ML20211Q477
| ML20211Q477 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Clinton  |
| Issue date: | 10/11/1997 |
| From: | Grobe J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Jackie Cook ILLINOIS POWER CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20211Q479 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-461-97-20, EA-97-467, NUDOCS 9710220316 | |
| Download: ML20211Q477 (5) | |
See also: IR 05000461/1997020
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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October 11, 1997
EA Number 97-467
Mr. John Cook
Senior Vice President
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Clinton Power Station
I!!inois Power Company
Mail Code V-275
P.O. Box 678
Clinton, IL 61727
SUBJECT:
NRC SPECIAL INSPECTION REPORT 50-461/97020
Dear Mr. Cook:
This refers to the inspection conducted on July 7 through August 29,1997, at Clinton Power
Station. At the conclusion of the inspection, the findings were discussed with thcse members of
your staff identified in the enclosed report.
Areas examined during the inspection are identi'ied in the report. Within these areas, the
inspection consisted of a selective examination of procedures and representative records,
interviews with personnel, and observation of activities in progress. The purpose of the
inspection was to datermine whether activities authorized by your license were conducted s
and in accordance with NRC requirements.
Based on the results of this inspection, three apparent violations were identified and are being
considered for escalated enforcement action in accordance with the " General Statement of Poli
and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions"(Enforcement Policy), NUREG 1600. In the first
instance, NRC inspectors identified inadequate implementation of the corrective action program
CPS management, operations, and maintenance personnel failed to recognize the signi5cance of
repeated losses of safety related components due to failed neon indicating lights. Consequently,
corrective actions were not implemented until NRC inspectors became significantly involved in
efforts to identify the root cause of the component failures.
In the second instance, NRC inspectors identified that the failure to provide programmatic
controls for the use of consumable materials resulted in the use of a corrosive and cond
soldering flux on electrical components. This is of significant concern given the NRC's previous
identification of a failure to control consumable materials in February 1997 (See NRC Inspection
Report 50-461/97003). The use of the inappropriate flux directly lead to the component failures
discussed aDove.
in the third instance, NRC inspectors identified that management demonstrated poor oversight o
t
maintenance activities when they selected personnel to perforr1 safety related activities with
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minimal training and experience. This is of significant concerr,in that procedures were not
commensurate with the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the individuals selected to perform the
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John Cook
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soldering. Further, increased supervisory oversight was not pruvided to compensate for the
training and procedural deficiencies.
Because the three items discussed above are being considered for escalated enforcament, no
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Notice of Violation is presently being issued for these inspection findings. In add; tion, please be
advised that the number and characterization of apparent violations described in the enclosed
inspection report may change as a result of further NRC review.
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We will contact you at a later date regarding conduct of a predecisjonal enforcement conference
to discuss these apparent violations. The decision to hold a predecisional enforcement
conference does not mean that the NRC has determined that a violation has occurred or that
enforcement action will be taken. A conference is held to obtain information to enable the NRC
to make an enforcement decision, such as a common understanding of the facts, root causes,
missed opportunities to identify the apparent violation sooner, corrective actions, significance af
Cie issues and the need for lasting and effective corrective Letion. In addition, the conferere is
an opportunity for you to point out any errom in our inspection report and for you to provide s ay
information conceming your pers~pectives on: 1) the severity of the violations,2) the applicatian
of the fac* ors that the NRC considers when it determines the amount of a civil penalty that maf
be assessed in accordance with Section VI.B.2 of the Enforcement Policy, and 3) any other
application of the Enforcement Policy to this case, including the exercise of discretion in
accordance with Section Vll.
You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations ca this matter.
No response regarding these apparent violations is required at this time.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its
enclosuro will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Sincerely,
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hn A. Grobe, Acting Director
Division of Reactor Safety
Docket No. 50-461
License No. NPF-6
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Enclosure: Inspection Report 50-461/97020
See attached distribution
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- John Cook
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cc w/ encl:
W. D. Romberg, Assistant
Vice President
R. Phares, Manager, Nuclear Safety
and Performance improvement
J. Sipek, Director- Licensing
Nathan Schloss, Economist
Office of the Attomey General
G. Stramback, Regulatory Licensing
Services Project Manager
General Electric Company
,
Chairman, DeWitt County Board
State Liaison Officer
Chairman, Illinois Commerce Coinmission
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John Cook
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soldering. Further, increased supervisory oversight was not provided to compensate for the
training and procedural deficiencies.
'
Because the three items discussed above are being considered for escalated enforcement, no
Notice of Violation is presently being issued for these inspection findings. In addition, please be
advised that the number and characterization of apparent violations described in the enclosed
inspection report may change as a result of further NRC review.
We will contact you at a later date regarding conduct of a predecisional enforcement conference
to discuss these apparent violations. The decision to hold a predecisional enforcement
conference does not mean that the NRC has determined that a violation has occurred or that'
enforcement action will be taken. A conference is held to obtain information to enable the NRC
to make an enforcement decision, such as a common understanding of the facts, root causes,
missed opportunities to identify the apparent violation sooner, corrective actions, significance of
the issues and the need for lasting and effective corrective action. In addition, the conference is
an opportunity for you to point out any errors in our inspection report and for you to provide any
information conceming your perspectives on: 1) the severity of the violations,2) the application
of the factors that the NRC considers when it determines the amount of a civil penalty that may
be assessed in accordance with Section VI.B.2 of the Enforcement Policy, and 3) any other
application of the Enforcement Policy to this case, including the exercise of discretion in
accordance with Section Vll.
,
You will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations on this matter.
No respr.,ase regarding these apparent violations is required at this time.
- in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Prache," a copy of this letter and its
enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Sinceref ,-
f
/s/ John A. Grober
John A. Grobe, Acting Director
Division of Reactor Safety
Docke No. 50-461
License No. NPF-6
Enclosure: Inspection Report 50-461/97020
. DOCUMENT NAME: R:\\lNSPRPTS\\ POWERS \\ CLIN \\CLl97020.DRP
To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box "C" = Copy without attach /enci "E"
= Copy with attach / encl "N" = No copy
OFFICE
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NAME
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DATE
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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Jot.n Cook
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cc w/end:
W. D. Romberg, Assistant
Vice President
R. Phares, Manager, Nudear safety
and Performance improvement
J. Sipok, Director- Ucensing
Nathan Schic,ss, Economist
Office of the Attomey General
G. Stramback, Regulatory Ucensing
Services Project Manager
General Electric Company
Chairman, DeWitt County Board
State Ualson Officer
Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission
Distribution:
Docket File w/end
DRP w/end
OC/LFDCB w/enci
PUBUC IE-01 w/end
SRI Clinton w/enci
Rlli PRR w/end
- Project Manager, NRR w/end
CAA1 w/end (E-mail)
Rlli Enf. Coordinatorw/enci
A. B. Beach w/end
TSS w/end
Deputy RA w/end
DOCDESK (E-mail)
DRS (2) w/end
J. Ueberman, OE w/end
J. Goldberg, OGC w/enci
R. Zimmerman, NRR w/enct
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