NRC, GPU to Discuss Oyster Creek Apparent Violations on May 29

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	NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION I 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406
	CONTACT:	Diane Screnci (610)337-5330/ e-mail: dps@nrc.gov Neil A. Sheehan (610)337-5331/e-mail: nas@nrc.gov

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I-98-62

May 27, 1998

NRC, GPU TO DISCUSS OYSTER CREEK APPARENT VIOLATIONS ON MAY 29

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet May 29 with representatives of GPU Nuclear Corporation to discuss three apparent violations of NRC requirements at the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant. At issue is the operability of the Lacey Township, N.J., plant's automatic depressurization system which would be needed to reduce pressure in the reactor following certain transients and accidents so that emergency coolant could be injected.

The predecisional enforcement conference is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Public Meeting Room at the NRC Region I office in King of Prussia, Pa. It will be open to observation by the public and news media. NRC officials will be available at its conclusion to answer questions from interested observers.

The apparent violations were identified during an inspection conducted at Oyster Creek from February 23 to April 2. They include:

A failure to ensure that there was adequate voltage for the depressurization system's electromatic relief valve solenoids to function during a postulated small-break, loss-of-coolant accident, concurrent with a loss of offsite power and the failure of an emergency diesel generator.

A failure to maintain the automatic depressurization system in an operable condition as of March 19.

A failure to verify that electromatic relief valve solenoids were installed as documented.

The decision to hold a predecisional enforcement conference does not mean that the NRC has determined a violation has occurred or that enforcement action will be taken. Rather, the purpose is to discuss apparent violations, their causes and safety significance; to provide the licensee with an opportunity to point out any errors that may have been made in the NRC inspection report; and to enable the licensee to outline its proposed corrective action.

No decision on the apparent violations will be made at this conference. That decision will be made by NRC officials at a later date.