ML20207B286
| ML20207B286 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Fort Saint Vrain  |
| Issue date: | 07/07/1986 |
| From: | Martin R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Walker R PUBLIC SERVICE CO. OF COLORADO |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20207B289 | List: |
| References | |
| EA-86-098, EA-86-98, NUDOCS 8607170480 | |
| Download: ML20207B286 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000267/1986016
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Docket No. 50-267
License No. NPF-47
EA 86-98
Public Service Company of Colorado
A.TTN: Richard Walker, President
P. O. Box 840
Denver, Colorado 80201
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND PROPOSED IMPOSITION OF CIVIL PENALTY
(NRC INSPECTION REPORT N0. 50-267/86-16)
This refers to the inspection conducted from May 6-9, 1986, at the Fort St.
Vrain Generating Station, Platteville, Colorado. During this inspection, our
Senior Resident Inspector reviewed and evaluated a May 6, 1986 overpower event
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including your corrective actions and concluded that you had exceeded your
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authorized power limit of 35% for a period of approximately 45 minutes. An
enforcement conference on this violation was conducted May 9, 1986, at the
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Region IV offices in Arlington, Texas.
The violation described in the enclosed Notice of Violation and Proposed
Imposition of Civil Penalty resulted from the fact that you exceeded a power
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limit of 35% which was established by the Consnission's Memorandum and Order
dated November 26, 1985. This limit was exceeded because of a failure by
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operating personnel to anticipate the consequences of certain maintenance
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activities which they chose to perform knowing that the reactor was already close
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to the power limit of 35%. While this event had no actual impact on public
health and safety, the duration of the power excursion was extended because
operating personnel did not choose to reduce power quickly by placing the reactor
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in the local automatic mode or scramming the reactor. We are concerned that
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plant personnel attached so little importance to a requirement significant enough
to be imposed by Commission Order.
To emphasize the importance of maintaining the plant within NRC-ordered
operational limits, I have been authorized, after consultation with the Director,
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Office of Inspection and Enforcement, to issue the enclosed Notice of Violation
and Proposed Imposition of~ Civil Penalty in the amount of Seventy-five Thousand
Dollars ($75,000).
In accordance with the " General Statement of Policy and
Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions," 10 CFR Part 2, Appendix C (1986)
(Enforcement Policy), the violation has been categorized at a Severity Level III.
The base value of a civil penalty for a Severity Level III violation is $50,000.
Plant personnel could have promptly terminated the overpower event and met NRC
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CERTIFIED MAIL
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
8607170480 860707
ADOCK 05000267
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Public Service Company of Colorado
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requirements by scramming the reactor or placing it in the local automatic mode,
but instead increased the violation's duration by leaving the reactor in the
remote automatic control mode which limited the operator's options for achieving
a rapid power reduction.
Because of management's failure to adequately emphasize
the importance of adhering to NRC requirements, the base civil penalty has been
increased by 50 percent.
You are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions
specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response.
In your response,
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you should document the specific actions taken and any additional actions you
plan to prevent recurrence. After reviewing your response to this Notice,
including your proposed corrective actions, the NRC will determine whether
further NRC enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with NRC
regulatory requirements.
In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," Part 2,
Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, a copy of this letter and its enclosure
will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
The responses directed by this letter and the enclosed Notice are not subject
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to the clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as required
by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, PL 96-511.
Sincerely,
ORIGINM N
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oOBERi 9
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Robert D. Martin
Regional Administrator
Enclosure:
Proposed Imposition of
Civil Penalty
cc:
Colorado Radiation Control Program Director