CENTEREDHEADINGNRC ISSUES FINDING OF LOW TO MODERATE SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE
TO INDIAN POINT 2

An inspection completed on July 19 found that moderate degradation in a control room wall created passages that could allow smoke and gases to penetrate the control room in the event of a fire in the adjacent turbine building. Although Entergy identified the initial degradation in February, the company's initial corrective actions did not ensure that the wall conformed to the licensed three-hour fire barrier design assumptions. In addition, the extent-of-condition review was not thorough because it did not identify all of the deficiencies in the wall.

Entergy recently notified the NRC that repairs to the wall have been completed, but the NRC must still inspect the work. That review is expected to take place later this year.

Using the agency's significance determination process, NRC officials classify certain conditions at nuclear power plants as being one of four colors which delineate increasing levels of safety significance, beginning with "green" and progressing to "white," "yellow" or "red."

The finding was preliminarily assessed as "white" in the letter forwarding the inspection report to the company. That August 28 letter also provided the company the opportunity to meet with the NRC to discuss the finding in a regulatory conference, or to provide further information in writing. The company declined the conference.

After considering the information gathered during the inspection, as well as the company's written response, the NRC has determined the finding was appropriately classified as "white."

NRC also issued a Notice of Violation, citing the company for failing to maintain all provisions of the NRC-approved fire-protection program.

Entergy has 10 days to appeal the staff's significance determination and 30 days to respond to the Notice of Violation.

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Last revised Wednesday, June 25, 2003