ML20216B114
| ML20216B114 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 02/27/1998 |
| From: | Hehl C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Feigenbaum T PUBLIC SERVICE CO. OF NEW HAMPSHIRE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20216B119 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-443-97-08, 50-443-97-8, NUDOCS 9803120413 | |
| Download: ML20216B114 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000443/1997008
Text
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February 27,1998
EA 98-073
Mr. Ted C. Feigenbaum
' Executive Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer
Seabrook Station
North Atlantic Energy Service Corporation
c/o Mr. Terry L. Harpster
,
P.O. Box 300
. Seabrook, NH 03874
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SUBJECT:
NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT NO. 50-443/97-08
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Dear Mr. Feigenbaum:
This refers to the inspection conducted on December 7,1997, through January 31,1998,
at the Seabrook facility. The enclosed report presents the results of this inspection.
The station was operated safely during the period. Operators controlled plant conditions
during shutdown, and performed the reactor start-up well. The residual heat removal
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system pipe replacement was performed well. The special event team reviews completed
during the period were broad and thorough.
Based on the results of this inspection, an apparent violation was identified and is being
considered for escalated enforcement action in accordance with the " General Statement of
Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions" (Enforcement Policy), NUREG-1600.
The apparent violation involves four examples where prompt and effective corrective
actions were not implemented for degraded equipment conditions. Two of the examples
resulted in failure to maintain the technical specification minimum operability requirements
for the control building air conditioning and the safety injection systems. The third
example resulted in operation for over one year with residual heat removal system pressure
boundary leakage. The final example required NRC involvement to correct a degraded
positive displacement charging system pump. These examples represent a significant
failure by your organization to promptly correct degraded equipment conditions.
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Accordingly, 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.
An open predecisional enforcement conference to discuss this apparent violation has been
scheduled for March 24,1998 at 10:00 a.m. The decision to hold a predecisional
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enforcement conference does not mean that the NRC has determined that a violation has
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occurred or that enforcement action will be taken. This conference is being held to obtain
information to enable the NRC to make an enforcement decision, such as a common
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9903120413 980227
ADOCK 05000443
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Mr. Ted C. Feigenbaum
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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, this is an opportunity for you to point out any
errors in our inspection report and for you to provide any information concerning your
perspectives on 1) the severity of the violation (s),2) the application of the factors that the
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NRC conside's when it determines the amount of a civil penalty that may be assessed in
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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 response regarding the apparent violation 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 enclosure will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.
Sincerely,
Original Signed By:
Charles W. Hehl, Director
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Division of Reactor Projects
Docket No. 50-443
License No. NPF-86
Enclosure (s):
1.
Inspection Report
2.
Enforcement Policy: Section V, "Predecisional Enforcement
Conferences"
.
.
Mr. Ted C. Feigenbaum
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cc w/ encl:
B. D. Kenyon, President - Nuclear Group
D. M. Goebel, Vice President - Nuclear Oversight
W. A. DiProfio, Station Director - Seabrook Station
R. E. Hickok, Nuclear Training Manager - Seabrook Station
D. E. Carriere, Director, Production Services
L. M. Cuoco, Senior Nuclear Counsel
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W. Fogg, Director, New Hampshire Office of Emergency Management
D. McElhinney, RAC Chairman, FEMA RI, Boston, Mass
R. Backus, Esquire, Backus, Meyer and Solomon, New Hampshire
D. Brown-Couture, Director, Nuclear Safety, Massachusetts Emergency
Management Agency
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F. W. Getman, Jr., Vice President and General Counsel- Great Bay Power
Corporation
R. Hallisey, Director, Dept. of Public Health, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Seacoast Anti-Pollution League
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D.'Tefft, Administrator, Bureau of Radiological Health, State of New Hampshire
S. Comley, Executive Director, We the People of the United States
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Distribution w/ encl:
Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)
PUBLIC
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
NRC Resident inspector
H. Miller, RA/W. Axelson, DRA
C. Cowgill, DRP
R. Summers, DRP
C. O'Daniell,' DRP
B. Fewell, ORA
R. Zimmerman, NRR
J. Goldberg, OGC (AEN, LFD)
J. Lieberman, OE (OEMAIL)
D. Holody, EO, RI
Distribution w/enci (VIA E-MAIL):
B. McCabe, OEDO
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R. Correia, NRR (RPC)
F. Talbot, NRR
D. Screnci, PAO, ORA
Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)
DOCDESK
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DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ BRANCH 5\\9708. SEA
To receive a copy of this document,)ndicate in the box: *C" = Copy without attachrnentienclosure
"E" = Copy wtth attachment / enclosure
- N* = No copy
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