ML20212Q922

Press Release Discussing Proposed $50,000 Fine Against Util for Violations of Security Requirements at Plant

ML20212Q922
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach
Issue date:	03/17/1987
From:	Marabito R, Strasma J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:
Shared Package
ML20212Q895	List: ML20212Q893 ML20212Q922
References
FOIA-87-166 PR-87-022, PR-87-22, NUDOCS 8704240144
Download: ML20212Q922 (1)

Text

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UNITED STATES

.p' "%,,,

! s NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION E

o., OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION 111 l

'**.,,,,* 799 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137 NEWS ANN 0UNCEMENT: 87-22 CONTACT: Jan Strasma 312/790-5674 Russ Marabito 312/790-5667 NRC STtFF PROPOSES $50,000 FINE AGAINST WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY FOR VIOLATIONS OF SECURITY REQUIREMENTS AT POINT BEACH NUCLEAR PLANT The Nuclear Regulatory Comission staff has proposed a $50,000 fine against Wisconsin Electric Power Company for violations of NRC security requirements at the Point Beach Nuclear Power Station at Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

The utility was cited for two instances -- in January 1985 and July 1986 --

when a vital area door was not properly locked with its alarm activated. In both cases, a security guard, intending to unlock a non-vital area door, had used an incorrect computer code, causing the vital area door to be unlocked. In one instance, the door was unlocked for a 76 minute period; in the second, it was for 29 minutes.

The utility was also cited for a third case, in which a vital area door was left in an unalarmed condition for a 13 hour1.50463e-4 days <br />0.00361 hours <br />2.149471e-5 weeks <br />4.9465e-6 months <br /> period in January 1985, but it was locked during that time. The NRC became aware of the 1985 incidents during its investigation of the July 1986 event which was reported to the NRC.

Vital areas are those portions of the plant which contain equipment necessary for the safe operation and shutdown of the reactor. Access to these areas is normally limited by locked and alarmed doors which pemit only authorized persons to enter.

In all three cases, access to the plant itself was properly controlled and there was no evidence that any unauthorized persons entered the vital areas.

The utility has taken disciplinary action against the security personnel involved in these incidents and retrained its security force to preclude a  !

recurrence of these incidents.

Wisconsin Electric has until April 10, 1987, to pay the proposed fine or to protest it. If the fine is protested, the NRC staff will consider the basis of the protest in determining whether to fomally impose the fine. If the fine is imposed, the utility may request a hearing.

March 17, 1987 M 4 WIo p b 144 870421 B7042 33 PUU l ghce7-266

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