ML042470082
| ML042470082 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 08/25/2004 |
| From: | Gody A Operations Branch IV |
| To: | Overbeck G Arizona Public Service Co |
| References | |
| Download: ML042470082 (28) | |
Text
August 25, 2004 Gregg R. Overbeck, Senior Vice President, Nuclear Arizona Public Service Company P.O. Box 52034 Phoenix, AZ 85072-2034
SUBJECT:
PALO VERDE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION - PUBLIC MEETING WITH ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Dear Mr. Overbeck:
This refers to the meeting conducted in the Region IV office on August 20, 2004. This meeting related to issues and concerns regarding fuel handling operations at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. Enclosed with this letter is the attendance list (Enclosure 1) and the presentation (Enclosure 2).
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its enclosures will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of NRC's document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
Sincerely,
/RA/ REL for Anthony T. Gody, Chief Operations Branch Division of Reactor Safety
Enclosures:
- 1. Attendance List
Arizona Public Service Company cc:
Steve Olea Arizona Corporation Commission 1200 W. Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85007 Douglas K. Porter, Senior Counsel Southern California Edison Company Law Department, Generation Resources P.O. Box 800 Rosemead, CA 91770 Chairman Maricopa County Board of Supervisors 301 W. Jefferson, 10th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003 Aubrey V. Godwin, Director Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency 4814 South 40 Street Phoenix, AZ 85040 M. Dwayne Carnes, Director Regulatory Affairs/Nuclear Assurance Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Mail Station 7636 P.O. Box 52034 Phoenix, AZ 85072-2034 Hector R. Puente Vice President, Power Generation El Paso Electric Company 310 E. Palm Lane, Suite 310 Phoenix, AZ 85004 Jeffrey T. Weikert Assistant General Counsel El Paso Electric Company Mail Location 167 123 W. Mills El Paso, TX 79901 John W. Schumann Los Angeles Department of Water & Power Southern California Public Power Authority P.O. Box 51111, Room 1255-C Los Angeles, CA 90051-0100
Arizona Public Service Company John Taylor Public Service Company of New Mexico 2401 Aztec NE, MS Z110 Albuquerque, NM 87107-4224 Cheryl Adams Southern California Edison Company 5000 Pacific Coast Hwy. Bldg. DIN San Clemente, CA 92672 Robert Henry Salt River Project 6504 East Thomas Road Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Brian Almon Public Utility Commission William B. Travis Building P.O. Box 13326 1701 North Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701-3326
Arizona Public Service Company Electronic distribution by RIV:
Regional Administrator (BSM1)
DRP Director (ATH)
DRS Director (DDC)
Senior Resident Inspector (GXW2)
Branch Chief, DRP/D (TWP)
Senior Project Engineer, DRP/D (CJP)
Staff Chief, DRP/TSS (PHH)
RITS Coordinator (KEG)
ADAMS: G Yes G No Initials: ______
G Publicly Available G Non-Publicly Available G Sensitive G Non-Sensitive OE:OB C:OB JDrake/lmb ATGody
/RA/
/RA/
8/25/04 8/25/04 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY T=Telephone E=E-mail F=Fax
ENCLOSURE 1 Attendance List MANAGEMENT MEETING ATTENDANCE LICENSEE/FACILITY Arizona Public Service Company Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station DATE/TIME 1500 -1630 August 20, 2004 CONFERENCE LOCATION NRC RIV OFFICE, SUITE 400 TRAINING CONFERENCE ROOM 611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76011 NAME (PLEASE PRINT)
ORGANIZATION TITLE M. Dwayne Carnes APS Director Reg. Affairs/Nuc. Assurance Scott Bauer APS Dept. Ldr Regulatory Affairs Craig Seaman APS Director Nuclear Fuel Gregg Overbeck APS SR VP Rick Huffman APS Section Leader Nuclear Fuel Michael T. Berryman APS Team Leader NFM Michael O'Connor APS Team Leader NFM Dave Wright APS Shift Manager Jay Gutierrez APS Counsel Jim Drake NRC Operations Engineer Chuck Paulk NRC Acting Chief, Projects Branch D Art Howell NRC DRP Bruce Mallett NRC RA Dwight Chamberlain NRC DRS Vonna Ordaz NRC DRS Dale Powers NRC Sr. Tech. Analyst Michael Vasquez NRC RIV Enforcement Specialist Nancy Salgado NRC Sr RI Palo Verde Greg Werner NRC Sr Ops Engineer Kelly Clayton NRC OPS Engineer Victor Dricks NRC RIV - Public Affairs Ryan Lantz NRC RIV-SR. EP Insp.
ENCLOSURE 2 Licensee Presentation
1 PVNGS Fuel Handling VNGS Fuel Handling P
A L
O V
E R D
E PV/NRC Management PV/NRC Management meeting meeting August 20, 2004 August 20, 2004
2 Agenda Organizational history Issues Actions taken Results and remaining challenges
3 Organizational History 1990 - 1993 Refuel team formed to address lengthy outages and equipment maintenance 15 team members
- 1 manager
- 4 engineers
- 1 foreman
- 2 advisors
- 7 team members Assigned to Engineering
4 Organizational History 1993 - 2000 Reengineering Engineering staff removed Maintenance staff removed Team reduced from 15 to 7
- 1 team leader
- 6 frontline Assigned to mechanical maintenance
5 Organizational History August 2000 - Present Refuel team assigned to Nuclear Fuel Management NFM became one stop shop for Fuel Anticipated Dry Cask Storage project implementation Staff size remained the same
6 Issues Self Identified (2000-2001)
Resources inadequate (Leaders, staff, support)
Limited management oversight Lack of formality / procedure use Reliance on single operator (no peer checking)
7 Issues Self Identified (2000-2001)
Refuel equipment concerns Issues not always identified or receiving proper review and evaluation Use of corrective actions program inconsistent
8 Issues NAD Identified NFM placed on NAD Top Ten September 2001 Resource concerns Processes relied on highly trained staff Processes lack formality Role & Responsibility not clearly defined Training program weak Self assessment excellent/implementation of recommended weak
9 Actions Taken Performed O&P Assessment Resources added
- 2 Department leaders
- Section leader
- Planner/Procedure writer
- Training coordinator
- Team leader Current Refuel Team support
- 34 people
10 Actions Taken Level 1 action plan Defined NFM organizational structure &
responsibilities Training enhancement
- 2 LSRO classes 5 in first class and 7 in second class Developed training program description
11 Actions Taken Formality increased
- Peer checker
- Pre job briefings
- Enhanced procedures
- Standard and expectations
- Communication required
- Formal LSRO turnover with control room staff
- Use of OPs tailboard database for formal briefings
12 Actions Taken Equipment Reliability Created system team for refueling equipment Addition of maintenance personnel (6) to refueling team approved Refueling machines upgrade scheduled
- Engineering 2005
- Implementation 2006/2007 PAR contract Interlock added
13 Results CRDRs
- More consistent use of program
- Initiation threshold lowered
- Culture improved
14 Results NAD reports NFM use of CRDR program vastly improved
- Self initiation index
- Since October 2002 over 200 CRDRs generated
15 Results Since October 4, 2002 over 9000 fuel assemblies moved safely
- Includes offload/reload
- Fuel inspections
- Fuel pool reshuffles
- Dry cask canister loading
16 Results Increased attention to maintenance of equipment
- Maintenance activities being better documented
- Service vendor contract being sought (PAR)
To support maintenance
- Since addition of maintenance planner dedicated to refuel team Maintenance performed 744 PMs 1324 CMs Total 2068 Transportability
17 Results Communication Enhancements Established direct control room communication for critical events Procedure changes
- Spent fuel handling machine
- Refueling machine operations STATE:
If fuel damage is suspected or confirmed, contact the control room
- If an off normal situation occurs during fuel handling operations THEN:
STOP and establish direct communications with control room supervisor The CRS/SM has to give approval for manual operation of the SFHM
18 Results Communication Enhancements Movement of a difficult assembly requires control room supervisor approval Core Reloading
- Direct communications with the CRS/SM shall be established for any off normal fuel handling event
19 Results Dry Cask Storage Operations 10 Canisters loaded & placed on pad in 2003 Anticipate 12 per year in future Presently 19 canisters safely on the pad working on #20 Steady improvement in dose for dry storage
- 1st Canister loaded - 505mr
- Last canister exposure - 137 mr, we believe an industry record
20 Results Dry Cask Storage Operations NRC inspection performed November 2002 (insert from executive summary)
- The Palo Verde staff functioned professionally and performed their assigned functions safely. The staff was well trained and had committed significant resources and time to preparing for the critical activities associated with safely moving spent fuel.
Personnel interviewed during the inspections were enthusiastic about the effort at Palo Verde and presented a positive attitude toward safety.
21 Remaining Challenges Refueling equipment
- Parts
- Aging equipment
- Reliability
- Training on old & new equipment Organizational issues
- Addition of maintenance team with team leader
22 Remaining Challenges
- Continued communication improvement
- CRDRs
- Use NAD & self assessment for critical assessments of refuel team