ML17059C636
| ML17059C636 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Nine Mile Point  |
| Issue date: | 04/20/1999 |
| From: | Lanning W NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Mueller J NIAGARA MOHAWK POWER CORP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17059C637 | List: |
| References | |
| 50-220-99-02, 50-220-99-2, 50-410-99-02, 50-410-99-2, NUDOCS 9904300015 | |
| Download: ML17059C636 (6) | |
See also: IR 05000220/1999002
Text
April 20,
1999
Mr. John H. Mueller
Chief Nuclear Officer
Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation
Nine Mite Point Nuclear Station
Operations Building, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 63
Lycoming, NY 13093
SUBJECT:
NRC 40500 TEAM INSPECTION 50;220; 50-410/99-02
(CORRECTIVE ACTION PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS)
'ear
Mr. Mueller.
This letter transmits the results ofthe NRC team inspection conducted. at Niagara Mohawk
Power Corporation's Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station. The purpose of the inspection was to
review the effectiveness ofthe corrective action program. The Inspection was completed on
March 12, 1999, and the inspection results were verbally communicated to your staff at an exit
meeting held at the station that day.
The inspection was performed onsite during the period February 22-26 and March 8-12, 1999,
using NRC Inspection Procedure 40500, "Effectiveness of Licensee Controls in Identifying,
Resolving, and Preventing Problems."
Overall, NMPC's program for identifying, resolving and
preventing problems has improved and is considered acceptable.
However, corrective actions
have not, in some cases been fullyeffective as discussed below.
NMPC utilized operating experience (OE) and industry information as an integral part of its
corrective action program.
The information was evaluated for applicability and corrective
measures were taken.
However, some examples were identified where older OE items and
some recent isolated OE items had not been properly reviewed for applicability and assigned for
disposition.
The team concluded that NMPC has an overall good problem identification process with a low
threshold for identifying issues and high volume input. No significant deficiencies were identified
that had not already been self-identified and included in the station's deviation/event reporting
(DER) program. The timeliness of DER dispositions has improved since our previous
assessment
and root cause evaluations and corrective action development and implementation
were generally effective. However, some recurrent problems continue to be identified
necessitating issuance of additional DERs for matters such as administrative deficiencies or
instances of ineffective corrective actions for problems in lower safety category DERs. Tracking
and trending of findings in the corrective action program, including evaluation of adverse trends
has improved. through implementation of numerous management
initiatives including changes to
the NMPC Business and Tactical Plans.
The effectiveness of these initiatives has yet to be
demonstrated
and will be reviewed during future inspections.
$v
99043000i5 qqommo
ADOCK 05000
8
J. Mueller
-2-
Improvement was noted in the self-assessment
process and your quality assurance
audits were
considered very effective in identifying problems for incorporation into your corrective action
program. Your independent oversight and safety committees were active and involved with the
day-to-day operation of the station.
Safety systems reviewed exhibited good material condition.
No system hardware discrepancies
or operating concerns were noted that were not previously
identified by NMPC.
Based on the results of this inspection, the NRC has determined that four violations of NRC
requirements occurred.
These violations are being treated as Non-Cited Violations (NCVs),
consistent with Appendix C of the Enforcement Policy. The NCVs are described in the subject
inspection report.
Ifyou contest the violations or. their severity level, you should provide a
response within 30 days of the date of this inspection report, with the basis for your denial, to the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Document Control Desk, Washington DC 20555-0001,
with copies to the Regional Administrator, Region I, and the Director, Office of Enforcement,
United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its
enclosure willbe placed in the NRC Public Document Room (PDR).
Sincerely,
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY:
Wayne D. Lanning, Director
Division of Reactor Safety
Docket Nos. 50-220, 50<10
Enclosure:
NRC Combined Inspection Report No. 50-220;50-410/99-02
cc w/encl:
G. Wilson, Senior Attorney
M. Wetterhahn, Winston and Strawn
J. Rettberg, New York State Electric an'd Gas Corporation
P. Eddy, Electric Division, Department of Public Service, State of New York
C. Donaldson, Esquire, Assistant Attorney General, New York Department of Law
J. Vinquist, MATS, Inc.
F. Valentino, President, New York State Energy Research
and Development Authority
J. Spath, Program Director, New York State Energy Research
and Development Authority
J. Mueller
Distribution w/encl:
H. Miller, RAIJ. Wiggins, DRA
Region
I Docket Room (with concurrences)
Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)
PUBLIC
NRC Resident Inspector
S. Barber, DRP
W. Cook, DRP
R. Junod, DRP
W. Lanning, DRS.
J. White, DRS
R. Nimitz, DRS
J. D'Antonio, DRS
L. Cheung, DRS
R. Femandes,
K. Modes, ORA
DRS File
-3-
Distribution w/encl: (VIAE-MAIL)
M. Tschiltz, Rl EDO Coordinator
G. Hunegs - Nine Mile Point
S. Bajwa, NRR
D. Hood, NRR
M. Campion, Rl
Inspection Program Branch (IPAS)
R. Correia, NRR
DOCDESK
Rl/DRP
SBar
e
04// /99
RI/DRS
RNimitz II.~
04I/5 /99
RI/DRS
JD'Antonio
04/07/99
RI/DRS
~
Rl/D
OFFICE
WL
ning
04
/99
JWhite
04/
9
NAME
DATE
OFFICIALRECORD COPY
DOCUMENT NAME: G:hRSSB(NIMITZ'tNMP9902.WPD
To receive a co
ofthis document, indicate in the box: "C ~ Cop
without attachment/enctosure
"E" ~ Co
with attachment/enclosure
"N"= No copy