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March 20l1985 1
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The Honorable Edward Markey, Chaiman Subccmittee 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 staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Comission has cited the Duquesne Light Company for allegedly failing to maintain the integrity of a system that prevents _ the release of radioactivity into the environment at the compar.y's Beaver Valley Power Station.
It is planned to mail this information to the news media today, March 20, 1985.
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t ca r-ton Kai.nerer,T rector Office of Congressional Affairs
Enclosure:
N As stated cc: Rep. Carlos Moorhead IDEf4TICAL LETTER SEliT TC:
Sen. Simpson/cc: Sen. Hart Rep. Udall/cc: Rep. Lujan Sen. Heinz Sen. Specter Rep. Kolter Rep. Walgren 8510230102 051004 PDR FDIA JACODS85-470 PDR L2 on,e: p........O CA
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Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 20555 No.
85-45 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tel. 301/492-7715 (Wednesday, March 20, 985)
NRC STAFF CITES DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY FOR ALLEGED VIOLATIONS AT BEAVER VALLEY POWER STATION UNIT I; PROPOSES $50,000 FINE The staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has cited the Duquesne Light Company for allegedly failing to maintain the integrity of a system that prevents the release of radioactivity into the environment at the company's Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit I located in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, about 5 miles east of East Liverpool, Ohio. The NRC proposes to fine the company $50,000.
The system, on which the alleged violations occurred, is called the primary contairment system. There was no release of radioactivity into the environment as a result of this alleged violation because a slight negative pressure inside of the containment would have prevented small radioactive particles from escaping through the opening in the containment.
On January 7, 1985, an NRC inspector at the nuclear facility found that there had been a violation of the containment system on December 23 through 26, 1984, when the valve to a one-inch drain on a pump in the reactor containment recirculation system was left open. On December 26, 1984, employees of the company recognized that the valve was opened and closed it, but they did not recognize that it was a violation of the technical specifications for operating the plant and consequently did not report the problem to the NRC as required.
The pump would only be needed in emergency situations.
It would pump radioactive water that might cellect in a sumpwell in the primary containment system to a spray system that would be used in controlling the pressure inside the containment system.
At the time of the alleged violation, the company was preparing the nuclear facility for startup following a scheduled refueling outage.
In a letter informing the company of this proposed enforcement action, Dr. Thomas E. Murley, Regional Administrator, NRC Region I, said, "This violation is but one instance of inadequate control of activities during this reactor startup."
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l Or. Murley noted that at an enforcement conference between members of the NRC regicnal staff an,d members of the staff of the Beaver Valley facility on Februa ry 13,'1985, the' Beaver Valley staff members " acknowledged that a regative trend does exist,and that the need for improvements at the facility to prevent recurrence is recognized."
.The company has 30 days to either pay the fine or to request in writing that part or all or it be withdrawn. The company also has 30 days to write to the NRC and describe what was done or will be done to assure that this alleged violation does not recur.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been informed of this proposed enforcement action.
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