ML18100A531

Informs of Plans to Improve Plant Performance at Salem & Maintaining Excellence at Hope Creek

ML18100A531
Person / Time
Site:	Salem, Hope Creek
Issue date:	07/12/1993
From:	Miltenberger S Public Service Enterprise Group
To:	Martin T NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
References
NLR-N93113, NUDOCS 9308120047
Download: ML18100A531 (5)

Text

I I

Public Service Electric and Gas Company Steven E. Miltenberger Public Service Electric and Gas Company P.O. Box 236; Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 609-339-1100 Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer JUL 12 1993 NLR-N93113 Mr. Thomas T. Martin, Administrator Region I

-United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission 475 Allendale Road

• King of Prussia, PA 19406-1413

Dear Mr. Martin:

RE:

SALEM AND HOPE CREEK GENERATING STATIONS DOCKET NOS. 50-272, 50-311 AND 50-354 Over the past few years, PSE&G has made substantial, demonstrable progress towards our goal of improving plant performance at Salem and maintaining excellence at Hope Creek.

Broad based initiatives are in place to improve personnel performance, procedures, and plant hardware.

We have experienced positive results and expect the improving trend in performance to continue.

over the same time period, we have also experienced a number of challenges such as the tur.bine overspeed event, the overhead annunciator malfunction, and the rod control system design basis issue.

For each of the challenges, we performed an in-depth investigation, examined the specific and generic implications, and took appropriate corrective actions to address their root causes.

However, we believe it is prudent to step back* and examine these issues in the aggregate in order to systematically evaluate the potential for common root causes or contributing factors to assist in our effort for continuous improvement.

As a result, I am forming a multi-disciplinary team to reexamine these issues from a broader perspective to determine if there are commonalities.that have not been identified by the issue-specific investigations and if any additional corrective actions are warranted.

The team will perform a comprehensive evaluation of selected issues from the last two years.

This analysis will examine operational activities as well as management issues.

The results of the analysis will complement our current plans for continuous improvement.

1co1oc 9308120047 ~gg65~72

~DR ADOCK PDR I

T.' T. Martin NLR-N93113 2

JUL 12 1993 This team will report directly to me.

I expect the team to complete their review in a three to four month time frame.

We will be guided in our actions by the results and recommendations of the investigative team to ensure our continued progress in plant safety and performance.

It is our intent to share both our program and results with you both during the investigation. and upon completion.

As noted previously, PSE&G has a number of broad based initiatives in place that focus on improving personnel performance, procedures, and plant hardware.

These initiatives provide a foundation for consistent long term improvement at Salem and maintaining excellence at Hope Creek.

Improved Personnel Performance Initiatives Improving personnel performance is an do business and is being accomplished Performance Improvement Plan (PPIP).

PPIP are discussed below.

integral part of the way we through the Personnel Various elements of the PSE&G's "Reaching Our Vision" initiative endeavors to make our vision of being "among the best in the u.s. 11 a personal vision for each employee.

Employee workshop sessions *have provided a deeper understanding of the individual behaviors anff attitudes necessary to make this vision a reality.

Likewise our Nuclear Department Business Plan integrates improved personnel performance into our business plan.

The Nuclear Department Business Plan was rolled down throughout the organization to each employee by their respective manager to provide a clear understanding of each individuals contribution.

On a more basic level, station personnel have been provided with practical guidance on improving their performance in the form of a "Work Standards Handbook."

This pocket size handbook establishes the required work practices that build safety and quality into every day common plant activities.

As a result of these initiatives, Personnel Error Licensee Event Reports (LERs) have shown a decreasing trend over the past few years~

In addition, the Salem PPIP was upgraded for 1993.

The upgraded plan contains initiatives designed to enhance supervisory effectiveness, to increase management presence in the plant, to improve monitoring of station activities, and to improve communication between all levels of station personnel.

Improved Procedures The Procedure Upgrade Project (PUP) was formed in mid-1989 with the goal of providing*improved procedures designed to preclude

. and/or minimize the risk of procedurally initiated undesirable plant evolutions.

PUP's objective was to provide Salem Maintenance, Operations and Chemistry Departments with improved procedures of consistently high quality in terms of format, content,. level of detail, technical accuracy and human factors.

T; T. Martin NLR-N93113 3

JUL 12 1993 Over the past three years, PUP has reviewed, developed and upgraded over 3400 procedures.

Key user group personnel were included in the PUP to ensure that the upgraded procedures met the needs of the user department.

PUP also instituted an improved procedure maintenance process to ensure procedure quality continues to increase.

This program is approaching completion, with the remaining procedures being transitioned to the procedure maintenance group.

Our experience with these upgraded procedures has been very good as evidenced by a reduction in procedure-related LERs.

Improved Plant Hardware Since 1989, PSE&G has been working on major hardware upgrade.

projects at Salem Station.. These projects, listed in the Attachment, represent a major capital investment and demonstrate our commitment to upgrading Salem's hardware condition.

In concert with improved personnel performance and enhanced plant procedures, these hardware upgrades should position Salem Station for an upward step change in plant safety and performance.

It is our firm belief that these initiatives have set the foundation for continuing improvement at Salem Station and maintaining excellence at Hope Creek Station.

The establishment of the multi-disciplinary team discussed in this letter will help assure that PSE&G remains on the right path for continued improvement in plant performance.

~-

s. E. Miltenberger~

Vice President &

Chief Nuclear Officer

T. T. Martin NLR-N93113 4

C U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Mr. J. C.

Stone~ Licensing Project Manager -

Salem

u. s. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852 Mr. s. Dembek, _Licensing Project Manager -

Hope Creek U. s. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852 Mr. T. P. Johnson (S09)

USNRC Senior Resident Inspector Mr. K. Tosch, Manager, IV

• NJ Department of Environmental Protection Division of Environmental Quality Bureau of Nuclear Engineering CN 415 Trenton, NJ 08625 JUL 12 1993.

JUL 12 1993 ATTACHMENT The following lists consist of modifications that have been completed or are in progress for Salem Unit 1, saiem Unit 2, or both units.

Salem Upgrade Projects -

Complete 1.. Control.Room Modifications

2.

Clean Chemistry Laboratory

3.

Bus Instrument Inverter Replacement

4.

Main Transformer Replacement

5.

Steam Generator Safety Valve Replacement

6.

Emergency Response Facility Technical Support Center HVAC Replacement

7.

Circulating Water Fish Troughs Replacement

8.

Diesel Generator Reliability Improvements

9.

Containment Steam Generator Blow Down Valves Replacement

10.

Pressurizer Insulation Replacement

11.

Safeguards Equipment Controller Installation

12.

Service Water Piping Replacement

13.

Lube Oil Storage Facility

14.

Installation of System to Add Chemicals to Auxiliary Feed System

15.

Upgrade Radwaste Panel (I&C)

16.

Replacement of miscellaneous Condensate Strainers 17~

Rod Control 24 VDC Power Supply Replacement

18.

Mid Loop Instrumentation Modifications Salem Upgrade Projects - Additional Upgrades In Progress

1..Service Water System Upgrades

2.

Electrical Distribution System Upgrade

3.

Rosemount Transmitter Upgrade

4.

Reactor Vessel Level Instrumentation Replacement

5.

Safeguards Equipment Controller Replacement

6.

Digital Feedwater Controls

7.

Radiation Monitoring System Upgrade

8.

Generator Hydrogen Dryer Dew Point Monitor purge/vent*

9.

Diesel Generator HVAC Improvements

10.

Circulating Water Mechanical Upgrades 11~

Circul~ting Water Electrical Upgrades

12.

S/G Feed Pump Independent Control Oil System

13.

Platforms and Ladders (Partial)

14.

AF-23 and GB-4 valve replacement

15.

Small.bore pipe replacement

16.

Waste Gas System Upgrade

17.

Installation of Outage Alternate Power supply

18.

Boric Acid Concentration Reduction

19.

Circulating Water Air Removal System

20.

Upgrade Station and Control Air Components

21.

Condensate Polishing Building Improvements