ML091040522
| ML091040522 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane, Susquehanna  |
| Issue date: | 04/24/2009 |
| From: | Leeds E Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Depasquale E State of PA, House of Representatives |
| Homiack, M, NRR/DLR/RPOB 415-1683 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML091050241 | List: |
| References | |
| EDATS: SECY-2009-0155, G20090195, LTR-09-0134, SECY-2009-0155, TAC ME1022 | |
| Download: ML091040522 (2) | |
Text
April 24, 2009 The Honorable Eugene A. DePasquale Pennsylvania State Legislature 111A East Wing PO Box 202095 Harrisburg, PA 17120
Dear Representative DePasquale:
On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the staff), I am responding to your letter of March 23, 2009, regarding your interest in the staffs improvements to the documentation of technical reviews for license renewal applications. The NRC discussed these improvements previously in our September 22, 2008, response to your earlier request.
Specifically, you expressed interest in implementation of the improvements for the Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 (TMI) and Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 (SSES) applications.
In response to the NRCs Office of the Inspector General (OIG) audit report on the license renewal program, the staff has implemented actions to improve license renewal report documentation. Concerning the OIG recommendation to establish report writing standards, the staff updated report-writing guidance to communicate management expectations and report-writing standards for adequately documenting license renewal technical reviews. One guidance document entitled, General Safety Evaluation Report Writing Expectations, addresses the fundamental shortcomings identified by the OIG. Specifically, this document states managements expectations that safety evaluation reports (SERs) are to differentiate clearly between applicant-provided information and the staffs independent analysis and conclusions, and that SERs are to adequately summarize the staffs review methodology and explain the technical basis for staff findings and conclusions. Another guidance document entitled, Safety Evaluation Report Writing Guidelines and Samples, provides the staff with specific examples for implementation of the general writing expectations. This document focuses on improving documentation of reviews of aging management programs and aging management review results, an area of focus in the OIG audit report.
Concerning the recommendation to revise the report quality assurance process, the staff developed a procedure entitled, Safety Evaluation Report Process Review Procedure, to gauge the adequacy and effectiveness of SER preparation. The purpose of the process review is to verify the staffs appropriate implementation of writing guidance and consistency with management expectations. The goal of the procedure is to ensure that each report (1) adequately summarizes rather than copies relevant licensee and NRC information, (2) clearly differentiates between applicant-provided information and the staffs independent conclusions, and (3) provides a well-articulated basis for staff findings and conclusions. Through this process an independent review of the SER is conducted and feedback provided on any areas not meeting the writing standards. Before the SER is issued, the process reviewer verifies that the identified issues are resolved. Issues and suggestions identified during these reviews are communicated to management to further ensure expectations are met.
The staff provided its response to these OIG recommendations in a letter dated June 26, 2008.
Based on the staffs response regarding the improvements implemented, the OIG subsequently closed those recommendations as being adequately resolved. The staff used the guidance and conducted a process review to support development of the SERs for both the SSES and TMI applications. Based on the findings during the process reviews, implementation of the staffs resolutions to the OIG recommendations resulted in improved SERs for SSES and TMI. Issues identified during these reviews will also be used to continue to improve staff guidance and future SERs.
As a further indication of improvement, during the April 1, 2009, Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Subcommittee meeting for the TMI SER, the ACRS Subcommittee Chairman commented that he was impressed with the thoroughness of the staffs SER on the scoping and screening review and that it was one of the better jobs hed seen. Upcoming milestones for the TMI and SSES projects include planned issuance of the final SERs in July 2009, followed by full-committee ACRS meetings in September and October 2009, respectively.
If you have any further questions regarding the license renewal process, please have your staff contact Brian E. Holian, Director of the Division of License Renewal at 301-415-1183.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Eric J. Leeds, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: See next page
The staff provided its response to these OIG recommendations in a letter dated June 26, 2008.
Based on the staffs response regarding the improvements implemented, the OIG subsequently closed those recommendations as being adequately resolved. The staff used the guidance and conducted a process review to support development of the SERs for both the SSES and TMI applications. Based on the findings during the process reviews, implementation of the staffs resolutions to the OIG recommendations resulted in improved SERs for SSES and TMI. Issues identified during these reviews will also be used to continue to improve staff guidance and future SERs.
As a further indication of improvement, during the April 1, 2009, Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Subcommittee meeting for the TMI SER, the ACRS Subcommittee Chairman commented that he was impressed with the thoroughness of the staffs SER on the scoping and screening review and that it was one of the better jobs hed seen. Upcoming milestones for the TMI and SSES projects include planned issuance of the final SERs in July 2009, followed by full-committee ACRS meetings in September and October 2009, respectively.
If you have any further questions regarding the license renewal process, please have your staff contact Brian E. Holian, Director of the Division of License Renewal at 301-415-1183.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Eric J. Leeds, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION: G20090195/LTR-09-0134/EDATS: SECY-2009-0155 See next page
- concurred via e-mail Adams Accession Nos.: (Package) ML091050241, (Incoming) ML090970044, (Response) ML091040522 OFFICE PM:RPOB:DLR LA:DLR TechEd*
BC:RPOB:DLR NAME MHomiack YEdmonds KAzariah-Kribbs TTate (JDaily for)
DATE 04/22/09 04/22/09 04/20/09 04/22/09 OFFICE BC:DRS:RI*
D:NRR:DLR OD:NRR NAME RConte BHolian ELeeds DATE 04/17/09 04/22/09 04/24/09 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Letter to E. DePasquale from E. Leeds, dated April 24, 2009
SUBJECT:
FOLLOW UP COMMUNICATION TO THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION'S RESPONSE ON FINDINGS AND RESPONSES OF THE NRC'S OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT ON THE LICENSE RENEWAL PROGRAM, SEPTEMBER 22, 2008 DISTRIBUTION: G20090195/LTR-09-0134/EDATS: SECY-2009-0155 HARD COPY:
DLR RF E-MAIL:
PUBLIC RidsEdoMailCenter RidsOgcMailCenter RidsNrrOd RidsNrrAdes RidsNrrAdro RidsNrrDlr Resource RidsNrrDlrRpb1 Resource RidsNrrDlrRpb2 Resource RdsNrrDlrRer1 Resource RidsNrrDlrRer2 Resource RidsNrrDlrRerb Resource RidsNrrDlrRpob Resource RidsNrrDciCvib Resource RidsNrrDciCpnb Resource RidsNrrDciCsgb Resource RidsNrrDraAfpb Resource RidsNrrDeEmcb Resource RidsNrrDeEeeb Resource RidsNrrDssSrxb Resource RidsNrrDssSbpb Resource RidsNrrDssScvb Resource RidsNrrMailCenter RidsRegionIMailCenter RConte, RI MMcLaughlin, RI NSheehan, RI MHomiack, NRR
cc:
The Honorable Jeffrey E. Piccola Senate of Pennsylvania Senate Box 203015 Harrisburg, PA 17120
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 cc:
Cornelius J. Gannon Vice President - Nuclear Operations PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB3 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Robert M. Paley General Manager - Plant Support PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB2 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Michael H. Crowthers Manager - Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Ronald E. Smith General Manager - Site Preparedness and Services PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Michael H. Rose Manager - Quality Assurance PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSB2 Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Joseph J. Scopelliti Community Relations Manager, Susquehanna PPL Susquehanna, LLC 634 Salem Blvd., SSO Berwick, PA 18603-0467 Board of Supervisors Salem Township Bryan A. Snapp, Esq.
P.O. Box 405 Berwick, PA 18603-0035 Associate General Counsel PPL Services Corporation Two North Ninth Street, GENTW3 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Document Control Services PPL Susquehanna, LLC Two North Ninth Street, GENPL4 Allentown, PA 18101-1179 Richard W. Osborne Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc.
212 Locust Street P.O. Box 1266 Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266 Director, Bureau of Radiation Protection Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Rachel Carson State Office Building P.O. Box 8469 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8469 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 35, NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0035 Regional Administrator, Region 1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Dr. Judith Johnsrud National Energy Committee Sierra Club 443 Orlando Avenue State College, PA 16803 Dayne R. Brophy Nuclear Regulatory Affairs PPL Susquehanna, LLC 769 Salem Blvd., NUCSA4 Berwick, PA 18603-0467
Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 cc:
Site Vice President - Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 Exelon Generation Company, LLC P.O. Box 480 Middletown, PA 17057 Senior Vice President - Mid-Atlantic Operations Exelon Generation Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, KSA 3-N Kennett Square, PA 19348 Vice President - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Regional Administrator Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Chairman Board of County Commissioners of Dauphin County Dauphin County Courthouse Harrisburg, PA 17120 Chairman Board of Supervisors of Londonderry Township R.D. #1, Geyers Church Road Middletown, PA 17057 Senior Resident Inspector (TMI-1)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P.O. Box 219 Middletown, PA 17057 Director - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Exelon Generation Company, LLC Correspondence Control P.O. Box 160 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Director Bureau of Radiation Protection Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Rachel Carson State Office Building P.O. Box 8469 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8469 Plant Manager - Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 Exelon Generation Company, LLC P. O. Box 480 Middletown, PA 17057 Manager, Regulatory Assurance -
Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 Exelon Generation Company, LLC P.O. Box 480 Middletown, PA 17057 Ronald Bellamy, Region I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Michael A. Schoppman Framatome ANP Suite 705 1911 North Ft. Myer Drive Rosslyn, VA 22209 Dr. Judith Johnsrud National Energy Committee Sierra Club 433 Orlando Avenue State College, PA 16803 Eric Epstein TMI Alert 4100 Hillsdale Road Harrisburg, PA 17112 Correspondence Control Desk Exelon Generation Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, KSA 1-N-1 Kennett Square, PA 19348
Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 cc:
Manager Licensing Exelon Generation Company, LLC Correspondence Control P.O. Box 160 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Christopher M. Crane President and Chief Operating Officer Exelon Corporation Chief Operating Officer, Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Mr. Charles G. Pardee Senior Vice President, Exelon Generation Company, LLC President & Chief Nuclear Officer Exelon Nuclear, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Mr. Michael J. Pacilio Senior Vice President, Exelon Generation Company, LLC Chief Operating Officer, Exelon Nuclear 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Senior Vice President, Operations Support Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL.60555 Associate General Counsel Exelon Generation Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Frederick W. Polaski Manager License Renewal Exelon Nuclear 200 Exelon Way Kennett Square, PA 19348 Albert A. Fulvio License Renewal Senior Project Manager Exelon Nuclear 200 Exelon Way Kennett Square, PA 19348