ML20155F840
| ML20155F840 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Haddam Neck File:Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co icon.png |
| Issue date: | 10/29/1998 |
| From: | Blough A NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Mellor R CONNECTICUT YANKEE ATOMIC POWER CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20155F843 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-213-98-04, 50-213-98-4, EA-98-472, NUDOCS 9811060130 | |
| Download: ML20155F840 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000213/1998004
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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475 ALLENDALE ROAD
KING oF PRUSSIA. PENNSYLVANIA 19406-1415
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October 29, 1998
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EA 98-472
Mr. R.'A.' Mellor
Vice President - Operations and Decommissioning
Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company
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362 Injun Hollow Road
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East Hampton, CT 06424-3099
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SUBJECT: NRC SPECIAl. INSPECTION REPORT 50-213/98-04
Dear Mr. Mellor:
This refers to the inspection conducted on ' July 20 - September 11,1998, at the Haddam
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Neck Plant in Haddam, Connecticut. This purpose of this specialinspection was to review
the reactor coolant system (RCS) chemical decontamination that was completed to support
plant decommissioning. The enclosed report presents the results of that inspection.
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During the inspection period, your control of radiological work at Haddam Neck was generally
characterized as careful rnd thorough, and the RCS chemical decontamination accomplished
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substantial dose reduction in reactor piping. However, the process was hampered and
. Interrupted by several operational events that challenged plant personnel and the safe control
of the radiological source term. These events included: two major leaks of decontamination
fluid, the loss of control of demineralizer resins resulting in elevated radiation doses in plant
- piping, and the loss of control of a five-ton floor block due to improper rigging. None of the
events resulted in personnel injury or overexposure to radiation, all leakage was contained,
- and there were no releases of radioactive; water to the environment. However, the events
were significant precursors that had the potential for worker injury, equipment damage, or
radiological impacts. The events revealed weaknesses in the preparations and engineering
support for the RCS decontamination, weaknesses in the corrective actions to address
adverse conditions, and the failure to adequately assess and compensate for poor material
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conditions.
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Based on the results of this inspection, four apparent violations of regulatory requirements
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were identified which involved the failure to provide adequate procedures for the RCS
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decontamination and related activities. The violations are identified in the enclosed
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inspection report and are being considered for escalated enforcement action in accordance
with the " General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Action"
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9811060130 981029
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ADOCK 05000213
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RETURN OnlGINAL TO
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OPMCIAL REcono copy
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Mr. R. A. Mellor
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(Enforcement Policy), NUREG-1600. Although your staff took appropriate actions to
improve decontamination process controls and procedures following each event, the NRC
determined that the corrective actic,ns were not broadly-based to prevent subsequent
events or problems. Also, credit for identification of the issues is not warranted, since
they were primarily identified through unplanned events. The circumstances surrounding
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these apparent violations, the significance of the issues, and the need for effective
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corrective actions were discussed with you during a public meeting on August 3,1998,
and at the inspe~ction exit meeting on September 11,1998. As a result, it may not be
necessary to conduct a predecisional enforcement conference in order to enable the NRC
to make an enforcement decision.
Before the NRC makes its enforcement decision, we are providing you an opportunity to
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either (1) respond to the apparent violations addressed in this inspection report within 30
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days of the date of this letter or (2) request a predecisional enforcement conference. If a
conference is held, it will be open for public observation. The NRC will also issue a press
release to announce the conference. Please contact Dr. Ronald Bellamy at 610-337-5200
within seven days of the date of this letter to notify the NRC of your intended response.
Your response should be clearly marked as a " Response to Apparent Violations in
Inspection Report No. 50-213/98-04"and should include for each apparent violation: (1)
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the reason for the apparent violation, or if contested, the basis for disputing the apparent
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violation, (2) the corrective steps that have been taken and the results achieved, (3) the
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corrective steps that will be taken to avoid further violations, and (4) the date when full
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compliance will be achieved. Additionally, NRC reviews noted several weaknesses in the
control of plant activities (such as inadequate communications, coordination, the
integration of technical support, and the failure to make conservative decisions) that must
be addressed to assure the safe conduct of work. In response to the apparent violations,
in addition to the actions needed to ccrrect the violations, you are requested to address
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these matters and to describe thu actions that will be taken to improve the integration of
support during critical evolutions, so that undue focus on time constraints is eliminated,
and conservative decision-making is consistently maintained for site decommissioning. We
would expect that these actions would be incorporated into your long-term corrective
action plan.
Your response should be submitted under oath or affirmation and may reference or include
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previous docketed correspondence,if the correspondence adequately addressed the
required response. If an adequate response is not received within the time specified or an
extension of time had not been granted by the NRC, the NRC will proceed with its
enforcement decision or schedule a predecisional enforcement conference. In addition,
please be advised that the number and characterization of apparent violations described in
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the enclosed inspection report may change as a result of further NRC review. You will be
advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations in this matter.
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Mr. R. A. Mellor
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In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's * Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter,
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its enclosure, and your response 0.5 you choose to provide one) will be placed in the NRC
Public Document Room (PDR). To the extent possible, your response should not include
any personal privacy, proprietary, or safeguards information so that it can be placed in the
PDR without redaction.
Sincerely,
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A. Randolph Blough Director
Division of Nuclear Material Safety
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Docket No. 50-213
License No. DPR-61
Enclosure:
NRC Inspection Report No. 50-213/98 04
cc w/ encl:
D. Davis, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
T. Bennet, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
K. Heider, Decommissioning Director
G. Bouchard, Unit Director
J. Haseltine, Strategic Planning Director
G. van Noordennen, Regulatory Affairs Manager
J. Ritsher, CYAPCO Counsel
R. Bassilakis, Citizens Awareness Network
-J. Block, Attorney for CAN
J. Brooks, CT Attorney General Office
K. AinsworthiTown of Haddam
State of Connecticut SLO
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Mi. R. A. Mellor
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Distribution w/ encl:
Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)
PUBLIC
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
NRC Resident inspector
D. Screnci, PAO
J. Wiggins, DRS
J. White, DRS
J. Nick, DNMS
M. Miller, DNMS -
R. Bellamy, DNMS
H. Miller, RA / W. Axelson, DRA
OE (2).
Qlstribution w/enci (VIA E-MAIL):
K. Kennedy, OEDO
S. Weiss, NRR, DRPM, PDND
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M. Callahan, OCA.
B. McCabe, EDO
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R. Correia, NRR
F. Talbot, NRR
D. Screnci, PAO, ORA
DOCDESK
Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\D&LB\\HN\\98-04.RPT
Te receive a copy of this document, Indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without atted.n.n;/ enclosure
"E" = C
with attachment / enclosure
N" = No
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copy
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.l0FFICE
RI\\DNMS
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RI/DNMS
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RI/DNMS n l
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OFg?*,Z',7 l
lNAME
Raymond
FA- t,,
Bellamy e f e Blough N
Axelyohi
Liebaona^
lDATE
10/19/98
10/ l'i /98M1W\\
10/2 3 /98
10/LD/98
10/ M /98
OFFICIAL RECORD C0P .
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