ML20248J491

Discusses Investigation Rept 3-97-034 Conducted by Nrc,Which Was Completed on 980211 & Forwards Notice of Violation Re Failure to Provide Accurate Info to NRC

ML20248J491
Person / Time
Site:	Prairie Island
Issue date:	06/04/1998
From:	Grobe J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Wadley M NORTHERN STATES POWER CO.
Shared Package
ML20248J494	List: ML20248J491 ML20248J497
References
NUDOCS 9806090156
Download: ML20248J491 (2)

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June 4, 1998 Mr. M. Wadley, Vice President Nuclear Generation Northem States Power Company 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55401

SUBJECT:

NRC NOTICE OF VIOLATION (OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS REPORT NO. 3-97-034)

Dear Mr. Wadley:

This refers to the investigation conducted by the NRC Office of Investigations at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, which was completed on February 11,1998. The investigation was initiated to determine if Northern States Power deliberately submitted material l

false statements in a license amendment request. The results of the investigation were discussed with Mr. Joel Sorensen, and other members of his staff, on May 28,1998. The synopsis of the investigation is enclosed with this letter.

The investigation was initiated due to discovery of some erroneous information provided in Supplement 2, dated February 12,1997, to a January 29,1997, license amendment request concerning the cooling water system emergency intake design basis. This erroneous information concerned the length of time it took operators to simula':e performance of required actions following an earthquake in November 1995. Although the 01 investigation did not substantiate that there was deliberate submittal of inaccurate information, the NRC did determine that the information was inaccurate and was material to the final issued amendments, Amendments 126 (Unit 1) and 120 (Unit 2), dated March 20,1997, as these amendments were based upon the operators' ability to respond to an earthquake prior to losing suction to the cooling water pumps. Fortunately, NRC recognized the inaccuracy of the information in the supplemental response and required substantial validation of operator response times prior to the amendments being issued.

The NRC must be able to depend upon the accuracy and completeness of information provided by its licensees; this is of the utmost importance when the NRC is contemplating an amendment to the issued operating license. Providing information to the NRC that is not complete and accurate in all material respects is a violation of 10 CFR 50.9. The inaccurate information provided was determined to be of more than minor significance. Therefore, this violation has been categorized in accordance with NUREG-1600," General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions"(Enforcement Policy), at Severity Level IV. The violation is cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice). Please note that you are required to respond to this letter and should follow the instructions specified in the enclosed Notice when preparing your response. The NRC will use your response, in part, to determine whether jh further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

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i M. Wadley l In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, its enclosures, and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

Sincerely,-

Original /b/ J. A. Grobe John A. Grobe, Director Division of Reactor Safety Docket Nos.: 50-282;50-306 l

License Nos.: DPR-42; DPP 60 1

Enclosures:

1. Synopsis of Ol Investigation

2. Notice of Violation

3. List of Participants in May 28,1998 Telephone Exit cc w/ encl:

Plant Manager, Prairie Island State Liaison Officer, State of Minnesota State Liaison Officer, State of Wisconsin Tribal Council Prairie Island Dakota Community Distribution:

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