ML20140G759

Submits Confirmatory Action Ltr Re Foreign Matl & Degraded Coatings in Clinton Containment,Raising Concern Over Suppression Pool ECCS Suction Strainer Operability During Accident Conditions.Actions to Be Taken by Clinton Listed

ML20140G759
Person / Time
Site:	Clinton
Issue date:	06/09/1997
From:	Beach A NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Jackie Cook ILLINOIS POWER CO.
References
CAL-RIII-97-06, CAL-RIII-97-6, NUDOCS 9706170056
Download: ML20140G759 (5)

Text

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g UNITED STATES fi e" "'%,k NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l [ g RE' lON ill E

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[ 801 WARRENVILLE ROAD 8 USLE. ILUNOIS 60532-4351

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+.... June 9, 1997 l

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l l CAL No. Rlli-97-006 l

I Mr. John G. Cook '

i Senior Vice President Clinton Power Station Illinois Power Company  !

Mail Code V-275 P.O. Box 678 Clinton, IL 61727

SUBJECT:

CONFIRMATORY ACTION LETTER

Dear Mr. Cook:

in April of this year, NRC inspectors identified foreign material (i.e., signs, placards, etc.)

and degraded coatings in Clinton's containment which raised a concern over suppression pool emergency core cooling system (ECCS) suction strainer operability during accident l conditions. Your staff evaluated the foreign material and has initiated actions to remove the material and improve control of such items in the future. The degraded coatings issue remains open. Following discussions during restart panel meetings on May 15 and 28, 1997, a conference call between members of our staffs was held on June 3,1997, to 1 discuss the current status of the coatings issue. That callidentified that Illinois Power (IP) had taken little action to address the operability issue to date. '

I Because of the apparent lack of action, followup discussions with yourself, members of your staff, and the NRC were held on June 4,1997. These calls addressed the need for IP to certify that all containment and drywell coatings are appropriately qualified. The calls also addressed that if the containment coating could not be qualified, IP must provide reasonable assurance that the ECCS suction strainers will remain operable, i.e., not become clogged, following a design basis event. Additional details related to the June 4, 1997, phone calls can be found in a June 9,1997, letter to you from James Caldwell, Deputy Regional Administrator, Region Ill.

Based cn those phone conversations, it is our understanding that IP will take the following i actions prior to restarting the Clinton Power Station.

(1) Certify that all coatings within the containment and drywell required to be qualified r are qualified. The certification will provide the basis for the determination that the l coatings are qualified.

I (2) lE all coatings cannot be demonstrated to be qualified, provide reasonable assurance that the ECCS suction strainers will remain operable, i.e., will not clog, during design basis events.

l 9706170056 970609 PDR G

ADOCK 05000461 PM lll -

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i J. G. Cook I l

In addition, I understand IP will document in a letter to the NRC the results of items (1)  !

and (2), as appropriate, and will meet with the NRC to discuss the determinations prior to restarting the Clinton Power Station. l I

Nothing in this confirmatory action letter is intended to preclude you from taking actions j which you deem necessary to place the plant in a safe condition or maintain it in a safe t

) condition in the event of changing conditions.

l Pursuant to Section 182 of the Atomic Energy Act,42 U.S.C. 2232, you are required to:

(1) Notify me immediately in writing if your understanding differs from that set i forth above:

(2) Notify me if for any reason you cannot complete the actions within the  !

l specified schedule and advise me in writing of your modified schedule of the change; and t

(3) Promptly notify me in writing if for any reason you cannot complete the l actions discussed ebove. '

)

Issuance of this Confirmatory Action Letter does not preclude issuance of an order formalizing the above commitments or requiring other actions on the part of the licensee; nor does it preclude the NRC from taking enforcement action for violations of NRC requirements that may have prompted the issuance of this letter. In addition, failure to

.take the actions addressed in this Confirmatory Action Letter may result in enforcement action.

in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter  ;

and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR). To the extent possible, your response should not include any personal privacy, proprietary, or safeguards  ;

information so that it can be placed in the PDR without redaction. However, if you find it 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.

Sincerely,  !

. Bill Beach Regional Administrator Docket No. 50-461 (See attached distribution) '

r J. G. Cook Distribution:

cc: W. D. Romberg, Assistant Vice President P. Yocum, Plant Manager Clinton Power Station f R. Phares, Manager-Nuclear Assessment J. Sipek, Director - Licensing Nathan Schloss, Economist Office of the Attorney General G. Stramback, Regulatory Licensing -

l Services Project Manager General Electric Company Chairman, DeWitt County Board State Liaison Officer

! Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission l

l

l i

J. G. Cook in addition, I understand IP will document in a letter to the NRC the results of items (1) and (2), as appropriate, and wUl meet with the NRC to discuss the determinations prior to restarting the Clinton Power Station.

l l Nothing in this confirmatory action letter is intended to preclude you from taking actions j which you deem necessary to place the plant in a safe condition or maintain it in a safe l condition in the event of changing conditions.

l Pursuant to Section 182 of the Atomic Energy Act,42 U.S.C. 2232, you are required to:

(1) Notify me immediately in writing if your understanding differs from that set forth above; l (2) Notify me if for any reason you cannot complete the actions within the l specified schedule and advise me in writing of your modified schedule of the change; and (3) Promptly notify me in writing if for any reason you cannot complete the l actions discussed above.

l lasuance of this Confirmatory Action Letter does not preclude issuance of an order formalizing the above commitments or requiring other actions on the part of the licensee; nor does it preclude the NRC from taking enforcement action for violations of NRC requirements that may have prompted the issuance of this letter. In addition, failure to take the actions addressed in this Confirmatory Action Letter may result in enforcement action.

l In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter '

! and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR). To the extent possible, your response should not include any personal privacy, proprietary, or safeguards information so that it can be placed in the PDR without redaction. However, if you find it 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.

I Sincerely,

/s/A. Bill Beach A. Bill Beach Regional Administrator Docket No. 50-461 i

r DOCUMENT NAME: G: CLIN.lR\CLl97006. CAL

v. .soehse a copy of this docwnent,Indcote in Hee box *C' = Copy without attachment / enclosure *E* = Copy with attachment / enclosure

• N* = No copy

OFFICE fylh <> p g E NRR d 6 Rlli l c. Rlli le Rllic _

l NAME WQi 3t/ ;I r Marcuifolo Clayton/Bers n Grant /Grobe Ca cpell M

2 :dp ' d [G '#t( /Bebch l DATE 06/6/97 06/6/97 06/(/97 4/4/,,, 06/06/97 06/ @ 97 '

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY (See attached distribution) l l

.- .- - ., - - - . , - - - - , - - - - - - . ,. . . . , . , ~b

l J. G. Cook  :

L Distribution:  ;

cc: W. D. Romberg, Assistant f Vice President  :

P. Yocum, Plant Manager I Clinton Power Station  ;

R. Phares, Manager-Nuclear Assessment J. Sipek, Director - Licensing . ,

Nathan Schloss, Economist  !

Office of the Attorney General  ;

G. Stramback, Regulatory Licensing ,

Services Project Manager l General Electric Company Chairman, DeWitt County Board ,

State Liaison Officer '

Chairman, I!!inois Commerce Commission I 1

Docket File DRP OC/LFDCB PUBLIC IE-01 SRI Clinton, Dresden, Rill PRR LaSalle, Quad Cities Project Manager, NRR l

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