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May 9, 1985 C
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pd*J The Honorable Eoward J. Markey, Chairman Subcomittee on Energy Conservation and Power Comittee on Energy and Comerce United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Enclosed for your information is an announcement that the Nuclear Regulatory Comission staff has proposed to fine Kansas Gas &
Electric Company $25,000 for alleged noncompliance with NRC
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requirements at the company's Work Creek nuclear power generating facility.
It is planned to mail this information to the news media today, May 9, 1985.
Sincerely,
/
/
.CarltonDYrer, Director
/ Office of Congressional Affairs
Enclosure:
As stated cc: Rep. Carlos Moorhead IDENTICAL LETTER SENT T0:
Sen. Simpson/cc: Sen. Hart Rep. Udall/cc: Rep. Lujan Sen. Dole Sen. Kassebaum Rep. Whittaker 8510230106 851004 PDR FOIA JACOBS85-478 PDR l2-
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UNITED STATES
! gJ,i NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION iM@sh',l, Office of Public Affairs
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Washington, D.C. 20555 NO.
85-68 FOR IFTEDIATE RELEASE TEL. 301/492-7715 (THURSDAY, PAY 9, 1985)
NRC STAFF CITES KANSAS GAS & ELECTRIC C0FPANY; PROPOSES $25,000 FINE THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COFNISSION STAFF HAS PROPOSED TO FINE KANSAS GAS &
ELECTRIC COPPANY $25,000 FOR ALLEGED NONCOMPLIANCE WITH NRC REQUIREPENTS AT THE CCPPANY'S WCLF CREEK NUCLEAR POWER GENERATING FACILITY NEAR BURLINGTON, KANSAS.
THE NRC INFORMED THE COMPANY THAT ITS INSPECTORS CONDUCTED TWO INSPECTIONS OF THE COMPANY'S PREOPERATIONAL TEST PROGRM--FROM OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 20,1984, AND FEBRUARY l THPOUGH FEBRUARY 28, 1985. AS A RE5 ULT OF THESE INSPECTIONS, THE NRC STAFF CITED KG&E FOR SEVERAL ALLEGED VIOLATIONS FOR IPPROPERLY CONDUCTING ITS PREOPERATIONAL TEST PROGRAM.
NRC INSPECTORS HAD IDENTIFIED SinILAR WEAKNESSES DURING PREVIOUS INSPECTIONS, INCLUDING FAILURES TO PROPERLY EXECUTE PROCEDURES AND TO PROPERLY DOCUMENT TEST DISCREPANCIES. DUE TO ADMINISTRATIVE ERRORS, A NUMBER OF COMPLETED PREOPERATIONAL TESTS HAD TO BE V0IDED BY KGEE DURING THE FINAL REVIEW STAGES.
KG&E'S RESPONSES TO MEMBERS OF THE NRC STAFF DURING A MEETING IN DECEMBER, 1984, AND SUBSEQUENT PEMEDIAL ACTIONS CORRECTED THE DEFICIENCIES PRIOR TO NRC'S ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE TO WOLF CREEK IN MARCH 1985.
IN A LETTER TO KG&E, ROBERT D. PARTIN, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NRC'S REGION IV 0FFICE IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS, SAID THESE VIOLATIONS AND THE CONCERNS IDENTIFIED EARLIER INDICATED THAT INSUFFICIENT MANAGEMENT ATTENTION FAD BEEN DEVOTED TO IDENTIFYING AND CORRECTING THE ROOT CAUSES OF THESE PROBLEMS, RESULTING IN A BREAKDOWN IN THE EXECUTION OF THE PREOPERATIONAL TEST PROGRM.
MR. PARTIN EXPLAINED IN HIS LETTER THAT A CIVIL PENALTY OF $50,000 COULD HAVE BEEN PROPOSED FOR THESE VICLATIONS, BUT KG&E'S PRCNPT AND EXTENSIVE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WARRANTED THE REDUCTION TO $25,000.
KG&E W ST RESPOND TO THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION WITHIN 30 DAYS.