IR 05000397/1992007
| ML17289A388 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Columbia  |
| Issue date: | 02/28/1992 |
| From: | Johnson P NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17289A387 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-397-92-07-MM, 50-397-92-7-MM, NUDOCS 9203230127 | |
| Download: ML17289A388 (5) | |
Text
U. S.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION-
REGION V
Report No:
License No.:
Licensee:
Facility Name:
Meeting at:
Date of Heeting:
Prepared by:
50-397/92-07 NPF-21 Washington Public Power Supply System P. 0.
Box 968 Richland, WA 99352 Washington Nuclear Project No.
(WNP-2)
Washington Public Power Supply System Headquarters, Richland, Washington February 20, 1992 D. L. Proulx, Resident Inspector, WNP-2 Approved by:
nson, ie React Projects Section
SALP Mana ement Meetin on Februar
1992 Re ort No. 50-397 92-07 Open Management Meeting to discuss the contents of the NRC's Initial SALP Report No. 50-397/91-43.
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ETAILS eetin Partici ants uclear Re ulator Comm'ssion B. H.
R. P.
B. A.
T. R.
G. N.
P.
H.
G. P.
R. C.
P. L.
D. L.
Faulkenberry, Deputy Regional 'Administrator Zimmerman, Director, Division of Reactor, Safety and Projects Boger, Director, Division of Reactor Projects III/IV/V,NRR quay, Director, Project Directorate V,
NRR Cook, Public Affairs Officer Johnson, Chief, Reactor Projects Section
Yuhas, Chief, Reactor Radiological Protection Branch Sorensen, Senior Resident Inspector, WNP-2 Eng, Project Manager, NRR Proulx, Resident Inspector, WNP-2 Washin ton Public Power Su l
S stem C.
M.
P. L.
D.
W.
A. L.
J.
V.
C.
M.
J.
P.
L. L.
J.
W.
L. T.
W. S.
G.
C.
J.
D.
R. L.
S. L.
M. H.
R. L.
D. F.
J.
F.
Halvorson, Chairman, Executive Board Knight, Chairman, Operations Committee Hazur, Hariaging Director Oxsen, Deputy Managing Director Parrish, Assistant Managing Director for Operations Powers, Director of Engineering Burn, Director, Special Projects Grumme, Acting Director, Licensing and Assurance Baker, Plant Manager Harrold, Assistant Plant Manager Davison, Manager, Plant guality Assurance Sorensen, Manager, Regulatory Programs Harmon, Maintenance Manager Koenigs, Design Engineering Manager HcKay, Operations Manager Honopoli, Manager, Support Services Webring, Plant Technical Manager Pisarcik, Health Physics and Chemistry Manager Peters, Administration Manager Other Attendees J.
R. Lewis, Director, Nuclear Projects, Bonneville Power Administration J. Zeller, Manager, Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, State of Washington R. B. quay, Jr.,
Mayor, City of Kennewick Back round On February 20, 1991, an open meeting was held at Supply System Head-quarters in Richland, Washington, with the individuals identified in paragraph 1.
The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance (SALP) for the period September 1,
1990 to December 31, 1991,, as presented in NRC SALP Report No. 50-397/91-43, issued on February ll, 1992.
The meeting convened at 8:00 iscussion Mr. Faulkenberry opened the meeting by encouraging the licensee to actively participate during the NRC's presentation of the SALP assess-ment, so that an under standing of the most important issues is conveyed..
He then stated.that the overall performance of WNP-2 was perceived to have declined from the previous SALP cycle, because the Supply System had not fully demonstrated a self-critical approach to safety issues.
Mr. Mazur responded that the Supply System intends that the difficult year experienced in the recently completed appraisal period remain.in the.
past, and that they will build on the improving trends that were noted.
He expressed disappointment with the NRC's assessment of the Emergency Planning functional area, but considered the assessment overall to be fair and factual.
Mr. Johnson summarized the overall strengths and weaknesses of the Plant Operations section as di'scussed in the SALP report.
He noted that the board had assessed the area as Category 3, with an improving trend noted.
Mr. Zimmerman reiterated the SALP board's conclusion that the Category
rating was aimed at Corporate, Plant, Operations, and Training manage-ment, and not at the plant operators.
He then emphasized that the improving trend noted by the: Board indicated that if the Supply System staff continues to perform in the manner most recently noted, Plant Operations should achieve a higher rating in the next SALP.
Mr. Oxsen stated that the problems with the requalification program were behind them, and they have generated a large number of corrective actions for this area based on the lessons learned.
He also stated that, more broadly, the Supply System had instituted "benchmarking" of other utili-ties for other SALP areas as well as for operator requalification.
Mr. Johnson then summarized the Maintenance/Surveillance functional area as discussed in the SALP report.
Mr. Zimmerman commented that a few years ago, the Supply System was at times willing to start up the plant with equipment (such as safety/relief valves or vacuum breakers)
not in optimum condition and with an excessive number of outstanding deficiencies,.until the NRC questioned this prac-tice.
Although the Supply System responded well to this problem, the performance in this functional area may indicate that these types of problems are creeping back into prominence, and may warrant continued attention by Plant Management.
Mr. Baker responded by agreeing that the maintenance and surveillance programs are not where the Supply System expects them to be.
He also agreed that the performance of the maintenance procedures upgrade program was disappointing.
However, he felt that the statements in the SALP report, that the Supply System did not take full advantage of the extended shutdown period with respect to maintenance, did not consider all pertinent facts.
He stated that the Supply System had used this period to work on the condensate demineralizer septa, control room
'eficiencies, control room painting, and motor operated valve testin Hr. Zimmerman pointed out chronic problems with potential weld cracks and the degraded condition of the containment atmospheric control (CAC)
system as examples of the NRC's concerns.
Hr. Johnson then summarized the Engineering/Technical Support Functional area as discussed in the SALP report.
Hr. Boger commented on the Supply System's need to improve the quality of its licensing submittals, and stated that NRR would like 'to meet with the licensee to discuss the NRC's expectations for licensing submittals.
Mr. Zimmerman commented that the NRC considers the Engineering Department and Technical Staff to be very competent and that the weaknesses seem to stem from management's need to better focus and challenge these groups to identify and permanently correct plant problems.
I
'r..
Yuhas then briefly summarized the licensee's performance in the area of Radiological Controls as discussed in the SALP report.
The Supply System did not take exception to the NRC's assessment.
Hr. Yuhas next discussed the NRC's assessment of the Emergency Planning (EP) functional area per the SALP report.
Hr. Oxsen and Mr. Hazur expressed disappointment in the SALP Board's Category 2 rating for the EP area.
They commented on the Supply System's good performance during the November 1991 exercise, positive NRC comments" during the exit meeting following that exercise, their support of the Trojan exercise, and the Supply System's dealings with the State of Oregon.
They questioned whether the Supply System had been accurately assessed in this functional area.
Hr. Honopoli subsequently stated that, based on his discussions with Hr. Yuhas the previous day, he understood and accepted the SALP Board's assessment.
Mr. Faulkenberry stated that the NRC will evaluate the Supply System's comments related to the EP area, and will address these issues in the future.
Hr. Yuhas then summarized the Security functional area as discussed in the SALP report, noting that the Board had assessed this area as a
Category 1.
The Supply System did not take exception with the assessment contained in the report.
Mr. Zimmerman then discussed the Safety Assessment/guality Verification functional area, as described in the SALP report.
Hr. Oxsen stated that he accepted personal responsibility for problems with the operator requalification program, and noted that his attitude had set the negative tone for the rest of the Supply System.
However, he added, the lessons learned from this experience have been vigorously addressed, and a repeat of this situation will not occur.
Hr. Zimmerman replied that the basic issue was not just operator requalification.
The NRC presented a significant safety issue to the Supply System, and it was too easily dismissed without evaluation by
licensee management.
This severely eroded the NRC's confidence in the Supply System's willingness to aggressively resolve safety issues.
The NRC expects licensees. to objectively evaluate safety issues and aggres-.
. sively pursue their 'resolution, with little or no NRC intervention.
These exp'ectations are valid for issues brought out by safety oversight groups and individual plant staff personnel, as well as for those identi-.
fied by the NRC.
Hr. Zimmerman concluded his remarks by commenting that with the existing talent and renewed commitment to aggressively pursuing safety issues, the Supply System should be.able to return to the performance levels previously noted.
Hr. Hazur stated that the Supply System had strong expecta'tions for Hr. Parrish to lead in improving the performance of WNP-2 in the near future.
He expected that Hr. Parrish would instill a new aggressiveness within the Supply System and bring out the best capabilities of the Supply System's highly competent staff.
With the establishment of various improvement initiatives, the Supply System expects to return to previous levels of performance.
Mr. Faulkenberry congratulated the Supply System for their Category
, performance in the Security functional area.
He then stated that the licensee needs to continue to address isolationism within the staff, and maintain good contacts with the industry to achieve improvement in the areas assessed at the Category 3 performance level.
Hr. Faulkenberry further stated that it was incumbent upon management to ensure more visible management oversight in the future in providing timely resolution of safety issues.
He concluded that signs'of progress appear to be evident in recent licensee initiatives, and stated that the NRC expected improvement in the next SALP cycle.
He then thanked the licensee for their participation, and adjourned the meeting at 9: 10 a.m.