ML17187A890
| ML17187A890 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Dresden, Byron, Braidwood, Quad Cities, Zion, LaSalle, Marble Hill  |
| Issue date: | 04/01/1997 |
| From: | Callan L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Moseleybraun SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17187A891 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9704040205 | |
| Download: ML17187A890 (3) | |
Text
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Distribution for EDO Principal Correspondence Control Ticket #G970174 DISTRIBUTION:*
QI[cl<~J E"Lle:sl {STN 50-456, STN 50-457, STN 50-454, STN 50-455, 50-237, 50-249,.
50-373, 50-374, 50-254, 50-265, 50-295, 50-304) {w/incoming)
PUBLIC {w/incoming)
EDO #G970174 EDO r/f L.J. Callan, *017G21 E. Jordan, 017G21 H. Thompson; 017G21
- p. Norry, 017G21 J. Blaha, 017G21 S. Burns, 015Bl8 A.B. Beach, Riii S. Colli~s/F. Miraglia, 012Gl8
- R. Zimmerman, 012Gl8 T. M~rtin, OllH21 W~ Travers, 01404 PD3-2 r/f {w/incoming)
J. Roe
.. L Adensam
- R. Capra A. Thadani; 012Gl8 *
~. Boyle {email MLB4)
P.* Milano OGC, 015Bl8 OPA OCA, 017 SECY #CRC-97-0234
. NRR Mail Room (EDO #G970174 w/incoming)~ 012Gl8 N. Olson, 012Gl8 T _. Harris D. Skay {w/incomiog)
C. Moore
. R. Lanksbury, Rll I M. Dapas, RIII
.P. H.iland, RIII
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 April 1, 1997 The Honorable Carol Moseley-Braun United States Senate Washingt9n. DC 20510-1303
Dear Senator Moseley-Braun:
I am responding to the letter you sent Dennis Rathbun March 10, 1997*. asking that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission CNRC) address concerns raised by one of your constituents*. Mr. George Black. on February 20. 1997. *Mr. Black asked you to encourage the NRC to enforce its safety reg1,Jlations in relation to Commonwealth Edison Company's (ComEd) nuclear plants.*
Performance of ComEd plants has been of concern to the NRC for some time.
. and three plants in particular. Dresden. LaSalle. and Zion. are currently receiving significant NRC oversight. These three plants*are on the NRC's "watch list" of plants that warrant increased NRC attention frdm both the Headquarters office and the Regional office (LaSalle and Zion were pl~ced on the watch list ih January 1997 and Dresden has been on the list since January 1992). The increased attention consists of additional inspections. increa.sed monitoring of licensee performance. management meetings between licensee and NRC management. and site *visits by senior NRC management. *These plants will remain. on ther list until they have demonstrated consistently improved safety
- performance.
- Because Dresden had been on *the watch list since 1992, the NRC conducted an independent safety inspection (IS!) in 1996 to determine whether ComEd was sufficiently improving the overall Safety performance.
The team found that
- improvements had been made in all areas inspected. but identified some
- significant weaknesses in the accessibility and maintenance of design
- information and engineering activities.
Th~ NRC i. ssued a confirmatory action letter on November 21. 1996, to confirm the actions ComEd is taking to address these deficiencies.*. Both units at Dre~den are cu~rently operating; followi'ng a number of extended maintenance.outages to correct material condition problems.
LaSalle is currently in an extended.shutdown. due in part to findings bythe NRC and an external review group commissioned.bY ComEd.
ComEd has developed a restart action plan to address and correct identified weaknesses.
No date has been announced for restarting either of the units. Zion remains shut down since an incident on February 21. 1997. which involved inappropriate operator.
actions during shutdown of the facility.. The NRC sent.an augmented inspection team CAIT) to evaluate the event.
On the basis of the AIT's conclusions and ComEd's assessment of the event. Zion will remain shut down until the performance problems are satisfactorily addressed.
On February 25. 1997, the NRC issued a confirmatory action letter to ComEd which requires that. before restarting Zion. it (1) discuss with the NRC the findings of its investigation of the event and (2) detail the corrective actions taken.
The NRC has formed joint regional and Headquarters*plant performance review panels for both LaSalle and Zion: these panels hold monthly public meetings with ComEd to discuss performance improvement.
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Senator Moseley-Braun In addition. as a result of continuing inconsistent performance at the ComEd sites. the NRC sent a letter to ComEd on January 27. 1997. requiring ComEd to submit information regarding its ability to safely operate its six nuclear stations while sustaining performance improvement at each.site. ComEd's response was received on March 29. 1997.. If the NRC staff determines that the information submitted does not ensure that ComEd can operate all six stations safely, NRC could take such actions as modifying. susRending. or revoking the operating license for one or more plants. Such significant action indicates the concern that the NRC has in ensuring that,these plants are operated safely. A public meeting between ComEd and the Commission to discuss ComEd's response to the NRC's letter of January 27. 1997. is scheduled for April 25.
1997.
For your information. I am enclosing a copy of that letter. as well as the letter informing ComEd of the results of the January 1997 senior management meeting.
The extra scrutiny that the ComEd plants are receiving is in addition to the routine inspections at each site. such as daily observations by the NRC resident inspectors assigned at each plant.
Any violations of NRC regulations are addressed in the inspection reports. and require a written response from the licensee. The NRC ensures that appr.opri ate corrective actions are taken before closing out each violation.
Considering the increased attention to the ComEd sites. especially to Dresden.
' LaSalle. and Zion. I am confident that these facilities will tontinue to receive sufficient NRC inspection and oversight.. I assut~ you that the NRC has enforced. and will continue to enforce. its regulations at the ComEd sites. I appreciate your constituent's interest and trust this response addresses hi~ concerns.
Docket Nos. STN 50~456. STN 50-547.
STN 50-454. STN 50-455. 50-237.
50-249. 50~373. 50~374. 50-254.
50-265. 50~295. 50-304 Sincerely.
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L. Joseph Callan Executive Director for Operations
Enclosures:
Letters from H. Thompson. NRC. to J. O'C6nnor. ComEd. dtd 01/27/97 G:\\CMNTJR\\SKAY\\G970174.LTR
- see previous page for concurrence
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NAME DSKAY*
RSANDERS*
JGROBE**
JROE*
DATE 03/25/97 03120197 03124197 03/25/97 OFFICE*
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. I ocA* _
I NAME RZIMMERMAN*
SCOLLINS*
- LJCAlLA'tt*
I 'le' DATE 03/25/97 03/25/97 03127197 CXll I 197 U~rICI1 L KtCUKU LUPY
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