ML20236L329

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Forwards Insp Rept 50-271/98-08 on 980503-0613 & Notice of Violation.Overall Conduct of Activities Characterized by Safe Plant Operations & Generally Conservative Decision Making.Three Violations Occurred
ML20236L329
Person / Time
Site: Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date: 07/01/1998
From: Cowgill C
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To: Maret G
VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP.
Shared Package
ML20236L331 List:
References
50-271-98-08, 50-271-98-8, NUDOCS 9807100315
Download: ML20236L329 (4)


See also: IR 05000271/1998008

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July 1,1998

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Mr. Gregory A. Maret

Director of Operations

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Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation

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RD 5, Box 169

Ferry Road

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Brattleboro, Vermont 05301

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- SUBJECT:

NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 50-271/98-08 AND NOTICE OF

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VIOLATION

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-Dear Mr. Maret:

? On June 13,1998, the NRC completed an inspection at your Vermont Yankee reactor

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facility.- In addition to the resident inspection activities, announced inspections by regional

specialists were performed in the areas of emergency preparedness, fire protection, and

radiological protection. The enclosed report presents the results of these inspections. The

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automatic reactor scram which occurred on June 9,1998, was evaluated by a Special

' Team inspection (50-271/98-09)and the results will be transmitted by separate.

correspondence.

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During the six week period covered by this inspection period, your overall conduct of

activities was characterized by safe plant operations and generally conservative decision

making. Based on the results of this integrated inspection, the NRC has determined that

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three violations of NRC requirements occurred.' These violations are cited in the enclosed

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Notice of Violation (Notice) and the circumstances surrounding them are described in detail

in the subject inspection report. The first violation involves the failure to provide an

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adequate procedure for investigation of a safety related DC circuit ground that resulted in a

core spray minimum flow valve repositioning. The inspectors noted that licensed operators

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In the control room were slow to recognize the change in valve position. The second

. violation involved the failure to translate design information into procedures for a standby

gas treatment system modification and the third violation involved an extensive delay in

making a required 4-Hour Report to the NRC.

The NRC review of radiation protection performance during the refueling outage indicated

good radiological cc,ntrols were established and implemented for the outage. External and

internal exposure controls, Quality Assurance and self-assessment activities, and

radioactive material and contamination controls were effective. The fire protection

program inspection found that you have made good progress with your program

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improvem'ents. Fire protection deficiencies are being identified and corrected in a timely

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manner and we note your increased emphasis on the program with a full time fire

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protection engineer and coordinator. The emergency preparedness (EP) inspection found-

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that your EP program was adequate to ensure response in the event of a radiological

emergency.

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9807100315 990701

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PDR- ADOCK 05000271

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PDR

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Mr. Gregory A. Maret

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You are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions specified in the

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enclosed Notice when preparing your response. The NRC will use your response, in part,

to determine whether further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with

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regulatory requirements.

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'The response directed by this letter and the enclosed Notice are not subject to the.

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clearance procedures of the Office of Management and Budget as required by the

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Paperwork ReJuction Act of 1980, Pub. L. No.96-511. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790

of the NRC's " Rules of Practices," a copy of this letter and its enclosures will be placed in

the NRC Public Document Room.

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Sincerely,

ORIGINAL SIGNED BY:

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Curtis J. Cowgill, Chief

Reactor Projects Branch 5

Division of Reactor Projects

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Docket No. 50-271

Enclosures:

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Notice of Violation

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NRC Inspection Report 50-271/98-08

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Mr. Gregory A. Maret

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cc w/encts:

R. McCullough, Operating Experience Coordinator Vermont Yankee

G. Sen, Licensing Manager, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation

D. Rapaport, Director, Vermont Public Interest Research Group, Inc.

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D. Tefft, Administrator, Bureau of Radiological Health, State of New Hampshire

Chief, Safety Unit, Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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D. Lewis, Esquire

G. Bisbee, Esquire

J. Block, Esquire

T. Rapone, Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety

State of New Hampshire, SLO Designee

State of Vermont, SLO Designee

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, SLO Designee

D. Katz, Citizens Awareness Network (CAN)

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Mr. Gregory A. Maret

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Distribution w/ encl:

Region i Docket Rmm (with concurrences)

. PUBLIC

Nuclear Safety information Center (NSIC)

NRC Resident Inspector

H. Miller, RA/W. Axelson, DRA

D. Screnci, PAO (2)

G. Morris, DRS

C. Cowgill, DRP

R. Summers, DRP

C. O'Daniell, DRP

Distribution w/enci (VIA E-MAIL):

B. McCabe, OEDO

C. Thomas, NRR (COT)

R. Croteau, NRR

R. Correia, NRR

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F. Talbot, NRR

Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)

DOCDESK

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DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\ branch 5\\1-vy\\vy9808. ins

Ta recolvs a copy of this docurnent, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure

"E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure

"N* =

No copy

OFFICE

Rl/DRP

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Rl/DRP /gLe l

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NAME

BMcDermott

CCowgill '

DATE

07/01/98

07/pl/98

07/ /98

07/ /98

07/ /98

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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