ML12116A098
| ML12116A098 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
| Issue date: | 02/14/2012 |
| From: | Vankuiken M State of MI, State Senate |
| To: | Riley T Office of Congressional Affairs |
| References | |
| FOIA/PA-2012-0165 | |
| Download: ML12116A098 (2) | |
Text
Riley (OCA), Timothy From: VanKuiken, Matt (Stabenow) [Matt.VanKuiken@stabenow.senate.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 7:00 PM To: Riley (OCA), Timothy; Judnich, Mary (Stabenow)
Subject:
RE: Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Palisades Thanks Tim!
Happy to do a call but we just can't do it tomorrow. Any chance for Friday or even next week?
Matt From: Riley (OCA), Timothy [1]
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 2:25 PM To: Judnich, Mary (Stabenow)
Cc: VanKuiken, Matt (Stabenow)
Subject:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Palisades Mary Judnich, Last September we spoke over the phone regarding an event at Palisades, to discuss the NRC response to maintenance and performance issues at the plant. The NRC today issued three violations to Palisades; one is for a "substantial safety significance" issue and two others are for "low to moderate safety significance" issues.
I am attaching a press release and below please find a brief summary of today's regulatory actions. I would be happy to speak with you and/or Matt, and can set up a phone briefing with the NRC technical manager responsible for Palisades. I understand that this is in the news; I'm hoping to provide your office with as much information as possible. Please let me know if you would like to schedule a briefing.
Thank you, Good morning, The NRC has informed Entergy of final significance determinations for events from August and September 2011 (I discussed these you're your offices as Preliminary Significance Determinations).
Following regulatory conferences in January 2012, in which the licensee presented their assessment of the significance of the findings and the corrective actions taken to resolve them, the NRC has concluded that the finding for the loss of the DC bus (9/25/11) is appropriately characterized as Yellow, a finding having substantial safety significance, and that the finding for the failure of service water pump P-7C (8/9/11) is appropriately characterized as White, a finding of low to moderate safety significance.
As a result of the NRC's review of Palisades' performance, including these Yellow and White findings, the NRC has assessed the olant to be in the Degraded Cornerstone column (Column IIl) of the NRC's Action Matrix, as of the fourth quarter of 2011. Consequently, Palisades will be subject to additional inspections and oversight. The attached letter contains more information on this topic.
- The NRC has observed a decline in the licensee's performance based on the events that led to two White findings and one Yellow finding. However, Palisades continues to operate safely.
- The NRC will perform supplemental inspections in addition to the baseline inspections to determine what actions the licensee has taken, and the effectiveness of the long term corrective actions to fix the issues that led to two White findings and one Yellow finding during 2011.
- In addition the NRC will evaluate the safety culture (the organization's focus to make safety the highest priority) at the site. We expect the licensee to take action to address these issues and we are providing them an opportunity to do so. 'ninthsreooidiW delM~n FO
I would like to schedule a telephone conference to explain the determinations, and the NRC response.
Please contact me if your office is interested in a briefing; Jack Giessner, the NRC project manager for Palisades has availability this afternoon and tomorrow morning.
Thank you, Timothy Riley Congressional Affairs Officer U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Congressional Affairs Phone: 301-415-8492 Blackberry: [(b)(6) 2