ML20204E631
| ML20204E631 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Clinton  |
| Issue date: | 03/10/1999 |
| From: | Dapas M NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Mcelwain J ILLINOIS POWER CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20204E637 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-461-99-05, 50-461-99-5, NUDOCS 9903250089 | |
| Download: ML20204E631 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000461/1999005
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March 10,1999
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Mr. John P. McElwain
Chief Nuclear Officer
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Clinton Power Station
lilinois Power Company
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Mail Code V-275
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P. O. Box 678
Clinton,IL 61727
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SUBJECT:
NRC RADIATION PROTECTION INSPECTION REPORT
50-461/99005(DRS) AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION
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Dear Mr. McElwain:
On February 12,1999, the NRC completed an inspection at your Clinton Nuclear Power
Station. The enclosed report presents the results of this inspection.
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This inspection was an examination of activities conducted under your license as they relate to
radiation safety and to compliance with the Commission's rules and regulations and with the
conditions of your license. The inspection consisted of a selective examination of procedures
and representative records, observations of work in progress, and interviews with personnel.
Specifically, the inspection focused on the implementation of your as-low-as-is-reasonably-
achievable (ALARA) program and on the adequacy of radiological surveys. The inspection
also reviewed your staff's actions on previous inspection findings in the areas of radiation
protection and chemistry and on recent radiological incidents.
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We observed improvements in your ALARA planning program. The assignment of additional
- rescurces to the ALARA staff resulted in more timely and critical radiological reviews of work
activities, in addition, the ALARA staff provided dose monitoring tools to station department
personnel, which were used by the departments to manage their dose. We recognize these
accomplishments and encourage your continued emphasis on department level dose
ownership. However, we observed some challenges in the integration of ALARA planning into
the station's work scheduling and planning system, which was recognized by your staff.
Although some improvements were evident, this continues to be an area requiring
management attention. In addition, source term reduction initiatives have not been actively
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pursued.
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Based on this inspection, one violation of regulatory requirements was identified. Specifically,
your staff identified that inadequate radiological surveys were performed in the residual heat
removal heat exchanger room, which resulted in an improperly posted high radiation area. As
a result of this error, an individual unknowingly entering the unposted high radiation area and
received an electronic dosimetry dose rate alarm. However, no unexpected radiation dose
was received by the individual.
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Although some initial opportunities to identify this error were missed, we recognize that your
staff did identify this violation. However, during previous NRC inspections, we have
documented similar violations which were attributed to inadequate radiological surveys.
Consequently, we are concerned that the corrective actions for these similar violations have
not fully corrected a basic performance problem. During this incident and previously identified
incidents that led to violations, radiation protection technicians have not performed thorough
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evaluations of radiological conditions within your facility. Based on the repetitive nature of this
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violation and the ineffective corrective actions to address the root cause, we have not
exercised discretion for the above violation. We have discussed this problem with members of
your staff and plan to review your actions to address this issue in future NRC inspections.
Nonetheless, the NRC has cc1cluded that information regarding the reason for the violation,
the corrective actions taken and planned to correct the violation and prevent recurrence is
already adequately addressed on the docket in Inspection Report No. 50-461/99005(DRS).
Therefore, you are not required to respond to this letter unless the description therein does not
accurately reflect your corrective actions or your position. In that case, or if you choose to
provide additional information, you should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed
Notice.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the Commissions regulations, a copy of this letter, its
enclosures, and your response to this letter, if you should choose to respond, will be placed in
the NRC Public Document Room.
We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this inspection.
Sincerely,
Original Signed by Marc L. Depas
Marc L. Dapas, Deputy Director
Division of Reactor Projects
Docket No.:
50-461
License No.: N7F-62
Enclosures:
2. Inspection Report 50-461/99005(DRS)
See Attached Distribution
DOCUMENT NAME: G:DRS\\CLl99005.WFD (SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE)
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individual unknowingly entered the unposted high radiation area and received an electronic
dosimetry dose rate alarm, but no unexpected radiation dose was received by the individual.
Although some initial opportunities to identify this error were missed, we recognize that your staff
did identify this violation, and we have characterized the violation as a non-cited Violation.
However, during previous NRC inspections, we have documented similar violations which were
attributed to inadequate radiological surveys or lingered as a result of poor surveys.
Consequently, we are concerned that the corrective actions for these similar violations have not
fully corrected a basic technician performance problem. During this incident and previously
identified violations, radiation protection technicians have not performed thorough evaluations of
radiological conditions within your facility. We have discussed this problem with members of
your staff and understand that additional actions are planned to review and to improve this area.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the Commissions regulations, a copy of this letter and its
enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
We will gladly discuss any questions you have concerning this inspection.
Sincerely,
Marc L. Dapas, Deputy Director
Division of Reactor Projects
Docket No.:
50-461
License No.: NPF-62
Enclosure:
Inspection Report 50-461/99005(DRS)
cc w/ encl:
G. Hunger, Station Manager
R. Phares, Manager, Nuclear Safety
and Performance improvement
J. Sipek, Director - Licensing
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M. Aguilar, Assistant Attorney General
G. Stramback, Regulatory Licensing
Services Project Manager
General Electric Company
Chairman, DeWitt County Board
State Liaison Officer
Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission
DOCUMENT NAME: G:DRS\\CLl99005.wpd
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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cc w/encis:
G. Hunger, Station Manager
R. Phares, Manager, Nuclear Safety
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and Performance improvement
J. Sipek, Director- Licensing
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M. Aguilar, Assistant Attomey General
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G. Stramback, Regulatory Licensing
Services Project Manager
General Electric Company
Chairman, DeWitt County Board
State Liaison Officer
Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission
Distribution:
RPC (E-Mail)
Project Mgr., NRR w/encls
J. Caldwell, Rlll w/encls
B. Clayton, Rlll w/encls
SRI Clinton w/encls
DRP w/encls
TSS w/encls
DRS (2) w/encls
RillPRR
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PUBLIC I
w/encls ,
Docket File w/encls
GREENS
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LEO (E-Mail)
DOCDESK (E-Mail)
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240181
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