ML20140B697
| ML20140B697 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 03/21/1997 |
| From: | Hehl C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Langenbach J GENERAL PUBLIC UTILITIES CORP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20140B704 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-97-117, NUDOCS 9703280086 | |
| Download: ML20140B697 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000289/1997001
Text
T,
.-
March 21,1997
EA 97-117
Mr. James W. Langenbach
Vice President and Director, TMI
GPU Nuclear Corporation
Three Mile Island Nuclear Station
Post Office Box 480
Middletown, PA 17057-0191
SUBJECT:
NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT NOS. 50-289/97-01 and
50-320/97-01
Dear Mr. Langenbach:
On March 2,1997, the NRC completed an inspection at your Three Mile Island 1 & 2
reactor facilities. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection.
Continued excellent performance was noted in the licensed operator requalification training
program. In particular, there was strong upper plant management involvement in
administering the operating exams and briefing simulator evaluators. in addition,
improvement was noted for the crew communications and individual self checking
techniques during the simulator exams.
In the area of plant support, we found that you had an overall effective program for
radioactive material and radiological waste management and transportation. The program
and activities involving processing, packag"
), storing, and shipping of radioactive waste
were well performed, implementation of tra revisions to transportation regulations were
appropriate and timely. In addition, the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) had
been appropriately maintained regarding radioactive waste systems.
An inspection of your quality classification list and component downgrade program
determined that your implementation of the component classification process was poor.
Of the approximately 700 components which you had downgraded from the nuclear safety
related classification to a lower tier classification, the NRC identified at least eight
components which were improperly downgraded without appropriate safety evaluations or
other supporting engineering documentation. Also, the NRC identified several examples
where your personnel had not followed engineering procedure, EP-011 and that EP-011
had not received the Technical Specification required safety reviews. In addition, your
previous actions with regard to program problems identified by your own quality assurance
activities were not effective or timely. Based on the results of this inspection, four
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.
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Mr. James W. Langenbach
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The NRC is concerned about the potential implications of these inappropriate equipment
clarification downgrades as discussed in Confirmatory Action Letter 1-97-008, dated
March 4,1997. No Notice of Violation is presently being issued for these inspection
findings. In addition, please be advised that the number and characterization of apparent
violations described in the enclosed inspection report may change as a result of further
NRC review. A predecisional enforcement conference to discuss these apparent violations
and those associated with the recent NRC Design Review Team will be scheduled following
issuance of this team report.
The decision to hold a predecisional enforcement conference does not mean that the NRC
hos 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 effective corrective action. In addition, this is an opportunity for
you to point out at / errors in our inspection report 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
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 (PDR).
Sincerely,
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY:
Charles W. Hehl, Director
Division of Reactor Projects
Docket Nos.-
50-289, 50-320
Enclosures:
1. NRC Inspection Report Nos. 50-289/97-01 and 50-320/97-01
cc w/ encl:
E. L. Blake, Shaw, Pittman, Potts and Trowbridge (Legal Counsel for GPUN)
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
J. C. Fornicola, Director, Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
M. J. Ross, Director, Operations and Maintenance
TMI-Alert (TMIA)
J. S. Wetmore, Manager, TMI Regulatory Affairs
y
.
.
,*
Mr. James W. Langenbach
3
Distribution w/ encl:
Region 1 Docket Room (with concurrences)
NRC Resident inspector
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
PUBLIC
W. Axelson, DRA
D. Screnci, PAO
P. Eselgroth, DRP
D. Haverkamp, DRP
T. Kenny, DRS
C. O'Daniell, DRP
Distribution w/en_gj (VIA E-MAIL):
W. Dean, OEDO
P. Milano, NRR, PDI-3
Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
R. Correia, NRR
D. Taylor, NRR
R. Zimmerman, ADPR, NRR
J. Goldberg, OGC
J. Lieberman, OE
D. Holody, EO, RI
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 7\\TMi\\lR97-01.TMI
To r;ceive a copy of this document, indicate in the bos: "C" = Copy without attachmentlenclosure
"E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure
"N' = No copy
OFFICE
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DATE
03/20/97
03/Jd97
03/ /97
03/ /97
03/ /97
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY