ML20206S093

Forwards Insp Rept 50-461/98-20 on 981118-0106 & Notice of Enforcement Discretion.Inspectors Identified That Operations Personnel Did Not Initiate Condition Repts for Several Nonconforming Conditions Documented in Main Control Room

ML20206S093
Person / Time
Site:	Clinton
Issue date:	01/22/1999
From:	Dapas M NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Mcelwain J ILLINOIS POWER CO.
Shared Package
ML20206S099	List: IR 05000461/1998020 ML20206S093
References
50-461-98-20, NUDOCS 9901280116
Download: ML20206S093 (3)

See also: IR 05000461/1998020

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UNITED STATES

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EA 99-015

Mr. J. P. McElwain

Chief Nuclear Officer

Clinton Power Station

lilinois Power Company

Mail Code V 275

Post Office Box 678

Clinton, IL 61727

SUBJECT: CLINTON INSPECTION REPORT 50-461/98020(DRP) AND

NOTICE OF ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION

On January 6,1999, the NRC completed an inspection at the Clinton Power Station. The

enclosed report presents the results of that inspection.

During the period covered by this inspection, maintenance personnelimproved their use of

maintenance work documents. However, we remain concerned about-ineffective corrective

actions which resulted in a recurrence of severalissues in the operations functional area. Of

particular note is that NRC Case Specific Checklist item No. IV.1, " Establish Program to

Reduce and Maintain Control Room Deficiencies," was reviewed but not closed due to your

staff's failure to effectively implement improvement initiatives.

In addition, we are concerned about three violations of NRC requirements that were identified.

In the first instance, NRC inspectors identified that operations personnel did not initiate j

condition reports for several nonconforming conditions that were documented in the main

control room journal. This is of concern because confusion existed arr.nng operators on the

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requirements for the initiation of a condition report and because operatior.s personnel had /

missed several opportunities to recognize and document the nonconforming conditions in the

corrective action program.

In the second instance, NRC inspectors identified that operations personnel failed to document

the completion of shiftly compensatory actions on three nccasions and failed to make the

appropriate late entry for verification of compensatory actions on one occasion. This is of

concern because NRC inspectors previously identified the failure to verify compensatory actions j

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in September 1998, and the corrective actions in response to the issue were not consistently

implemented. l

In the third instance, NRC inspectors identified that design information regarding the main

control room breathing air system had not been appropriately translated into plant procedures.

This is of concern because NRC inspectors previously identified this issue in February 1998,  ;

but the new design calculations were not correctly translated into annunciator response

procedures. i

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9901200116 990122

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J. McElwain

Office of Enforcement,

1 However, I have been authorized, after consultation with the Director,t d

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for NRC

enforcemenExtended Shutdo

Enforcement

accordance with Section Vll.B.2, " Violations identified Dur ng

in this case. The decision to

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Stoppages, of the " General Statement of Policy and

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f the following: (1) significant NRC

i Power Company for corrective

apply enforcement discretion is based i on andconsideration o

design control deficiencies;

enforcement action has already been taken against the Ill no s

t achieve remedial action for the

action program deficiencies, procedural implementa

limplementation issues, and design

violations due to Clinton Powerd Station's elated to acommitmen

problem which was s

to address corrective action program problems, proce u

ctive actions for these

present prior to the events leading to the shutdown; Sever

issues will need to be demonstrated prior to restart.

f Practice," a copy of this letter, the

In accordance

enclosures, and your withresponse

10 CFRwill2.790 be placed of the NRC's

in the NR " Rules oC Public

Sincerely,

/s/ fi, L. Dapas

Marc L. Dapas, Deputy Director

Division of Reactor Projects

Docket No.: 50-461

License No.: NPF-62

Inspection Report 50-461/98020(DRP)

Enclosure:

G. Hunger, Station Manager

cc w%ncl: R. Phares, Manager, Nuclear Safety

and Performance Improvement

J. Sipek, Director - Licensing

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

"C" = Copy w/o attach / enc!"E" =

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\ CLIN \CLl98020.DRPTo l j receiv

Copy w/ attach /enci "N" = No copy

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However, I have been authorized, after consultation with the Director, Office of Enforcement,

and the Acting Regional Administrator, to exercise enforcement discretion for the violations in

accordance with Section Vll.B.2, " Violations identified During Extended Shutdowns or Work

Stoppages," of the " General Statement of Policy and Procedures for NRC Enforcement

Actions" (Enforcement Policy), and not issue a Notice of Violation in this case. The decision to

apply enforcement discretion is based on consideration of the following: (1) significant NRC

enforcement action has already been taken against the lilinois Power Company for corrective

action program deficiencies, procedural implementation issues, and design control deficiencies;

(2) additional enforcement action is not considered necessary to achieve remedial action for the

violations due to Clinton Power Station's commitments in its Plan for Excellence to take actions

to address corrective action program problems, procedural implementation issues, and design

control deficiencies prior to plant restart; (3) the violations are related to a problem which was

present prior to the events leading to the shutdown; (4) the violations are not classified at a

Severity Level I; and (5) the violations are not willful. Effective corrective actions for these

issues will need to be demonstrated prior to restart.

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

enclosures, and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

Sincerely,

/s/ M. L. Dapas

Marc L. Dapas, Deputy Director

Division of Reactor Projects

Docket No.: 50-461

License No.: NPF-62

Enclosure: Inspection Report 50-461/98020(DRP)

cc w/enet: G. Hunger, Station Manager

R. Phares, Manager, Nuclear Safety

and Performance improvement

J. Sipek, Director - Licensing

M. Aguilar, Assistant Attorney General l

G. Stramback, Regulatory Licensing

Services Project Manager

General Electric Company

Chairman, DeWitt County Board

State Liaison Officer

Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\ CLIN \CLl98020.DRP

To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box "C" = Copy w/o attach /enci"E" =

Copy w/ attach /enci"N" = No copy

OFFICE Rlli l6 Rlll Rlli k l

NAME Kozak/mi S ClaytofM,4 & Dapas ///7P/)

DATE 01/W99 01/1097 (#f fL 01/2:399

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Distribution:  !

J. Lieberman, OE w/enci

J. Goldberg, OGC w/enci  ;

B. Boger, NRR w/enci '

RPC (E-Mail) i

Project Mgr., NRR w/enci

J. Caldwell, Rlll w/enci  ;

C. Pederson, Rill w/enci  :

B. Clayton, Rlli w/ encl

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SRI Clinton w/enci

DRP w/enci '

TSS w/enci

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DRS (2) w/enci

Rlli PRR w/enci

PUBLIC IE-01 w/enci

Docket File w/enci

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