ML20245L545

Forwards Insp Repts 50-498/89-17 & 50-499/89-17 on 890601-30 & Notice of Violation

ML20245L545
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	08/15/1989
From:	Milhoan J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:	Goldberg J HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO.
Shared Package
ML20245L549	List: ML20245L545 ML20245L562 ML20245L574
References
EA-89-157, EA-89-216, NUDOCS 8908220154
Download: ML20245L545 (4)

See also: IR 05000498/1989017

Text

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AUG- l- 51989

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In Reply Refer To:

. Dockets: 50-498/89-17

50-499/89-17

EA 89-157

Houston Lignting & Power Company

iATTN: J.' H. Goldberg, Group Vice

President, Nuclear.

.

P.O. Box.1700

Houston, Texas 77001

Gentlemen:

SUBJECT: NOTICEOFVIOLATION(NRCINSPECTIONREPORTNO. 50-498/89-17,

50-499/89-17)

'

,This refers to the inspection conducted by Messrs. J. E. Bess, R. J. Evans,

~ J. I. Tapia, D. L. Garrison, and other members of this office during the period

June 1-30, 1989, of activities authorized by NRC Operating Licenses NPF-76 and

NPF-80 for the South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2 and to the discussion of our

findings with Mr. W. H. Kinsey and other members of your staff at the conclusion

.

of the. inspection.

Areas examined during the inspection included plant status, operational safety

verification, monthly maintenance observation, power ascension test, monthly

surveillance observations, and startup test witnessing and observation. Within

these areas, the inspection consisted of selective examination of procedures and

representative records, interviews with personnel, and observations by the

inspectors. The inspection findings are documented in the enclosed inspection

report.

During this inspection, it was found that certain of your activities were in

violation of NRC requirements. The violation in the enclosed Notice of

Violation (Notice) involves a case of a fire watchman falsifying a log to

indicate a tour of an. area had been made at a particular time when in fact it

had not. The NRC views acts such as the falsification of required logs very

seriously. Furthermore, we are concerned because a similar violation was

identified previously (EA 88-216) when an NRC inquiry led to the discovery

that three contract employees had falsified compensatory fire watch logs on a j

number of occasions. Given the actual safety significance of the violation

'

in this instance, in that fire detection and automatic fire suppression

systems were operable, NRC has classified the violation in the enclosed Notice

at Severity Level IV. A stronger enforcement action is not being taken only j

because HL&P identified this problem, informed NRC and took prompt and I

~ appropriate corrective action. 1

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We believe that the corrective actions you described in your response to  !

Enforcement Action 88-216 and the corrective actions described in response to i

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the current violation should minimize future possibilities of fire watch logs

being falsified. Nevertheless, we expect that you will reinforce to all HL&P

and contractor employees the importance of integrity in conducting all

activities that are associated with the safety of the plant.

We have also examined actions you have taken with regard to previously

identified inspection findings. The status of these items is identified in

paragraph 4 of the enclosed report.

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. After reviewing your response to this

Notice, including your proposed corrective actions and the results of future

inspections, the NRC will determine whether further ?!RC enforcement action is

necessary to ensure compliance with NRC regulatory requirements.

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 Room.

The responses directed by this letter and the enclosed Notice are not subject

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

by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Pub. L. No.96-511.

Should you have any questions concerning this inspection, we will be pleased to

discuss them with you.

Sincerely,

OriginalSigned By:

Thomas P.Gwynn

[ James L. Milhoan, Director

\ Division of Reactor Projects

Enclosures:

1. Appendix A - Notice of Violation

2. Appendix B - Inspection Report

50-498/89-17

50-499/89-17

j

cc w/ enclosures: '

Houston Lighting & Power Company

ATTN: M. A. McBurnett, Manager

Operations Support Licensing

P.O. Box 289

Wadsworth, Texas 77483

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Houston Lighting & Power Company -3-

Houston Lighting & Power Company

ATTN: Gerald E. Vaughn, Vice President

Nuclear Operations

P.O.-Box 289.

Wadsworth, Texas 77483

Houston Lighting & Power Company

. ATTN: J. T. Westermeier, General Manager

South Texas Project

P.O. Box 289

Wadsworth, Texas 77483

Central Power & Light Company

ATTN: .R. L. Range /R.-P. Verret

P.O. Box 2121

Corpus Christi, Texas 78403

City of Austin Electric Utility-

ATTN: . R. J. Miner, Chief Operating

Officer (2 copies)

721 Barton Springs Road

Austin, Texas 78704

Newman' & Holtzinger, P.C.

ATTN: J. R. Newman, Esquire

1615 L Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036

Houston Lighting & Power Company

ATTN: S. L. Rosen

P.O. Box 289

Wadsworth, Texas 77483

Houston Lighting & Power Company

ATTN: R. W. Chewning, Chairman

Nuclear Safety Review Board

P.O. Box 289

Wadsworth, Texas 77483

City Public Service Board

ATTN: R. J. Costello/M. T. Hardt

P.O.- Box 1771

San Antonio, Texas 78296

-Houston Lighting & Power Company

ATTN: Licensing Representative

Suite 610

Three Metro Center

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

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