ML11269A153
| ML11269A153 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | San Onofre  |
| Issue date: | 10/27/2010 |
| From: | Southern California Edison Co |
| To: | NRC/EDO |
| References | |
| FOIA/PA-2011-0159 | |
| Download: ML11269A153 (31) | |
Text
OFFICIAL US 6N \Y - _1N( ti. kL' r4FORMATION I
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U.S.NRC UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY CGOMISSION ProtectingPeople.and the Environm en t SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION UNITS 2 AND 3 SITE VISIT EXECUTIVE, DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS OCTOBER 27, 2010
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SCONTENTS S TAB AGENDA. . 1 Executive Summary FACILITY DATA Facility Location Map and Directions . . . . 2 Facility Data . . . . . . . . . 3 Facility Unique Features . . . . . . 4 FACILITY PERFORMANCE Reactor Oversight Process Info . . . . . 5 Current Issues . .. . . . . . 6 FACILITY MANAGEMENT DATA Facility Organization . . . . . . . 7 Biographical Data of Principal Managers . . . 8 NRC OVERSIGHT DATA Resumes of Resident Inspectors . 9 ULSE'ONLY -$fNSE V NENL- W~W--
6FF,rbCIAI, USjEY NTERNAL' INFORMATIONJ IN TAB 1 Agenda October 27, 2010 Agenda for EDO Visit to San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station TIme, Loat Subject' Meet with Elmo Collins - drive together to site (due to limited parking) 8:00 am - 9:00 am Rooftop Parking **Meet with Resident Inspectors**
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Site Plant tour with licensee and Resident Inspectors 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Catered lunch with Executives 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm Administrative Break 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Meeting with Licensee Senior Executives 4:00 pm Depart site.
- Security will have the EDO's badge waiting at the North Gate **
Teleohone Numbers Regional Administrator 817-917-1203 Senior Resident Inspector 623-826-6452 Resident Office 949-492-2641 Utility Switchboard 626-302-1212 OPFI9..L SE. ONLY
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- INTERNAL INFORMATIlNON--*4
TAB 1 EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
Purpose of the Visit To meet with resident inspectors and discuss current plant performance, have discussions with licensee management, and tour the plant with licensee management and NRC staff.
Issues to be Addressed
- Meet licensee senior management o Tour facility
- Hold Q&A session Persons to Meet Region IV personnel (see Tab 9)
- Greg Warnick, Senior Resident Inspector
- John Reynoso, Resident Inspector
- Matt Young, Acting Resident Inspector San Onofre Nuclear Station (see Tab 8)
- Alan Fohrer, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Southern California Edison 0 Joe Sheppard, Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer, SCE
- Douglas Bauder, Vice President & Station Manager 0 Tom McCool, Plant Manager
- Richard J. St. Onge, Director, Nuclear Regulatory Affairs, SCE Activities on Site o Meet with resident staff
- Tour facility with licensee and resident inspector
- Discuss plant performance and hold a Q&A session Licensee's Briefing Topics for the Commissioner a Site Engagement in the Corrective Action Program (CAP) 0 Initial Quality of Cause Analyses 0 Work Packages a Long Term Asset Planning Licensee Ownership Information The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is jointly owned by Southern California Edison (78.21%), San Diego Gas & Electric (20%), and the city of Riverside (1.79%).
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7ý:oýI TAB 2 Direc~aus to Doublecree-Dsna Point (949) 661-1100 DireqAtions to Doubletree-Dana Point (949) 661-1100
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- 14. Take the SANTA MONICAfLON G BEACH exit onto 1-05 S go 35-02 mi I tmvard LONG BEACH
- 15. Take the SAN DIEGO exit onto CA-73 S (Portions toA) go 17.4 mi
- 16. Exit onto I-5 S (Toll apples) go 5.9G mi
- 17. Take exit U79iPACIFEC COAST HWYICAMINO. LAS RAMBLAS go 0.35 mi onto CAMINO LAS RAMBLAS(CA-I) toward PACITIC COAST HWY
ý8. Continue to fokow CA-1 go I -mi 9- Turn 4 on DANA POINT HARBOR DR go 0-21 mi
- 10. Make a U-Turn at PUERTO PL onto DANA POINT HARBOR go 0.22 mi DR Turn on PACIFIC COAST HWY(CA-1) go 0.l mi 12 Bear Q on PACIFIC COAST HWY toward COAST HWY go 0.15 mi p 13- Arrive at 34402 PACIFIC COAST HWY. DANA POINT. on the 0
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PLANT: SAN ONOFRE
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LOCATION: San Clemente, CA Southern California Edison Company
ýFi6 Uýf/6N41T'I~+VE INTEHQNL lNFORýATI $5J TAB 2 Facility Data San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Utility: Southern California Edison (SCE)*
Location: 4 miles southeast of San Clemente, California County: San Diego County, California Unit 1** Unit 2 Unit 3 Docket Nos. 50-206 50-361 50-362 License Nos. DPR-13 NPF-10 NPF-15 Construction Permit 1963 10/18/1973 10/18/1973 Full Power License 03/27/1967 09/07/1982 09/16/1983 Commercial Operation 01/01/1968 08/08/1983 04/01/1984 Expiration Date 11/30/1992** 02/16/2022 11/15/2022 Plant Characteristics Units 2 and 3 Reactor Type: CE 2-loop Containment Type: Large Dry Thermal Power Limit: 3438 MWt (1070/1080 MWe)
Architect/Engineer: Bechtel NSSS Vendor: Combustion Engineering Turbine Generator: English Electric Condenser Cooling Method: Once Through Ultimate Heat Sink for ECCS Pacific Ocean
- San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is jointly owned by SCE (78.21%), San Diego Gas & Electric (20%), and the city of Riverside (1.79%). SCE is authorized to act as agent for the other co-owners and has exclusive responsibility and control over the physical construction, operation, and maintenance of the facility.
- Unit 1, a Westinghouse 3-loop pressurized water reactor constructed by Bechtel and rated at 1347 MWt, began commercial operation on January 1, 1968, and permanently ceased operation on November 30, 1992. The unit was initially placed in SAFSTOR until 2000 when active decommissioning (DECON) began.
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TAB 4 Facility Unique Features Site Characteristics SONGS is located in an area classified as Seismic Class 3 (moderate to high degree of seismic activity). The nearest fault to the site is the Christianitos Fault, which is exposed along the sea cliff approximately 1 mile southeast of Unit 1.
Ultimate Heat Sink The safety-related service water system is the SWC system (Pacific Ocean). It cools the CCW system which is a closed loop system. CCW cools safety-related systems such as the shutdown cooling heat exchanger.
Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation During decommissioning of Unit 1, the fuel was originally spread between all three units' spent fuel pools. All Unit 1 fuel has now been transferred to dry cask storage (5 casks from the Unit 3 pool were loaded between October and December 2003. 9 casks from the Unit 1 pool were loaded in May 2004, and 3 casks from the Unit 2 pool were loaded in June 2005). Unit 2 & 3 fuel began being transferred to dry cask storage in 2006.
Site Location SONGS is located on leased land from the Camp Pendleton U.S. Marine Corps Base. As a result, their local law enforcement agency (LLEA) is the FBI.
Unit 1 Reactor Vessel The licensee originally planned to ship the Unit 1 reactor vessel to Barnwell, South Carolina for permanent storage. The licensee considered the options of shipping by rail, barge via the Panama Canal, and barge via the Cape Horn, South America. All three plans were met with significant public debate. The licensee now plans to retain the Unit 1 reactor vessel on site until Units 2 and 3 are decommissioned.
Grid Location SONGS is in a very strategic location in the grid. The plant is located in between two major markets: Los Angeles (served by Southern California Edison) and San Diego (served by San Diego Gas & Electric). Half of the switchyard equipment is owned and controlled by these two companies.
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fAL USEONLY JAL,ý- lNTE1RNALAI-R4Tiq TAB 5 Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Information Current ROP Assessment Status The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued its annual assessment letter for San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Units 2 and 3 on March 3, 2010 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML100621410). The NRC staff noted that SONGS Units 2 and 3 operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and fully met all cornerstone objectives. However, the NRC continues to identify performance problems in the areas of Human Performance (HP) and Problem Identification and Resolution (PI&R). This is the fifth consecutive assessment cycle where substantive cross-cutting issues were identified in both of these cross-cutting areas. Corrective actions taken by the licensee to address these substantive cross-cutting issues have been largely ineffective.
Plant performance for Unit 2 for the most recent quarter was within the Regulatory Response Column (Column 2) of the NRC's Action Matrix based on one White finding in the Mitigating Systems cornerstone. The finding involved the failure to establish appropriate instructions for replacement of a safety-related battery output breaker resulting in the battery being inoperable between March 2004 and March 2008. In December 2009, the NRC conducted supplemental NRC Inspection Manual Inspection Procedure 95001, "Inspection for One or Two White Inputs in a Strategic Performance Area," and concluded that the White finding will remain open because some corrective actions were not fully developed and because of a lack of assurance that corrective actions will be effective, Unit 3 plant performance remained in the Licensee Response Column (Column 1) of the NRC's Action Matrix, based on all inspection findings having very low safety significance (Green) and all performance indicators indicating performance at a level requiring no additional NRC oversight (Green).
As a result of the continuing problems in HP and PI&R, the NRC plans to conduct additional inspections, above the baseline inspection program, to evaluate the effectiveness of the licensee's performance improvement efforts in these areas. Region IV has also supplemented the on-site NRC staff with a third resident inspector to support the increased level of oversight for the near-term.
Current HP cross-cutting themes are as follows:
- Failing to provide adequate design documentation, procedures, and work instructions (Resources component)
" Ineffective use of human error prevention techniques (Work practices component)
- Failing to use conservative assumptions (Decision making component)
- Weaknesses in ensuring supervisory and management oversight of work activities (Work practices component)
Current PI&R cross-cutting themes are as follows:
" Failing to thoroughly evaluate problems such that the resolutions effectively address the causes and extent of conditions (Corrective action program component)
" Weaknesses in implementing the corrective action program with a low threshold for identifying issues (Corrective action program component)
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. Weaknesses in taking appropriate corrective actions to address safety issues in a timely manner commensurate with their safety significance (Corrective action program component)
A high number of allegations have been generated regarding SONGS. The current number is roughly ten times the national median, On March 2, 2010 (ADAMS Accession No. ML100601272), the NRC issued a chilling effect letter resulting from NRC's assessment of the licensee's safety conscious work environment.
On January 11, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML080110380), the NRC issued a Confirmatory Order as the result of a successful alternative dispute resolution mediation session related to falsification of firewatch certification sheets. Corrective actions have been taken, and some have been effective. The NRC will perform a follow-up inspection to determine whether the terms of the Order have been satisfied.
The colored PI and inspection findings for this station can be viewed at the URLs listed below.
SONGS, Unit 2:
http://www.nrc.qov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/SANO2/sano2 chart.html SONGS, Unit 3:
http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/SANO3/sano3 chart.html O,F/I.AL, USE ONLY - E.INTERJAL, INORMATION
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TAB 6 Current Issues A. EXPECTED DISCUSSION TOPICS The licensee proposed the following topics for discussion:
Overview of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Performance History Current Regulatory Status Station Recovery Process/Strategy Upcoming Unit 3 Steam Generator Replacement Safety Conscious Work Environment Update Overview of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Units 2 and 3:
Performance History and Current Regulatory Status On March 3, 2010, the NRC issued its annual assessment letter to SCE for its performance during calendar year 2009 at SONGS Units 2 and 3 (ADAMS Accession No. ML100621410).
The NRC staff noted that this is fifth consecutive cycle where substantive cross-cutting issues were identified in the areas of Human Performance (HP) and Problem Identification and Resolution (PI&R) and that corrective actions taken by the licensee to address these substantive cross-cutting issues have been ineffective. The NRC noted that, while existing performance problems have persisted at the site, new ones have emerged.
Throughout 2009, the licensee continued to have performance problems that challenged the operation of both units in the areas of HP and PI&R. Examples of these problems include the isolation of power to the wrong train of the emergency core coolant system; a reactor trip caused by the failure to follow heat treat procedures and a poor pre-job briefing, and inadequate contractor oversight to ensure procedural adherence that resulted in multiple, repeat, small fires during containment tendon cutting operations.
In 2009, the licensee's performance resulted in an increased number of NRC findings in the areas of PI&R and HP. These substantive cross-cutting issues remain open, with additional themes being identified in each area. The licensee had initiated root cause evaluations for each of the identified themes, but corrective actions have been ineffective to date. Performance problems continue to be identified by the NRC. As of the 2009 mid-cycle assessment, four themes were open; three in HP and one in PI&R. At end of cycle 2009, three additional themes were identified, one in HP and two in PI&R, with the previous four remaining open. The current total of seven open themes is the most that any plant has had in the history of the NRC's ROP evaluation process. Detailed information on the current ROP assessment for SONGS Units 2 and 3 is provided in Tab 5.
(b)(4)
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A SE. - S \ T IYVIIi ERr INP6MATiOt TAB 6 Station Recovery Process/Strategy SCE plans to discuss its ongoing performance improvement efforts at SONGS. SCE developed a Site Integrated Improvement Plan in 2008, in part, to address the performance issues identified through NRC inspection findings and in the NRC's Confirmatory Order dated January 11, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML080110380). SCE has revised and expanded the improvement plan, to adjust for those previous actions that have been ineffective, and to incorporate recently identified issues (for example, the inclusion of a new Safety Culture Improvement Plan). Overall, the NRC staff remains concerned about the slow progress of the licensee's improvement efforts.
Steam Generator Replacement SCE installed replacement steam generators (RSG) at Unit 2 during the recent refueling outage and is in the process of installing RSGs in Unit 3 during the current refueling outage. The RSGs were fabricated for both units by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in Japan. The Unit 2 RSGs were transported to the site in February 2009 while the Unit 3 RSGs arrived in September 2010.
In March 2009, during examination of the Unit 3 RSGs in Japan, MHI detected cracking in a weld joint between the divider plate and steel head in both Unit 3 RSGs. MHI's final root cause assessment indicated that the defects were caused by the use of an air carbon-arc gouging technique on the Unit 3 RSG welds; a different process than that used for the fabrication of the Unit 2 RSGs welds. The licensee inspected the Unit 2 RSGs at the plant site and confirmed that there were no similar weld defects prior to their installation. MHI has repaired and retested the Unit 3 RSGs.
The steam generator (SG) replacement for both units requires that a large opening (roughly 28' by 28') be cut through the containment structure to allow the passage of the old and new SGs.
The Unit 2 SG replacement activities have been completed, and the containment was restored and tested prior to returning the unit to operation. NRC inspectors noted some problems with work control during containment tendon removal, with design control regarding the re-welding of the containment rebar, and with quality control of concrete used in restoration of the containment structure.
Safety Conscious Work Environment Update (SCWE)
In November 2009, the NRC conducted a focused PI&R inspection to evaluate the licensee's progress in addressing the open substantive cross-cutting issues as well as to review the results of the licensee's safety culture survey. During this inspection, the NRC also conducted focus group interviews as an independent check on the licensee's results, which indicated an SCWE concern at SONGS. In February 2010, the NRC conducted additional focus group interviews of approximately 400 licensee and contractor personnel. These interviews confirmed previous NRC inspection observations of SCWE concerns at SONGS. NRC determined that SCWE issues as well as internal communication issues continue to be significant contributors to the failure of SCE to effectively address the long-standing substantive cross-cutting issues.
The NRC concluded that some employees in multiple workgroups at SONGS have the perception that they are not free to raise safety concerns using all available avenues and that management has not been effective in encouraging employees to use all available avenues without fear of retaliation. This conclusion resulted from numerous observations including (1) employees expressing difficulty or inability to use the corrective action program, (2) a lack of E*I /USkNLY j 6'ITERNAL.NF 6 I- "... . .. . . .. .-' RMATIOIN-
TAB 6 knowledge or mistrust of the Nuclear Safety Concerns Program (NSCP), (3) the substantiated case of a supervisor creating a chilled work environment in his/her work group, and (4) a perceived fear of retaliation for raising safety concerns.
The NRC issued a chilling effect letter on March 2, 2010 (ADAMS Accession No. ML100601272), as a result of NRC's assessment of the licensee's SCWE. The purpose of the chilling effect letter is to verify that the licensee is taking appropriate actions to ensure that SONGS is a workplace that fosters an environment where employees feel free, and are encouraged, to raise safety concerns. The chilling effect letter requested SCE to take 13 specific actions to respond to the identified SCWE concerns.
Through several inspections and interviews with hundreds of plant employees through focus groups, the NRC staff determined that safety concerns are being raised by SONGS personnel through some communication avenues despite the staffs concerns regarding the chilled work environment. The NRC has not identified any safety issues that were not reported by some available avenue. The NRC determined that some employees do not consider certain avenues available, such as discussing a concern with their immediate supervisor, but would find an alternate avenue to communicate their safety concerns.
Operating Status Unit 2 is currently operating at 100 percent power. The unit returned to operation on April 8, 2010, following an extended outage. Major outage activities included the replacement of both SGs. The outage, originally scheduled to last approximately 3 months, exceeded 6 months in duration due, in art, to several emergent issues (b)(5)
(b)(5) t-..
Unit 3 is currently in a refueling outage. This outage includes replacement of both SGs similar to what was accomplished in Unit 2. The start of the Unit 3 outage was delayed by approximately 2 weeks from its original schedule. This delay was intended, in part, to provide time to implement actions designed to prevent problems with work planning and execution, design control, and contractor oversight similar to those experienced during the Unit 2 outage.
B. OTHER TOPICS OF INTEREST Plant Equipment Issues
" Degraded connection between battery and output breaker. White finding from December 2008 left open because corrective actions notfully developed and there was a lack of assurance that corrective actions would be effective.
" Schedule 10 piping integrity issues. Multiple instances of piping degradation identified on refueling water tank to ECCS/charging suction piping in both Units 2 and 3.
Inspections focused on adequacy of past corrective actions for identified deficiencies, adequacy of past inspections, ongoing operability evaluations, and corrective actions going forward.
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- Y-iSEN ITVE-lNTE1 r _AL.INF*OMATIO TAB 6 Current Licensing Issues On March 16, 2010 (ADAMS Accession No. ML100630514), the NRC staff granted SCE an exemption to certain new security requirements in Title 10 of the Code of FederalRegulations, Section 73.55, "Requirements for physical protection of licensed activities in nuclear power reactors against radiological sabotage," issued by NRC in a final rule dated March 27, 2009 (74 FR 13926). The exemption allowed SCE to extend the implementation date from the current deadline of March 31, 2010, to October 31, 2010, for one specific requirement and to January 31, 2011, for a second specific requirement. The exemption will allow the licensee sufficient time to complete the modifications designed to update aging security equipment and incorporate state-of-the-art technology to meet the new regulatory requirements.
On December 15 and 17, 2009, (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML093220105 and ML090860415, respectively), the NRC staff approved a license amendment and a related exemption, respectively, which allow SCE to use an alternative computer code to perform nuclear design calculations. The amendment and exemption also allow SCE to use a limited number of Areva Lead Fuel Assemblies in SONGS Units 2 and 3 over the next three operating cycles.
On March 22, 2010, (ADAMS Accession No. ML100620983), the NRC staff approved changes to the emergency action levels for SONGS in support of the conversion from the current scheme to a scheme based on NEI 99-01, "Methodology for Development of Emergency Action Levels,"
Revision 5, dated February 22, 2008.
SCE plans to submit a license amendment request in late 2010 for a major upgrade to the SONGS technical specifications to better align with the current Combustion Engineering Improved Standard Technical Specifications.
Management Changes SCE has made many senior management changes over the past 2 years. These changes include the positions of Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer (Joe Sheppard); Site Vice President (Doug Bauder): Plant Manager (Tom McCool); Director, Operations (Bill Pourier);
Director, Maintenance and Construction (Ed Hubley); Director, Work Control (David Spires);
Director, Recovery (Jim Madigan); and Director, Nuclear Regulatory Affairs (Rich St. Onge).
The organization chart provided in Tab 7 shows the large number of management changes and further indicates that many of the new managers came from outside of SCE.
License Renewal Activities SCE has not formally announced its intent to seek renewal of the operating licenses for SONGS Units 2 and 3. However, SONGS is a participant in the Strategic Teaming and Resource Sharing (STARS) group of utilities, and STARS has notified the NRC staff that several unspecified members intend to submit renewal applications in FY 2013.
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(b)(7)(A)
Open Allegations The NRC has received a significant increase in allegations from onsite sources at SONGS to nearly ten times the industry median (4) in 2009. Forty-three allegations have been received thus far this year. During this time, there was a significant increase in chilling effect, discrimination, and anonymous concerns raised to the NRC as compared to prior years. These allegations were received from multiple onsite organizations.
- There are currently 38 open allegations at SONGS.
- A large number of these were originated during the Unit 2 SG replacement outage.
" There are 13 open allegations associated with discrimination complaints.
- There are approximately 18 allegations associated with 01 investigations or alternate dispute resolution.
Harassment And Intimidation Issues As discussed in Section A above, the NRC issued a chilling effect letter on March 2, 2010, after a spike in the number of allegations and after the NRC performed an assessment of SCWE issues at SONGS.
Congressional Interest There has been a high level of Congressional interest in SONGS. The Office of Congressional Affairs staff has responded to recent inquiries from Congressman Calvert's (R-CA) office, Congressman Markey's (D-MA) office, and staff from the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, chaired by Senator Boxer (D-CA). The primary issues of interest include the work environment and high number of allegations at the site and the delays in restarting Unit 2.
On August 6, 2009 (ADAMS Accession No. ML092050535), the Executive Director for Operations responded to a letter from Senator Boxer concerning the SG replacement activities at Unit 2.
OFFQ( UE _OL/Y -S SIT E TE AL FO ýA IýON
TAB 6 State Issues State and local officials have also expressed recent interest in activities at SONGS. On February 24, 2010, Region IV staff briefed staff from the California Energy Commission on SONGS performance and safety culture issues. On February 2, 2010, the NRC Senior Resident Inspector made a presentation to the San Clemente City Council on the NRC's regulatory role and its views on SCE's safety performance at SONGS.
2.206 Petitions None.
Selected News Articles Edison Looking To Hire 1,000 For Upcoming San Onofre Steam Generator Replacement. The Inland Valley (CA) Daily Bulletin (10/9, Galindo, 49K) reported that Southern California Edison has already started hiring for a "major project to replace steam generators in the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station near San Clemente. 'We've been hiring craftsmen, engineers and other specialists,' Edison spokesman Gil Alexander said," and added that Edison "expects to hire 1,000 temporary workers from all around Southern California as work on the project is expected to commence this month." The Daily Bulletin adds, "Alexander said Edison plans to shut down one of two reactor units at the plant for three to four months to replace the plant's steam generators, the plant's largest components. 'After 28 years, the steam generators have reached the end of their service,' Alexander said."
New Chief At SanOnofre Station Juggles Upcoming Retrofit, NRC Attention. A profile piece for the San Diego Union-Tribune (10/8, Soto) reports on Joe Sheppard, who "was named interim chief nuclear officer of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station a month ago," he "took on a plant in the middle of a major revamp and one facing criticism from federal regulators." Sheppard, a veteran nuclear plant manager "told his new bosses he wouldn't sit still.... 'I enjoy what I do every day, but I've done it for 40 years,' he said." Sheppard "took the job from Ross Ridenoure, who left for unspecified reasons in September, with the company saying only that it was 'in the best interest of the station."' But the upcoming retrofit is "not the only thing on Sheppard's mind." NRC officials "said the plant was getting nearly 10 times as many complaints than an average nuclear facility," and "Sheppard said he knows of the concerns and is working on them."
San Onofre's New Chief Nuclear Officer Says Plant Needs To Improve. The San Clemente (CA) Times (9/24, Swayne) reports that while the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station has "been under increasing pressure from regulators, and some members of the public, changes have been underway in how it is managed, how it operates and even in the waters near the ocean-front plant." New San Onofre interim Chief Nuclear Officer, James Sheppard "doesn't mince words when it comes to the performance of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
'SONGS doesn't meet the standards set in our industry,' Sheppard said. 'That doesn't mean the plant is unsafe" or that it "is staffed by bad people. Our standards are very, very high" and while there "are things at SONGS that we do better than anyone else in the industry" there are "things we have to learn."
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lp, ýI S\NY EN ITIV TAB 6 NRC Resident Inspector Notes San Onofre Plant "Improvement." The Orange County (CA)
Register (9/17, Swegles) reports, "Federal inspectors said Thursday night that Southern California Edison is responding to calls to upgrade safety consciousness at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. 'I've been at the site now for 2 11/2 years and I could not tell you that I have not seen improvement,' Greg Warnick, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's senior resident inspector at San Onofre, said at a public meeting" last week. "'In fact, I've seen a lot of improvement.' ... Warnick said worker complaints there remain at a high level. In March, the NRC took the unusual step of issuing a 'chilling effects' letter advising Edison that San Onofre was producing nearly 10 times the median for worker allegations at a nuclear power plant." But new chief nuclear officer at San Onofre, Joe Sheppard, said "You build trust slowly."
NRC Resident Inspector Says Some San Onofre Employees Still Fear To Speak Up. In covering the NRC hearing Thursday to discuss San Onofre employees" fear of retaliation if they report problems, the North County (CA) Times (9/17, Sisson) noted that during the hearing, San Onofre "Station's chief resident inspector said Thursday that he still encounters employees who do not trust management enough to report problems at the plant, despite a rare and especially stern warning from regulators in March. 'It's pretty evident to us that you need to continue to build trust,' said Greg Warnick, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's top inspector at San Onofre." The Times adds, "Several top executives said they have taken numerous steps, from small meetings throughout the plant, to moving the office where employees can report problems to a more central location," but according to Warnick, despite those changes, "he and other on-site inspectors continue to hear from employees who fear retaliation for speaking up."
NRC To Discuss Safety Culture Issues With San Onofre Station Operators. According to the San Clemente (CA) Times (9/3), "The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a public meeting on September 16 to discuss the status of progress made in addressing safety culture issues at the San Onofre nuclear plant, south of San Clemente." The meeting at the Dana Point Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel "between NRC staff and Southern California Edison Co. (SCE) officials will be held from 6 to 9:00 pm." SCE "officials will brief the NRC on their actions and progress made to address safety conscious work environment issues at the plant."
Adds the Orange County (CA) Register (9/3, Swegles), during the September 16 meeting in Dana Point Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will "hear a report from Southern California Edison on its actions to 'address safety-conscious work-environment issues' at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. 'Southern California Edison officials will brief the NRC on their actions and progress made to address safety-conscious work-environment issues at the plant,'
an NRC news release said." The "NRC is investigating concerns expressed by some power-plant workers in the past year."
New Chief Nuclear Officer HiredAt San Onofre. The North County (CA) Times (9/3) reports, "Southern California Edison has named a new chief nuclear officer to oversee operations at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Edison released a brief statement Thursday afternoon naming 40-year industry veteran James 'Joe' Sheppard as the plant's top manager during 'a transitional period while the company seeks a long-term station leader."' Sheppard replaces Ross Ridenoure, "the plant's former chief nuclear officer" who was brought on in 2008 "to address safety culture issues," but who, "according to an Edison spokesman, stepped down 'in the best interests of the station."'
Artificial Reef Thrives Off Coast Of San Onofre. According to the boating and fishing news outlet, The Log (CA) Newspaper (9/1, Brody), "The man-made kelp bed created by Southern California Edison (SCE) off the Southern Orange County coast is lush with seaweed that OFF1'&CL YUSE ON"LY - &.INTERNAL INFORMATION"kr
ýFFA A L SE QNLYý-ENSITIVE IN ERNAL-IN.ORMAIIQN'\ý TAB 6 provides a home for a wide variety of marine life." SCE says the "project has surpassed scientists' expectations" and the "174-acre artificial reef has continued to thrive since its creation in 2008. The $46 million SCE project was intended to attract marine life to offset the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station and its cooling water intake system's impact on fish and other ocean creatures in the area."
CaliforniaTo Phase Out Once-Through Cooling For Plants. Sari Luis Obispo (CA) New Times (5/5/2010, Rigley, 42K) reports, "The State Water Resources Control Board unanimously approved regulations that require 19 coastal power plants to phase out once-through cooling,"
which the article described as the "preferred" system for coastal plants. The ruling was made to prevent ocean life from being drawn into intake pumps. Although some plants now have until 2015 to comply, "nuclear power plant operators, however, got a bit more leeway from the water board. Board members required that an independent third party of nuclear experts review the cost feasibility and come back with results in three years." This may "lead to a 'variance' for nuclear power plant operators, Pacific Gas and Electric spokeswoman Cindy Pollard said."
Reuters (5/6/2010) notes some of the plants are possibly closing because of the ruling. The measure includes both of California's nuclear power plants. NPR (5/5/2010) "Morning Edition,"
in a report from KQED, notes "Alternatives to once-through cooling are expensive, especially at nuclear power plants like San Onofre," owned by Southern California Edison. Spokesperson Mike Hertel said, "Iwant to stress that we don't think it's even feasible. But if it were, it would cost in the range of say $2.5 billion to $3 billion." Hertel "says it's too soon to say how the industry here will respond." According to the KPBS-Radio (5/5, Joyce) website, "Instead of a complete cooling system overhaul, plant operators favor greater flexibility to outfit their existing equipment with environmentally-friendly features." Hertel "said there simply is no room on the San Onofre site to install a cooling tower, which is the mechanism preferred by environmental advocates."
Significant Reportable Events and Activities None.
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TAB 7 FACILITY ORGANIZATION SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION lp AS11, -.1FSilo)~EI V(JI
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L TAB 8 Biographical Data of Principal Managers (as provided by the licensee)
The biographical data for the following are attached:
- Alan Fohrer, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, SCE
" Joe Sheppard, Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer, SCE
- Douglas Bauder, Vice President & Station Manager
- Thomas McCool, Plant Manager
" Richard J. St. Onge, Director, Nuclear Regulatory Affairs, SCE ION
F~qALLJSE-ýSI E IV'IN IN R AT1019J TAB 8 EDISON' Man J. Forer Chairman &Chief Execuive Officer Soulhem Cailon-ia Edison Alan .. Fohrer is chairman &chief executive offie of Soulhem Cdiawie (SCE. one of the courdrys Ilgest eteckic uidk& Fohnm was elecrda CEO an Jaluswy 1.2D02 and wa electd chairman on June 12,2007. Fohter has extensive kInledge and nmnagement expeence in every aspect of SCEs busness.
Previously. Fohrer was pnesident anl chief execulfve ofjor of Edison Mission Energy (EME) a subsidiary of Edion International Ihat owns and operates independent power produclon faciies, having been ected b that position i January 2000.
Before his leadership at EME. Fohrer was execuive vice president and chieffinancial officer of parel company Edison InternabonaL Previously. he held the same position for a number of years at SCE.
Fohrer began his Edison creer in 1973 in SCE's Civi Engineering Deparlment. In 1980. he moved lo the Treasurees Department, where he held a numbwr of paiom, ioc*ln- financial plnnin supervisor. financial planning and barking manager.
corporate planning and budgeting manager, and esistWant treasurer.
He was elecled vice president tresrer and ctidefinancial odfer at SCE in 1991 arnd in 1993. he was promoted to senior vice president, treasurer and chief finacial officer of both SCE and Edison Irniteational.
Fohrer is a member of the Engineering School Board of Counclors of the LUniversity of Southern California. He is also a member of the boad of dreckirs of Montgomery Watson Haezn, Inc.: Blue Shield of Califomia: San Gabriel Valey Council Boy Scouts of Amenc Caftornia Science Center; Cafomia Chanter of Commerce: and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO Fohrer earned B.S. anid M.S. degrees incivil engineering from the Univer* of Southern Califorija. and an M.BA from Caifornia State University. Los Angeles.
Updated September 20W
\OrQ'FICIAL SE.ýNLY ENS jVINýRL'INFO MyI/
TAB 8 SOU1ItRN cAUfOW-EDISON' James "Joe" Shepard SeniorVce Preskdent and Chief Nuclear Officer Southerm Califona Edison Ja sJ73 Sheppad is senor vice president and chedf nuclee ofcr of Southern Calfot Edism (SCE He also serves as a omnsulta on nuclear generu issues to the chief exew&e ohcer and bard of direcirs of Edison Intemational. SCEs pard comperly.
Piorto joining SCE, Sheppard was presidet and chief eoui oficer of the South Texas PrjectNuclear Operating Compuny (STPNO) Inm 2003 I 20M.
STPNOC isjointy owned by NRG Eer , CPS Energy a&d Ausi Energy.
Before assuming Bud role, he seved in a number of STPNOC minegenut roles including vice president of Engineering and Tedinca Savices. vice pre~ef of Business Sysiem and general manager of Nuclear LWoensing.
Before .arking at STRIOC. Sheppard was p*esident mad chief eeuw dimaerat Sequoyah Fuels Corporation and was responsible for dant operafdns of Ihe company's uniuium cantoim plant Piorto uining Sequoyah Fuels, Sheppad served as operations mananger and general manager of the Robison Nuclear Project owned by Carolin Power &Ligt Sheppard is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and Duke Ur ity. He is a looised Senior Reactor Operalor and a graduate of tIe In.lkrd of Nuclw Power OperaborW Senior Nuclw Plant Management course md Senior Nuclear Exectives sni*rr. He ismmeter of tie Americon Nuclear Socity and was awarded that organizalions Ulily Leadership Award in 2004. In 2009. Sheppard was awarded the Nuclear Energy -,stIdeus Wulam S. Lee award for Iedeuiip.
Updated Sepb7Awe 2010
~TNN lbFIFICCAL U-MQJ`LY - SEXSITIV 1NTERNAl-)IýFOR TAB 8 jEDISON' Doug Bauder Vice Presiderd &Staion Manager Son Onofre Nudear Generuing Stadon Soul*ern California Ecisan Doumlas RBder L is vice presiled for Southern Caifnim Edison (SCE) and so mnnagerfo rhe Sm O rmh Nucle"Genhradng Sl (SONGS).
responsslile forte strdegicoversig of tie plartopeirin and m ne-ne.
Bauder joined SCE inFebruary 2009 as p mnager for SONGS, msponible for day-to-day pla*t acties associated mib 1he opernon a ind marmnce of SONGS.
Prior lonjo g SCE Bauderserved as *d general mgerfor Calvwtint Nudear Power Plait in M and. During his 20 yeas at CUvert CifTs. he handled Al aspedcs of paid managernm et and imlrnemnted a sbte ezoalerce plan and standard irAegrated MW= lint diredly o bAed to inprove human business perfornance unctias.
Bauder served as a Liled Stales Navel Submarine Officer inNo Vinia.
Virg Uptiaded Mlay 2010
i
/DFA,U,'E-h NLY - NS, EIN RAIOR N TAB 8 EDISON" Thomas McCool PRart neager, Southen Ciffunia Edison Tom McCool joined the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Stat (SONGS) leadership team as Plant Manager on July 26, 2010.
McCool is responsible for the day-to-day p6Wtactivities associated with tie operaon and maintenance of SONGS.
Pior to joining SCE, McCool served for the last six years as Maintenance Diedor and Oper'aions Director at Braidwood Staton and Corporate Traiimg Director for Exelon Nuclear. McCool also served as Assistant Prduction Manager at DC Cook Nuclear Plant, Assistant Nuclear Shill Supervisor at Beaver Valey Power Stafion, and Senior Training Instructor at Waterford.
He began his 25-plus year career innuclear receiving a BS inMarine Engineering from Maune Maritime Academy inCastine, Maine. He has held several Senior Reactor Operator icnses, and has completed both Exelon's Advanced Management Program in2006 and INPOCs Senior Plant Manager Course in2008.
tqF-VMjA"SE - S STIV ITRA TAB 8 Richard J. St. Onge Director, Nuclear Regulatory Affairs Southern California Edison Mr. Richard St. Onge is currently the Director of Regulatory Affairs at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), which is owned and operated by Southern California Edison (SCE). Previously, Mr. St. Onge held the position of Director, Maintenance and Systems Engineering at SONGS. He has been a licensed Senior Reactor Operator/Control Room Supervisor at the facility. Mr. St. Onge has held various other positions: with a NSSS supplier (Combustion Engineering), at the Pilgrim Nuclear Station, and in reactor refueling services, plant, system and design engineering.
Mr. St. Onge is a Registered Professional Engineer, State of California, Nuclear Engineering.
Mr. St. Onge also is an Executive Member of the Operations & Power Division of the American Nuclear Society. Mr. St. Onge holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nuclear Engineering and a Masters Degree in Business Administration.
OFFICIAL USE ONLY -V@VVVIVE INTERNAL INFORMATION
- i ITI TAB 9 RESUMES OF RESIDENT INSPECTORS SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION Greg Warnick Senior Resident Inspector - San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Greg first joined the NRC in 1997, as a project engineer in Region II. In 1998, Greg was assigned as resident inspector at the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant in St. Lucie, Fl. In December 2000, Greg transferred to Region IVand was assigned as resident inspector at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Tonopah, AZ. In 2004, Greg was promoted to the position of senior resident inspector at Palo Verde. In May 2008, Greg was assigned as senior resident inspector at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in San Clemente, CA. Prior to joining the NRC, Greg was employed as a nuclear plant engineer with Lockheed Martin - Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, Inc. Greg graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in(b)(6) ý3reg and his family F(b)(6)-
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TAB 9 John Reynoso Resident Inspector - San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Mr. John Reynoso became the Resident Inspector at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in April 2008. Mr. Reynoso joined the agency January 2005 with many years of nuclear industry experience, including being a licensed Senior Reactor Operator and System Engineer at two separate nuclear power plants. Prior to his commercial nuclear industry experience, Mr.
Reynoso _ -(b)(6)
Mr. Reynoso has a Master of Business Administration in Information Technology and Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Arizona. He began his NRC career in the Division of Reactor Safety Engineering Branch in Region IV. Since becoming a reactor inspector, he served as a team leader on a Component Design Basis Inspection (CDBI) and on baseline in-service inspections. He was assigned to the Response Coordination Branch in May 2007 and was qualifying as a Regional Operations Officer before accepting his resident inspector position.
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TAB 9 Matt Young Acting Resident Inspector - San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Mr. Matt Young arrived at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station on October 25, 2010. Mr.
Young joined the agency in June 2006. Mr. Young completed a three month rotation to San Onofre in 2007 while completing his NSPD program.
Mr. Young earned his a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering in (b)(6) land Bachelor of Science degree in both Nuclear Engineering and Mechanical Engineeering, all from Pennsylvania State University in(b(6- Since becoming a reactor inspector, he has been the team leader for an in-service inspection and performed Component Design Bases Inspections.
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