ML20214L849
| ML20214L849 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000054, 07000687 |
| Issue date: | 11/25/1986 |
| From: | Wenzinger E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Mcgovern J CINTICHEM, INC. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20214L851 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8612030204 | |
| Download: ML20214L849 (3) | |
See also: IR 05000054/1986002
Text
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Docket Nos:
50-54;70-687
WW23 Mi&g
Certirius y7 h M k
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Cintichem, Inc.
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ATTN:
Mr. James J. McGovern
Plant Manager
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P. O. Box 324
Tuxedo, New York
10987
Gentlemen:
Subject:
Inspection Report 50-54/86-02; 70-687/86-03
This refers to the special inspection conducted by Mr. D. Haverkamp of this office
on August 6-8, 1986 of activities authorized by NRC License Nos. R-81 and SNM-639
and to the discussions of our findings held by Mr. Haverkamp with yourself and
other members of your staff at the conclusion of the inspection.
This also refers
to subsequent telephone conversations with Mr. W. Ruzicka of your staff and with
several of your licensed operators on November 14,16, and 17,1986, and to our
telephone conversation on November 25, 1986.
Areas examined during this inspection are described in the NRC Region I Inspection
Report which is enclosed with this letter.
Within these areas, the inspection
consisted of selective examinations of procedures and representative records, in-
terviews with personnel, and observations by the inspector.
Based on the results of this inspection, it appears that certain of your activities
were not conducted in full compliance with NRC requirements, as set forth in the
Notice of Violation, enclosed herewith as Appendix A.
These violations have been
categorized by severity level in accordance with the " General Statement of Policy
and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions," 10 CFR Part 2, Appendix C (Enforcement
Policy).
You are required to respond to this letter and in preparing your response,
you should follow the instructions in Appendix A.
The first violation described in Appendix A (Item A) concerns inadequate control
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of access to the facility when NRC inspectors were afforded unescorted access
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without proper authorization.
Since similar incidents involving your employees
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occurred just prior to this inspection, we are concerned that corrective actions
were not effective in preventing recurrence of the violation.
Therefore, in your
response to Appendix A, you should particularly address those measures taken to
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prevent recurrence of this violation.
The second violation described in Appendix A (Item B) concerned failure to properly
establish reactor building confinement prior to a reactor startup on October 8,
1984.
This appears to be an isolated incident; however, we are concerned that your
staff did not understand fully the requirements for establishing confinement prior
to reactor operation.
Two other concerns with potential to impact safety were identified during this in-
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spection.
The first is your past practice of administrating licensed operator re-
qualification examinations as take-home exams on an honor-system basis.
Our in-
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NOV 2 51986
itial evaluation is that this practice is unacceptable for future administration
of requalification exams.
This matter has been referred to Mr. Robert Keller,
Chief, Operator Licensing Section, NRC Region I, for formal evaluation.
If you
have any questions in this regard, you may contact Mr. Keller at (215) 337-5211.
The second concern pertains to a reactor startup conducted on March 7, 1986, with
reactor pool visibility substantially degraded.
Details of that incident are de-
scribed in Paragraph 2.3 of the enclosed inspection report.
As discussed during
our telephone conversation on November 25, 1986, we request that you submit within
30 days a written report which addresses: (1) confirmation of our understanding
of the matter as described in the enclosed inspection report, (2) your justifica-
tion for permitting reactor operation with a nonvisible core including an evalu-
ation of the safety considerations, and (3) the steps you have taken to avoid re-
currence.
Se'ctions of the enclosed Appendix A contain details of your security program that
have been determined to be exempt from public disclosure in accordance with 10 CFR 73.21, Safeguards Information.
The sections so identified will not be placed in
the NRC Public Document Roons and will receive limited distribution.
The inspection
report and any remaining portions of Appendix A will be placed in the Public Docu-
ment Room, in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790(a).
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.
Your cooperation with us in this matter is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Originc1 Signed By:
Edward C. Wenzinger, Chief
Projects Branch No. 3
Division of Reactor Projects
Enclosures:
1.
Appendix A, Notice of Violation *
2.
Combined NRC Region I Inspection Report 50-54/86-02; 70-687/86-03
- Contains safeguards Information
cc w/encls (w/o Portions of Appendix A):*
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W. G. Ruzicka, Nuclear Operations Manager
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D. D. Grogan, Manager, Radiochemical Production
C. J. Konnerth, Manager, Site Operations
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Public Document Room (PDR)
Local Public Document Room (LPDR)
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Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
State of New York
- Contains Safeguards Information
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NOV 2 51986
Cintichem, Inc.
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bcc w/encls (w/o Portions of Appendix A):"
Region I Docket Room (with concurrences)
Management Assistant, DRMA (w/o encis)
W. Brown, NMSS (w/SGI and/or C0FI)
J. Roth, DRSS
Robert J. Bores, DRSS
D. Haverkamp, DRP
R. Keller, DRP
S. Collins, DRP
- Contains Safeguards Information
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