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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 |
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Angela Greenman (630) 829-9662/e-mail: opa3@nrc.gov |
NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT: RIII-96-20 May 22, 1996
CONTACT: Jan Strasma 708/829-9663
Angela Dauginas 708/829-9662
E-mail: opa3@nrc.gov
NRC STAFF PROPOSES $50,000 FINE AGAINST DETROIT EDISON CO.
FOR VIOLATION OF NRC REQUIREMENTS AT FERMI 2 NUCLEAR PLANT
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a
$50,000 fine against Detroit Edison Co. for a violation of NRC
requirements which occurred when equipment cooling water pumps at
the Fermi 2 Nuclear Power Plant were disabled by freezing weather
in February.
On February 5 a pump which provides cooling water to an
emergency diesel generator failed to operate properly during
routine testing. The inoperability of the pump was attributed to
the freezing weather conditions, but plant personnel did not
immediately recognize the possibility that other cooling water
systems for plant safety equipment might be affected by the
weather.
Plant personnel used air pressure to remove ice blockage
from the pump, and the pump was successfully tested later that
day.
Testing of other equipment cooling water pumps was not
performed until the next day, when a second diesel generator
cooling water pump operated erratically during initial testing.
This pump's failure was caused by a buildup of ice in the pump;
the ice blockage cleared after about 90 seconds, and the pump
then operated normally.
In notifying the utility of the proposed fine, NRC Regional
Administrator Hubert J. Miller stated that the utility's failure
to promptly identify the potential freezing problem for other
cooling water pumps could have affected all four emergency diesel
generators and other plant safety systems.
He said the fine was proposed because "the nonconservative
operating philosophy exhibited during the event resulted in the
increased duration of the problem and associated risks." The
failure to promptly address the potential of a common mode
failure for the equipment cooling pumps "represents particularly
poor licensee performance."
Detroit Edison has until June 20 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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