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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-97-83

November 25, 1997

NRC STAFF SETS PREDECISIONAL ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE

TO DISCUSS SURRY NUCLEAR PLANT CONCERNS WITH VIRGINIA POWER

Meeting In Atlanta On December 4 Is Open To Public Observation

The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has scheduled a predecisional enforcement conference in Atlanta on December 4 to discuss with Virginia Power Company officials regulatory concerns associated with fire protection equipment at the Surry nuclear power plant near Surry, Virginia.

Company personnel identified the fact that the control room complex, and safety related vital electrical shutdown panels located away from the control room, were not fully protected so that, in the event of a fire, one train of systems necessary to achieve and maintain a reactor shutdown from either the control room or remote emergency control stations would be free of fire damage. NRC inspectors noted that the company apparently failed to report these discrepancies to the NRC and failed to correct them in a timely manner.

The inspection report described the general conduct of work at Surry during the period of inspection as being characterized by safety-conscious operations, sound engineering and maintenance practices and careful radiological work controls but noted the apparent inadequate compliance with fire protection requirements.

The predecisional conference will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the NRC's Atlanta 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 Virginia Power, but members of the public are welcome to attend, and NRC officials will be available at its conclusion to answer questions from interested observers.

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; to provide the licensee an opportunity to point our 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 the conference. Those decisions will be made later by senior NRC officials.