Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
May 5, 1988
Information Notice No. 88-20: UNAUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS MANIPULATING
CONTROLS AND PERFORMING CONTROL ROOM
ACTIVITIES
Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power,
test and research reactors, and all licensed operators.
Purpose:
This information notice is being provided to alert addressees to potential
problems resulting from unauthorized persons manipulating controls and per-
forming control room activities. It is expected that recipients will review
the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as
appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, no specific action or
written response is required.
Description of Circumstances:
On September 13, 1987, with Turkey Point Unit 3 at 30% power, a non-licensed
individual (who was not enrolled in an operator training program) under the
direct supervision of a licensed operator turned the reactor control make-up
switch to "start" on two occasions in close succession. At the time of the
event, a 30% power flux map was in progress. Negative reactivity was being
added to the reactor because of xenon buildup. To minimize flux distortion,
control rod motion was being minimized, and the negative reactivity insertion
from the xenon buildup was being countered by lowering the boron concentration
in the RCS (dilution). The dilution was being performed by periodically
adding preset quantities of non-borated water to the RCS. The licensed
operator preset the non-borated water quantity to 30 gallons, then permitted
the non-licensed individual to turn the reactor control make-up switch to the
"start" position. The system response to the 30-gallon dilution was not
sufficient, and the above evolution was repeated, with the non-borated water
quantity preset by the licensed operator at 20 gallons. The licensed operator
directly supervised both dilutions. This event is discussed further in
Licensee Event Report (LER) 250/87-024 (Voluntary Report).
8804290106
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May 5, 1988
Page 2 of 3
The NRC resident inspectors at Braidwood were informed of a similar event by
that facility's licensee. An individual licensed at another facility (but not
enrolled in an operator training program) was temporarily contracted to
Braidwood as an equipment attendant. On September 20, 1987, this individual
was allowed to manipulate the controls on the Unit 1 reactor for a dilution of
the RCS and for a control rod movement.
No serious consequences occurred from either of these events. However, these
incidents are contrary to the requirements of 10 CFR 50.54(i) and 10 CFR 55.3
because these actions directly affected the reactivity and power of the re-
actor, and the individuals performing the actions did not meet the exemption
requirements of 10 CFR 55.13. (10 CFR 55.13 allows an individual, under the
direction and in the presence of a licensed operator, to manipulate the
controls of a facility as a part of the individual's training in a facility
licensee's training program.) Because neither individual was enrolled in an
approved operator training program, the exemption requirements of 10 CFR 55.13
were not satisfied.
Discussion:
The events discussed above are contrary to 10 CFR Parts 50 and 55. Addressees
may wish to ensure that they are familiar with these requirements. In addi-
tion, the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55 were revised in 1987 and made effec-
tive on May 26, 1987. These revisions, as well as other relevant information,
are discussed in NUREG-1262, "Answers to Questions at Public Meetings
Regarding Implementation of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 55 on
Operators' Licenses," published in November 1987.* A copy of this document
was provided to all power and non-power reactor licensees and applicants for
licenses by Generic Letter 87-16. Addressees who have not already done so may
wish to obtain and review a copy of NUREG-1262 to ensure that they are
familiar with the revisions made to 10 CFR Part 55.
The NRC has required individuals licensed at near-term operating license
(NTOL) facilities to obtain operational experience at like facilities through
cooperative arrangements. Nothing in this information notice is intended to
preclude such arrangements.
*A copy of NUREG-1262 can be ordered by writing to the Superintendent of
Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Post Office Box 37082,
Washington, D.C. 20013-7082, or by calling (202) 275-2060.
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May 5, 1988
Page 3 of 3
No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the technical
contact listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate regional
office.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contact: John N. Hannon, NRR
(301) 492-1031
Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
. Attachment
IN 88-20
May 5, 1988
Page 1 of 1
LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
_____________________________________________________________________________
Information Date of
Notice No._____Subject_______________________Issuance_______Issued to________
88-19 Questionable Certification 4/26/88 All holders of OLs
of Class 1E Components or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
88-18 Malfunction of Lockbox on 4/25/88 All NRC licensees
Radiography Device authorized to
manufacture,
distribute, and/or
operate radio-
graphic exposure
devices.
88-17 Summary of Responses to NRC 4/22/88 All holders of OLs
Bulletin 87-01, "Thinning of or CPs for nuclear
Pipe Walls in Nuclear Power power reactors.
Plants"
88-16 Identifying Waste Generators 4/22/88 Radioactive waste
in Shipments of Low-Level collection and
Waste to Land Disposal service company
Facilities licensees handling
prepackaged waste,
and licensees
operating
low-level waste
disposal
facilities.
88-15 Availability of U.S. Food 4/18/88 Medical, Academic,
and Drug Administration and Commercial
(FDA)-Approved Potassium licensees who
Iodide for Use in Emergencies possess
Involving Radioactive Iodine radioactive
iodine.
88-14 Potential Problems with 4/18/88 All holders of OLs
Electrical Relays or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
88-13 Water Hammer and Possible 4/18/88 All holders of OLs
Piping Damage Caused by or CPs for nuclear
Misapplication of Kerotest power reactors.
Packless Metal Diaphragm
Globe Valves
_____________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
