ML20140J162

Forwards Press Release 84-150 of NRC Proposed Fine Against Util for Alleged Inadequate Control of Operations

ML20140J162
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna, 05000000
Issue date:	12/19/1984
From:	Kammerer C NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA)
To:	Harrison, Heinz, Markey, Ottinger R, Simpson, Specter, Udall HOUSE OF REP., HOUSE OF REP., ENERGY & COMMERCE, SENATE
Shared Package
ML20140C961	List: IA-84-478, Forwards Press Release 84-69 Re NRC Reduction of Fine for 1983 Violation.Pressure Sensing Device Capped.Fine Reduced Due to Short Duration of Violation,Small Size of Reactor & Comparable Enforcement Actions IA-85-478, Forwards Press Release 85-3 Re NRC Ad Hoc Advisory Committee for Review of Enforcement Policy Request for Public Comments on Enforcement Policy IR 05000366/1983023 IR 05000409/2005031 ML20140C954 ML20140C962 ML20140H544 ML20140H550 ML20140H555 ML20140H562 ML20140H574 ML20140H591 ML20140H596 ML20140H616 ML20140H623 ML20140H639 ML20140H646 ML20140H658 ML20140H670 ML20140H705 ML20140H721 ML20140H745 ML20140H751 ML20140H763 ML20140H779 ML20140H784 ML20140H789 ML20140H812 ML20140H816 ML20140H822 ML20140H834 ML20140H839 ML20140H843 ML20140H855 ML20140H860 ML20140H867 ML20140H873 ML20140H880 ML20140H886 ML20140H890 ML20140H894 ML20140H900 ML20140H915 ML20140H919 ML20140H926 ML20140H931 ML20140H940 ML20140H945 ML20140H956 ML20140H962 ... further results
References
FOIA-85-478 NUDOCS 8510230304
Download: ML20140J162 (3)

Text

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i j$' *%g UNITED STATES

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. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION W

W ASHINGTON. O. C. 20555

\\[ h p J 'k, December 19, 1984 f,p/

3v The Honorable Richard L. Ottinger, Chairinan j

Subcomittee on Energy Conservation and Power Comittee on Energy and Comerce United States House of Representatives k'ashington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

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Enclosed for'your information is an announcerrent that the staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Comission has cited the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company for alleged iradeouate control of operations at its Susquehanna Steam Electric Station near Berwick, Pennsylvania.

4 It is planned to mail this information 'o the news media today, t

December IS, 1984.

S t ric4 rely,-

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.on f.ar:7nerer. Director f ice of Congressional Affairs I

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Enclosure:

As stated cc:

Rep. Carlos Moorhead IDENTICAL LETTER SENT TO:

Sen. Simpson/cc: Sen. Hart j

Rep. Udall/cc: Rep. Lujan Rep. Markey/cc: Rep. Marlenee Sen. Heinz Sen. Specter Rep. Harrison i

0510230304 851004

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l f*N, UNITED STATES i

[ Igg /'/j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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rg Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 20555

~ No.84-150 FOR IMMEDIATE P.ELEASE Tel. 301/a92-7715 (Wednesday, December 19,~1984)

NRC STAFF CITES PENNSYLVANIA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY; PROPOSES $50,000 FINE The staff of the hutieor negulatory Commission has cited the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company for alleged inadequate control of operations at its Susquehanna Steam Electric Station near Berwick, Pennsylvania.

On July 26, 1984, all electric power supplies were disabled to key Unit 2 low pressure emergency core cooling water systems when e worker mistakenly opened switches that should have been left closed and a second worker, there to verify his activities, failed to identify the error.

The NRC staff proposes to fine the company $50,000.

There was no direct affect on the public from this occurrence. The error was discovered and corrected about 43 minutes after it was made.

Although the company took prorapt and extensive corrective action afterwards, the proposed fine has not been reduced as it might have been in such circumstances because plant staff had mistakenly operated these switches twice before and the corrective actions taken in response to the pr.ior occurrences apparently were not effective.

James M. Taylor, Deputy Director of the Office of Inspection and Enforcement at NRC headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, in his letter informing the company of the. enforcement action, said that, "Similar improper manipulations of these...sw' itches' had occurred on June 4 and October 6, 1983." However, the worker who made the same kind of mistake on July 26 had not received the training given other workers to prevent recurrence of this kind of error.

The Notice of Violation sent to PP&L alleged that at 1:37 a.m., after the switches in question had been opened, a test was started to demonstrate that substitute emergency systems power would be automatically provided in the event the regular off-site source of power was lost. However, because of the mistakenly opened. switches, the plant's four emergency diesel-powered electri'c

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generators failed to automatically start and therefore all alternating (AC) power was lost to Unit 2.

NRC inspectors subsequently found that alleged violations of four NRC requirements had contributed *to the event.

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Taylor said in the Notice of Violation that "This was a serious event which demonstrates the importance of controls to ensure safe performance of licensed activities and to ensure that significant pro'clems that have been identified are thoroughly corrected to prevent recurrences."

PP&L has 30 days to either pay the proposed fine or to request in writing that part or all of it be withdrawn. The company also has 30 days to tell the NRC staff in writing what it has done or plans to do to prevent a recurrence of this kind of violation.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been informed of this proposed enforcement action.

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