ML20198L918
| ML20198L918 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 10/21/1997 |
| From: | Wiggins J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Boulette E BOSTON EDISON CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20198L921 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-293-97-05, 50-293-97-5, EA-97-482, NUDOCS 9710270228 | |
| Download: ML20198L918 (5) | |
See also: IR 05000293/1997005
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October- 21, 1997
EA 97 482
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E. Thomas Boulette, PhD
benior Vice President - Nuclear
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Boston Edison Company
Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station
600 Rocky Hill Road
3
Plymouth, Massachusetts 02360-5599
SUBJECT:
NRC SPECIAL INSPECTION REPORT 50 293/97-05
Dear Mr. Boulette:
The NRC conducted a specialinspection between May 14 - August 28,1997, at the
Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, examining the corrective cctions associated with the
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findings from a January 1995 self assessment of the Pilgrim safety-related cooling water
systems. Other related issues were also reviewed. Our preliminary conclusions were
discussed with you, Mr. V. Oheim and other representatives of your staff at exit meetings
on July 18 and August 28,1997.
Several findings from this inspection represent apparent violations of NRC requirements,
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 1000. These include: (1) an unreviewed safety question and severalinstances
where procedures were changed without appropriate written safety evaluations; (2) design
control issues and inconsistencies between safety analyses and operating procedures; (3)
Inadequate corrective actions regarding significant conditions advesce to quality, and (4)
feiture to report the operation of the Pilgrim Station in unanalyzed conditions outsids the
design bases.
The findings represent a pattern associated with seven related technical concerns derived
from the 1995 self assessment of the Pilgrim cooling water systems. Collectively, the
issues associated with cooling water systems, containment heat removal and the
emergency diesel generators described in this report did not receive appropriate formal
evaluation beyond operability determinations, often relying upon engineering judgements
that were not adequately followed with lasting corrective action. Further, fundamental
misunderstanding of the Pilgrim design basis and what constitutes a change thereto -
resulted in operating the station outside of the NRC approved licensing bases, and
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without the attendant revision of the Pilgrim Updeted Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR).
These findings have significant implications for important engineering processes that
govern configuration control, safety evaluation and corrective action. Further, the
effectiveness of such processes bears significantly upon your commitments relative to the
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NRC's 50.54(f) letter rega. ding the adequacy and availability of design basis information.
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9710270220 971021
POR
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No Notice of Violation is presently being issued for these inspection findings. In addition,
be advised that the number and characterization of the apparent violations described in the
enclosed inspection report may change as si result of further NRC review. An open
predecisional enforcement conference to discuss the apparent violations will be scheduled.
The decision to hold a predecisional enforcement conference does not mean that the NRC
has determined that a violetion has cccurred or that enforcement action will be taken. The
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 tha apparent violations sooner, corrective actions, significance of the issues,
and the need for lasting and effective corrective acticn. In addition, this is an opportuni' /
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 apparent violations,
(2) the application of the factors that the NRC considers when it detarmines 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.
You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations on this
matter. No response regarding tiiese apparent violations is required at this time, in
accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice " a copy of this letter, its
enclosure ((s), and your responce (if 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,
James T. Wiggins, Director
Division of Reactor Safety
Enclosures:
NRC Region i Inspection Report 50-293/97 05
Docket No. 50-293
License No. DPR-35
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E. Thomes Boulette
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cc w/ encl:
L. Olivier, Vice President Nuclear and Station Director
C. Goddard, Plant Department Manager
N. Desmond, Regulatory Relations -
D. Tarantino, Nuclear information Manager
- R. Hallisey, Department of Public Health, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The Honorable Therese Murray
~ The Honorable Joseph Gallitano
B. Abbanat, Department of Public Utilities
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- Chairman, Plymouth Board of Selectmen
Chairman, Duxbury Board of Selectmen
Chairman, Nuclear Matters Committee
- Plymouth Civil Defense Director
P. Gromer, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy Resources
J. Miller, Senior issues Manager
J. Fleming
A. Nogee, MASSPIRG
Office of the Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality
Engineering
Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
T. Rapone, Massachusetts Executive Office of Public _ Safety
Chairman, Citizens Urging Responsible Energy
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, SLO Designee -
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Qhtribution wlencl:
_ Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)
PUBLIC
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
NRC Resident inspector
- W. Axelson, DRA
J. Wiggins, DRS
L. Nicholson, DRS
E. Kelly, DRS
L. Prividy, DRS -
R. Conte, DRP
M.' Conner, DRP -
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DRS File
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R. Zimmerman, ADPR, NRR
F. Davis, OGC
A. Nicosia, OGC
J. Lieberman (OEMAIL)
D. Holody, EO
R. Eaton, NRR
A. Wang, NRR
W. Dean, OEDO
R. Correia, NRR
F. Talbot, NRR
DOCDESK
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PUBLIC
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NRC Resident inspector
W. Axelson, DRA
J. Wiggins, DRS
L. Nicholson, DRS
E. Kelly, DRS
L. Prividy, DRS
R. Conte, DRP
M. Conner, DRP
C. O'Daniell, DRP
OE (2)
DRS File
Distribution w/enci (VIA E MAIL):
R. Zimmerman, ADPR, NRR
F. Davis, OGC
A. Nicosia, OGC
J. Lieberman (OEMAIL)
D. Holody, EO
R. Eaton, NRR
A. Wang, NRR
W. Dean, OEDO
R. Correia, NRR
F. Talbot, NRR
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Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
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Distribution w/ encl:
Region I Docket Room (with concurrences).
PUBLIC ;
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
NRC Resident inspector
W.- Axelson, DRA
J. Wiggins, DRS -
L. Nicholson,- DRS
E. Kelly, DRS
L. Prividy, DRS
R. Conte, DRP.
M. Conner, DRP
C. O'Daniell, DRP
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DRS File
- Distribution w/ encl (VIA E MAIL):
R. Zimmerman, ADPR, NRR -
F. Davis, OGC
A. Nicosia, OGC -
J. Lieberman (OEMAIL)
D. Holody, EO
R. Eaton, NRR
A. Wang, NRR
W. Dean, OEDO
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R. Correia, NRR
F. Talbot, NRR
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