ML081570429
| ML081570429 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Columbia  |
| Issue date: | 06/05/2008 |
| From: | Caniano R Division of Reactor Safety IV |
| To: | Parrish J Energy Northwest |
| References | |
| 4-2008-003, EA-08-145, FOIA/PA-2010-0245 IR-08-008 | |
| Download: ML081570429 (7) | |
See also: IR 05000397/2008008
Text
UNITED STATES
NUC LE AR RE G UL AT O RY C O M M I S S I O N
R E GI ON I V
612 EAST LAMAR BLVD , SU I TE 400
AR LI N GTON , TEXAS 76011-4125
June 5, 2008
J. V. Parrish (Mail Drop 1023)
Chief Executive Officer
Energy Northwest
P.O. Box 968
Richland, WA 99352-0968
SUBJECT: COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION - NRC INSPECTION
REPORT 05000397/2008008, INVESTIGATION REPORT 4-2008-003,
AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Dear Mr. Parrish:
This refers to the subject investigation and in-office inspection which was completed on May 13,
2008. The investigation was conducted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) Office
of Investigation, and an in-office inspection examined the events documented in your Condition
Report CR 2-07-06293 regarding the failure of a licensee employee to follow procedural
requirements at your Columbia Generating Station. The findings were discussed with
Mr. J. Frisco, Plant General Manager, and other members of your staff during a telephonic exit
meeting on May 13, 2008.
The NRC has determined that a violation of NRC requirements occurred. The violation was
evaluated in accordance with the NRC Enforcement Policy included on the NRCs website at
www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/enforcement.html.
The violation is cited in the enclosed Notice of Violation (Notice) and the circumstances
surrounding it are described in detail in this letter, which serves as the inspection report. The
violation involves a licensee employee who, while working on replacement of the high pressure
core spray pump, directed contract employees to reach across a contaminated area boundary
without radiation protection approval.
On September 26, 2007, the licensee informed the NRC of this matter. Based on the NRCs
subsequent investigation and inspection, the NRC concluded that the project managers failure
to follow procedural requirements was deliberate. Our conclusion was based on the fact that
the project manager was reminded by contract workers that they were not to reach across the
boundary without radiation protection approval. The project manager told them to do it anyway
and he would take responsibility for it. The project manager also admitted to having knowledge
and understanding of the procedural requirements.
Energy Northwest -2-
Wilful violations are, by definition, of concern to the NRC because its regulatory program is
based on licensees and its employees acting with integrity. In this case, the project manager
directed others to reach across the contamination boundary even after the workers reminded
him that doing so was not in accordance with the procedure requirements. However, the NRC
recognizes the very low underlying safety significance of the violation, in that the contamination
levels were low and no contamination of personnel occurred. In addition, the NRC
acknowledges the disciplinary actions taken by your staff. Therefore, this violation has been
categorized at Severity Level IV in accordance with the NRC Enforcement Policy. In
accordance with Section VI.A.1 of the NRC Enforcement Policy, this violation is being cited in
the Notice because it involved the acts of a licensee official.
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 further enforcement action is necessary to ensure compliance with
regulatory requirements.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 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 made available electronically
for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the NRCs document system
(ADAMS), accessible from the NRC website at www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To the
extent possible, your response should not include any personal privacy, proprietary, or safeguards
information so that it can be made available to the Public without redaction.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Roy Caniano, Director
Division of Reactor Safety
Docket: 50-397
License: NPF-21
Enclosure: Notice of Violation
cc w/enclosure:
Chairman
Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council
P.O. Box 43172
Olympia, WA 98504-3172
Energy Northwest -3-
Gregory V. Cullen
Manager, Regulatory Programs
Energy Northwest
P.O. Box 968, Mail Drop PE20
Richland, WA 99352-0968
Chairman
Benton County Board of Commissioners
P.O. Box 190
Prosser, WA 99350-0190
William A. Horin, Esq.
Winston & Strawn
1700 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-3817
Matt Steuerwalt
Executive Policy Division
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 43113
Olympia, WA 98504-3113
Lynn Albin
Washington State Department of Health
P.O. Box 7827
Olympia, WA 98504-7827
Technical Services Branch Chief
FEMA Region X
130 228th Street S.W.
Bothell, WA 98201-9796
Ken Niles
Assistant Director
Nuclear Safety and Energy Siting Division
Oregon Department of Energy
625 Marion Street NE
Salem, OR 97301-3742
Special Hazards Program Manager
Washington Emergency Management Division
127 W. Clark Street
Pasco, WA 99301
Energy Northwest -4-
Mike Hammond
Department of Homeland Security
FEMA/REP
130 228th Street S.W.
Bothell, WA 98201-9796
Energy Northwest -5-
Electronic distribution by RIV:
DRS Deputy Director (Troy.Pruett@nrc.gov)
Senior Resident Inspector (Zachary.Dunham@nrc.gov)
Branch Chief, DRP/A (Claude.Johnson@nrc.gov)
Senior Project Engineer, DRP/A (Thomas.Farnholtz@nrc.gov)
Team Leader, DRP/TSS (Chuck.Paulk@nrc.gov)
J. Adams, OEDO RIV Coordinator (John.Adams@nrc.gov)
P. Lougheed, OEDO RIV Coordinator (Patricia.Lougheed@nrc.gov)
ROPreports
Columbia Site Secretary (Crystal.Myers@nrc.gov)
Electronic distribution by RIV:
RIDSOEMAILCENTER
RIDSNRROD
Regional Administrator (EEC) Nick.Hilton@nrc.gov Russ.Barnes@nrc.gov
DRP Director (DDC) R4ALLEGATION Karla.Fuller@nrc.gov
DRS Director (RJC1) David.Furst@nrc.gov Stewart.Magruder@nrc.gov
DRS STA (DAP) Bill.Maier@nrc.gov Douglas.Starkey@nrc.gov
Anton.Vegel@nrc.gov John.Wray@nrc.gov Christi.Maier@nrc.gov
Michael.Shannon@nrc.gov Micharel.Vasquez@nrc.gov Cynthia.Carpenter@nrc.gov
Crystal.Holland@nrc.gov Victor.Dricks@nrc.gov Alexander.Sapountzis@nrc.gov
Marissa.Herrera@nrc.gov MaryAnn.Ashley@nrc.gov
SUNSI Review Completed: ___MPS ADAMS: 7 Yes No Initials: __MPS____
7 Publicly Available Non-Publicly Available Sensitive 7 Non-Sensitive
HP:PSB C:PSB ACES C:PBA
DLStearns:lar MPShannon GMVasquez CEJohnson
/RA/ /RA/ /RA/ /RA/
5/19/08 5/20/08 5/30/08 6/2/08
OE D:DRS
NHilton RJCaniano
ASapountzis for /RA/
6/2/08 6/5/08
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY T=Telephone E=E-mail F=Fax
NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Energy Northwest Docket No. 50-397
Columbia Generating Station License No. NPF-21
During an NRC investigation and subsequent in-office inspection completed on May 13, 2008, a
violation of NRC requirements was identified. In accordance with the NRC Enforcement Policy,
the violation is listed below:
Technical Specification 5.4.1.a states, that written procedures shall be established,
implemented, and maintained covering the applicable procedures recommended in
Regulatory Guide 1.33, Revision 2, Appendix A, February 1978. Regulatory Guide 1.33,
Appendix A, Section 7.e (1), specifies procedures for Access Control to Radiation Areas
Including a Radiation Work Permit System.
Columbia Generating Station Procedure GEN-RPP-04, Entry into, Conduct in, and Exit
from Radiologically Controlled Areas, Revision 14, states, in part, Do not reach over, or
cross contaminated area boundaries without RP approval.
Contrary to the above, during repair of the HPCS-P-1 flange on June 16, 2007, a project
manager instructed plant workers to reach across a contamination boundary without
radiation protection approval.
This is a Severity Level IV violation. (Supplement IV)
Pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 2.201, Energy Northwest is hereby required to submit a
written statement or explanation to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Document
Control Desk, Washington, DC 20555-0001 with a copy to the Regional Administrator,
Region IV, and a copy to the NRC Resident Inspector at the facility that is the subject of this
Notice of Violation, within 30 days of the date of the letter transmitting this Notice. This reply
should be clearly marked as a "Reply to a Notice of Violation, EA-08-145," and should include:
(1) the reason for the violation, or, if contested, the basis for disputing the violation or severity
level, (2) the corrective steps that have been taken and the results achieved, (3) the corrective
steps that will be taken to avoid further violations, and (4) the date when full compliance will be
achieved. Your response may reference or include previously docketed correspondence, if the
correspondence adequately addresses the required response. If an adequate reply is not
received within the time specified in this Notice, an Order or a Demand for Information may be
issued as to why the license should not be modified, suspended, or revoked, or why such other
action as may be proper should not be taken. Where good cause is shown, consideration will
be given to extending the response time.
If you contest this enforcement action, you should also provide a copy of your response, with
the basis for your denial, to the Director, Office of Enforcement, United States Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
-1- Enclosure
Because your response will be made available electronically for public inspection in the NRC
Public Document Room or from the NRCs document system (ADAMS), accessible from the
NRC website at www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html, to the extent possible, it should not
include any personal privacy, proprietary, or safeguards information so that it can be made
available to the public without redaction. If personal privacy or proprietary information is
necessary to provide an acceptable response, then please provide a bracketed copy of your
response that identifies the information that should be protected and a redacted copy of your
response that deletes such information. If you request withholding of such material, you must
specifically identify the portions of your response that you seek to have withheld and provide in
detail the bases for your claim of withholding (e.g., explain why the disclosure of information will
create an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or provide the information required by
10 CFR 2.390(b) to support a request for withholding confidential commercial or financial
information). If safeguards information is necessary to provide an acceptable response, please
provide the level of protection described in 10 CFR 73.21.
In accordance with 10 CFR 19.11, you are required to post this Notice of Violation within two
working days.
Dated this 5th day of June 2008
-2- Enclosure