ML20249B304
| ML20249B304 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Big Rock Point File:Consumers Energy icon.png |
| Issue date: | 06/16/1998 |
| From: | Pederson C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Fenech R CONSUMERS ENERGY CO. (FORMERLY CONSUMERS POWER CO.) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20249B305 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-155-98-03, 50-155-98-3, EA-98-319, NUDOCS 9806220301 | |
| Download: ML20249B304 (4) | |
See also: IR 05000155/1998003
Text
=C;
m
ist
June 16', 1998
,
EA 98-319
~
- Mr. Robert A. Fenech
Senior Vice President
Nuclear, Fossil and Hydro Operations -
Consumers Energy Company '
- 212 West Michigan Avenue
(Jackson, MI 49201
SUBJECT:
NRC INSPECTION REPORT 50-155/98003(DNMS)
. Dear Mr. Fenech:
- On May 27,1998, the NRC completed an inspection at your Big Rock Point Nuclear Plant which
examined decommissioning activities. The enclosed report presents the results of that
.
inspection.
During the period covered by this inspection, activities in the areas of facility management and
control, decommissioning support, spent fuel safety, and radiological safety were examined.
!
Decommissioning milestones included the NRC's approval of the certified fuel handlers training
program and the determination by the NRC that reactor and senior reactor licenses are no longer
required at Big Rock Point. - Also, the recirculation system lines to the reactor vessel were cut
and capped, effectively converting the reactor vessel into a tank.
Based on the results of this inspection, one 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 relates to failure of the liquid poison tank discharge dip tube, which rendered
the liquid poison system inoperable. This violation is of concem because the inoperability of the
system was of long duration and it was not identified until after the plant was permanently shut
down. The circumstances surrounding the apparent violation and the potential significance of
the issue were discussed with members of your staff at the inspection exit meeting on May 27,
1998. Because the Big Rock Point Plant is being decommissioned and the poison system will
- never be retumed to service, it may not be necessary to conduct a predecisional enforcement '
- conference in order to enable the NRC to make an enforcement decision. Nonetheless, NRC is
concemed about potential implications of this issue for operating reactors, as well as any actions
your review of the issue may determine to be warranted for your operating plant.
' A' Notice of Violation is not presently being issued for this inspection finding. Before the NRC
. makes its enforcement decision, we are providing you an opportunity to either: (1) respond to the
apparent violation addressed in this inspection report within 30 days of the date of this letter, or
- (2) request a predecisional enforcement conference. In either case, you are requested to provide
your evaluation regarding how this issue may pertain to monitoring of any safety related systems
I
(l
,so6aaoaot
a
n
ADOCK 0
155
.'
' 8_ s
-
, a
,
e
e
H
-
.
.- ,
s
' K. Powers
-2-
L
l.
at your operating reactor plant which contain corrosive fluids. Please contact Mr. Bruce
Jorgensen at (630) 829-9615 within 7 days of the date of this letter to notify the NRC of your
intended response.
If you choose to respond, i.e., option (1), the response should be clearly marked as a " Response
to Apparent Violations in inspection Report 50-155/98003(DNMS)" and should include: (1) the
reason for the apparent violation, or, if contested, the basis for disputing the apparent violation,
,
(2) the corrective steps that have been taken and the results achieved, (3) the corrective steps
'
that will be taken to avoid further violations, including any similar violation at your operating plant,
and (4) the date when full compliance will be achieved. Your response should be submitted
under oath or affirmation and may reference or include previous docketed correspondence, if the
correspondence adequately addresses the required response. If an adequate response is not
received within the time specified or an extension of time has not been granted by the NRC, the
NRC will proceed with its enforcement decision or schedule a predecisional enforcement
conference.
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. You
will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations on this matter.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, its
enclosure, and your response (if you choose to provide one) will be placed in the NRC Public
Document Room (PDR). To the extent possible, your response should not include any personal
privacy, proprietary, or safeguards information so that it can be placed in the PDR without
redaction.
Sincerely, -
Original Signed by
l
Cynthia D. Pederson, Director
Division of Nuclear Materials Safety
Docket No. 50-155
.
License No. DPR-6
. Enclosure: Inspection Report 50-155/98003(DNMS)
See Attached Distnbution
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\SEC\\BRP98003.DNM
. To receive a copy of thle document. Indicate in the box:"C" = Copy without enclosure "E"= Copy with enclosure"N"= No copv
OFFICE
Rlli
-
1It Rlli:
lE
ElCS
l
Rill
l
m
m
NAME
M hen @iiib
JorgensenF/
Clayton
Pederson
DATE-
06/12/98
06/I'#98
1
06/ 198
06/ /98
OFRCIAL RECORD COPY
--
- -
-
^'
- 7
s
'
R.Fenech
-2-
~ at your operating reactor plant which contain corrosive fluids. Please contact Mr. Bruce
Jorgensen at (630) 829-9615 within 7 days of the date of this letter to notify the NRC of your
intended response;
)
' If you choose to respond, the response should be clearly marked as a " Response to Apparent
Violations in Inspection Report 50-155/98003(DNMS)" and should include: - (1) the reason for the
apparent violation, or, if contested, the basis for disputing the apparent violation, (2) the
,
corrective steps that have been taken and the results achieved, (3) the corrective steps that will
. be taken to avoid further violations, including any similar violation at your operating plant, and (4)-
the date when full compliance will be achieved. Your response should be submitted under oath
or affirmation and may reference or include previous docketed correspondence, if the
correspondence adequately addresses the required response. If an adequate response is not
received within the time specified or an extension of time has not been granted by the NRC, the
,
! NRC will proceed with its enfon:ement decision or schedule a predecisional enforcement
conference.
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. You
will be advised by separate correspondence of the results of our deliberations on this matter.
_
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter, its
enclosure, and your response (if you choose to provide one) will be placed in the NRC Public
Document Room (PDR). To the extent possible, your response should not include any personal
privacy, proprietary, or safeguards information so that it can be placed in the PDR without
]
redaction.
Sincerely,
l
l
Original Signed by
l
Cynthia D. Pederson, Director
Division of Nuclear Materials Safety
!
Docket No. 50-155
License No. DPR-6
Enclosure: Inspection Report 50-155/98003(DNMS)
See Attached Distnbution
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\SEC\\BRP98003.DNM
- See Previous Concurrence
.
l To receive a copy of this document. Indicate in the boafC" = Copy without enclosure "E"= copy with enclosurew"sN h
OFFICE -
- Rill
lE
- Rill
lE
ElCS -
._
l-
Ril(? (
l
,
NAME
Leemon:ib
Jorgensen -
Clayton Mw Pedafson
DATE-
06/12/98
06/12/98
06//6/98-#f;h 06/$98-
OFRCIAL RECORD COPY.
l
1
J
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - - - - _ . - _ - - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ - - - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . - - - _ - _ - _ - - - -
-,
l
!
..
j-
g.
R.' Fenech
-3-
I
cc w/ encl:
K. P. Powers, Plant General Manager
j
Richard Whale, Michigan Public
l_
Service Commission
l
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Department of Attomey General (MI)
Emergency Management Division,
Michigan Department of State Police
T. J. Palmisano, Site Vice President
and General Manager, Palisades Nuclear
Generating Plant
Distribution:
Docket File w/paci
[g Q
PUBLICJE41 w/enci
- J. Lieberman, OE w/enci
J. Goldberg, OGC w/ enc!
LPM, NRR w/enci
Rill PRR w/enci
C. J. Paperiello, Rill w/enci
J. L. Caldwell, Rlll w/ encl
C. D. Pederson, Rlll w/enct
Rill Enf. Coordinator w/onct
TSS w/enci
LEO w/enci (e-mail)
DOCDESK w/enci(e-mail)
Greens w/o enci
C20048'
I