ML20203E670

Forwards Insp Rept 50-213/97-09 on 971001-980112 & Nov.Violation Involved Discovery of Old Design Issue Associated W/Spent Fuel Bldg Ventilation Sys

ML20203E670
Person / Time
Site:	Haddam Neck File:Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co icon.png
Issue date:	02/09/1998
From:	Bellamy R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Desiree Davis CONNECTICUT YANKEE ATOMIC POWER CO.
Shared Package
ML20203E548	List: IR 05000213/1997009 ML20203E544 ML20203E670 ML20203E677
References
50-213-97-09, 50-213-97-9, NUDOCS 9802270103
Download: ML20203E670 (3)

See also: IR 05000213/1997009

Text

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February 9,1998

Mr. Don K. Davis, Chairman, Chief

Executive Officer and President

c/o R. A. Mellor, Vice President

Operations and Decommissioning

Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company

362 Injun Hollow Road

East Hampton, CT 06424-3099

SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION (NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT

50 213/97 09)

Dear Mr. Davis:

On January 12,1998, the NRC completed an inspection at Connecticut Yankee Atomic

Power Company. The inspection consisted of selective reviews of procedures and records,

inspectors' observations, and interviews with plant personnel. The enclosed report

presents the results of that inspection.

During the three-month period covered by this inspection period, the Haddam Neck staff

continued to assure the safe storage of spent fuel. Progress was noted in the completion

of actions to plan for decommissioning, including the successful removal of a reactor

coolant system artifact to prepare for the primary system decontamination. Good

engineering support for spent fuel safety was evident in several activities, including the

analysis and fuel shuffie activities to address beyond design basis events. Our inspection

noted poor past performance in the 1975 and 1986 periods resulting in the release of

contaminatec' materials (soils and cement blocks) from the site. We will continue to review

your efforts to assess the radiological consequences of the loss of control of that material,

as well as the actions to remediate the affected offsite areas.

Based on the results of this inspection, it appears that one of your activities was not

conducted in accordance with NRC requirements, as described in the enclosed Notice of

Violation. The violation involved the discovery by your staff during this period of an old

design issue associated with the spent fuel building ventilation system. The design

deficiency was caused by weaknesses in the design control process during a 1974 plant

modification. Although the deficiency was a concern because it involved a system

important to plant safety, it did not adversely affect safety because of administrative

controls in place during spent fuel pool activities. Further, the weaknesses in the

modification process causing the deficiency were similar to concerns addressed in the

escalated enforcement action described in the NRC letter dated May 12,1997. Actions

have already been taken to improve the programmatic control of plant design changes.

The actions by plant staff this period to investigate and address spent fuel building

ventilation system design and performance were thorough end appropriate. Accordingly,

9902270103 980217

{DR ADOCKOS00g23 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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Mr. Don K. Davis

the NRC requires no further information at this time, and will follow your actions to

implement long term corrective actions. No response to the enclosed Notice is required.

The security program was inspected during this period. Based on the inspectorc'

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observations and discussions with engineering and security management, the licensee's

. provisions for land vehicle control measures satisfy regulatory requirements and licensee

commitments. As an enhancement to the inspection, the UFSAR initiative, Section 4 of

the Plan, titled " Protected Area Perimeter" was reviewed. The inspectors determined, by

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observations, that the protected area perimeter was installed and maintained as required in

the NRC approved Physical Security Plan. You are generally implementing a security

program that adequately protects against acts of radiological sabotage, and the vehicle

barrier system meets all your stated commitments. l

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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 enclosures will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).

Sincerely,

ORIGINAL SIGNED BY:

P., R. BELLAMY

Ronald R. Bellamy, Chief

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Decommissioning and Laboratory Branch

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. Docket No. 50 210

License No. DPR-61

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Enclosures:

1. Notice of Violation

2. NRC Inspection Report No. 50-213/97-09

cc w/encis:

B. Kenyon, President and Chief Executive Officer

D. Goebel, Vice President - Nuclear Oversight

F. Rothen, Vice President - Nuclear Work Services

- D. Amerine, Vice President, Nuclear Engineering and Support

L. Cuoco, Senior Nuclear Counsel

G. van Noordennen, Manager, Nuclear Licensing

R. Johannes, Director - Nuclear Training

J. Smith, Manager, Operator Training

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W. Meinert, Nuclear Engineer

R. Bassilak;s, Citizens Awarenese Network

, J. Block, Attorney for CAN

J. Brooks, CT Attorney General Office

K. Ainsworth, Town of Haddam

State of Connecticut SLO

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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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Mr. Don K. Davis 3

Distribution w/encis:

Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)

PUBLIC

Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)

H. Miller, RA

W. Axelson, DRA

NRC Resident inspector

D. Screnci, PAO

J. Wiggins, DRS

J. White, DRS

J. Nick, DNMS

R. Bellamy, DNMS

Distribution w/encls (VIA E-MAIL):

K. Kennedy, OEDO

S. Weiss, NRR, DRPM, PDND

T. Fredrichs, PM, NRR

M. Callahan, OCA

W. 'i ravers, SPO

R. Correia, NRR

F. Talbot, NRR

D. Screnci, PAO, ORA

DOCDESK

Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\D&LB\HN\97 09.RPT

To receive a copy _of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without

attachment / enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure "N" = No copy

0FFICE Rl/DNMS l Rl/DNMS l l l

NAME RAYMDND/s/RRB for BELLAMY/s/RRB

OATE 2/9/98 2/9/98

0FFICIAL RECORD COPY