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	NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION II 61 Forsyth Street, Suite 23T85, Atlanta, GA 30303
	CONTACT:	Ken Clark (Phone: 404-562-4416, E-mail: kmc2@nrc.gov )
		Roger Hannah (Phone 404-562-4417, E-mail: rdh1@nrc.gov )

No: II-97-81

November 20, 1997

Contact: Ken Clark or Roger Hannah

NRC STAFF TO HOLD PREDECISIONAL ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE

TO DISCUSS ROBINSON NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ISSUES WITH CP&L

Meeting In Atlanta On November 25 Will Be Open To Public For Observation

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has scheduled a predecisional enforcement conference with officials of Carolina Power & Light Company in Atlanta from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on November 25 to discuss apparent violations of NRC requirements related to the inoperability of one of two emergency diesel generators at the H. B. Robinson nuclear power plant, located near Hartsville, South Carolina.

NRC officials said two apparent violations were associated with the fact that an NRC resident inspector on August 20 identified that one of the plant's emergency diesel generators was inoperable because a breaker control switch was mispositioned.

No accident occurred, but NRC officials said mispositioning of the emergency diesel generator breaker switch would have complicated the plant's ability to respond to certain postulated emergencies.

The meeting will be held in the NRC's regional office located on the 24th floor of the Atlanta Federal Center at 61 Forsyth Street, S. W. The meeting is between the NRC and CP&L but is open to public observation, and NRC officials will be available at its conclusion to answer questions from interested observers.

NRC officials said the decision to hold a predecisional enforcement conference does not mean that a determination has been made that a violation has occurred or that enforcement action will be taken. The purpose of the conference is to discuss apparent violations, their causes and safety significance; the provide the licensee an opportunity to point out any errors that may have been made in the NRC inspection report; and to enable the company to outline its

proposed corrective actions. No decision on the apparent violations or any contemplated enforcement action, such as a civil penalty, will be made at this conference. Those decisions will be made later by senior NRC officials.

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