2021 Reactor Actions
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Entergy Operations, Inc. (Grand Gulf Nuclear Station) (EA-20-125)
On December 15, 2021, the NRC issued a Severity Level III Notice of Violation of 10 CFR 50.120 requirements to Entergy Operations, Inc. (Grand Gulf 1) for an exam proctor willfully providing inappropriate assistance to engineering students during the administration of engineering support qualification examinations.
Southern Nuclear Operating Company (Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Unit 3) (EA-21-109)
On November 17, 2021 the NRC issued a Notice of Violation associated with two White Significance Determination Process (SDP) findings to the Southern Nuclear Operating Company’s (SNC) Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Unit 3. In one finding SNC failed to (1) promptly identify and correct conditions adverse to quality associated with Class 1E cables and related raceways; (2) promptly identify widespread deficiencies in installation of seismic supports and structural components; and (3) correct these issues in a timely manner as required by 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B, Criterion XVI, “Corrective Action.” In the other finding SNC failed to provide the required separation between Class 1E and non-Class 1E division cables for several reactor trip switchgear and reactor coolant pump switchgear cabinets as required by 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B, Criterion V, “Instructions, Procedures and Drawings,” and specification APP-G1-V8-01, Section B2, “Separation and Segregation Spacing Requirements.”
Entergy Operations, Inc. (River Bend Station, EA-21-017, EA-21-030, EA-21-050)
On September 30, 2021, the NRC issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) and Proposed Imposition of a Civil Penalty (CP) in the amount of $150,000 to Entergy Operations, Inc. for a Severity Level (SL) III violation involving the unauthorized exchange of a critical digital asset key at River Bend Station. In addition, the NRC issued two SL III violations involving incomplete operator rounds and an unauthorized copy of an exam by an exam proctor. No CP was proposed for these violations. All three violations were determined to be willful and were identified through three separate investigations completed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) Office of Investigations.
Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant) (EA-20-138)
On September 3, 2021, the NRC issued a revised Notice of Violation to Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Licensee), associated with a White Significance Determination Process finding. The white finding, an issue of low to moderate safety significance, involved the failure of James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant (FitzPatrick) personnel to accomplish activities affecting quality in accordance with procedures for controlling nonconforming components contrary to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 50, Appendix B, Criterion V, “Instructions, Procedures, and Drawings,” 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B, Criterion XV, “Nonconforming Materials, Parts, or Components,” and FitzPatrick Technical Specifications (TSs). Specifically, from December 16, 2017, to April 10, 2020, Exelon failed to initiate an action at FitzPatrick to track resolution of a nonconforming Pressure Control Valve (PCV) before its transfer occurred, did not add it to the receiving site’s hold tag log, and did not attach a hold tag upon receipt. As a result, on December 16, 2017, Exelon did not identify that the PCV’s diaphragm required replacement and installed the nonconforming PCV in the High Pressure Coolant Injection (HPCI) system. Consequently, the HPCI system was rendered inoperable prior to April 10, 2020, for a period longer than its TS allowed outage time, and the unit was not shut down and placed in Mode 3 within 12 hours in accordance with requirements.
Entergy Operations, Inc. (EA-20-114) (Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3)
On May 18, 2021, the NRC issued a Severity Level III Notice of Violation to Entergy Operations, Inc. (Licensee), for a violation of 10 CFR 50, Appendix B, Criterion V at Waterford Steam Electric Station, Unit 3. Specifically, licensee contract employees at the direction of their superintendent disconnected an equipment protective device and drilled through embedded structural steel reinforcing bar in a safety-related wall without first obtaining the required approval.
Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 3 and 4 (EA-20-043 | EA-20-150)
On April 6, 2021, the NRC issued a Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of a Civil Penalty in the amount of $150,000 to the Florida Power & Light Company for a Severity Level III problem at Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station. The enforcement action is the result of two separate investigations completed by the NRC’s Office of Investigations. The first investigation determined that three mechanics willfully falsified the inspection and maintenance of a safety-related check valve in the auxiliary feedwater system. This event occurred in January 2019. The second investigation determined that two technicians, a supervisor and a manager, willfully failed to inform control room staff that maintenance had been performed on the wrong unit’s Chemical and Volume Control System charging pump. This second event occurred in July 2019. As a result of these two investigations, the staff identified two violations of 10 CFR 50.9(a), “Completeness and Accuracy of Information,” and a violation of 10 CFR 50, Appendix B, Criterion XVII, “Quality Assurance Records.”
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Units 1, 2, and 3 (EA-20-128)
On March 4, 2021, the NRC issued a severity level III Notice of Violation to Arizona Public Service Company’s Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Units 1, 2, and 3 for a violation of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 50.9(a) and 55, for providing information to the NRC that was not complete and accurate concerning the medical fitness of a licensed reactor operator.
South Texas Project Electric Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 (EA-19-054)
On February 23, 2021, the NRC issued a severity level III Notice of Violation to South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company’s South Texas Project Electric Generating Station, Units 1 and 2, for a violation of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 50.9(a) and Appendix B to 10 CFR Part 50, for the failure to maintain complete and accurate information in the form of a written statement that was collected as part of a root cause evaluation for a refueling mishap.
Purdue University (Purdue University Research Reactor) (EA-20-144)
On February 16, 2021, the NRC issued a Notice of Violation to Purdue University for a Severity Level III problem involving two violations. The first violation involves the Purdue University Research Reactor operating at steady state power levels in excess of 12 kilowatts (thermal) on several occasions between October 31, 2019, and September 15, 2020, contrary to Purdue University Research Reactor License Condition 2.C.1. Specifically, the reactor was inadvertently operated at power levels greater than 12 kW(t) during this time due to nuclear instrument (NI) calibration calculation errors that caused the NIs to indicate reactor power levels that were approximately three times lower than actual reactor power. Therefore, when the licensee operated the reactor above 4 kW(t) (indicated power) several times between October 31, 2019, and September 15, 2020, the actual reactor power exceeded the maximum authorized power level of 12 kW(t). The second violation involves Purdue University’s failure to perform appropriate surveillance testing before considering the NI system operable following replacement of the NI system and detectors in 2019, contrary to Purdue University Research Reactor Technical Specification 4.2.g.