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NRC NEWS
U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION III
801 Warrenville Road, Lisle IL 60532 |
| CONTACT: |
Jan Strasma (630) 829-9663/e-mail: rjs2@nrc.gov |
|
Angela Greenman (630) 829-9662/e-mail: opa3@nrc.gov |
NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT: RIII-96-18 May 17, 1996
CONTACT: Jan Strasma 708/829-9663
Angela Dauginas 708/829-9662
E-mail: opa3@nrc.gov
NRC STAFF PROPOSES $100,000 FINE AGAINST COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO.
FOR VIOLATIONS OF NRC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AT BRAIDWOOD PLANT
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a
$100,000 fine against Commonwealth Edison Company for numerous
instances of failure to maintain the proper alignment of plant
safety-related systems and for failing to take corrective actions
to prevent recurring problems.
Problems which brought about this enforcement action
occurred during 1995 and have continued this year. For the most
part, they involve work on systems which have been taken out of
service. Both NRC and Commonwealth Edison have found an adverse
trend in this regard.
In a letter informing Commonwealth Edison of the civil
penalty, Hubert J. Miller, NRC regional administrator in Lisle,
Illinois, said this record of recurring problems of this sort
"represents a significant lack of attention towards licensed
responsibilities." He noted that the utility's own trend
analysis identified a number of root causes, "including poor
accountability and commitment, poor planning and scheduling,
unclear expectations, poor communications, and poor root cause
investigations."
Mr. Miller's letter and the accompanying notice of violation
listed these incidents this year which were associated with the
proposed fine:
. Jan. 23-24: Hydrogen monitor system made inoperable
when operators improperly shut some valves.
. March 5: Flange bolts loosened, leaving a potential
for making the emergency core cooling system inoperable
during pump maintenance.
. March 12: A ventilation fan was approved for operation
after maintenance even though it was still
disassembled.
. March 13: A containment chill water pump was uncoupled
from a motor without proper authorization.
. March 18: A reactor alarm signal activated while a
worker was hanging "out-of-service" cards.
. March 23: Reactor cooling system drain valves
mispositioned.
. April 16: Valve internals removed without proper
isolation causes a 3,000-gallon water spill inside the
plant.
. April 24: An air system was cross-connected to a water
system.
Commonwealth Edison has until June 15 to pay the fine or to
protest it. If the fine is protested and subsequently imposed by
the NRC staff, the utility may request a hearing.
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