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Forwards Insp Repts 50-054/86-02 & 70-0687/86-03 on 860806-08 & Notice of Violation.Measures Taken to Prevent Recurrence of Violation Re Inadequate Control of Access to Facility Should Be Addressed in Response
	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: IR 05000054/1986002; ML20214L849; ML20214M030;
References
	NUDOCS 8612030204
	Download: ML20214L849 (3)
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Docket Nos: 50-54;70-687

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Cintichem, Inc.

ATTN: Mr. James J. McGovern Certirius y7 h M k

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Plant Manager -

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

l of access to the facility when NRC inspectors were afforded unescorted access

l without proper authorization. Since similar incidents involving your employees

l 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

l 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-

l 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

D. D. Grogan, Manager, Radiochemical Production

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C. J. Konnerth, Manager, Site Operations

Public Document Room (PDR)

Local Public Document Room (LPDR)

, Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)

State of New York

Contains Safeguards Information

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Cintichem, Inc. NOV 2 51986

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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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0FFICIAL RECORD COPY

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ML20214L849

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