U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Region III Office of Public Affairs

801 Warrenville Road, Lisle IL 60532-4351

NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT: RIII-97-07 January 24, 1997

CONTACT: Jan Strasma 630/829-9663

Angela Dauginas 630/829-9662

E-mail: opa3@nrc.gov

$650,000 FINE PROPOSED FOR VIOLATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH INJECTING

FOAM SEALANT INTO EQUIPMENT COOLING SYSTEM AT LASALLE STATION

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a

$650,000 fine against Commonwealth Edison Company for violations

of NRC requirements associated with injecting foam sealant into

the water supply for the equipment cooling system at the LaSalle

Nuclear Power Station near Seneca, Illinois.

The sealant was injected into the water intake structure

during concrete repairs in May and June 1996. This led to the

shutdown of both reactor units at the station on June 28 to

remove the material from the intake structure and to inspect the

equipment cooling system.

"These violations are very significant," said NRC Regional

A. Bill Beach in notifying the utility of the fine. "The

injected foam sealant material created a significant safety issue

by threatening to block the intake of both unit's safety-related

service water systems, systems required to mitigate the

consequences of a design basis accident."

"Of further concern to the NRC," he told the utility, "is

that significant NRC involvement...was needed to direct your

staff's attention to the potential safety consequences stemming

from the clogging of service water systems."

The sealant was used by a contractor to repair cracks in the

concrete intake structure, called the service water tunnel. Some

of the sealant passed through the concrete into the water in the

tunnel.

The sealant could have clogged strainers and potentially

affected the flow of water into the cooling systems for safetyrelated equipment, including emergency core cooling system pumps

and the emergency diesel generators. This safety-related system

also provides cooling water to heat exchangers which might be

needed to provide reactor cooling following a major reactor

accident.

"This event identified that significant weaknesses existed
in planning of work activities and oversight of contractor

maintenance on safety-related structures; engineering support for

plant operations; and identification, evaluation, and correction

of significant safety issues at the LaSalle County Station," Mr.

Beach said. "Of particular concern was the lack of appropriate

safety focus and lack of a questioning attitude."

The proposed fine has two components. A $600,000 fine was

proposed for planning and performing the sealant injection as

"minor maintenance" without documented instructions and

procedures and for failing to promptly identify the presence of

the sealant in the tunnel and take prompt corrective actions once

it was identified. An additional $50,000 fine was proposed for

violations associated with the operation, testing, and the

safety-related equipment cooling system.

Commonwealth Edison has until February 24 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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