IR 05000528/1988030
| ML17304B091 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 03/30/1989 |
| From: | Zimmerman R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17304B090 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-528-88-30-MM, 50-529-88-29, 50-530-88-28, NUDOCS 8904110307 | |
| Download: ML17304B091 (8) | |
Text
U. S.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION V
Report Nos.
50-528/88-30, 50-529/88-29, and 50-530/88-28 Docket Nos.
50-528, 50-529, and 50-530 License Nos.
NPF-41, NRP-51, and NPF-74 Licensee:
Arizona Nuclear Power Project P. 0.
Box 52034 Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2034 Facility Name:
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Units 1, 2, and
Meeting Location:
Arizona Public Service Corporate Office, Phoenix, Arizona Meeting Conducted:
January 17, 1989 Approved by:
R. Zi Dlvis
, man, Acting Director of Reactor Safety and Projects
Da e S gne Summary:
A Management Meeting was held on January 17, 1989 with the APS Executive Committee of the Board of Directors to review the results of the recent Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance (SALP) and other items of concern to the NRC.
Weaknesses in performance were emphasized in the Operations, Radiation Protection and guality Oversight areas.
Examples were provided illustrating the major concerns.
The areas of weakness were considered to stem primarily from the inability of senior management to establish the proper working atmosphere and to encourage critical assessments during, the conduct of activitie I)
DETAILS 1.
Mana ement Neetin Partici ants NRC Partici ants V. Stello, Jr., Executive Director for Operations J.
B. Martin, Regional Administrator R.
P.
Zimmerman, Chief, Reactor Projects Branch T. Polich, Senior Resident Inspector APS Executive Committee of the Board of Directors K. Eller, Board Chairman K. Turley, Board Member 0. DeMichele, Board Member J. Norton, Board Member R. Snell, Board Member N. Warren, Board Member B. Williams, Board Member APS Partici ants D. Karner, Executive Vice President of Palo Verde J. Norberg, Director and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of APS N. Loftin, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel of APS Additional Partici ants T. Woods, Director and Consultant to APS 2.
~Back round The recent SALP report contained Category 3 ratings in the areas of Plant Operations, Radiological Controls and Safety Assessment/guality Verification.
The basis for these ratings were discussed with ANPP management in previous management meetings.
On January 17, 1989, the NRC Executive Director for Operations and the Region V Regional Administrator met with the APS Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.
This meeting provided the NRC the opportunity to review the recent SALP report directly with the Board, and emphasize the NRC areas of concern with the operation of the Palo Verde site.
3. ~iT Mr. Stello began the discussion by indicating that, in general, the NRC attempts to identify licensee performance problems early, prior to significant safety concerns developing.
He stated that efforts on the part of APS to correct existing problems were very important at this stage of Palo Verde site operations, and he encouraged the Board to take an active role in preventing station performance from continuing to sli ft li
Nr. Martin stated that he had observed that a disturbing characteristic of plants encountering difficulty around the country was that top management was not aware of developing problems until significant safety questions regarding continued plant operation had arisen.
In some instances, the Board members for these plants have indicated that no one had told them of the problems that were occurring.
Mr. Martin stated that this meeting would ensure that the highest levels of APS were aware of plant problems and the areas of NRC concern.
Nr. Martin then provided a historical perspective of Palo Yerde performance.
He indicated that the plants had a generally good design, with standardization among units, and that construction had gone relatively well.
However, the NRC has maintained a longstanding concern over the lack of operations experience and depth at the management level, which may have first manifested itself during preoperational testing, but been screened by the significant equipment malfunctions.
He went on to indicate that progressive improvement was noted as Units
and 3 were brought on-line; but in the last 18 months overall site performance had dropped dramatically.
Mr. Martin indicated that there were three apparent trends:
Plant staff were making fundamental errors contrary to the basic principles of sound power plant operation, i.e. - proceeding with plant activities in the face of uncertainty.
The problem-finding arms of the organization were not effective.
The ability to learn lessons from previous problems has been poor.
Nr. Martin continued by stating that a decline had been observed by the NRC in the performance of Operations, Radiological Controls and the guality Oversight groups.
The performance in these SALP Category 3 areas was found to meet minimum requirements but not by much.
Nr. Nartin read the definition of the SALP Category 3 to the Board to ensure a clear understanding of the rating.
Nr. Martin discussed the details surrounding several significant events which occurred during the past year.
These events were the following:
a)
Foreign material (ball bearings)
entry into the reactor vessel at Unit 1.
b)
Early criticality at Unit 1-.
c)
Worker overexposure at Unit 2.
In describing each of these events, in detail, Nr. Martin explained the multiple missed opportunities on the part of various groups to identify and correct the problems before the events occurred.
He pointed out that shortcomings in these events on the part of Operations, Engineering, the Shift Technical Advisor group, Health Physics, and the ALARA group served as strong indicators of the divergence between senior management's expectations and staff performance.
Mr. Martin added that the above events were examples of management's failure to perform penetrating self-critical assessments of event The next area discussed was that of staffing of management positions.
Mr. Martin reviewed NRC concerns, including a high turnover rate, and a
lack of management depth and operating experience.
Messrs.
Karner and DeMichelle indicated that steps were underway to bring additional industry experienced management personnel to ANPP.
Mr. Stello commented that management's efforts to secure a permanent replacement for the site Radiation Protection Manager position was not timely and was indicative of a lack of effective site leadership.
Lastly, Mr. Martin indicated that members of the supervisory and management staffs would benefit from spending more time touring the plant spaces, observing work activities in progress, and talking with the staff in the field.
The Board Chairman, Mr. Eller, thanked Mr. Stello and Mr. Martin for taking the time to discuss the NRC's concerns directly with the Executive Committee.
Mr. Eller stated the Board's commitment to take an active role in improving Palo Verde's overall performance, and he requested a similar meeting next yea E