ML17335A145
| ML17335A145 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Cook  |
| Issue date: | 07/24/1998 |
| From: | Callan L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Draper E AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9808070328 | |
| Download: ML17335A145 (11) | |
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Dr. E. Linn Draper Chairman of the Board of Directors American Electric Power Company 1 Riverside Plaza Columbus, OH 43215 July 24, 1998 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 Can~
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Dear Dr. Draper:
On July 14 and 15, 1998, NRC senior managers met to evaluate nuclear safety performance of operating reactors, fuel cycle facilities, and other materials licensees.
This meeting is conducted periodically to determine whether the safety performance of the various licensees warrants increased NRC attention.
The Commission has directed that, during these meetings, NRC senior managers also identify those plants whose performance is trending adversely and that steps be taken to communicate concerns to the utility's corporate president or board of directors. This early notification to the highest levels within the utility's organization is intended to allow appropriate measures to be taken by the licensee to address the areas of concern.
P This letter is to advise you that during the July 1998 Senior Management Meeting (SMM), trends in the performance at D.C. Cook Nuclear Power Plant raised sufficient concerns that we believe a meeting with you would be appropriate.*
Indications of a slow decline in station performance are reflected in numerous findings resulting from NRC inspections conducted during the last 18 months, which have identified surveillance, material condition, and engineering deficiencies.
An August 1997 Architect Engineering (AE) inspection discovered significant issues involving inadequate design control, 10 CFR 50.59 evaluations, and calculations.
Many of these issues resulted in operability challenges to safety-related systems.
In September 1997, NRC inspectors identified fibrous material inside of both containments which raised concerns regarding the operability of the recirculation sumps following a postulated loss-of-coolant accident.
Subsequent NRC review determined that the licensee's response to the AE inspection findings was not comprehensive and that certain maintenance practices and processes bypassed the design control process, highlighting the need for continued NRC oversight.
In February 1998, the NRC completed an onsite ice condenser inspection during which numerous apparent violations were identified. Following this inspection, it became apparent that the magnitude and scope of the problems were broader than the findings from the AE inspection.
The discussions of the NRC senior managers primarily focused on the risk significance of the engineering, design and material condition issues identified at D.C. Cook. Specifically, the l
deficiencies associated with the ice condenser, the containment recirculation system, and the containment hydrogen abatement systems were of particular concern.
The NRC senior zO managers also noted that the performance indicators and Licensee Event Report data revealed a declining performance trend in the first quarter of 1998. The NRC senior managers acknowledged the risk-significance of the containment deficiencies and other material condition
. problems documented in the plant issues matrix.
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Dr. E. Linn Draper The NRC senior managers concluded that additional information was necessary before the agency can determine that the problems at the D.C. Cook facility are limited to the engineering and surveillance areas.
NRC response to D.C. Cook's ongoing programmatic and functional
'rea self-assessments and plant verification reviews was discussed and NRC senior management concluded that additional inspection activities are warranted in these areas.
On the basis of SMM discussions, NRC senior managers determined that there has been a slow decline in performance at the D.C. Cook facility. This performance decline, in combination with the risk-significant engineering issues identified over the last several months, indicates the need for D.C. Cook management to continue to implement appropriat'e actions to ensure that the extent of the problems are fullyunderstood and corrected.
NRC willclosely monitor efforts in this area through additional inspection activities.
Dr. Carl J. Paperiello, the Acting NRC Region IIIAdministrator, has discussed the bases for our conclusions with regard to D.C. Cook with members of your staff.
An NRC Commission meeting, open to the public, is scheduled to be held in the Commissioners'onference Room in Rockville, Maryland, on July 29, 1998, to review the results of the latest meeting of the NRC senior managers.
Ifyou have any questions regarding this matter, do not hesitate to call me.
Sincerely, L. J seph Callan Executive Director for Operations Docket Nos.: 50-315; 50-316 License Nos.: DPR-58; DPR-74 cc: See next page
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D. C. Cook1 &2 CC:
Mr. John Sampson Site Vice President Nuclear Generation Group American Electric Power Company 500 Circle Drive Buchanan Ml 49107-1395 David A. Lochbaum Union of Concerned Scientists 1616 P Street NW, Suite 310 Washington, DC 20036-1495 Don Hafer Acting Chief Nuclear Engineer American Electric Power Company Cook Nuclear Plant One Cook Place
- Bridgman, Ml 49106 Douglas Cooper Plant Manager American Electric Power Company Cook Nuclear Plant One Cook Place Bridgman, MI 49106 Richard Whale, Michigan Public Service Commission Advance Planning and Review Section 645 Mercantile Way P. O. BOX 30221 Lansing, Ml 48909 Michigan Dept of Environmental Quality Drinking Water and Radiological Protection Division Radiological Protection Section Nuclear Facilities Unit 3423 N Martin L. King Jr Blvd P 0 BOX 30630 Lansing Ml 48909-8130 Planning Manager Pre-Disaster Services Section Emergency Management Division 4000 COLLINS ROAD Lansing, MI 48909-8136
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DISTRIBUTION for letter to E. Linn Draper (D. C. Cook)
Central Files PUBLIC EDO R.F.
PIPB R.F.
SECY OPA OCA LJCallan WDTravers HLThompson GTracy FPGillespie RWBorchardt MRJohnson JAlsom CJPaperiello, Rill BEBoger EGAdensam RABellamy JFStang
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Dr. E. Linn Draper The NRC senior managers concluded that additional information was necessary before the agency can determine that the problems at the D.C. Cook facility are limited to the engineering
. and surveillance areas.
NRC response to D.C. Cook's ongoing programmatic and functional area self-assessments and plant verification reviews was discussed and NRC senior management concluded that additional inspection activities are warranted in these areas.
On the basis of SMM discussions, NRC senior managers determined that there has been a slow decline in performance at the D.C. Cook facility. This performance decline, in combination with the risk-significant engineering issues identified over the last several months, indicates the need for D.C. Cook management to continue to implement appropriate actions to ensure that the extent of the problems are fullyunderstood and corrected.
NRC willclosely monitor efforts in this area through additional inspection activities.
Dr. Carl J. Paperiello, the Acting NRC Region IIIAdministrator, has discussed the bases for our conclusions with regard to D.C. Cook with members of your staff.
An NRC Commission meeting, open to the public, is scheduled to be held in the Commissioners'onference Room in Rockville, Maryland, on July 29, 1998, to review the results of the, latest meeting of the NRC senior managers.
Ifyou have any questions regarding this matter, do not hesitate to call me.
Docket Nos.: 50-315; 50-316 License Nos.:
DPR-58; DPR-74 Sincerely, Original signed by:
L. Joseph Callan Executive Director for Operations cc: See next page DISTRIBUTION See attached page DOCUMENT NAME:A:hcookltr.798
- See previous concurrence
- Concurred via telecon To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without enclosures "E" = Copy with enclosures "N"= No, copy OFFICE RA:Rill NAME CJPaperiello DATE 7/20/98 DD:NRR FJMiraglia*
7/ 21/98 D:NRR SJCollins*
7/21 /98 OFFICIALRECORD COPY ED LJCal an 7/ZB/98
Dr. E. Linn Draper The NRC senior managers concluded that additional information was necessary before the
'agency can determine that the problems at the D.C. Cook facility are limited to the engineering and surveillance areas.
NRC response to D.C. Cook's ongoing programmatic and functional area self-assessments and plant verification reviews was discuss d and NRC senior management concluded that additional inspection activities are arranted in these areas.
On the basis of SMM discussions, NRC senior managers determined that there has been a slow decline in performance at the D.C. Cook facility. This performance decline, in combination with the risk-significant engineering issues identified over t e last several months, indicates the need for D.C. Cook management to continue to implement appropriate actions to ensure that the extent of the problems are fullyunderstood and c I'rected.
NRC willclosely monitor efforts in this area through additional inspection activities.
Dr. Carl J. Paperiello, the Acting NRC Regi IIIAdministrator, has discussed the bases for our conclusions with regard to D.C. Cook with embers of your staff.
An NRC Commission meeting, open toP e public, is scheduled to be held in the Commissioners'onference Room in Rockville, Maryl hd, on July 29, 1998, at 2:00 p.m. to review the results of the latest meeting of the NRC senior managers.
Ifyou have any questions regarding this matter, do not hesitate to call me.
Sincerely, Docket Nos.: 50-315; 50 16 License Nos.: DPR-58; PR-74 L. Joseph Callan Executive Director for Operations cc: See next page h dp DOCUMENT NAME:A:hcookltr.798
- See previous concurrence
- Concurred via telecon To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without enclosures "E" = Copy with enclosures "N"= No copy NAME CJPaperiello DATE 7/20 /98 OFFICE RA:Rill'D:NRR FJMiraglia*
7/ 21/98 D:NRR SJCollins*
7/21 /98 OFFICIALRECORD COPY EDO LJCallan 7/
/98
Dr. E. Linn Draper An NRC Commission meeting, open to the public, is scheduled to be held in the>commissioners'onference Room in Rockville, Maryland, on July 29, 1998, at 2:00 p.m. to rev'hw the results of the latest meeting of the NRC senior managers.'f you have any questions r garding this matter, do not hesitate to call me at (301) 415-1700.
Sincerely, L. Joseph Callan Executive Direct for Operations Docket Nos.: 50-315; 50-316 License Nos.: DPR-58; DPR-74 cc: See next page
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DOCUMENT NAME:A:hcookltr.79
- See previous concurrence
- Concurred via telecon Copy with N
copy To receive a copy of this docu ent, indicate in the box: "C" = Co y withoutenclosures "E" =
enclosures "N"=
o OFFICE NAME DATE RA:Rill CJPaperiello 7/20 /98 DD:
FJMira 7/
7/
'98 EDO LJCallan 7/
/98 OFFICI LIP ORD COPY