ML20249B304

Forwards Insp Rept 50-155/98-03 on 980407-0527.Violation Noted & Being Considered for Escalated Enforcement Action. Notice of Violation Not Presently Being Issued for Insp Finding

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: IR 05000155/1998003 ML20249B304
References
50-155-98-03, 50-155-98-3, EA-98-319, NUDOCS 9806220301
Download: ML20249B304 (4)

See also: IR 05000155/1998003

Text

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June 16', 1998

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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

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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

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Cynthia D. Pederson, Director

Division of Nuclear Materials Safety

Docket No. 50-155

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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

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~ 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

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redaction.

Sincerely,

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Original Signed by

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Cynthia D. Pederson, Director

Division of Nuclear Materials Safety

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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

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OFFICE -

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Clayton Mw Pedafson

DATE-

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06/12/98

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OFRCIAL RECORD COPY.

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cc w/ encl:

K. P. Powers, Plant General Manager

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Richard Whale, Michigan Public

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Service Commission

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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:

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PUBLICJE41 w/enci

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J. Goldberg, OGC w/ enc!

LPM, NRR w/enci

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C. J. Paperiello, Rill w/enci

J. L. Caldwell, Rlll w/ encl

C. D. Pederson, Rlll w/enct

Rill Enf. Coordinator w/onct

SRI, BRP w/enci

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DOCDESK w/enci(e-mail)

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