ML20149L146

Forwards Insp Repts 50-245/96-03,50-336/96-03 & 50-423/96-03 on 960205-09.Violation Re Failure of Mgt to Take Appropriate CA Noted

ML20149L146
Person / Time
Site:	Millstone
Issue date:	02/15/1996
From:	Wiggins J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Feigenbaum T NORTHEAST NUCLEAR ENERGY CO.
Shared Package
ML20149L149	List: IR 05000245/1996003 ML20149L146
References
EA-96-034, EA-96-34, NUDOCS 9602230316
Download: ML20149L146 (3)

See also: IR 05000245/1996003

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February 15, 1996

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EA No.96-034 i

Mr. Ted C. Feigenbaum  ;

Executive Vice President - Nuclear l

Northeast Nuclear Energy Company

c/o Mr. Terry L. Harpster ,

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P.O. Box 128

Waterford, Connecticut 06385

SUBJECT: NRC INSPECTION NOS. 50-245/96-03; 50-336/96-03;

AND 50-423/96-03

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Dear Mr. Feigenbaum:

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This letter refers to the radiation protection and radwaste inspection

conducted by Mr. J. Furia of this office on February 5-9, 1996, of activities

authorized by NRC License Nos. DPR-21, DPR-65 and NPF-49 at the Millstone

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Station. Areas examined during this inspection important to public health and ,

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safety are described in the enclosed report. Our preliminary findings were

discussed by Mr. Furia with Mr. F. Dacimo and other members of your staff.

Generally effective programs for radiation protection were observed. Your

program for the training of plant health physics technicians and radwaste

handling personnel was especially noteworthy. However, an apparent violation

of NRC requirements was identified regarding the operation of the Unit I

liquid radwaste system. The long-standing leakage from various equipment, the

deposit of radioactive spent resins on the floor of a radwaste tank cubicle,

and the poor material conditions of the system represented an operational ,

condition inconsistent with that described in the Unit 1 Updated Final Safety I

Analysis Report (UFSAR), and a condition not properly evaluated in accordance

with 10 CFR 50.59. Of particular concern to the NRC are: 1) the long-term

, nature of the problem, 2) the failure of management to take appropriate

corrective action, and 3) the quality of the information regarding the  !

condition of the radwaste facility in response to verbal inquiries from

various inspectors in the period 1990-1992.

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The apparent violation is being considered for escalated enforcement action in ,

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accordance with the " General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC

Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy, 60 FR 34381; June 30,1995), and

accordingly no notice of violation is presently being issued for these .

inspection findings. In addition, please be advised that the number and j

characterization of the apparent violation described in the enclosed .

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inspection report may change as a result of further NRC review. As confirmed

by a discussion between Mr. R. Kacich of your staff and Mr. Furia on

February 12, 1996, we have scheduled a Pre-Decisional Enforcement Conference

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in the Region I office on March 11, 1996, at 1:00 p.m., that will be open to

public observation. Please be prepared to discuss the three specific concerns

regarding the problem described above.

230078 ,,

9602230316 960215 .

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PDR ADOCK 05000245 I

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Mr. Ted C. Feigenbaum 2

The decision to hold a 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 held to obtain information to

enable the NRC to make an enforcement decision, such as common understanding

of the facts, root causes, missed opportunities to identify the apparent

violation 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 of the violation (s), 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 with Section VII. This conference will

be open to public observation in accordance with the Commission's continuing

trial program as discussed in NUREG-1600, " General Statement of Policy and

Procedures for NRC Enforcement Actions." Although not required, we encourage

you to provide your comments on how you believe holding this conference open

to public observation affected your presentation and your communications with

the NRC.

You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our

deliberations on this matter. No response regarding the apparent violation is

required at this time. 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.

Your cooperation with us is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Eugene Kelly /for

James T. Wiggins, Director

Division of Reactor Safety

Docket Nos. 50-245, 50-336, and 50-423

Enclosure:

NRC Region I Inspection Report Nos. 50-245/96-03;

50-336/96-03; and 50-423/96-03

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Mr. Ted C. Feigenbaum 3

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cc w/ encl:

M. H. Brothers, Nuclear Unit Director

L. M. Cuoco, Esquire

F. R. Dacimo, Vice President, Nuclear Operations

J. J. LaPlatney, Haddam Neck Unit Director

D. B. Miller, Senior Vice President, Nuclear Safety and Oversight

P. M. Richardson, Nuclear Unit Director l

W. J. Riffer, Nuclear Unit Director

S. E. Scace, Vice President, Reengineering

E. A. DeBarba, Vice President, Nuclear Technical Services

F. C. Rothen, Vice President, Nuclear Work Services

W. D. Meinert, Nuclear Engineer

N. S. Reynolds, Esquire

S. B. Comley, We The People

. State of Connecticut SLO Designee

Distribution w/ encl:

J. Wiggins, DRS

Region I Docket Room (with concurrences) ,

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NRC Resident Inspector

Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)

PUBLIC

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D. Screnci, PA0 (2)

J. Gray, Deputy Director, OE

OE Mail

DRS Files (3)

Distribution w/ encl (VIA E-MAIL):

J. Andersen, NRR

W. Dean, OED0

W. Lanning, Director, M0T

P. McKee, NRR/PD I-4

V. Rooney, PM, NRR

G. Vissing, PM, NRR

R. Borchardt, NRR (PIPB) ,

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DOCUMENT NAME 'G:\RSB\FURIA\ MIL 9603.RPT td l

Ta seceive a copy of No stocument,indleste in #w bosc "C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure "N" = No

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copy /\ ,j /

'0FFICE RI/DRS lE (RI/DRS) lE RI/DR b b RI/oap l

NAME JFuria C)6' JWSte 4J JWiggins @ 4 M WLANNING

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DATE l02/13/96' 02/ 13 /96 02//$/ /96 / 02/ /96 02/ /96

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