ML20141G912
| ML20141G912 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 07/03/1997 |
| From: | Cowgill C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Reid D VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20141G915 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-271-97-04, 50-271-97-4, NUDOCS 9707110307 | |
| Download: ML20141G912 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000271/1997004
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July 3, 1997
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Mr. Donald Reid
Senior Vice President, Operations
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Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation
RD 5, Box 169
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Ferry Road
Brattleboro, Vermont 05301
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SUBJECT:
NRC INSPECTION REPORT 50-271/97-04 AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION
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Dear Mr. Reid:
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On May 31,1997, the NRC completed an inspection at your Vermont Yankee reactor
facility. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection. Also, a meeting was
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held in Region I on May 15,1997 to discuss your performance improvement plans in the
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engineering area. The discussion materials are enclosed with this report.
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During the six week period covered by this inspection report, your conduct of activities at
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the Vermont Yankee facility was generally characterized by sound engineering and
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malntenance practices, and careful radiological work controls. During this period a region-
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based inspection of your security program concluded that the program was implemented
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effectively. Your decision to shut down to repair the m. sin steam bypass valve steam leak,
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rather than to make further attempts at on-line temporary repair, indicated a conservative
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approach to plant operations.
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However, we are concerned about a personnel performance problem that resulted in the
reactor scram on April 24,1997. Specifically, a failure to adhere to a surveillance
procedure caused the scram. This failure to adhere to station procedures is a violation of
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section 6.5 of the facility Technical Specifications. In addition, the NRC identified other
operator performance issues during this period. Your continued strong management
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attention to personnel performance is warranted.
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The violation is cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation, and the circumstances
surrounding the violation are described in detail in the enclosed report. Please note that
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you are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions specified in the
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enclosed Notice when preparing your response. In your response, ple!
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the performance problems identified are indicative of a negative trend in overall
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performance and any plans you have to address any trend identified. The NRC will use
your response, in part, to determine whether further enforcement action is necessary to
ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
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9707110307 970703
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ADOCK 05000271
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Donald A. Reid
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in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practices," a copy of this letter
and the enclosed Notice will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Sincerely,
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Original Signed By:
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Curtis J. Cowgill, Ill, Chief
Projects Branch 5
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Division of Reactor Projects
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Enclosures:
2. NRC Inspection Report 50-271/97-04
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3. May 15,1997 Management Meeting Slides
Docket No. 50-271
cc w/ encl:
G. Maret, Plant Manager
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R. McCullough, Operating Experience Coordinator
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J. Duffy, Licensing Engineer, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation
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J. Gilroy, Director, Vermont Public Interest Research Group, Inc.
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D. Tefft, Administrator, Bureau of Radiological Health, State of New Hampshire
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Chief, Safety Unit, Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of
D. Lewis of Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge
G. Bisbee, Esquire
R. Sedano, Vermont Department of Public Service
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T. Rapone, Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety
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State of New Hampshire, SLO Designee
State of Vermont, SLO Designee
Commonwealth of Massachusotts, SLO Designee
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Donald A. Reid
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Distribution w/ encl:
Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)
PUBLIC
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
C. Cowgill, DRP
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R. Summers, DRP
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G. Morris, DRS
D. Bearde, DRP
W. Axelson, DRA
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Distribution w/enci (VIA E-MAIL):
DOCDESK
D. Screnci, PA
NRC Resident inspector
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W. Dean, OEDO
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K. Jabbour, NRR
P. Milano, NRR
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Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
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R. Correia, NRR (RPC)
R. Frahm, Jr., NRR (RKF)
L. Cunningham, NRR (For Security / Safeguards inspection Reports)
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D. Barss, NRR (For Emergency Plan Inspection Reports)
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DOCUMENT NAME: g:\\ branch 5\\ir9704r1.vy
To r:ceive a copy of this document, indicate in the box:
"C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure
"E"
=
Copy with attachment /pnclosure
"N" = No copy
OFFICE
Rl/DRPgGP
Rl/DRP [jf L/
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NAME
WACOOKklb
CJCOWGILL
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DATE
07/JJ97
070197
07/ /97
07/ /97
07/ /97
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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