ML17187A751
| ML17187A751 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Dresden, Byron, Braidwood, Quad Cities, Zion, LaSalle  |
| Issue date: | 01/27/1997 |
| From: | Thompson H NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Oconnor J COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9702100016 | |
| Download: ML17187A751 (5) | |
Text
~i UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555--0001 January 27, 1997 Mr. James J. O'Connor Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Commonwealth Edison Company P.O. Box 767 Chicago, Illinois 60690
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION PURSUANT TO 10 CFR 50.54(f) REGARDING SAFETY PERFORMANCE AT COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY NUCLEAR STATIONS
Dear Mr. O'Connor:
The p~rpose of this letter is to require information that will allow the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to determine what actions, if any, should be taken to assure Commonwealth Edison Company -(ComEd) can safely
- operate its six nuclear stations while sustaining performance improvement at each site, as described in more detail below.
Background
The cyclical safety performance of ComEd nuclear stations has long concerned the Commission and NRC staff.
In the last 10 years~ LaSalle 1/2 were placed on the NRC's watch list from April 1986 to October 1986.
Dresden 2/3 were placed on the watch list from June 1987 until December 1988 and were returned to the watch list in January 1992 and remain on the watch list. Zion 1/2 were placed on the watch list from January 1991 until January 1993.
Due to declining performance, trending letters were issued to LaSalle 1/2 in January 1994 and June 1994 and to Quad Cities 1/2 in January 1994, June 1994 and January 1995.
In addition, as a result o'f *performance concerns discussed during the January 1997 Senior*Management Meeting, LaSalle 1/2 and Zion 1/2 are being placed back on the watch list.
The NRC's concerris regarding inconsistent and marginal plant ~erformance at your facilities have been expressed in a number of letters to yo~ associated with the results of Senior Management Meetings and in Chairman Jackson's letter to you dated March 22, 1996.
In addition, concerns regarding ComEd's ability to establish lasting and effective programs that result in sustained performance improvement were discussed during meetings between ComEd and the Commission on February 28, 1994, November 16, 1995 and May 13, 1996.
Dresden, Quad Cities and LaSalle had similar weaknesses and their performance did not improve following a major reorganization that took place throughout late 1992 and early 1993.
Performance at Zion improved for a while after the plant was removed from the watch list, but the improving trend then slowed or stopped following the extended dual unit outage that ended in Spring 1994.
Performance.at Byron and Braidwood, the newer ComEd plants, re. mained \\
consistently better than the other ComEd plants.
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J. O,Connor Historically, major apparent weaknesses that led to the poor performance included: (1) lack of effective management attention and application of resources; (2) weak corporate oversight of nuclear operations; (3) poor problem recognition and failure to ensure lasting corrective actions; (4) lack of adequate engineering support; and (5) an inability or reluctance to learn from experiences at ComEd and other utilities.
Beginning in 1993, ComEd began bringing in outside personnel and changed senior and mid-level plant and corporate management and implemented significant organizational changes. Additional focus was placed on oversight of nuclear operations. Comprehensive improvement plans were developed for Dresden, Quad Cities and LaSalle. A major restructuring of the ComEd design engineering function moved most of the resources previously allocated from the corporate office to the sites. Additional focus was placed on management and leadership, accountability, the problem identification and corrective action processes, material condition improvement, work control, and radiation protection.
As a result of these and other corporate initiatives, including additional senior management changes in 1996, improvement has been seen in many areas at Dresden and Quad Cities; however while focusing on these facilities, significant performance decline has been observed at both LaSalle and Zion.
The cyclical safety performance history of the ComEd nuclear facilities, as outlined above, raises questions regarding ComEd,s ability to operate six nuclear stations while sustaining performance improvement at each site.
Action The NRC has concluded that it requires information that will allow the NRC to determine what actions, if any, should be taken to assure ComEd can safely operate its six nuclear stations while sustaining improvement at each of the sites. Therefore, you are required, pursuant to Section 182(a) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and 10 CFR 50.54(f), to submit a response to this letter within 60 days of its receipt.
Your response must be written and signed under oath or affirmation.
Please submit the original copy of your response to the NRC Document Control Desk, with a copy to the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, and to the NRC's Region III Administrator.
The following information is required:
(a)
Information explaining why NRC should have confidence in ComEd's ability to operate six nuclear stations while sustaining performance improvement at each site.
(b)
Criteria that you have established or plan to establish to measure performance in light of the concerns identified above and your proposed actions if those criteria are not met.
'I J. O'Connor In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and your response will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room located at the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street NW., Washington, DC, and in the local public document rooms for your facilities.
Sincerely, Original signed by:
Hugh L. Thompson, Jr.
Acting Executive Director for Operations Docket Nos. STN 50-454, STN 50-455, STN 50-456, STN 50-457; 50-237, 50-249, 50-373, 50-374, 50-254, 50-265; 50-295, 50-304 cc:
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Docket File PUBLIC PD3-2 r/f J. Roe
- E. Adensam R. Capra C. Moore D. Lynch
- G. Dick R. Assa J. Stang.
- D. Skay L. Rossbach R. Pulsifer C. Shiraki R. Lanksbury Riii OGC ACRS OPA P. Hiland, Riii M. Dapas, Riii EDO r/f A. Thadani R. Zimmerman A. Beach, Riii F. Miraglia*-*- ce*ntra:l files,-_
H. Thompson OFC Riii NAME DATE
? 97 E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY.
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Mr. J. O'Connor Commonwealth Edison Company cc:
Ms. I. Johnson Acting Manager, Nuclear Regulatory Services Commonwealth Edison Company Executive Towers West III 1400 Opus Place, Suite 500 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 Michael I. Miller, Esquire Sidley and Austin One First National Plaza Chicago, Illinois 60603 Dr. Cecil Lue-Hing Director of Research and Development Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago 100 East Erie Street Chicago, Illinois 60611 Phillip Steptoe, Esquire Sidley and Austin One First National Plaza Chicago, Illinois 60603 Mayor of Zion Zion, Illinois 60099 Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Facility Safety 1035 Outer Park Drive Springfield, Illinois 62704 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Zion Resident Inspectors Office 105 Shiloh. Blvd.
Zion, Illinois 60099 Regional Administrator U.S. NRC, Region III 801 Warrenville Road Lisle, Illinois 60532-4351 Mr. Steve Lacy, Plant General Manager Zion Nuclear Power Station 101 Shiloh Blvd.
Zion, Illinois. 60099-2797 Mr. J. H. Mueller, Site Vice President Zion Nuclear Power Station 101 Shiloh Blvd.
Zion, Illinois 60099-2797 Document Control Desk-Licensing Commonwealth Edison Company 1400 Opus Place, Suite 400 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Resident Inspectors Office LaSalle Station 2605 N. 21st Road Marseilles, Illinois 61341-9756 Chairman LaSalle County Board of Supervisors LaSalle County Courthouse Ottawa, Illinois 61350 Chairman Illinois Commerce Commission Leland Building 527 East Capitol Avenue Springfield, Illinois 62706 Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Facility Safety 1035 Outer Park Drive Springfield, Illinois 62704 Mr. D. J. Ray, Station Manager LaSalle County *station Rural Route 1 P.O. Box 220
- Marseilles, Illinois 61341 Mr. W. T. Subalusky, Jr.
Site Vice President LaSalle County Station Rural Route 1 P.O. Box 220 Marseilles, Illinois 61341 Nathan Schloss, Economist Public Utilities Division Illinois Attorney General's Office 100 West Randolph Street Chicago, Illinois 60601
Mr. J. S. Perry Site Vice President Dresden Nuclear Power Station 6500 North Dresden Road Morris, Illinois 60450-9765 Mr. M. Hefley Station Manager Units 2 and 3 Dresden Nuclear Power Station 6500 North Dresden Road Morris, Illinois 60450-9765 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Convnission Resident Inspectors Office Dresden Station 6500 North Dresden Road Morris, Illinois 60450-9766 Chairman Grundy County Board Administration Building 1320 Union Street Morris, Illinois 60450 T. J. Maiman, Senior Vice President Nuclear Operations Division Convnonwealth Edison Company Executive Towers West III 1400 Opus Place, Suite 500 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 D. A. Sager, Vice President, Generation Support Convnonwealth Edison Company Executive Towers West III 1400 Opus Place, Suite 500 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 H. W. Keiser, Chief Nuclear Operating Officer Commonwealth Edison Company Executive Towers West III 1400 Opus Place, Suite 500 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515