ML20199H590

Forwards Insp Repts 50-454/97-19 & 50-455/97-19 on 970908-18.Violation Identified & Being Considered for Escalated Enforcement Action

ML20199H590
Person / Time
Site:	Byron
Issue date:	10/02/1997
From:	Grove J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Graesser K COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO.
Shared Package
ML20199H594	List: IR 05000454/1997019 ML20199H590
References
50-454-97-19, 50-455-97-19, EA-97-446, NUDOCS 9711260164
Download: ML20199H590 (6)

See also: IR 05000454/1997019

Text

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October 2,1997!

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= EA Noi 97.44l6- -

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- Mr. KIGraesser

Site Vice President ';

Byron Nuclear. Power Station 1 l

. Commonwealth Edison Company 3"

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4450 North German' Church Road -i

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Byron, IL161010; .

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j SUBJECT:1 ' NRC INSPECTION REPORTS 50-454/97019(DRS); 50-455/97019(DRS)? . ,

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i Dear Mr< Graesser: -

.;

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> On September 18,'1097, the NRC completed an inspection of your Byron Nuclear Power -

{ Plant, Units-1 and 2 The inspection scope included 'a review of post-fire safe shutdown-

, E concems as specified in LER 50-454/95005, Supplement 2, and your corrective actions for

ilnspection Follow up item 50-454/455-95003-4 and Violation 50-454/4f5-95011-03. At the -

conclusion of the Irispection, the findings were discussed with those members of your staff

' identified in the enclosed report.

c. . . .

.

Based on the results of this inspection, one apparent violation was identified and is being l

'

considered for escalated enforcement action in accordance with the " General Statement of

. Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforecment Policy), NUREG-1600.

The apparent violation involved examples, identified by Byron Station, of inadequate -

i separation of cables associated with redundant safe shutdown trains. Consequently,  ;

postdated fires occurring in various plant fire zones would have significantly challenged

your ability to achieve and maintain safe shutdown conditions. The circumstances

_

surrounding _the apparent violation, the significance of the issue, and corrective actions were

,

1 discussed with members of your staff at the exit meeting on September 18,1997, As a

result, it may not be_necessary to conduct a predecisicnal enforcement conference in order

_

tc enable the NRC to make an enforcement decision. However, a Notice of Violation is not a

presently being issued for the inspection finding. ' Before the NRC makes its enforcement

'

i. decision,_we are providing you an opportunity to either . (1) respond to the apparent violation

'

,

addressed in this inspection report within 30 days of the date of this letter or (2) request-a l

pre #cisional enforcement conference. Please contact Mr. Ronald Gardner at

.(630) 829-9751 within 7 days of the date of this letter to notify the NRC of your intended

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response.-

.

Your response to the apparent violation should be clearly marked as a " Response to An

. Apparent. Violation'in 'nspection Report No. 50-454/455-97019(DRS)," and should include:

'(1) the reason for the' apparent violation, or, if contested, the basis for disputing the -

apparent violation; (2) the corrective steps that have been taken and the results_ achieved;

'

_ _

l.(3) the corrective sted, that will be taken to avoid further violations; and (4) the date when

'

full compliance _ will be achieved. .

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- K. Graesser 2 October 2,1997

1

Your response should be submitted under oath or affirmation and may reference or include

previous docketed correspondence, if the ccrrespondence adequately addresses the

required response. If an adequate response is not received within the time specified or an

extension of time has 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 the apparent violation

described in 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 on this

matter.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, its

'

enclosures, and your response (if you choose to provide one) will be placed in the NRC

Public Document Room (PDR). To the extent possible, your response should not inc'ude

any personal privacy, proprietary, or safeguards'information so that it can be placed in the

PDR without redaction.

Sincerely,

.ohn

' A. Grobe, Director

Division of Reactor Safety

Docket Nos. 50 454; 50 455

License Nos. - NPF-37; NPF-66

Enclosure: Inspection Report 50-454/97019(DRS); 50-455-97019(DRS)

Distribution:

See attached list

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..

K, Graesser - 3 ' October 2,:1997

cc w/ encl: R. J. Manning, Executive Vice President,.

'

. Generation -

M. Wallace, Senior Vice President,

Corporate Services

H. G. Stanley, Vice President,

PWR Operations

Liaison Officer, NOC-BOD -

D. A. Sager, Vice President,

Generation Support

D. Farrar, Nuclear Regulatory

Services Manager

1. Johnson, Licensing Operations Manager

. Document Control Desk - Licensing

K. Kofron, Station Manager

D. Brindle, Regulatory Assurance

Supervisor

Richard Hubbard

Nathan Schloss, Economist,

Office of the Attorney General

State Liaison Officer

State Liaison Officer, Wisconsin

Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission

.

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EA No "97-446

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Mr. K. Graesser .

Sits Vice President:

'

Byron N9 clear Power Station-

,

~ Commonwealth Edison Company -

'

4450 North German Church Road

Byron,- lL.' 61010 -

'

SUBJECT

- NRC INSPECTION REPORTS 50-454/97019(DRS); 50-455/97019(DRS) =

l 1 Dear Mr. Graesser:

.

= On September 18,1997, the NRC completed an laspection of your Byron Nuclear. Power

Plant,- Units 1 and 2. - The inspection scope included a review of post-fire safe shutdown

coruems as specified in LER 50-454/95005,~ Supplement 2, and your corrective actions for .i

'

Inspection Follow up Item 50-454/455-95003-4 and Violation 50-454/455-90011-03. At the

conclusion of the ir,spection, the findings were discussed with those members of your staff

identified in the enclosed report'

L Based on the results_of this inspection, one apparent violatbn was identified and is being l

considered for escalated enforcement action in accordance with the " General Statement of .

Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), NUREG-1600.

The apparent violation involved examples, identified by Byron Station, of inadequate

separation.of cables associated with redundant safe shutdown trains. Consequently,

.

postulated fires occurring in various plant fire zones would have significantly challenged  !

your ability to achieve and maintain safe shutdown conditions. The circumstances

surroundi_ng the apparent violation,_the significance of the issue, and corrective actions were

discussed with members of your staff at the exit meeting on September 18,1997l As a .

I -

. result, it may not be necessary to conduct a predecisional enforcement conference in order a

. .to enable the _NRC to make an enforcement decision. However, a Notice of Violation is not

l l presently being issued for the. inspection finding. Before the NRC rr.akes its enforcement?

l decision,-'we are providing you an opportunity to either (1) respond to the apparent violation j

addressed in this inspection report within 30 days of the date _of this letter or (2) request a -1

-

predecisional enforcement conference. Please contact Mr. Ronald Gardner at -

'(630).829-97S1-within 7 days of the date of this letter to notify the NRC of your intended

I

.  ; response.

i

1Your response to the' apparent violation should be clearly marked as a " Response to An

f ApparentsViolation in inspection Report No,'50-454/455-97019(DRS)," and sh'ould include:

, y (1) the reason for the' apparent. violation, or, if contested, the basis for disputing the

1 . apparent violation; (2) the. corrective steps that have been taken and the results achieved;

"

(3) the corrective steps that will be taken to avoid further violations; and (4) the date when

i full compliance will be achieved.'

,

""

.

=

-

.

>, -.

K. Graesser - 2

Your response should be submitted under oath or afiiimation and may reference or include

previous docketed correspondence, if the correspondence adequately addresses the

required response, if an adequate response is not received within the time specified or an -

extension of time has 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 the apparent violation

described in 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 on this

matter.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, its

enclosures, and your response (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 infonnation so that it can be placed in the

- PDR without redaction.

Sincerely,

John A. Grobe, Director

Division of Reactor Safety

Docket Noc. 50-454; 50-455

License Nos. NPF-37; NPF-66

Enclosure: Inspection Report 50-454/97019(DRS); 50-455-97019(DRS)

Distributiqa:

See attached list

DOCUMENT NAME:- G:DRS\BYR97019.DRS

To receive a copy of this document, Indicate in the box "C" = Copy w/o attach /enct T = Copy w/nitach/enct "N" = No

copy

TFFICE Rlli:DRS . l Rill:DRP l Rill:RAO l Rlll:DRS l

NAME Chyu/lc-Gardner Lanksbury Clayton Grobe

DATE -10/ /97

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10/ /97 10/ /97 10/ /97

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY-

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K." Graesser; 3.

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cc w/ encl:2

.

R. 'Ji Manning,' Executive Vice Presidenti-

Generation

M. Wallace, Senior Vice President, -

Corporate Services- -t

H. G. Stanley, Vice President,

. PWR Operations -  ;

Liaison Officer, NOC BOD -

O. A. Sager,-Vice President,

>

- Generation Support

.D. Farrar, Nuclear Regulatory

Services Manager

- 1. Johnson, Licensing Operations Manager

v Document Control Desk Licensing

- K. Kofron, Station Manager -

'

D. Brindle, Regulatory Assurance

Supervisor ,

Richard Hubbard  ;

Nathan Schloss, Economist,

. Office of the Attorney General

State Liaison Officer

State Liaison Officer, Wisconsin '

Chairman,'lilinois Commerce s.:ommission

Distribution: ~

Docket File w/encI SRI, Byron w/enci TSS w/enct

PUBLIC IE-01 w/eaci LPM, NRR w/enci CAA1 w/enci

OC/LFDCB w/ encl A. B. Beach, Rill w/ encl . DOCDESK w/enci

DRP wlenci J. L. Caldwell, Rlli w/enci-

DRS w/enci Rlli Enf. Coordinator w/encI

Rlli PRR w/enci - R.- A. Capra, NRR w/ encl

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