ML20149D582
| ML20149D582 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Fort Calhoun  |
| Issue date: | 06/17/1997 |
| From: | Howell A NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Gambhir S OMAHA PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20149D586 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-285-97-09, 50-285-97-9, FACA, NUDOCS 9707170185 | |
| Download: ML20149D582 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000285/1997009
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' June 17,1997
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EA 97-280
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S. K. Gambhir, Division Manager'-
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_ . Production Engineering
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Omaha Public Power District
Fort Calhoun Station FC-2-4 Adm.
. P.Oi Box 399
~ Hwy. 75 - North of Fort Calhoun
Fort Calhoun, Nebraska 68023-0399
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? SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION REPORT 50 285/97-09
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- Dear Mr. Gambhir:-
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' An NRC inspection was conducted April 23 through June.10,1997, at your Fort Calhoun
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Station reactor facility. The enclosed report presents the scope and results of that.
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inspection.
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The inspection focused on the causes, circumstances, and corrective actions associated
with the April 21,1997, extraction steamline rupture at Fort Calhoun Station.- The
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inspection results indicated that you did not have in place an effective program for
monitoring the condition'of certain plant piping systems within the scope of 10 CFR 50.65.- Consequently, a catastrophic rupture of a large radius elbow in the extraction
steam piping occurred, which resulted in a plant transient and significant challenge to the -
operators'. ' Additionally, this event posed a significant personnel hazard and resulted in a
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. reduction in the station fire protection capabilities. The NRC views this as a significant
event. We are particularly concerned because it is our belief that ample industry-wide
' operating experience was available to nuclear licensees such that the occurrences of
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. events such as this are avoidable ; However, the overall operator respanse to this event
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was identified as a strength.
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Based on.the results of this inspection, one apparent violation was identified and is being
considered for escalated enforcement action in accordance with the " General Statement of
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Policy and Procedure for NRC Enfcrcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), NUREG 1600.
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Accordingly, no Notice of Violatiore is presently being issued for this inspection finding.
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In addition, please be advised that the number and characterization of apparent violations
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. described in the enclosed inspection raport may change as a result of further NRC review.
' Members of our staff have been in coretact with you, in order, to schedule a predecisional'
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Jenforcement conference to discuss this apparent violation. The decision to hold a
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.predecisional enforcement conference 'does not mean that the NRC has determined that a
violation has occurred or that enforcement action will be taken.' This conference is being
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- held to obtain information to enable the NRC to make an enforcement decision, such as a
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common understanding of the facts, root causes, missed opportunities to identify the
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! apparent. violation sooner, corrective actions, significance of the issues and the need for -
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~ 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
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your perspectives on 1) the severity of the violation, 2) the application of the factors that
the NRC considers when it 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
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. with Section Vll. .in particular, for this case, your views on the programmatic nature of the
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erosion / corrosion deficiencies and the extent to which the event complicated recovery
- from the transient, would be important. This conference will be open to public observation
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in accordance with a recent change to the enforcement policy (61 FR 65088).
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You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations on this
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matter. No response regarding the apparent violation is required at this time.
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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 (PDR).
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Should you have any questions concerning this inspection, we will be pleased to discuss
them with you.
Sincerely,
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DDC for
Arthur T. Howell lil, Director
Division of Reactor Safety
Docket No.: 50-285
License No.: DPR-40 -
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Enclosures:
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NRC Inspection Report
50-285/97-09
cc w/ enclosures:
James W. Tiils, Manager
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Nuclear Licensing
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Omaha Public Power District
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Fort Calhoun Station FC-2-4 Adm.
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P.O. Box 399
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Hwy. 75~- North of Fort Calhoun
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Fort Calhoun, Nebraska 68023-0399
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. James W. Chese, Manager
' Fort Calhoun Station -
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P.O. Box 399
Fort Calhoun, Nebraska 68023
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Perry D. Robinson, Esq.
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Winston & Strawn
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- 1400 L. Street, N.W.
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Washington, D.C. 20005-3502
. Chairman
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Washington County Board of Supervisors
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Blair, Nebraska 68008.
Cheryl Rogers, LLRW Program Manager
Environmental Protection Section
Nebraska Department of Health
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301 Centennial Mall, South
P.O. Box 95007
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-5007
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E-Mail report to T. Boyce (THB)
E-Mail report to NRR Event Tracking System (IPAS)
E-Mail report to Document Control Desk (DOCDESK)
E-Mail report to Richard Correia (RPC)
E-Mail report to Frank Talbot (FXT)
E-Mail report to Phil Qualls (PMQ)
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bec to DCD (IE01)
bec distrib. by RIV:
Regional Administrator
DRS-PSB
. DRP Director
MIS System
Branch Chief (DRP/B)-
RI V File
Project Engineer (DRP/B)
Branch Chief (DRP/TSS)
Resident inspector
G. F. Sanborn, EO
W. L. Brown, RC
J. Lieberman, OE, MS: 7-H5
OE:EA File, MS: 7-H5
P. A. Boehnert, ACRS
DOCUMENT NAME: R:\\_FCS\\FC709RP.JS
To receive copy of document irulicate in box: "C" = Copy without enclosures "E" = Copy with enclosures "N" = No copy
RIV:SRA
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RI:MB
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RAE:FPES
SRl:PBB
C:MB
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- NRR
JLShackelford/imb
CAClark
PMQualls
WWalker
DAPowers
06/16/97
06/13/97
06/16/97
06/16/97
06/16/97
D:DRP
D:DRS
GSanborn
TPGwynn
ATHowell ill
06/16/97
06/17/97
06/17/97
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY