project Management J. Kelly, Vice President - Regulatory Affairs and Special Projects T. Dougherty, Vice President - Nuclear Engineering R. Deasy, Vice President - Appraisal and Compliance Services R. Patch, Director - Quality Assurance G. C. Goldstein, Assistant General Counsel C. D. Faison, Director, Nuclear Licensing K. Peters, Licensing Manager T. Morra, Executive Chair, Four County Nuclear Safety Committee Supervisor, Town of Scriba C. Donaldson, Esquire, Assistant Attorney General, New York Department of Law P. Eddy, Director, Electric Division, Department of Public Service, State of New York C. Jackson, Manager, Nuclear Licensing & Safety, Consolidated Edison G. T. Goering, Consultant, New York Power Authority ' J. E. Gagliardo, Consultant, New York Power Authority E. S. Beckjord, Consultant, New York Power Authority F. William Valentino, President, New York State Energy Research ai.d Development Authority J. Spath, Program Director, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
-- . - . _ - - - - . - - -. , -- -- .- . - . . . . 4 4 J Michael J. Colomb 4 , Distribution w/ encl: , W. Axelson, DRA R. Zimmerman, ADPR, NRR I J. Goldberg, OGC J. Lieberman, OE , D. Holody, EO
D. Screnci, PAO , Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC) i PUBLIC I NRC Resident inspector
Region I Docket Room (with concurrences) I R. Correia, NRR ' D. R. Taylor, NRR
L. Cunningham, NRR 1 D. Barss, NRR C. Cowgill, DRP , R. Barkley, DRP
3 R. Junod, DRP i
Distribution w/ encl: NIA E-MAILJ l W. Dean, OEDO (WMD) S. Bajwa, NRR K. Cotton, NRR
D. Hood, NRR ! M. Campion, RI ' R. Correia, NRR (RPC) i R. Frahm, Jr., NRR (RKF) Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS) , i
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i DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 2\\lR97-03.ENF q Ts receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure "E" = Copy with ettschment/ enclosure 'N" = No copy ] OFFICE Rl/DRP y//]/ Rl/ ORA g Rl/DRP ///L- l Rl/DRP ./ i NAME, GHunegs (/ffy DHolodyC CCowgill' CFj$k)N d DATijV(jf 04////97 ' 04/g /97 04/;/97 04//pl97 f ' , OFFICIAL RECORD COPY < - k 0 ) . - -.
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. New York Power Authority 4 Distribution w/enet: D. Screnci, PAO Nuclear Safety information Center (NSIC) PUBLIC NRC Resident inspector Region I Docket Room (with concurrences) ' R. Barkley, DRP R. Junod, DRP W. Axelson, DRA Distribution w/ encl: (VIA E-MAIL) W. Dean, OEDO (WMD) K. Cotton, NRR M. Campion, RI R. Correia, NRR (RPC) R. Frahm, Jr., NRR (RKF) Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS) . . G:\\ BRANCH 2\\lR97-03.FRI OFFICE Rl/DRP Rl/DRP Rl/DRP GHuhgp/gSB for CCowgill . , WHehl NAME [hjf, 3[2-4f// [[I 3jhIk7 DATE , / ~- I
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1 Michael J. Colomb 4 .! Distribution w/encisj, a W. Axelson, DRA > J R. Zimmerman, ADPR, NRR .i J. Goldberg, OGC j' J. Lieberman, OE D. Holody, EO D. Screnci, PAO 4 i Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC) - 1 PUBLIC ' 1 NRC Resident inspector Region I Docket Room (with concurrences) l R. Barkley, DRP J
R. Junod, DRP ' W. Axelson, DRA ' D. Holody, EO . . R. Correia, NRR '- D. R. Taylor, NRR
L. Cunningham, NRR ' D. Barss, NRR i } Distribution w/encis: (VIA E-MAIL)
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W. Dean, OEDO (WMD) ' S. Bajwa, NRR 3 K. Cotton, NRR j D. Hood, NRR i M. Campion, RI l R. Correia, NRR (RPC) i R. Frahm, Jr., NRR (RKF) ! Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
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i 1 - i DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 2\\lR97-03.FRI ' , ' Son previous concurrences to rec.ive a copy of this document, Indipate in the boa: 'C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure 'N' = No copy OFFICE
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Rl/DRP j NAME GHunegs //'~ CCowgill i CHehl DATE 03/A, /97 03p f/97 03/ /97 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY - _ - _ . . . . . . }}