ML20215J106

Forwards Order to Show Cause Why Radios or Other Electrical/ Electronic Equipment Used to Provide Background Music in Control Rooms Should Not Be Removed (Ref IE Info Notice 85-053).Response Requested in 25 Days

ML20215J106
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello, Prairie Island, 05000000
Issue date:	10/20/1986
From:	Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
To:	Mccarthy D NORTHERN STATES POWER CO.
Shared Package
ML20215J108	List: ML20215J106 ML20215J142
References
EA-86-164, IEC-81-02, IEC-81-2, IEIN-85-053, IEIN-85-53, NUDOCS 8610240305
Download: ML20215J106 (3)

Text

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1. g UNITED STATES DOL

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OCT 20 W I

Docket Nos. 50-263 50-282

{ 50-306 .

EA 86-164 Donald W. McCarthy, Chief Executive

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Officer and Chairman of the Board i Northern States Power Company

! 414 Nicollet Mall i Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401

Subject:

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE I Enclosed is an Order to Show Cause why radios or other electrical / electronic

! equipment used to provide background music in the control rooms at the Monticello and Prairie Island facilities should not be removed.

The NRC position on the matter of radios or other potentially distracting activities in the Control Rooms at nuclear power plants has been provided to its licensees

!, on several occasions. In February 1981, the Office of Inspection and Enforcement notified all licensees that potentially distracting activities, such as the playing of radios in the control room, must be prohibited (IE Circular 81-02).

In July 1985, the NRC's Executive Director for' Operations transmitted a copy of IE Information Notice 85-53 to all nuclear utility Chief Executive Officers.

This Information Notice reiterated the policy contained in the 1981 IE Circular.

On August 19, 1985, the Senior Vice-President Power Supply, Northern States Power Company, wrote to the Executive Director for Operations suggesting the installation of a tape deck with a library of approved background music tapes as an alternative to radios. However, Northern States Power Company acknowledged in this letter that radios have the potential of becoming a distraction if unsuitable progransning and loudness are permitted, and stated that radios had been removed from the control rooms of its plants. The Executive i Director's response of September 10, 1985, again affirmed NRC's original conclusions concerning the playing of radios or music in nuclear power plant

control rooms.

Unfortunately, the NRC has recently learned that radios or background music have i been returned to the control room at Monticello, and that Northern States Power Company management is evaluating further actions, including the possibility ,

of providing radios or background music to the control room at Prairie Island.

The NRC is seriously concerned that this action was taken without any prior discussion, notification or consultation with the Executive Director for Operations. Although you removed radios or background music from the Monticello control room and acknowledged that radios have the potential of becoming a distraction, your staff replaced the radios in the control room in response to

an arbitrator's decision in a proceeding between the International Brotherhood

! CERTIFIED MAIL e6102403os e61020 RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED PDR ADOCK0500g3 G

Northern States Power Company of Electrical Workers and Northern States Power Company without apparent regard for your prior communications and understandings with the NRC.

In addition, we regard reinstatement of radios as a failure to satisfy prior coninitments to the NRC. In light of the seriousness with which we view contrcl room operations and the level of interest expressed in writing to you by senior management of this agency on this topic, we regard the failure to at least notify the Executive Director for Operations of your intention as a failure in your obligations to the NRC. While we recognize that your plant staff notified the Resident Inspector who informed Region III management of your decision and you subsequently explained your actions in writing to the Regional Administrator on October 16, 1986, we believe that your actions did not consider the effect or the effectiveness of compliance with NRC requirements. Control room decorum has in our view a direct impact on the ability of licensed operators to assure safe operations. Given the importance of a proper atmosphere in the control room, the previous NRC correspondence was issued by the Executive Director for Operations. We would have expected that given the attention that we placed on this matter you would have initiated consultation with us prior to your taking your unilateral action. The NRC does not consider that it is bound by the decision of your arbitrator. Accordingly, to ensure the protection of public health and safety, I am issuing the enclosed Order to Show Cause why the Monticello and Prairie Island operating licenses should not be modified to condition facility operation to prohibit the use of electrical or electronic entertainment devices in the control rooms of the facilities.

You are required to respond to this Order in 25 days. After the NRC has completed its review of your response, the Executive Director for Operations will schedule a meeting with you at his Office to discuss this matter.

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 Roem.

The response directed by this letter and the accompanying Order is 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.

Sincerely, mes M. Ta r, Director ffice of Inspection and Enforcement

Enclosure:

Order to Show Cause

I Northern States Power Company cc w/ enclosure:

Gerald Cha_rnoff, Esquire Shaw, Pittman, Potts and Trowbridge 2300 N Street, N.W.

Washington, D. C. 20037 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Resident Inspector's Office Box 1200 Monticello, Minnesota 55362 Plant Manager Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant Northern States Power Company Monticello, Minnesota 55362 Russell J. Hatling Minnesota Environmental Control Citizens Association (MECCA)

Energy Task Force 144 Melbourne Avenue, S.E.

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55113 Executive Director Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 1935 W. County Road B2 Roseville, Minnesota 55113 John W. Ferman, Ph.D.

Nuclear Engineer Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 1935 W. County Road B2 Roseville, Minnesota 55113 Commissioner of Health Minnesota Department of Health 717 Delaware Street, S. E.

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440 Mr. O. J. Arlien, Auditor Wright County Board of Comissioners 10 NW Second Street Buffalo, Minnesota 55313