ML20217A266

Forwards Insp Rept 70-0036/97-03 on 970804-08 & Nov. Violation Indicated Lack of Rigor in Implementing Safety Control Requirements During Some Maint Activities

ML20217A266
Person / Time
Site:	07000036
Issue date:	09/12/1997
From:	Hiland P NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Kaiser B ABB COMBUSTION ENGINEERING NUCLEAR FUEL (FORMERLY
Shared Package
ML20217A270	List: ML20217A266 ML20217A284 ML20217A290
References
70-0036-97-03, 70-36-97-3, NUDOCS 9709190111
Download: ML20217A266 (2)

Text

v .

September 12, 1997 Dr. Bruce Kaiser, Vice President Fuel Operations ABB Combustion Engineering 3300 State Road P Hematite, MO 63047

SUBJECT:

ROUTINE SAFETY INSPECTION OF ABB COMBUSTION ENGINEERING, HEMATITE, MO (NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 070-00036/97003(DNMS)

AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION)

Dear Dr. Kaiser:

This refers to the routine safety inspection conducted on August 4 8,1997, at your Hematite facility. The purpose of the inspection was to determine whethir activities authorized by the licen:o were conducted safely and in accordance with NRC requirements. At the conclusion of the inspection, the findings were discussed with you and members of your staff Identified in the enclosed report.

Areas examined during the inspection are identified in the report. Within these areas, the inspection consisted of a selective examinetlon of procedures and representative records, interviews with personnel, and observations of activities in progress.

Based on the results of the inspection, the NRC has determined that a violation of NRC requirements occurred, The vic;ation is citsd in the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice) and the circumstances surrounding it are described in detallin the subject inspection report. The violation is of concem because it indicated a lack of rigor in implementing your safety contro! I requirements during some maintenance activities. Specifically, the failure to establish proper configuration control on the steam supply heating system to a vaporizer feed line duilng maintenance could have lead to a feed line hydraulic rupture and subsequent uranium '

hexafluoride (UF. ) release if the steam trace heat was inadvertently restored, in addition, during the inspection, the NRC identified several fugitive releases of Hydrogen Fluoride (HF) as a result of a minor system leak and from dry scrubber equipment malfunctions. ,

Although on one occasion the HF concentration was determined to be as high as 10 ppm, it appeared that the HF releases had been localized to the immediate vicinity of the cylinder storage yard, in response to the concems regarding HF emissions from the dry scrubber system, you committed to implement compensatory measures in your correspondence to the NRC on August 29,1997, As detailed in that correspondence, you have implemented appropriate actions to limit future risks from the dry scrubber sys;em until the " wet" scrubber system is installed in late 1997, You are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response. in your response, you should document the specific actions taken and any additional actions you plan to prevent recurrence. Your response ON O 0$36 C PDR ,

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l B. Kaiser 2-may reference or include previous docketed correspondence, if the correspondence adequately addressed the required response. After reviewing your response to the Notice, including your proposed corrective actions and the results of future inspections, the NRC will determine whether further NRC enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with NRC regulatory requirements.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the Commission's regulations, a copy of this letter and the enclosed Inspection report will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

Wo will gladly discuss a .y questions you have conceming this inspection.

Sincerely, Original Signed by P. L. Hiland, Chief Fuel Cycle Branch License No. SNM-33 Docket No. 070-00036

Enclosures:

1. Notice of Violation

2. Inspection Report No. 070-00036/97003(DNMS) cc w/encts: R. W. Sharkey, Director of Regulatory Affairs R. A. c.ucera, Missouri Department of Natural Resources bec w/encis: M. Weber, NMSS P. Ting, NMSS S, Soong, NHSS E. Mc Al pi ne , R!l F. Wenslawski, RIV PUBLIC (IE 07)

DOCUMENT NAME: R:\lN S P R PTS \FUE L FAC\COM 97003. DNM To riceive a copy of thle doeurnent, indicate in the box:'C' = Copy without enclosure "E* = copy with enclosure *N* = No copy OFFICE Rlli lf/ Rlli M NAME TReidinger:dp flYL PHiland fel. It DATE 09/IN97 F 09/lM97 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY a