ML062220090
| ML062220090 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem, Hope Creek  |
| Issue date: | 10/19/2004 |
| From: | Cobey E Division of Nuclear Materials Safety I |
| To: | |
| References | |
| FOIA/PA-2005-0194 | |
| Download: ML062220090 (3) | |
Text
'David Vito - Re: PSEG SIT-Confidential From:
To:
<EWC@nrc.gov>
Date:
10/19/04 10:03PM
Subject:
Re: PSEG SIT-Confidential
- Gene, Thank you for your response, especially at this late hour in the day.
Page 1 I understand your communication and appreciate it. I trust also that you have received my specific recommendations in the light intended: to support people at the site being fully heard, issues being fully aired, and the best be done to support safety for all.
It is my nature to trust. However, at PSEG I and others were taught to view the NRC as a "necessary evil" and to share as little as possible. It is not likely that that view has fully changed and is equally not likely that the team will be told "everything" easily. Being forthcoming is not something that is taught/modeled at PSEG in my experience.
I believe it is imperative, especially at this time, that all the facts be known.
If I hear of other issues or have additional concerns, I will contact you.
When you can comment, I would like the questions I have twice posed regarding HPCI to be answered. I realize you may not yet have the information. I hope it will be available by the end of the week.
Thank you for being in touch.
Kymn In a message dated 10/19/2004 9:42:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time, EWC@nrc.gov writes:
- Kymn, First of all, let me assure you that I do not share my e-mail with anyone outside of the NRC.
The purpose of the special inspection is to independently evaluate the circumstances associated with the event. In order to accomplish this task, the team began their inspection several days after the event occurred in order to obtain the relevant facts and interview personnel involved in the event while the details were fresh in their mind. The team is also tasked with evaluating PSEG's investigation and root cause analysis of the event. This latter evaluation cannot be completed until PSEG has completed their efforts. This will likely require that the inspection team perform separate portions of the inspection at different times.
As I am sure you know, PSEG sent a letter to the NRC on October 17, 2004, informing us of their intention to not restart the Hope Creek unit until completion of the upcoming refueling outage. In addition, PSEG committed to complete a number of actions in response to the October 10, 2004, steam leak prior to restarting the unit. Given PSEG's plans, we are currently evaluating how best
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Dakd it -Re: PSEG SIT-Confidential Page,2 to complete the special inspection that is ongoing at Hope Creek. Our decision on the schedule for conducting this inspection has and will continue to be based on ensuring that the inspection will be completed in as effective and thorough of a manner as is possible.
The inspection team consists of experienced, professional inspectors. I have every confidence that the team will form independent conclusions that are based on fact and focused on safety.
I appreciate your concern in these matters. Please rest assured that the NRC places the highest priority on safety and that the NRC staff takes their role very seriously.
If you would like to discuss your concerns further, please give me a call tomorrow.
Eugene W. Cobey, Chief Projects Branch 3 Division of Reactor Projects (610) 337-5171
- 10/19/04 06:56PM >>>
' Gene, Word this evening at the site is that because HC is going to transition into the refuel outage, the SIT's time on site is going to be reduced to this
- week, with a return later when the Root Cause Team's work is near completion.
I, frankly, find this disturbing. In many cases, "facts" have a way of changing and memories have a way of getting cloudy as time passes. I certainly I
hope the NRC is not taking PSEG's word for what happened, but is finding out independently.
I would like your assurance that, at a minimum, all interviews with relevant personnel will take place before the SIT departs the site in this initial phase.
It is VERY important that the NRC send the message that it is interested in what really happened at the site, not just in a "sanitized" version that could appear in a technical issues report and/or management presentation. (I don't mean to be rude or suspicious, but I did formerly work there and have some insights into how business is conducted with the NRC).
In additin toh ye iou et interviewer talk with.
o I.
Don was courageous enough to put the nuclear safety issues in writing but has since, as a resOlt of interactions with senior leadership, backed off on much of what he wrote. I find this quite unfortunate since I believe his notification was closer to his real views-"uncensored" and not exactly "politically correct."
In addition, I understand Ms. McNamara will be on-site Monday to discuss the
'David Vito - Re: PSEG SIT-Confidential
- Page3, UE declaration. Again, I urge her to talk with individuals, including the Shift Managers, privately. I am under the distinct impression that declaring the "UE" was an attempt to gain favor with the NRC, and as such was a "political" and possibly manipulative motion on PSEG's part.
Please let me know this email has reached you. Also, Gene, I assume my communications with you are confidential and not shared with PSEG. Please confirm my assumptioni.
Thank you.
Kymn Nancy Kymn Harvin, Ph.D.