ML20138K162
| ML20138K162 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Clinton  |
| Issue date: | 05/05/1997 |
| From: | Caldwell J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Connell W ILLINOIS POWER CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20138K166 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-461-97-03, 50-461-97-3, EA-97-132, NUDOCS 9705120200 | |
| Download: ML20138K162 (5) | |
See also: IR 05000461/1997003
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May 5, 1997
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EA 97132 i
Mr. W. Connell -{
Vice President
Clinton Power. Station. i
lilinois Power Company i
Mail Code V-275 i
P.O. Box 670 !
Clintnn, IL 61727l l
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SUBJECT: .NRC ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT (E&TS) AND STARTUP 1
READINESS INSPECTION REPORT 50 461/97003(DRS) AND NOTICE OF l
VIOLATION
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Dear Mr. Connoll:
On March 7,199'7, the NRC cornpleted an inspection at your Clinton reactor facility. The I
enclosed report presents the results of that inspection.
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The areas examined during the inspection are identified in the report. Within these areas, I
the inspection consisted of a selective examination of design documents, ~ procedures and i
representative records, interviews'with personnel, observations of actividas in progress
and review of Clinton Startup Readiness Action Flan irnplementation. The purpose of the
inspection was to determine whether activities authorired by your license were conducted i
safely and in accordance inith NRC requirements. '
The team determined that significant problems existed in several engineering and
maintenance related technical areas and practices. Examples included: inadequate
engineering and maintenance practices in maintaining 480V,4.16kV and 6.9kV electrical
breakers in good operating'conditian; failure to follow procedures and a 10 CFR 50.59
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safety evaluation process that veas not, in all cases, effective iri emuring proper safety
+ ' evaluations were performed. Additionally, we found weaknesses in your modification and
design control process, post modification and surveillance testing program, trending of
equipment' and system pellermance, tracking of industry informaticn, engineering
prioritization of work and work control, self-assessments, engineering related audits and
operability evaluations. Oversight of the above engineering activities was considered
weak.
Because of these problems, we are concemed with both the short and long term ;
operability of the breakers discussed above. The team was particularly concerned that l
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480V,4.16kV and 6.9kV braakers were neither adequately maintained nor were breaker
related problems always documented on condition reports, trended, and evaluated by
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W. Connell 2 tiay 5,1997
engineuring for potentia: common mode failures such as the hardened grease found in
various breakers. These problems represent significant deficiencies in the execution of
some engineering and maintenance activities. Your close and immediate attention to these
problerns is warranted.
Based on the resuhs of this inspection, four violations of NRC requirements wero
identified. These violations are cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice) and the
circumstances surrounding them am described in detailin the subject inspection report. ,
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 enforcon.ent action is necessary to ensure compliance with
regulatory requirements.
In addition, two apparent violations 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. One apparent violation
involved failure to take prompt and appropriate corrective action to address recurring
examples of hard/ hardening grease in 480V,4.16kV and 6.9kV electrical breakers. This
resulted in the binding of various breaker components and the failures of safety-related and '
critical non-safety-related breakers to operate during testing and on demand. The second
apparent violation involved failure to establish adequate measures to ensure that only
approved and authorized lubricants and cleaning compounds were used to clean and
lubricate electrical breaker components. Consequently, unapproved and non-standard
lubricants and cleaning compounds were used on the breakers which may have
contributed to hardened grease in the breaker components.
Accordingly, no Notice of Violation is presently being issued for the inspection findings in
the two apparent violations being considered for escalated enforcement action. In
addition, please be advised that the number and characterization of the apparent violations
described in the enclosed inspection report may change as a result of NRC review.
An open pre-decisional enforcement conference to discuss these apparent violations has
been scheduled for Thursday, May 15,1997, at 1:00 p.m. The decision to hold a pre-
f decisional 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 understanding of the facts, root causes, missed opportunities to identify the
apparent violations sooner, corrective actions, significance of the issues, and the need for
lasting and effectivo corrective actions. In particular, we expect you to address any
extenuating circumstances that led to the breaker and lubrication problems depicted in the
apparent violations noted above and your short and long term corrective actions planned
and accomplished to address these concerns.
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h W. Connell 3 flay 5,1997 a j in addition, this is an opportunity for you to coint out eny errors in our inspection report
r,nd for you to provide any information concerning your perspectives on: (1) the severity
M the violations; (2) the application of the factors that the NRC nonsiders when it
doterrnines the amount of the civi, penalty that may be assessed in accordance with
pl Section VI.E.2 of the Enforcement Policy; and (3) any cther application of the Enforcement / Pdicy to this caso, including exercise of dincretion in accordance with Section Vll.
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q. Foiiowin0 the ccnference, you wi!! be advised in separate correspondence of the results of
our deliberations on the apparent violations. Therefnre, no response regarding these
apparant viohtior';S is required at this time,
in accordance with 10 CIR 2.790 of the Commission's regulations, a copy of this letter,
its enclosures, and your response tc this letter will be placed in the NRC Fublic Document
Room,
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We wJi gladly discuss any questions you ha.e concerning this inspection.
Sincere!y,
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/s/ Cynthia 0. Pederson (for)
Jenas L. Celdwell, Director
Dwicion of Reactor Projects
Docket No. 50 461
Ucanso No. NPF-62
iinc!osures: 1 Nctice of Viciation
2. Inspection Report 50-401/97003(DRS)
See Attached Di4Rjhujien
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1 l. Following the conference, you will be advised in separate correspondence of the results of i our deliberations on the apparent violations. Therefore, no response regarding these l apparent violations is required at this time:
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the Commission's regulations, a copy of this letter,
its enclosures, and your response to this letter will be placed in the NRC Public Document
j Room. l We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this inspection. ! I Sincerely,
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i James L. Caldwell, Director i
Division of Reactor Projects
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Docket No. 50-461
License No. NPF-62 1
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- Enclosures
- 1. Notice of Violation !
! 2. Inspection Report 50-461/97003(DRS) ! '
cc w/encis: W. D. Romberg, Assistant Vice President
P. Yocum, Plant Manager, Clinton Power Station
a R. Phares, Manager, Nuclear Assessment l
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j P. J. Telthorst, Director - Licensing
Nathen Schloss, Economist,
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Office of the Attorney General
i K. K. Berry, Licensing Services Manager } General Electric Company i Chairman, DeWitt County Board , State Lia: son Officer j
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Chairman, Illinois Comrnerce Commission ^
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DATE 04/24/97 04/3dG7 04/ /97 04/ /97 04/ /97 l
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W, Connell 4 May 5, 1997 l
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P. Yocum, Plant Man'.1ger, Clinton Power Station
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- R. Phares, Manager, Nuclear Assessment
- P. J. Telthorst, Director Licensing
- s 1 Nathan Schloss, Economist,
l Office of the Attoinoy General l
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K. K. Berry, Licensing Services Manager -
General Electric Company .
l. Chairman, DeWitt County Board ll State Liaison Officer ! Chairrnari, Illinois Commerce Commission
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