ML20148G039
| ML20148G039 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Zion File:ZionSolutions icon.png |
| Issue date: | 05/21/1997 |
| From: | Grant G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Mueller J COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20148G042 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-295-97-07, 50-295-97-7, 50-304-97-07, 50-304-97-7, FACA, NUDOCS 9706050139 | |
| Download: ML20148G039 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000295/1997007
Text
.
.. _ _ . _ _
_ _ _ _ ~ .
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ -
- - -
~.
r
fUhfb/O-
,
.
!
l,
Y"
. ..
i
May 21, 1997
l
'
EA 97-223 '
i
Mr. J. H. Mueller
j
Site Vice President
l
Zion Station
Commonwealth Edison Company
101 Shiloh Boulevard
Zion, IL 60099 -
SUBJECT: NRC SPECIAL INSPECTION REPORT NOS. 50-295/97007; 50-304/97007
Dear Mr. Mueller:
This refers to the special inspection conducted by A.Vogel, D. Calhoun, M. Bailey, and
)
- G. Galletti of this office on March 12 through April 7.8,1997, at your Zion Station,
Units 1 and 2.' The purpose of the inspection wen to review the circumstances
surrounding the improper control rod manipulation event during a Unit 1 shutdown on
February 21,1997, and two subsequent operational events; a missed Technical
Specification Limiting Condition for Operation action statement and a Unit 1 hydraulic
transient event.' The first event is also the subject of NRC Augmented Inspection Team
inspection Report No. 50-295/97006.
The enclosed report presents the results of this inspection. Based on the results of this
inspection, seventeen examples of apparent violations were identified and are being
considered for escalated enforcement action in accordance with the " General Statement of
Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), NUREG-1600.
j
i
The apparent violations reflect operational weaknesses which contributed to the
)
breakdown in the command and control of the Unit 1 shutdown evolution and similar
deficiencies exhibited in the other events. Twelve examples of an apparent violation,
involving failures to follow procedure, did not individually result in actual safety
consequences. However, the number of examples reflect extensive deficiencies in control
room operating practices, such as inadequate pre-evolutionary preparations, poor
communications, and inadequate supervision. A second apparent violation, involving the
control room operators' failure to recognize the Technical Specification implications of
removing all three channels of a reactor coolant loop flow indicator from service, occurred.
soon after the control rod manipulation event and reflected similar operator command and
control weaknesses. A third apparent violation concerned four examples of inadequate
corrective actions. .The first example involved the failure to implement adequate,
I
immediate corrective actions following the identification of licensed operator performance
problems that occurred during the control rod manipulation event. The remaining three
examples involved the failure to implement effective long term corrective actions to
preclude the recurrence of previous reactivity management problems and operator
9706050139 970521
4
5 "
^oock o5oooJ2 5
IREMEMig
i
<
._
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ . __ . _ - _ - . _ _ . . _ . . _ ... _ _
l
'
i~
,
J. Mueller
-2-
deficiencies. The failure to adequately address these previously identified operational
,
performance weaknesses was significant because the relapse of these problems directly
contributed to the occurrence of the February 21, event.
,
No Notice of Violation is presently being issued for these inspection findings. In addition,
please be advised that the number and characterization of apparent violations described in
I
the enclosed inspection report may change as a result of further NRC review.
A pre-decisional enforcement conference will be scheduled to discuss these apparent
violations. The decision to hold a pre-decisional enforcement conference does not mean
l
that the NRC has determined that a violation has occurred or that enforcement action will
l
be taken. This conference is being held to obtain information to enable the NRC to make
an enforcement decision, such as a common understanding of the facts, root causes,
missed opportunities to identify the apparent violations sooner, corrective actions,
significance of the issues and the need for lasting and effective corrective action.
In addition, this is an opportunity for you to point out any errors in our inspection report
and for you to provide any information concerning your perspectives on: (1) the severity
,.
j
of the violations; (2) the application of the factors that the NRC considers when it
i
determines the amount of a civil penalty that may be assessed in accordance with
Section VI.B.2 of the Enforcement Policy; and (3) any other application of the Enforcement
!
Policy to this case, including the exercise of discretion in accordance with Section Vll.
l
You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations on this
matter. No response regarding these apparent violations is required at this time.
l
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter
and its enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
l
l
Sincerely,
)
/s/ G. E. Grant.
I
Geoffrey E. Grant, Director
i
Division of Reactor Projects
1
Docket Nos.: 50-295, 50-304
Enclosure:
Inspection Report
Nos. 50-295/97007;
50-304/97007
l'
l
DOCUENT NAW: R:\\lNSPRPTSPOWERSOONWO97007.DRP
l
.-
-
. ~
, . .
-
..
OmcE
=
16
m
IA/
m
i 8
m
I I
_
_u
NAE
DHee:co
"P( A
AOapaa jg 4 @ pe,. Ac V e HCisyton
f5 cc
GGrapt [_.h
l
{
DATE
05/ prs 7
05/24/97
. 05/V/97
06 Q 97[ } /l
l
l~
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Vy
l
l
l
,,
. - . , .
-
- - - , .
- . - - , . .-
--
O
J. Mueller
-3-
-
3
,
cc w/ encl:
T. J. Malmen, Senior Vice President
,
Nuclear Operations Division
D. A. Sager, Vice President,
Generation Support
H. W. Keiser, Chief Nuclear
Operating Officer
R. Starkey, Plant General Manager
,
,
R. Godley, Regulatory Assurance
Supervisor
1. Johnson, Acting Nuclear
Regulatory Services Manager.
Richard Hubbard
Nathan Schloss, Economist
Office of the Attorney General
Mayor, City of Zion
State Liaison Officer, Wisconsin
State Liaison Officer
Chairman, Illinois Commerce
Commission
Document Control Desk-Licensing
Distribution:
Docket File w/enci
Project Manager, NRR w/enct
PUBLIC IE-01 w/enci ~
DRP w/enci
OC/LFDCB w/enci
Rill PRR w/enci
SRI Byron, Braidwood,
CAA1 w/enci (E-mail)
Zion w/ encl
Deputy RA, w/ encl-
A. B. Beach, w/enci
RAC1 (E-Mail)
Rlli Enf. Coordinator, w/enci
DRS (2) w/ encl -
TSS w/enci
J. Lieberman, OE w/enci
J. Goldberg, OGC w/enci
R. Zimmerman, NRR w/enci