ML20204F694

Forwards Safety Insp Rept 50-293/86-14 on 860428-0602 & Notice of Violation.Inadequacies Re Preparation of Safety Evaluations & Lack of Communications Between Util Staff Need to Be Addressed within 20 Days

ML20204F694
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	07/30/1986
From:	Starostecki R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Lydon J BOSTON EDISON CO.
Shared Package
ML20204F697	List: IR 05000293/1986014 ML20204F694 ML20204F713 ML20204F731
References
NUDOCS 8608040282
Download: ML20204F694 (3)

See also: IR 05000293/1986014

Text

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JUL 3 01986

Docket No. 50-293

Boston Edison Company M/C Nuclear

ATTN: Mr. James M. Lydon

Chief Operating Officer

800 Boylston Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02199

Gentlemen:

Subject: Inspection Report No. 50-293/86-14

This letter refers to the routine safety inspection (50-293/86-14) conducted by

Dr. M. McBride of this office on April 28, 1986 to June 2, 1986 at the Pilgrim

Nuclear Power Station, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Dr. M. McBride discussed the

findings of the inspection with Mr. A. Pederson and other members of your staff

periodically during the inspection and at the conclusion of the inspection.

The NRC Region I Inspection Report is enclosed with this letter.

Based on the results of this inspection, it appears that some of your activi-

ties were not conducted in full compliance with NRC requirements, as set forth

in the Notice of Violation, enclosed herewith as Appendix A. The two viola-

tions cited have been categorized by severity level in accordance with the

revised NRC Enforcement Policy (10 CFR 2, Appendix C) published in the Federal

Register Notice (49 FR 8583) dated March 8,1984. In accordance with NRC

regulations 10 CFR 2.201 you are required to respond to this letter within

20 days of its receipt.

There are two problems noted in the enclosed report which in our view reflect

historical weaknesses. One problem deals with inadequate engineering evalua-

tion and the other with the role of the Quality Assurance (QA) Department.

Regarding the QA issue (reference page 12), the matter involves the lack of

management initiative to resolve in a timely manner QA-identified issues.

Engineering and Operations' managers and staff did not respond to these issues,

even after status reports indicating that they were overdue were written by

QA to the Vice-President and Senior Vice-President levels. It was not

until the new plant manager became involved that senior managers acted to re-

solve the conflict with QA. Consequently, it is of concern to us that there

may be a lack of appreciation on the part of some elements of your organization

as to the role of the QA staff. Although in this case the new plant manager was

eventually able to get this resolved, higher levels of company management had

the opportunity but did not avail themselves of it. In response to the

enclosed notice of violation, please describe in sufficient detail how your

corrective actions will be sufficiently broad to address the matter beyond

the specific item cited.

The issue dealing with inadequate engineering evaluations (reference page 2)

highlights inadequacies in the preparation of a safety evaluation prepared in

1985. In particular, there were indications in the form of written guidance

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY IR PILGRIM 86-14 - 0001.0.0

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Boston Edison Company 1

M/C Nuclear

from industry and NRC that specific electrical components had deficiencies

warranting replacement. The technical basis p epared by the engineering staff

was inadequate; although the evaluation claimed no failures had occurred at

Pilgrim, the operators routinely cautioned plant staff working in the vicinity

that these devices were sensitive to vibration and could activate. This leads

us to conclude that the operational feedback was weak in that this caution was

not documented. Consequently, there are two underlying issues that need to be

addressed as a result of this unresolved item: inadequacies in the preparation

of safety evaluations and lack of communications between BECO staff.

The responses directed by this letter and the accompanying Notice are not

subject to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as

required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, PL 96-511.

Sincerely,

Origina1 Signed By:

Richard W. Starostecki, Director

Division of Reactor Projects

Enclosures:

1. Appendix A. Notice of Violation

2. NRC Region ! Inspection Report No. 50-293/86-14

cc w/encls:

L. Oxsen, Vice President, Nuclear Operations

A. Pedersen, Station Manager

Paul Levy, Chairman, Department of Public Utilities

Chairman, Board of Selectmen

J. D. Keyes

Plymouth Civil Defense Director

Senator Edward P. Kirby

The Honorable Peter V. Forman

Sharon Pollard

Public Document Room (POR)

Local Public Document Room (LPDR)

Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)

NRC Resident Inspector

Commonwealth of Massachusetts (2)

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Boston Edison Company 2

M/C Nuclear

The responses directed by this letter and the accompanying Notice are not

si.) ject to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as

required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, PL 96-511.

MLLmatt'eNppre

Sincerely,

Original Signed ByI

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Richard W. Starostecki, Director

Division of Reactor Projects

Enclosures:

1, Appendix A. Notice of Violatian

2. NRC Region I Inspection Report No. 50-293/86-14

cc w/encls:

L. Oxsen, Vice President, Nuclear Operations

A. Pedersen, Station Manager

Paul Levy, Chairman, Department of Public Utilities

Chairman, Board of Selectmen

J. D. Keyes

Plymouth Civil Defense Director

Senator Edward P. Kirby

The Honorable Peter V. Forman

Public Document Room (PDR)

local Public Document Room (LPDR)

Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)

NRC Resident Inspector

Commonwealth of Massachusetts (2)

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