ML033320004
| ML033320004 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem, Hope Creek  |
| Issue date: | 10/30/2003 |
| From: | Miller H Region 1 Administrator |
| To: | |
| References | |
| FOIA/PA-2005-0194 | |
| Download: ML033320004 (14) | |
Text
PSEG QUARTERLY LEADERSHIP FORUM October 30, 2003 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONS ROLE Hubert J. Miller Regional Administrator, NRC Region I
OVERVIEW
- NRC Reactor Oversight Program
- Observations on Industry Deregulation and Consolidation
- Perspective on Salem & Hope Creek
- NRC Future Directions
NRC MISSION
- Issue licenses for the peaceful use of nuclear materials in the U. S.
- Ensure licensees use nuclear materials safely, and are prepared to respond to emergencies
- Ensure nuclear plants are designed, constructed, and operated in a safe fashion
NRC GOALS
- Maintain safety by establishing regulatory oversight framework that ensures continued safe operation
- Enhance public confidence
- Improve effectiveness, efficiency, and realism of processes and decision making
- Reduce unnecessary regulatory burden
REACTOR OVERSIGHT PROGRAM
- Historical Approach
- SALP and Plant Watch List
- Current Oversight Program
- Improved objectivity - performance indicators
- Strong risk focus
- Predictability
- Public access
- No change in fundamental objectives -
inspection continues to be strong element
REACTOR OVERSIGHT PROCESS Strategic Performance Areas Safety Cornerstones Performance Indicator Results Baseline Inspection Results Significance Threshold Significance Threshold Action Matrix Regulatory Response
INDUSTRY DEREGULATION
- Significant consolidation of ownership
- Fleet operators have emerged
- With continuing focus on safety, search for efficiencies (e.g., outages and staffing)
INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION IN REGION I 10 owner operators departed 4 new owners bridging other 3 regions Virtually all Region I plants operate as merchant plants Year Sites Units Owners 1993 21 30 17 2003 17 26 9
2003
OBSERVATIONS
- General improvement in plant performance
- Improved governance and competition have driven better management
- Work control and planning
- Coordination among organizations
- Equipment and material condition
- Safe plant is a reliable, economic plant
- Continued industry benchmarking and INPO processes
- Potential pitfalls and challenges remain
POTENTIAL PITFALLS
- Industry average trends can be deceiving
- Davis Besse event
- Underestimation of efforts required to consolidate operations
- Inconsistencies in rigor of technical work
- Legacy issues - underestimation of hidden backlogs
- Change management issues
- Staff self-censorship
APPROACHES FOR SUCCESS
- Strong corrective action program -- continued low threshold for problem identification
- Effective engineering and technical support
- Penetrating self-assessment and surveys --
assessment of behaviors and safety culture best leading indicator
- Relentless commitment to high standards --
long term view on resources
PERSPECTIVES ON SALEM & HOPE CREEK
- Most challenging single site
- 3 units, 2 technologies
- Historical Perspective
- Plant events, outages, NRC Watch List
- Periods of improvement over long term
PERSPECTIVES ON SALEM & HOPE CREEK
- Current Perspective
- Performance indicators all green
- Numerous green and 1 white finding
- Substantive crosscutting issues in problem identification and resolution
- Plant events and equipment issues --
challenges organizational effectiveness improvement efforts
- Impact of Current Initiatives
NRC FUTURE DIRECTIONS
- Continued effective oversight
- Disciplined, aggressive inspection
- Integrated assessment of results and themes
- Response to emergent, generic issues
- Security and emergency preparedness
- Effective communications