ML20140J350

Forwards Press Release 85-13 Re NRC Proposed Civil Penalty in Amount of $100,000 Against Util as Result of 840814 Incident Concerning Overpressurization of Safety Sys

ML20140J350
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry, 05000000
Issue date:	01/29/1985
From:	Kammerer C NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA)
To:	Bevill, Denton, Flippo, Heflin, Markey, Simpson, Udall HOUSE OF REP., HOUSE OF REP., ENERGY & COMMERCE, SENATE
Shared Package
ML20140C961	List: IA-84-478, Forwards Press Release 84-69 Re NRC Reduction of Fine for 1983 Violation.Pressure Sensing Device Capped.Fine Reduced Due to Short Duration of Violation,Small Size of Reactor & Comparable Enforcement Actions IA-85-478, Forwards Press Release 85-3 Re NRC Ad Hoc Advisory Committee for Review of Enforcement Policy Request for Public Comments on Enforcement Policy IR 05000366/1983023 IR 05000409/2005031 ML20140C954 ML20140C962 ML20140H544 ML20140H550 ML20140H555 ML20140H562 ML20140H574 ML20140H591 ML20140H596 ML20140H616 ML20140H623 ML20140H639 ML20140H646 ML20140H658 ML20140H670 ML20140H705 ML20140H721 ML20140H745 ML20140H751 ML20140H763 ML20140H779 ML20140H784 ML20140H789 ML20140H812 ML20140H816 ML20140H822 ML20140H834 ML20140H839 ML20140H843 ML20140H855 ML20140H860 ML20140H867 ML20140H873 ML20140H880 ML20140H886 ML20140H890 ML20140H894 ML20140H900 ML20140H915 ML20140H919 ML20140H926 ML20140H931 ML20140H940 ML20140H945 ML20140H956 ML20140H962 ... further results
References
FOIA-85-478 NUDOCS 8510230337
Download: ML20140J350 (2)

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIOi.

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{V Chairman Subcomittee on Energy Conservation and Power Comittee on Energy and Comerce United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Chainnan:

Enclosed for your information is an announcement that the Nuclear Regulatory Comission staff has proposed a $100,000 civil penalty against the Tennessee Valley Authority as the result of an incident _

on August 14, 1984, when a safety system was overpressurized at the Browns Ferry nuclear plant. .

It is planned to mail this information to the news media today, January 29, 1985.

Sincerely, Carlton Kamerer, Director Office of Congressional Affairs

Enclosure:

As stated cc: Rep. Carlos Moorhead IDEtiTICAL LEITER set 4T TU:

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.4 IfI - Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 20655 No. 85-13 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tel. 301/492-7715 (Tuesday, January 29,1985)

NRC STAFF PROPOSES TO FINE TVA $100,000 FOR ALLEGED VIOLATIONS AT BROWNS FERRY The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a $100,000 civil penalty against the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) as the result of an incident on August 14, 1984, when a safety system was overpressurized at the Browns Ferry nuclear plant in Alabama. An NRC inspection conducted after TVA -

reported the incident revealed several apparent violations of NRC requirements.

The incident occurred when TVA workers were testing low-pressure core

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spray system valve controls while Browns Ferry Unit I was operating at 100 percent power. Because one valve had been improperly rebuilt during maintenance several months earlier, and because another valve was erroneously opened during the test, reactor coolant at a pressure of about 1200 pounds per square inch backflowed into the core spray system piping, which is designed for a pressure of 300 pounds per square inch. Although the low pressure system did not fail, it was heated to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit, triggering fire alarms, and the backflow blew out a core spray system pump seal.

Thirteen employees received minor radioactive skin contamination.

In a letter infonning TVA of the enforcement action, James P. O'Reilly, NRC Regicnal Administrater in Atlanta, said the event--which resulted in a loss of primary system containment integrity--was caused by " multiple operator, maintenance, and quality assurance personnel errors in several different areas." He said these violations further indicate that TVA's management improvement program established earlier at Browns Ferry "is not proceeding as expected."

NRC and TVA officials discussed the violations in an enforcement conference held on September 26, 1984, at the NRC Regional Office in Atlanta.

Mr. O'Reilly said TVA addressed NRC's concerns during that meeting and has acted to correct management control shortcomings which contributed to the incident.

TVA has 30 days to pay the civil penalty or to protest it, in whole or in part.

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