ML20141B490

Discusses Insp Rept 70-7002/97-02 on 970303-0406 & Forwards NOV

ML20141B490
Person / Time
Site:	Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant
Issue date:	05/09/1997
From:	Caniano R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Miller R UNITED STATES ENRICHMENT CORP. (USEC)
Shared Package
ML20141B494	List: ML20141B490 ML20141B497 ML20141B503
References
70-7002-97-02, 70-7002-97-2, EA-97-172, NUDOCS 9705150306
Download: ML20141B490 (2)

Text

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I May 9, 1997 EA 97-172 Mr. J. H. Miller Vice President - Production United States Enrichment Corporation Two Democracy Center 6903 Rockledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20817

SUBJECT:

NRC INSPECTION REPORT 70-7002/97002(DNMS) AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION

Dear Mr. Miller:

On April 6,1997, the NRC completed an inspection at your Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion

Plant. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection.

During the five-week period covered by this inspection report, the inspectors observed that j the plant operated in a safe manner; however, two violations of NRC requirements were 4

identified, in the first instance, NRC inspectors identified that the plant failed to properly implement the Technical Ssfety Requirements regarding the verification and operability of various safety systems for cascade cells prior to changing modes, in the second instance, the plant failed to provide adequate operator coverage at the X-330 Tails Station during a i special plant evolution.

The violations are cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice) and the circumstances surrounding the violations are described in detailin the enclosed report. You are required to respcnd to this letter and should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response. Your written response should address the procedure weaknesses and staff's lack of understanding of operability determination related to mode changes associated with the violations identified in the enclosed report. The NRC will use your response, in part, to determine whether further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

in accordance with 10 CFR 2,790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice" a copy of this letter, its enclosures, and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR). /

150033

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9705150306 970509 PDR ADOCK 07007002 C PDR

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l J. Miller -2  ;

We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning these observations. )

j Sincerely, Original Signed by Gary L. Shaar l Roy J. Caniano, Acting Director

, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety

,. Docket No. 70-7002

Enclosures:

1. Notice of Violation

2. Inspection Report No. 70-7002/97002(DNMS) l cc w/encls: R. M. DeVault, DOE I S. A. Polston, Paducah General Manager 4

D.1. Allen, Portsmouth General Manager R. W. Gaston, Portsmouth Nuclear Regulatory Affairs Manager R. L. Woolley, Manager, Nuclear Regulatory Assurance and Policy, USEC bcc w/encls: A. B. Beach, Rlli ,

H. B. Clayton, Rlli l Office of Enforcement  !

J. Goldberg, OGC

E. Ten Eyck, FCSS Y. H. Faraz, NMSS PUBLIC (IE 07) e i

DOCUMENT NAME: R :\l N S PR PT S\G D P\PO RT\PO R 97002. D N M i To receive a copy of this document,Indcate in the box *C" = Copy without attach /enci *E' = Copy with attact 'anct *N' = No copy OFFICE Rlll ,[

f Rlli A/

NAME Reidinger Canianohl,$$ - _

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DATE 05/gf97 05///97 j OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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