ML20132H154

Press Release IV-96-63, NRC Proposes to Fine Waterford $50,000 for Design Error

ML20132H154
Person / Time
Site:	Waterford
Issue date:	12/27/1996
From:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:
References
PR-IV-96-063, PR-IV-96-63, NUDOCS 9612270149
Download: ML20132H154 (1)

Text

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I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Public Affairs, Region IV 611 Ryan Plaza Drive - Suite 400 Arlington, Texas 76011-8064 RIV: 96-63 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Breck Henderson December 27,1996 OFFICE: 817/860-8128 PAGER: (800) 443-7243 (065477)

NRC PROPOSES TO FINE WATERFORD

$50,000 FOR DESIGN ERROR The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has notified the Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3 nuclear power plant, operated by Entergy Operations, Inc., that it proposes to fine the company $50,000 for allowing the installed configuration of a plant system to vary from the design described in the plant's Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR).

The FSAR describes all Waterford 3's safety systems and provides the basis for the NRC's decision to grant an operating license for the plant.

During inspections conducted from June 3 to July 10 and August 2' i9, NRC staff found that instrument lines which, during a loss-of-coolant accident, would . ry .

potentially contaminated air, exhausted into a room without filtration or controlled ventilation. This could have allowed plant control room operators or the public outside the plant to receive radiation doses in excess of federallimits. Waterford engineers have corrected this problem and are reviewing other similar instrument lines.

The violation is classified as Severity Level 111, with a civil penalty of $50,000. The NRC classifies violations on a four-level scale, with LevelI being the most severe. No one received an excess radiation dose because of the problem.

1 NRC Regional Administrator L. Joe Callan, caid, in a letter to Waterford Vice l President Michael B. Sellman, that the NRC was imposing tbs fine ". . . to emphasize the j importance of ensuring that the plant is operated in accordance with its FSAR and the  ;

importance of prompt identification of non-conforming conditions . . ."

]

Entergy must respond to the NRC's Notice of Violation in writing within 30 days, during which time it may pay the civil penalty or protest it. If the protest is denied the company may ask for a hearing.

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